Lancaster, PA

Root- I felt fortunate to find the healthy plantbased restaurant, Root, in the small town of Lancaster, PA We had a long day of travel and this spot came through for me in a major way. Lancaster is a college town in the middle of menonite Amish country and Root is in the downtown area on a cool little block with some other funky spots. Root has a good vibe, it is a casual spot with a bar and a slant towards vegan comfort food pretty but an overall quite diverse menu. It took some extra planning and motivation to make it here from the outdoor amphitheater where we were playing but it was well worth the effort. I did not see alot of other healthy options in this town, so I highly recommend Root when you are in or traveling through the Lancaster, PA area and looking for healthy fare.

Bloodroot Restaurant

Bloodroot- Very happy to be back in Bridgeport, CT for a few shows because we get to go back to the amazing Bloodroot restaurant. I've posted about them before and they are certainly worthy of a second post. This vegetarian restaurant has been open for nearly 40 years! Nole and Selma- the owners, are passionate about making this a special place and it shows. They are pioneers of the health movement.

The setting is almost like in someones house and they treat you like a guest. I love the relaxing feel and ambiance. I couldn't help but get the vegan tostadas again (pictured), which are fantastic. We also had a few of there tasty vegan soups.

The food is dynamite and when headed to Bloodroot, you can look forward to some great conversations with Nole and Selma. So happy to stop in again!!

New York, NY

Candle Cafe- Always happy to do a post on a local favorite- Candle Cafe has been a staple in the NYC plantbased community since 1993! This Upper East Side organic, vegan restaurant offers amazing salads, veggie burgers, entrees and has a juice bar as well. I’ve never been disappointed with what I ordered at Candle. On my recent trip, I had the portobello and black bean burger, which is made in house and is stellar. I love to get the 'Good Food Plate', which entrée of sides where you can choose 4 sides and 2 sauces- You can’t go wrong with that option. The prices are up there but not out of hand, especially for UES Manhattan organic. While the salads are a bit small for the price, in general, the portion sizes are on point. Also fyi, Candle Cafe has a more upscale sister restaurant a few blocks away called Candle 79, which is getting into full on gourmet dining- plantbased style. I usually stick with the more casual vibe of the original Candle Cafe. The space is bright, clean and the staff is always super friendly. If you are in NYC and looking for a healthy option for lunch/dinner, Candle Cafe is always a great spot to check out.

Superfood Green Smoothie

The weather has been so nice here in NYC, I’ve seen so many people out there getting there workout and fitness on, so here is a one of my fave superfood green smoothie recipes that I use to refuel after a long day of running, cycling, tennis, hiit, weight training etc. Enjoy!

3 kale leaves/stems

3 swiss chard leaves/stems

2 bananas

1 carrot

½ an avocado

1 kiwi

2 medjool dates

½ cup of flax seeds

¼ cup of spirulina

½ cup of hemp seeds

½  cup of coconut ‘yogurt’

2 cups of almond milk

1 cup of alkaline water

Put all in the Vitamix and boom! Your good to go! I topped this smoothie with cocoa nibs, coconut flakes and goji berries

Telluride, Co

As the summer just came to a close, I'm going to do some Tourganic summer throwbacks posts to some great spots I hit up in my travels but haven't posted about yet. These two spots are right next to each other and share an outdoor space. They are both definitely worth checking out. There aren't a ton of (healthy) restaurants in Telluride and both these will take care of the hungry traveler in this idyllic location in Colorado.

Caravan- Caravan is a small stand that offers great smoothies. They offer Mediterranean food, although I have never gotten the food, as I always head to Caravan for the 'Whole Meal Vegetable' smoothie. This is a true winner! Made with with Kale, Carrot, Strawberry, blueberry, rice milk, apple, tahini (!), quinoa and a house made vegan protein mix- All for $8, which is pretty reasonable given the prices in Telluride can be a bit out of hand. I love this place after a great workout, mountain run, hike or tennis when I'm in Telluride.

La Cocina de Luz- My other staple in Telluride is the Mexican spot- La Cocina de Luz. They certainly have great options for everyone but I am a huge fan of the vegan plate, which has just about everything you'd hope to get in a Mexican restaurant. The salsa bar is also on point!  The veggies are fresh and everything is prepared just right. The outdoor space is an ideal setting to have a meal. Sometimes the line can be pretty serious here but it moves fast so don't be discouraged! Overall, La Cocina is a great look if your in Telluride looking for a healthy options for dinner or lunch.

Charlottesville, VA

The Juice Place- What a crucial stop on a long drive from a festival in West Virginia heading to Richmond, VA. Charlottesville came though for us with this juice, smoothie and health food spot in the downtown area. They have smoothie and acai bowls, veggie juice, superfood boosters and other good options. The green smoothie bowl I got was so good! As was the juice. I got the 'Cold Kicker' juice and they let me substitute parsley and kale instead of apple. I also had the 'Rich Green" smoothie bowl (No kefir add banana). It was awesome! Just what I needed. They had some organic produce listed but not 100% OG. Overall, the prices were great, they were fast and although not the most creative name, 'The Juice Place' is a total winner!

Plymouth, MA

Vela- We played a show near Cape Cod last weekend and was I ever happy to find this spot in the morning. Vela is a great juice/smoothie bar with some few foods options as well- such as quinoa salad, chia pudding and overnight oats. They also have superfood boosters like hemp protein, flax seeds, green powder and chia seeds. Plymouth is a bit out of the way but if you find yourself passing through this old New England town, I recommend a stop at Vela for some healthy goodness.

Denver, CO

Watercourse Foods- My staple in Denver! I've been coming to this spot for years and always enjoy stopping in for a healthy meal. The menu is completely vegan and they have lots of gluten free options as well. On this trip I tried the vegan chorizo hash, a hash of chorizo, black beans, sweet potato fries, scrambled tofu, caramelized onions, with a green chili, avocado creme and corn tortillas. Watercourse calls themselves vegan comfort food which I sometimes avoid but they manage to do it a healthy way and always have lighter options as well. The prices are decent and the vibe is always good at Watercourse. They definitely get busy so be prepared for a wait if you head there high traffic time for going out.   

Grand Junction, CO

Namaste- We've done many drives through Colorado and as you go farther east on i70, good, healthy food can be hard to come by. We often pass through Grand Junction and I get the feeling this will be the last opportunity for decent food for quite awhile. On this last trip I searched and I was so glad to find this Nepalese restaurant! They have both Nepalese and Indian food options and the food is great! They have vegan and vegetarian options and the prices are super reasonable. I had the Vegetarian Thali dinner, where you can choose 2 vegan entrees and you also get a awesome array of veggie curry, samosa, rice and dal soup. It was a generous amount of food for $12.95 and everything was prepared with care. The vibe there is casual and the people working there couldn't have been more friendly. They really made sure that we all enjoyed our meal and had everything we needed. If passing through this area of Colorado, I highly recommend stopping by Namaste!

Telluride, CO

Bear Creek Trail- There are so many amazing outdoor activities in Telluride and Bear Creek trail is a must! The trailhead is right at the downtown area at thee end of South Pine st in a condo parking lot and leads up to the epic Bear Creek waterfall. It is a 2 mile hike up to the falls and you can continue around and above the waterfall to Wasatch Trail and Bridal Veil Basin, which I've done and was awesome. The hike is not too difficult but good to keep in mind that you are at above 9000 ft! Some serious elevation! Hydration is key. I like to run up and down for a solid workout, especially when running up the ascent at elevation. There are many other great hikes in Telluride but Bear Creek is a great place to start when visiting.

Steamboat Springs, CO

Rootz Cafe- When it comes to eating healthy in Steamboat Springs, Rootz Cafe is the place. After a morning of tennis at the Steamboat Tennis Center and a run at high altitude I was ready for some nourishment. Rootz is a great spot in downtown Steamboat, which offers fresh organic juices, superfood smoothies, wraps, salads, rice/quinoa bowls and more. There menu has local, organic items and they have many vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. I got the 'Maya bowl' with massaged kale, brown rice, black beans, avocado, red onions, grape tomatoes, red pepper, purple cabbage and subbed in spirulina pesto (instead of the yogurt sauce). This dish was fantastic! The pesto was a welcome addition. I also got the 'Aries'- A veggie juice with carrot, basil, tomato, celery, cucumber, lemon, garlic. The prices here are totally reasonable and given that it is a Colorado mountain town, the prices are really winning. Just a heads up they close at 6pm. These guys really do it right and Im glad to hit them up whenever we play in Steamboat. Big up Rootz Cafe!

Boston, MA

Life Alive- Life Alive is such a winner! Located in Central Square, this organic cafe has a smoothie/juice bar as well as great food options, made to order salads, plates and wraps. Everything I have gotten from Life Alive has been on point. On this trip, I ordered the 'Superhero Alive' green juice made with: Carrot, apple, ginger, spirulina, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. This juice was amazing! A very nice mix of sweet and savory. I also got the goddess wrap, which was exceptionally good. The vibe is very casual, you order at the counter and find your seat in the main area, outside or downstairs. I like the decor as well- Life Alive has funky vibe. As if all that wasn't enough, the prices here are totally reasonable. These guys definitely are doing it right all around- if in the Boston area looking to eat healthy, Life Alive is a great option.

Washington, DC

Greenheart Juice Shop-  I was so glad to find this place just a few blocks from the venue we were playing in DC. Greenheart is actually in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC, which is pretty upscale, so things tend to be expensive in this area. Greenheart is no exception, as it was $10 for a 16 oz juice but hey- all organic veggie green juice does come with a price tag. These guys do the cold pressed juice thing well and they also have various nut milks, cleansing concoctions and housemade granola. Everything they had looked great. The green juice I had was called the Rooster and was made with spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, broccoli, parsley and lemon. Perfect juice ingredients and they serve it in a glass jar! Greenheart is a solid juice spot with a hefty price tag but if in need of a juice in that neighborhood, this is the place for you.

Brooklyn, NY

M.O.B.-  Tourganic is always happy to report on plantbased restaurant options in Brooklyn! M.O.B. comes through for us in the downtown area of Brooklyn, which surprisingly doesn't have a ton of healthy/vegan options: To be honest, M.O.B. is stronger on the vegan side with less emphasis on the healthy. The menu mainly consists of veggie burgers, sandwiches, a few appetizers and smoothies. I'm not a big veggie burger guy but this place does it right as everything is made in house. I had the M.O.B. veggie burger which was great (they offer gluten free bread if you request) it came with good veggies on top and with a nice side salad. The vibe is super cool in M.O.B. and the only drawback is the price. I think my veggie burger was around $16! Whoa! That price will keep me from going often but if in that area and looking for a good veggie option or after a Nets game/concert at Barclays- a trip to M.O.B. is a solid choice.

New Orleans, LA

CARMO- People say you can't eat healthy in New Orleans, not true!! Its took me years of touring through Nola to find some great spots but now I have a bunch of go to's and Carmo is one of my favorites. They have great vegan, healthy and plantbased options. My regular dish (pictured) is the broken noodle salad. It is fantastic, I often get that with a small (but actually great size!) green salad which makes an awesome healthy dinner. Carmo is located near the CBD, where alot of the hotels are and not far from the French Quarter, so the location is prime. Also the interior is super cool, the prices are totally fair (and they have organic and local produce). All this makes Carmo a total winner!! It can get busy, so show up early especially if your there during mardi gras or jazz fest!

Brooklyn, NY

Jungle– Awesome addition to our neighborhood in Brooklyn! Love that they have a pay by weight all vegan hot bar/buffett. So you can really just get the portions you want. They’ve got a bunch of raw salad options in the buffet as well It’s $8.99 a pound which is really not bad and the quality is great. FYI there are also menu items and a juice bar. I love the casual vibe of this place that you can stop in for a quick bite or have a nice sit down dinner. I think the tables are mostly community style big tables. We’ve needed a spot like this for ages! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a healthy option in the Greenpoint area.

Oakland, CA

Potala Organic Cafe– Potala is as good as it gets. Great concept, all you need to get is the full or medium plate. They tell you what you want (and need)! The vibe is casual and the servers are friendly but the real reason to come here is the absolutely outstanding organic vegan food. Hands down, my favorite spot in Oakland (only to be rivaled by Manzanita-reviewed below, which seems to be run by the same folks). Fyi it closed at 3pm the day we went.

Manzanita/Shangri-La– This spot is so great!!! It is either the same owners or was the same owner of Potala and these places are gems in the bay area! It has the same concept as Potala of all vegan, organic- where you can pay by medium or large plate and they basically have the meal of the day and no other options. I believe you can order side dishes a la carte. Manzanita also has some vegan baked goods as well. The zen like ambiance is very relaxed and great for a casual meal. I wish there were more places like this around the country.

WORKOUT- Big up to my friend Henry, tennis coordinator in the east bay. Through him, I found a solid community of tennis players that play over at Laney College in Oakland. When we have shows in Oakland, we always stay at a strip of hotels near the Bay Bridge off the 880 and the courts at Laney are an easy jog away. Not the best maintained courts but they are free and near the downtown Oakland area, so who can complain?!

Los Angeles, CA

Shojin- Wow Shojin! This place is absolutely awesome. The macrobiotic vegan Japanese cuisine food is so carefully and skillfully prepared. I went to the Shojin downtown location, not too far from Teragram Ballroom. Shojin does come with a price tag but it isn't ridiculously overpriced, just be ready to drop some cash. I think we spent $50 each with no alcohol (I haven't spent that much on a meal in quite a while) but seeing I was visiting with my best friend in LA, it was well worth a special occasion. We got a salad, 2 rolls and a ramen each. Every course was exquisitely prepared with such care. The vegan sushi rolls were amazing. Green Dynamite 2.0 (Avocado wrapped carrot brown rice roll with mashed avocado, chili, lemon, cilantro and green chili sauce) and Yellow Magic Orchestra roll. 
The interior is cool as well, strangely it is located on the 3rd floor of a Japanese mall. Definitely not where you'd expect to find a restaurant of this caliber but that kinda adds to the charm. Very intimate vibe, good date spot. Just a heads up there was a bit of a wait for a table and I got the impression there could have a been quite a wait if you get there at the wrong time. Overall, totally amazing creative, vegan food in LA!

New Orleans, LA

Green Fork- Green fork is a great juice/smoothie bar that has pre packaged salads and meals as well. Man was I happy to find this place when I 1st came upon it! The vibe is super causal and they close early, I think around 4pm everyday so I usually hit Green Fork for my morning or afternoon health boost. They use organic produce and the juice menu is pretty much off the chain! The veggie and/or fruit combos are amazing and whoever curated the juice/smoothie menu definitely knows what's up! The salads are really good as well. Green Fork is expensive (not outrageous) so be prepared and just feels a bit pricy for everything but gotta remember organic juice is not cheap to make!  Green Fork is located n the beautiful Garden District and It is not far from the CBD, where many of the hotels are (plus where we usually stay) so I often stop by here after a good morning workout or some tennis in NOLA. They have at least one other location in town as well. Definitely check out Green Fork when in New Orleans and looking for some healthy goodness! 

Ithaca, NY

Greenstar Natural Foods- What a great spot in Ithaca! This Market was just down the street from the venue and I luckily got there just a few minutes before they closed up! Greenstar has a small but solid organic salad bar and prepared foods section, with greens/raw veggies as well as hot items. There was also good bulk foods and produce section that had good prices. Overall, this is definitely a great stop for health food (and quick) if your in the Ithaca, NY area.