Fort Worth Fave: Spiral Diner

Favorites. We all have them. They are what we use to describe ourselves, characteristics that people use to distinguish you from all others. Since I began writing this blog, people regularly ask me where in Fort Worth I enjoy eating the most, and the answer is simple: Spiral.
The Spiral Diner I frequent is one of two locations and can be found on Magnolia in the Near Southside of Fort Worth, Texas. A vegan restaurant with a classic diner feel, this restaurant has a friendly staff and a menu to satisfy any taste. All dishes on the menu are 100% vegan, and owner Amy McNutt is dedicated to using quality local and organic ingredients as often as possible. Each month, Spiral offers three to four blue plate specials and a seasonal soup (my favorite of these having been the butternut fennel soup in November).

For the months February and March, my favorite of the blue plate specials was the Teriyaki Bowl. It includes teriyaki-marinated tempeh and pineapple with carrots, broccoli, bell peppers and onions, all served atop hot steamed brown rice. I could not get over this dish! I am a huge fan of Asian flavors, and I will admit that since being vegetarian I have not found a place that makes a good teriyaki dish til now.
The same day I decided to try this bowl, my friend and seasoned Spiral waitress Britney suggested I try their latest flavor of "i-scream", Salted Caramel, in their latte shake. This lovely number has salted caramel ice-cream blended with a shot of espresso and topped with dairy-free whipped topping and caramel drizzle. The salt from the i-scream brings out awesome flavors from the espresso, and since then, I have been back twice just for the shake.
For those who don't care for shakes, Spiral also specializes in vegan baked goods. These include (but aren't limited to) brownies, cookies, cupcakes, tortes, cobblers, and cinnamon rolls that are large enough for two people. They also make cakes for special occasions, such as weddings or birthdays.
Each Sunday, Spiral Diner offers a pancakes brunch special that anyone (vegan or not) must try. For $6.95, you are privy to as many vegan pancakes as you can eat and can choose between either plain or the featured pancake for the week. Top it off with warmed agave to give it that homemade touch.
If you are ever feeling adventurous, or just want some down home vegan cooking, hit up Spiral and tend to your appetite.

An Ode to Sprouts

Since I began my veg journey, I have found many different places to dine out in Cowtown. Whether I want Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean or Italian inspired dishes, Fort Worth has grown to include meatless options on practically every menu, making it simple to join friends (vegetarian or not) for a meal. However, one thing Fort Worth has failed to cater to -- until recently-- is the growing demand for vegan/vegetarian products and organic, locally grown produce. This is why there was a buzz when everyone heard we were getting a Sprouts Farmers Market off Hulen and I-20.

According to the Sprouts website, the mission of the Arizona-based health store chain is simple. It reads:

"Sprouts Farmers Market: Helping America eat healthier, live longer, and spend less."

What more could we ask for? Especially during these hard economic times, people are constantly looking for ways to save without having to cut out the food that is best for you. Sprouts offers organic and locally grown produce, which not only supports local farmers and the economy by investing your disposable income close to home, but it is also better for the environment. On top of it all, Sprouts sports a vast selection of vegan and vegetarian products that are typically only found at Whole Foods Market in the DFW-Area, the closest of which to Fort Worth being off I-30 in Arlington. For anyone wanting the substance of Central Market with Target price points... this is the stuff your dreams are made of.

The Grand Opening of Sprouts was this past Wednesday, January 26, and the response from Fort Worth residents could not have been greater. The store was fully staffed with new and seasoned employees who willingly escorted you to anything you were looking for, which was definitely needed with the heavy traffic. Nothing is more refreshing than entering a retail location with employees who know their product knowledge. Not only that, but the excitement from the shoppers caused anyone and everyone to talk to each other about their personal experience at the opening, which allowed time to pass quickly when standing in the lines that stretched from the front registers to the produce section.

Of the vegetarian products I found, what excited me most was finding Oogave Watermelon Cream Soda in the bottle. This is typically served on tap at Spiral Diner on Magnolia Avenue and is my all-time favorite soda. I was also excited to find Gimme Lean vegan sausage, which is the closest to the real thing when you are craving a country breakfast. It can be used in most recipes to substitute ground beef. Extra perks at the opening were the Sprouts brand San Francisco Style Sourdough Bread at $1 a loaf, as well as the bulk granola on sale for $1/lb.

Needless to say, we are excited to have Sprouts in Fort Worth. This store completely supports both vegan and vegetarian dietary needs, and even more so the needs of the DFW area.

Vegetarian Breakfast Comes to Starbucks

Of all the things I used to miss about being a meat eater, fast-food breakfast was definitely high on the list. For the most part, vegetarians have an extremely limited list of places they are able to eat at via drive-thru before things begin to feel redundant. This is why I got so excited when I saw the new addition to the Starbucks breakfast menu: the Veggie Artisan Breakfast Sandwich.

For those who don't already know, I have been working as a partner for Starbucks for some time now. A few years ago, Starbucks brought Artisan Breakfast Sandwiches to their menu, but only offered wraps as meat-free options for vegetarians. However, before the end of 2010 they added the Roasted Vegetable Panini sandwich as a veg option for lunch, and then debuted the Veggie Artisan this month. The breakfast sandwich offers a vegetable frittata with peppers and onions, topped with Monterey Jack cheese and toasted on a ciabatta roll. Pure, hot breakfast heaven. To make it even better, the sandwich is only 350 calories, meaning you don't have to skimp on your morning latte.

Fellow vegetarians, this is a must try for anyone who misses the convenience of a McDonald's drive-thru but wants a more healthful option. (Word around town is carnivores love it, too!)

Veg in Texas

Hey, there. Welcome to my blog, Vegetarian Tiff.

Simply put, this blog will be about living as a vegetarian in Fort Worth, Texas, a town that loves their steaks, steakhouses, chicken fried steaks, etc. 

I did not choose to become a vegetarian because of my deep love for animals (though I do love them). Like many girls my age, I read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, which discusses the benefits of veganism (one who includes NO animal products in their diet, including eggs and dairy). What really made me want to join this revolution were the dietary and environmental benefits the authors of the book described. After reading the book cover to cover on my way home from Minneapolis, I stepped off the plane dedicated to a diet free of animal products.

However, after about a month of hardcore veganism, my dedication to my new-found lifestyle slowly declined. After returning to school, I realized it was going to be harder than I had imagined to be a functioning vegan in college. One B-12 deficiency later, I was eating eggs again. It wasn't long until I became lax about foods containing milk products. But the one thing I knew I would never, EVER, eat again was meat.

When I made the switch to a meat-free diet, most people didn't understand why I would choose a diet that was "so difficult." In reality, though, this town has a lot to offer as far as vegetarian dining. All you have to do is look. Although eating vegan was something I didn't have the time or energy to do, eating vegetarian is something I don't have to think about anymore. It has become a part of who I am and is something I no longer second-guess.

So, as a reformed carnivore, my goals for this blog are as follows:

• Write about the benefits, frustrations, complications, etc. that come with being vegetarian
• Post about vegetarian food options at local restaurants and chains, as well as recipes I may find or try
• Include interesting and educational information about "green" living through vegetarianism

Happy reading!