Asbury Park, NJ

Lentil Tree- We had some time before our show in Asbury Park and after an awesome 5 mile run along the ocean and the paths next to the river through the city, I was ready to recharge with some plantbased nourishment. Good thing we found Lentil Tree! 

This Mediterranean establishment offers great vegan and vegetarian dishes, salads and soups (although they do serve meat as well). It was a funky, small spot with just 2 people working there. I got the fattoush salad with the homemade falafel. It was really good and the green falafel was exceptional.  The falafel platter looked like a winner as well. The prices are around $12-14 per dish which is definitely reasonable for food of that quality.  Lentil Tree is recommended for the hungry healthy traveler looking for a good dinner in Asbury Park.

St. Patty's Day 'Keeping it Green Smoothie'

Here is my St Patty's Day Green Smoothie- All vegan, organic, raw and packed with plantbased energy. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

1 banana

4 Lacinto kale leaves/stems

1 large carrot

1/4 cup flax seeds

2 tbsp vitamineral green

1 tbsp maca powder

1 cup of coconut yogurt 

1/4 lemon

1 cup of frozen strawberries

1/4 cup of basil

2 medjool dates

20 ounces of alkalike water

Pulse and Blend in the Vitamix and top with fresh strawberries, cocoa nibs, goji berries and coconut shavings

Jackson Hole, WY

Healthy Being Juicery- Jackson Hole is such a beautiful place! I love coming here for all the great outdoor sports, whether its running/hiking in the mountains or kayaking in the warmer months or snowboarding in the winter. 

No matter what my workout has been, I will be in need of some plant power before the show and glad to have found Healthy Being Juicery. The place lives up to its name! A great small juice bar/plantbased cafe in the downtown area of Jackson. They offer organic and local ingredients. I had the Shanghai salad which was off the hook! It was large and a serious plate of health. Everything there comes with a hefty price tag, which is definitely a factor but no surprise given Jackson Hole's ritzy vibe.

The staff there was really friendly as well and I will certainly make a habit of hitting up Healthy Being Juicery whenever we play In Jackson Hole.

Denver, CO

City o City- Denver has many great eating establishments for the healthy lifestyle and City o City is certainly one of my favorites. This hip vegetarian restaurant (with tons of vegan options) is super popular and constantly packed.  They have great menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and City o City is also opened late night, which has saved me a few times with a healthy dinner after our shows.

This time we went for brunch and there were many dishes that looked great. I went out on a limb and tried the kimchi pancakes. What a choice! The kimchi pancakes, all vegan, were so tasty and topped with bok choy and some other veggies. This dish was a winner.

Look forward to hitting up City o City next time I’m in Denver!

Denver, CO

Corner Beet- Found this little spot down the street from the Ogden Theater right before our soundcheck. It was a great find. Really nice vibe in there and the food was on point. I got a organic green juice ($9 price tag was a little harsh) and the Super Seed salad, which was indeed super! I really dug the salad and it was huge. Although Corner Beet is vegetarian, alot of there stuff has cheese but they are happy to make it vegan. Big props for using 100% organic produce!

Denver has many solid options for juice bars and plantbased cuisine, I definitely recommend checking out Corner Beet if your in the neighborhood and looking for some healthy nourishment.

Hartford, CT

21 Oak- I have driven many times from NYC>Boston and back and I am so glad to have found this small vegan cafe, off the highway just outside of Hartford CT (technically in Manchester CT). I was on the run and got the hummus wrap and a salad. Both were good and reasonably priced. There menu has a bunch of really good options and I look forward like to getting back there to check out a few more dishes. 

So cool to find plant based restaurants in places you'd might not expect! There seemed to be a really nice community vibe happening in there, which is just what I hope for a spot like that. 21 Oak, keep doing what you do!

https://www.21oakmanchester.com/menu

NYC

By Chloe- In the midst of a super busy NYC work day, I was in the West Village with friend and we ducked into By Chloe to check it out. I have heard alot of people talking about it, as well as lots of love for them on instagram from the NYC vegan community. The vibe is pretty 'fast foodie', it was packed but the line moved fast and the wait for our food was not long.

We got the Guac Burger and the Quinoa taco salad. They both were very good, although you get more bang for your buck with the salad, as the burger was close to $12 and came with no sides (sorry but way too expensive)

In spite of the prices, the quality was great and they were quick, which both must be big factors as to why this place is so popular. Also I give them credit for being 100% vegan, using 'some' organic ingredients, strictly non GMO ingredients and offering gluten free (for an extra $2.50- ouch!!). NYC has tons of incredible plant based and healthy restaurants but By Chloe does fit a niche that seems to be doing quite well and is definitely worth checking out if near one of their locations.

Los Angeles, CA

Eko Eats- I love Korean when done vegan! I have always been a big fan of Bibimbap- Eko Eats in the downtown area of LA does a nice job with it.

The staff at Eko Eats is very friendly and they are happy to make there dishes plantbased and healthy with their 'vegan friendly' vibe. There are so many great options in LA but if in this neighborhood- Eko Eats is a good stop.

This bibimbap has:
Steamed rice Asian greens, kale, zucchini, carrots, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, lotus roots, burdock, marinated dried radish, crispy seaweed, sesame seeds with a side of kochujang- Love these ingredients!

Juice for the Soul

If you've followed me for a while, you know I am more of a smoothie guy than a  juice guy for a multitude of reasons... But every once in a while I just gotta have some veggie juice!! This recipe is inspired by one of my favorite spots the Boston area- Life Alive. I make it at home and recommend experimenting with different amounts of the the ingredients until you find your desired taste and intensity! This nutrient packed juice is made with:

Carrot, Apple, Turmeric, Ginger, Lemon, Cinnamon, Apple Cider Vinegar.

Philadelphia, PA

Falafel Hummus and Juice Bar- I was hungry before the show in the Fishtown section of Philly and didn't have much time. I was quite fortunate to find this little spot. The owner greeted me with a smile and assured me what I was ordering was vegan.

I got the veggie platter and was not disappointed. There are only a few tables and the vibe is very laid back and the prices are affordable. Definitely nothing fancy but that was just what I was looking for. Philly has many great spots for healthy eaters and Falafel Hummus is no exception.

Workout inspiration

I mentioned David Goggins as an inspiration in one of my recent instagram posts. He is truly hardcore.

I started doing a workout that he recommended called nickels and dimes- sets of 5 pull ups and 10 push ups, every minute for 15 minutes minimum. I've been doing about 20 minutes, getting to 100 pull ups and 200 push ups, keeping focused on good form throughout. Working to an hour with no breaks. Here I am today after 5 miles of interval sprints and then nickel and dimes- worked but energized! 

Here are some links to what David Goggins is all about:

and the full article: 

http://www.nerverush.com/david-goggins/

DB's Post workout Smoothie #2

Here is another great postworkout blast- Smoothies are my everyday go to after my morning workout and I find it is important to mix it up, in order to keep things interesting. I rarely go through a day without a nutrient dense superfood smoothie. I am always trying new things and combinations. This smoothie features beets, which are great for blood flow and oxidizing your body and muscles after a tough workout. All the ingredients in this smoothie are organic! 

Here's the recipe:

2 small beets

3 bananas

1" piece of ginger

1 green apple

1 stalk of celery

1 carrot

1 cup of frozen mango

1/4 cup of chia seeds

2 tablespoons of Maca Powder

20 oz of alkaline water

Put in the vitamix and blend up to your desired consistency. Enjoy!

Beverly, MA

Organic Garden- Everytime I make it up to the North shore of Boston, where my wife grew up, I look forward to hitting up Organic Garden. This place is so great! They've been in business for over 20 years and there commitment to quality shines through. 

They serve organic, vegan in creative yet simple dishes that not only taste great and are nutritious but also look beautiful as well. They have a good balance of raw and cooked options entrees, amazing salads, juices and smoothies. 

I also love the casual atmosphere and the friendliness of everyone who works at Organic Garden. Overall, these guys are so winning! If you are up in the North Shore in MA, go check out Organic Garden

Homemade Vegan Granola Bars

During a busy day, whether post workout or during work its important to have healthy snacks, This is especially crucial when I'm traveling on the road and food on the go is essential. I love some of the store bought bars but I have found that they waste alot of packaging and can get into overly sweet and processed ingredients. It is important to read the label on even the good organic and vegan bar options. 

My solution is to make my own energy bars! These are all organic, vegan and straight goodness. I based my recipe on One Green Planet's and have been working on customizing it. 

• 4 cups of Gluten-free Rolled Oats
• 1 cup of Homemade peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup of Pure Maple Syrup
• 1/2 cup Raw Cacao Nibs
• 1/2 cup Raisins
• 1 cup Almonds
• 1/2 cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds
• 1/2 cup Raw Sunflower Seeds
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• Pinch of Sea Salt

Heat up the Coconut oil, maple syrup nut butter in a pan

Chop  the nuts and mix in a bowl with all the dry ingredients

Take the liquid mixture off the heat and mix with the dry ingredients

Put the mixture in a pan on top of wax paper, push down until even and refridgerate

Once cooled, cut into bars and BOOM Homemade Granola Bars!

Park City, UT

Good Karma- Park City is such a great place, the mountains are amazing and the vibe there is always fun. In addition to playing a fun show at Park City Live, I had an amazing day snowboarding up on the mountain. Park City is a small ski resort town and eating plantbased and healthy there can be tricky- especially without breaking the bank as Park City is super expensive. I have found that Good Karma is a great option. They are located just outside of the downtown area, which I think helps keep the prices a bit more reasonable.

Good Karma serves Indian and Persian cuisine with a bunch of vegan/vegetarian and healthy options. They have an organic curry of the day, which they prepare vegan, that has been my go to. My bandmates have gotten the other curries/entrees and really have enjoyed their dishes. A vegetarian entree runs about $15, which is really winning for Park City prices. The staff are nice and hospitable as well. Good to see this place is living up to its name- Good Karma

Happy New Year from Tourganic!

Sandpoint, ID- Psyched to be rocking our New Years show in Sandpoint, ID at the great venue the Hive. It is sure to be a party. Sandpoint is a is quite a place to visit for outdoor recreation and sports with the mountains and the lake ie skiing/snowboarding, snowshoeing in the winter and wakeboarding, paddleboarding, mountain biking, mountain running in the summer.

I was fortunate enough to make it up to their local mountain, Schweitzer Resort, for a day of snowboarding before our show. This is a killer mountain with tons of terrain, great steeps and backcountry/tree runs and at a fraction of the price of other ski resorts. It was COLD but there was tons of snow and I had an epic day of riding. Charged up and ready to rock our NYE show tonight!

Roasted Beet Hummus

Getting a bit festive in the holiday season, making this awesome roasted beet hummus. Love the red color! Its so tasty, packed with goodness and easy to make. The vitamix is perfect for hummus. I love this hummus for a quick post workout refuel or snack.

• 1 roasted beet
• 2 cups of cooked chickpeas
• 1 lemon squeezed for juice
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 2 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp of homemade tahini
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (or add more or less depending on the consistency you like your hummus)

San Francisco

The Plant Cafe Organic- Plant Cafe Organic is a great spot with a few locations around the Bay area in Cali. Amazingly, they have a location in San Francisco's airport- SFO. This has got to be the best airport food in the country for the hungry traveler looking for healthy, nutritious food. I have been to a few other locations, which were great but the focus of this post is on the airport location.

Anytime I fly into SFO , I look forward to hitting up The Plant (which is located in Terminal 2). They offer made to order smoothies and veggie/fruit juice. I have been a bit underwhelmed at times with the smoothies but the juices have never dissapointed. They best food dishes, in my opinion, are the Dino-Kale salad and the quinoa bowl. Both are beyond incredible for food one can get in an airport. They ahve plenty of grab and go options for when you are in a rush as well. I'm so grateful to The Plant Organic, SFO and the healthy people in the Bay area that support this place for providing the goodness for travelers!

Soba Noodle Soup

Its getting chilly here in NYC and this weekend I was craving some noodle soup, so I got busy in the kitchen! This soba noodle soup was a total winner. Totally vegan, organic and gluten free. For this soup- I create the broth from 4 cups of filtered water, a 1/4 cup of miso paste, 1/2 cup of tamari and 1 tablespoon of sriracha, mixed with minced garlic. While the broth is heating up, I chop/dice and add in broccoli, carrots, edamame, mushrooms, celery, garlic which all cook lightly in the broth. After cooking the soba noodles in a separate pot, add them to the broth and lastly add a generous amount of kale- And its ready to serve! So simple and full of nourishment. 

Los Angeles, CA

Green Grotto- What a find in downtown LA! Green Grotto is small spot on Spring st that offers organic juices, smoothies and acai bowls. I got the Green Juice , which was great but the star was the acai bowl. These guys do it right. Definitely an inspiring Acai Bowl. This spot is in a tiny mall area in between 2 blocks. You can easily miss it (I did!) I played tennis at the YMCA and worked out so I was ready for some plantpowered nourishment and Green Grotto juice bar did the trick in a major way!