Home Away From Home

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Happy Sunday, friends. I write this post from the familiar perch of my living room table in NYC. But as you all know, I spent the last week in D.C., which is where my boyfriend (otherwise known as M) resides. One of the first and best pieces of advice I got about long distance dating was this: make yourselves at home in each other’s cities. M is already fairly NYC-savvy, but I’m still getting acquainted with our nation’s capitol: the restaurants, the subway (sorry, I mean the Metro), the layout, and the sensibility of the place. Lifelong New Yorkers aren’t known for easy acclimatization in new cities, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job so far. And reaching out to D.C. bloggers has made a huge difference.

A few days ago, I wrote about Wednesday’s fun and inspiring lunch with Emily. Her sunny smile is already a little slice of home for me in D.C..

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On Thursday, I reached out to another local blogger, Valerie, who has been a loyal reader and penpal for some time now. Valerie’s blog, City Life Eats, is organized around her gluten-free, semi-raw, and mostly vegan lunchboxes, but it’s really a chronicle of her sophisticated and intelligent thoughts on food, life, work, and living with food allergies. She’s an exceptionally serious and thoughtful writer, and her recipes are delicious—heavy on the salads, the nut pates, and the dressings, just the way I like things! When you check out Valerie’s blog, keep in mind that she has a very busy career as an attorney, and that she still manages to prepare nourishing, homemade meals every day, and to wrestle some contemplative time out of her schedule. Go Valerie.

Salad lovers that we are, Valerie and I decided to have lunch at D.C.’s finest salad haven: Sweet Green.

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This uber-healthy, eco-friendly chain stretches across Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the D.C. area. It reminds me quite a lot of Chop’t, but the menu is slightly more extensive, featuring soups and frozen yogurts and various snacks to go. The salad options are phenomenal, and the ingredients are very fresh. Check them out—I’ve already tried the “chic p,” and I’ve made a few combinations of my own.

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On this particular day, I was in the mood to make my own combo. I settled on a mix of romaine and mesclun greens, chopped up with beets, butternut squash (a double helping), white beans, peppers, carrots, avocado, a drizzle of olive oil, lots of lemon juice, and salt & pepper.

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Just look at this beauty of a salad.

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Major plus at Sweet Green: no skimpy avocado servings. They use a whole half avocado for each order, which is precisely how I like it!

On the side, I had some of their baked kale chips, which were super spicy and super salty and a little oily, but extremely good. Next time I’ll probably get them chopped up into my salad and hold the salt, so that everything is balanced. But there will definitely be a next time with these guys!

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Can you tell I was pleased with my meal?

Very. I was also pleased with my conversation with Valerie. She has such a balanced perspective on holistic lifestyle practices, food, and body image. And she, like me, is very interested in striking a personal balance between alternative and allopathic medical practices on the road to healing. What a great new friend to have in D.C.! Valerie, here’s to more salads.

And please, post your gluten free and vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe on your blog. Wowza.

IMG_4463 (333x500)On Friday, I met up with another D.C. friend, Andrea. Andrea and I met over a year ago, when we were both attending a teacher’s training led by a prominent figure in the raw foods world. As it turns out, that experience left us both highly skeptical about the so called “detox” lifestyle, but the good news is that we became instant friends, in part because we we appreciated each other’s independent and inquisitive thinking. Since then, Andrea has become as close a friend as one be over gchat, and so it was a treat for me to sit down with her on Friday and chat in person.

Tryst was a terrific meeting spot, but it made me more annoyed than usual about the fact that nearly all coffeehouses have disappeared from NYC (dear Hungarian Pastry Shop, you are exempt from this statement, and even though you are the least vegan-friendly place on earth, I cannot wait to take up residence on your uncomfortable chairs in a week). I wish New York had more chill places to lounge and sip coffee, like this one:

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Andrea began our lunch with some of the restaurant’s mulled wine, which was out-of-this-world fabulous:

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I stayed true to form, and treated myself to a decaf soy cappuccino. It was great! So great that I chugged half of it before snapping a photo.

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We started our lunch with an order of red pepper hummus. Raw veggie enthusiasts that we are, we requested crudités in place of pita:

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The hummus, while not quite as thick as I like it, was very tasty. And they didn’t skimp on our portion, either:

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Andrea got a brie and apple sandwich, which arrived cut into perfect little open-faced rectangles. I got a salad of artichokes, beets, watercress, greens, and sunflower seeds, topped with olive oil and lemon (as usual):

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Not quite Sweet Green, but still a really good bowl of veg. I really liked the rest of the Tryst menu, too!

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Another fine conversation and lunch. Andrea is really into the gallery scene and the arts in general, so I’m hoping she’ll point me towards some fun cultural happenings in D.C. this year! In exchange, I will continue to bug her about how she should blog more often: she’s a great writer, and a great cook, and she grew up in restaurants, so she has plenty of basic cooking know-how to share.

As a kid, I suffered from a pretty acute susceptibility to homesickness. It was hard for me to go anywhere for a night if my mom wasn’t with me—perhaps with the exception of Chloe’s place. This passed away smoothly as I got older—so much that I became a fairly passionate solo traveler (immunity to loneliness, even in foreign countries, is a nice benefit of being an only child!).

Even so, it takes me a while to adjust to new places, which is why being part of the blogging community is such a boon for me. No matter where I go, I can count on a few friendly acquaintances nearby. As I work to make myself at home in D.C., I feel thankful for the fact that M’s circle of friends is exceptionally warm and generous, and quick to welcome me. But I’m also thankful for my blogging friends in the District for the awesome lunch dates this week.

What’s the last city that you got friendly with? Did the blogging community play a part? How do you typically make yourself feel home away from home?

Tomorrow—gulp—is my first day of orientation for my post-bacc program. Which means no blogging time for Gena. I’ve asked my friend Kailey to stop by for a guest post on a topic that’s really important to me—the link between veg*nism and ED recovery—and I think you’ll all love what she has to say. Please tune in for it!

xo

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    56 Comments
  1. I am now not positive where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thanks for magnificent information I used to be in search of this information for my mission.

  2. VegDC.com has a list of vegan-friendly restaurants in DC. DCVegan.com also updates on vegan happenings in the area.

  3. This is a great post. I also found eating a whole food diet played a huge role in my healing from disordered eating. I now see it for what it gives and where it comes from rather than seeing it as an enemy to contend with.

  4. Hi Gena. I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and was really happy since I’m newly embarking on a semi-raw diet. We seem to have a lot in common. I’m also a Columbia alum (’05) and lived in NYC for 8 years before moving to DC last Jan. for my boyfriend and a career change. You’re coming to DC at a good time because a new fully raw restaurant just opened called Elizabeth’s Gone Raw on L street (reservations required). I haven’t been yet, but the menu sounds fabulous. For raw food, there’s also Java Green (my favorite), Cafe Green and Everlasting Life.

    • Yay! So glad you found me, Lisa — sounds like we have a lot in common, indeed! We should arrange a DC outing this year.

  5. OOohhhh orientation days are so FUN! Can’t wait to hear how it goes. Next time you are here we need to talk about how you keep your hair so fabulously sleek. 🙂

    • Beth, why the F did I think you lived in San Fran? I would just LOVE to eat with you in DC! Let’s arrange it soon.

      xo

  6. I love that you’re getting acquainted in your boyfriend’s city by getting in touch with bloggers. I’ve been trying to do more blogger meet-ups when I travel but it’s hard because my husband is usually with me (and he wants man-company, lol).
    Btw, I’m hosting an awesome giveaway for a light peanut butter spread. Check it out if you’re interested! 🙂

  7. What lovely food and company. I’ve never heard of that chain.. I’m so impressed.

    I don’t do much travelling. I hope to change that over the next couple of years. I’m really looking forward to spending time in Portland this summer for the Vida Vegan Confrerence!

  8. Hi! I’m from DC and thought I’d let you know to check out Teaism sometime. They have an amazing selection of teas and some really tasty vegan options. Have fun!

  9. Oooh long distance…how interesting it can be. Challenging and amazing all at the same time.

    Hmm the last city I got cozy with was NYC and it was definitely thanks to bloggers. I would have felt so lonely without meeting up with them! I am incredibly grateful that no matter where we are in the world, we are likely to find another blogger or reader to guide us.

    Good luck with orientation today!!!

  10. Wow, thanks for all the reviews! I’ve gotta get to DC, I’ve been missing out! We have a salad place like that in town. I love making my own mix of goodies! Glad you enjoyed! I hope I get to “meet” M one day.. 😉

  11. I had no idea you had a long distance relationship! I did the long distance thing for a year with my boy (holland > denmark!!) and now he’s moved to Holland, thank God :). Feels really nice to see each other every day.

    ps: you look too cute in those pics!

  12. I’m still getting to know DC (I’ve lived near Baltimore for 10 years). It’s a great city. If you have a chance, go to Great Sage in Clarksville, Maryland (perhaps you’ve already been there). It is the best veg restaurant I’ve been to in years and I am always looking for an excuse to detour there!

  13. The last city I acclimated to was Los Angeles when I moved here a year ago. I had only been here for a couple days in high school, so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into and I was very scared of the driving – but I loooooove LA!

    I tend to acclimate to new places extremely quickly. After a week of living in Beijing, I could hardly remember what America was like!

  14. Gina,
    Go on the web and look at what the calorie and fat count is of the salads at Sweet Green.I was HORRIFIED…best to let everyone know ..I know that I thought it would be healthy!

    • If there were any truth to the calorie theory (and especially the fat calorie theory) I would not fit through my door. But I’ve been eating a ginormous salad with hundreds of fat calories a day, for years, and I am … well, let’s just say I don’t have a weight problem.

      • Have to jump in and very respectfully disagree! I think there’s a whole lot of truth to calorie theory, but I simply think that it’s very circumstantial, and that it fits within the context of a person’s whole diet, not a single meal.

        So, if one eats a diet that’s largely free of very fatty foods and animal foods, it’s quite OK to have a calorie dense salad for lunch; you’re not getting massive calorie bombs in other meals. If you eat calorically dense food at all times, then a salad should probably be a time to eat a little lighter.

        In your case, E, it seems to me — and do please correct me if I’m mistaken — that you tend to eat a little lighter earlier in the day, and that you’re a very conscientious eater in general. So that fatty and big salad is your necessary source of caloric density. But I wouldn’t tell a woman who is eating a higher calorie diet — even of the same kinds of healthy foods — to eat one of your salads, necessarily.

        That probably makes zero sense. Long day. 🙂

        • Gena’s the nutritionist! So listen to her! I just follow my intuition when it comes to food, and I don’t pay much attention to calories or fat grams. But the truth of the matter is that I can eyeball the calories in anything with textbook accuracy, so maybe that awareness is operating at some unconscious level, not sure. It sometimes feels as if I eat a lot more than many of my friends, I am certain that I eat WAY more than my “raw” friends, which leads to my wacky theory that it doesn’t matter how much you eat, but ’tis true I do juices/smoothies til dinner, at least on work days.

  15. I would go as far as to say you look smug with your yummy big salad…hahaha. Really though, sounds like it was all a lot of fun 🙂

  16. I think your home away from home should be Colorado. 🙂 Looks like you’re having a lovely time with great company and delicious food, just like in NYC! You’re just gorgeous, Gena! xo

  17. Wonderful meetups and gorgeous salads! I am so looking forward to the guest post too: it’s right up my alley, smack-dab.

    Good luck on the orientation tomorrow: that’s an exciting new beginning. What are you most looking forward to?

    Nearest city is Anchorage, 230 miles away, and I haven’t yet met any bloggers from there, but my husband has lived here for years and has many friends around the place. I get to know a city from its library, its markets and its natural food store, if it has one!

    Glad that you’re a happy traveler now.
    love
    Ela

  18. What a great recap! I had to do a little travel one myself today, so I know how kind of unnatural it feels for those of us who are more used to just “writing.” 🙂 Can’t wait until you travel HERE!

  19. I moved to DC right after college and didn’t know anyone. I loved setting off on the weekends (I worked pretty regular hours at the NIH) and walking around town, sometimes for hours. To me that’s the best way to get to know a city- walking through different neighborhoods, poking into coffee shops and bookstores and cafes. I met a few buddies at work and at All Souls Church, and Rachel on match.com (our first date was at Teaism in Dupont Circle, you would like it!). I think farmers markets are also a great way to meet like-minded people and get to know the city. The Dupont farmers market is a great one- I also enjoyed the Takoma Park farmers market when I lived in Silver Spring. Love Sweet Green, and so glad you like it too! The kale chips must be a new thing for them- fun addition.

  20. Like you, I’m an intrepid solo traveller. I love seeking out hip yoga studios, yummy vegan food, new and old museums, local bookstores, and of course, funky coffeehouses. I travel frequently to NYC and Vienna, and to other cities as well. Once I find a place to get a great cup of coffee and to practice yoga, I’m “home.” A juice bar helps an awful lot, though I went three months in Lisbon without my green juice, and I somehow survived. Maybe I’ve got a bit of a traveller’s soul in that way … I’m always seeking “home” even when I’m “home.”

  21. Wow, so many lovely eats. The last city I got friendly with was San Francisco for the Foodbuzz fest and blogging definitely played a part. I packed a lot of foods and researched restaurants before the trip.

    Good luck with orientation!

  22. WIsh you’d come to Santa Cruz so I could meet up with you 🙂 You’d love some of the vegan and all natural dining places around here!
    Good luck on your first day of orientation!

  23. I’ve lived in Atlanta for over eight years but am originally from the DC area. I’ve met several DC bloggers while I’ve been there visiting family and that’s been fun.

  24. I was the same way as a child. I would visit with friends and family but as soon as it got dark I wanted to go home. 🙂

    I’m glad you are enjoying D.C.

  25. Holy meetups! I am envious! I would love to meet Emily, and Valerie and I have been reading each other’s blogs for a good year or more, now, how fun that you met! And your meetup with Andrea…wow, all you had to do was leave the biggest city in the USA (nyc) and go down to the capital and your life just exploded with new friends and awesome meetups! Wow!

    That decaf capp that you said you took a few sips of before the photo opp session, yeah, I would have had to restrain myself..it looks delish. As does all the food, and fun times w/ great ladies!

    Kailey Snackie is awesome and I can’t wait to hear what she has to say!

    Good luck tomorrow, Gena!
    🙂

  26. I love these DC posts! I adore Tryst, although I haven’t been for a while, and am now adding Sweet Green to my list of must-visits!

    Wishing you well on your new education journey!

  27. I got familiar with NYC when my boyfriend (now husband) was living there and I was living in Dallas. He lived in Tribeca so I got very familiar with the neighborhood, and over time, I explored and became familiar with much of Manhattan. That was before I had a public blog and I can only imagine how beneficial it would have been to be part of the blogging community at that time! Glad you are finding your comfort zones in D.C.

  28. Got friendly with Detroit! Went there for a Sufjan Steveans concert and it was awesome . . . the best vegan food I have had in a restaurant–far better than one very famous one in NYC. It is called Inn Seasons. I guess that’s how I get familiar with a place–hunt down the vegan restaurants!

  29. Ooh, looking forward to that topic. You sure read a lot of blogs!

    Thanks for researching more eats in DC. Now I know where to go when I’m in town. Hopefully we will overlap sometime since now it’s your home away from home.

  30. You definitely look right at home in Washington! And I’m totally envious of your lunches–I adore Valerie’s blog, too. 🙂

    Best wishes tomorrow (I won’t wish you luck, because you don’t need it! You’re going to shine!). Looking forward to reading all about your academic adventures.

  31. I enjoyed this post! Nice to see you enjoying yourself wherever you are, but particularly in NYC and DC! 😉 I actually just returned from San Francisco and has some delightful meals thanks to many bloggers and folks from Twitters. Sure makes traveling easier!

    Good luck tomorrow!

  32. I can’t wait to check out Valerie’s site. I’m always looking for good easy lunches to go when I’m at school and have class at precarious times.
    Throughout all of high school I was learning to love Boston. I kind of forgot how well I knew it and loved it until I started revisiting over this Christmas break. I miss the stores, familiar transportation, and great sites. I’m still in a way getting to know Providence even though I’ve lived there about 12 months in total. It’s nice but it just doesn’t compare with the sites of Boston and it’s fussier to get around. Providence and ex-Providence bloggers have definitely helped show me where to go to experience the better parts of the city.

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