“Be Veg. Go Green. Save the Planet!” This is the mantra of the Loving Hut.  Loving Hut Orlando is the first location on the East coast of the USA. This international vegan fast food chain is based on the concept that people and animals can live in harmony through sustainable plant based solutions. They promote eco-friendly green solutions and makes every effort to use animal free ingredients, biodegradable materials, compost and recyclables. Loving Hut is currently the fastest growing International vegan fast food chain in the world. Internationally, branches are currently open in Formosa (Taiwan), Au Lac (Vietnam), Singapore, Indonesia, Tokyo and Hong Kong.  With my dairy allergy,  I’m often delighted by vegan cuisine because it is naturally dairy free and many times provides many alternatives that I don’t normally have access to (without visiting my local ER that is).  Colonial Dr (SR 50) is a mad house with traffic never being too far off the frantic pace of rush-hour-esque so I often pay little attention to the slew of restaurants that pepper the roadside.  But the Loving Hut is one that I’ve wanted to try for quite some time due to the rave reviews and the vegan menu selection. 

Kendra and I decided to venture out today for lunch and found ourselves in this very interesting “fast food” location.  First off… I don’t think I would ever describe Loving Hut as “fast”.  The food took a little long to arrive at our table (or maybe we were just REALLY hungry).  Inside you are greeted with a sterile Ikea-ish décor with the smooth sounds of a vegan TV show wafting from a mounted TV.  This would have been fine, minus the Buddhist talk of flesh eaters going to hell (so basically if you eat meat, you might want to bring ear plugs).  The menu items were unique and we actually had a little trouble deciding on what to order because so many things looked delicious.  I ended up giving in to the child-like wonder of a vegan corndog but added a healthy side of quinoa.  The corndogs were ok… the grease was reminiscent of a fair-style corndog but that is where the similarity stopped.  Quinoa was fabulous. Kendra ordered a number #2 combo which was a great serving of fried rice (remember no butter or egg but it was just as tasty as if these two friends weren’t left out), tofu, spring rolls and a cabbage salad. 

vegan corn dogs

Dessert was a must-try.  We ordered the cheesecake and flan.  Now.. let me preface this by saying I have NEVER tried flan and haven’t had cheesecake in at least 8+ years… so I was excited.  Should’ve kept that excitement in check.  Without knowing what to expect with the flan, I liked it ok but found it a little bland and light.  Kendra said it definitely didn’t taste the same as the Spanish dessert.  The cheesecake was ok.. but definitely did not taste like I remember cheesecake tasting.  Guess that’s what you get with vegan cream cheese and soy milk. 

vegan flan and cheesecake

Overall experience is rated a B+ and this is primarily based on the food options and the fact I didn’t get sick afterwards.  I’m really glad I experienced the joint, and I’d encourage anyone looking to explore the vegan lifestyle to check it out.  More and more people are adopting plant based diets and having an alternative like Loving Hut in this city is definitely a wonderful thing.  Just keep in mind that the vegan diet is still full of sugar… and if you know me and have been privy to my many conversations regarding clean eating, sugar is more unhealthy than many of the things that vegans and vegetarians avoid. Here is there website: http://lovinghut.us/florida

Kendra with the Loving Hut menu

Quinoa

Kendra's Combo #2

Inside of the Loving Hut

a GOOD reminder for all of us!

About a decade ago I was introduced to yoga, and through its regular practice I saw physical changes not only my my body but in my mental health.  There wasn’t as much “noise” in my head.  I was able to remain calmer in high stress situations.  Yoga intertwines certain elements of meditation throughout its practice, but this is the closest I’ve come to doing any formal meditating.  Meditation is helpful for the body, it stills anxiety, and is generally beneficial. This is scientifically proven and this information comes at us from so many directions, how can you not believe it? So there are many reasons to meditate.  I get that. There is no doubt that it can help stress, depression, and anxiety. It is helpful for the emotional problems of daily life, when things go wrong It opens the heart and makes you more aware. And when awareness rises, so does wisdom, and the wisdom that rises from meditation is very powerful.  But here is the catch.  I have to sit still for a period of time for meditation to work.  That’s the hard part.  I talk fast, I move fast, I live hard and play harder.  Slowing down doesn’t feel natural to me.  So out of curiosity, and recent need for more peace in my life, I signed up to attend a meditation class offered by the Vajrapani Kadampa Buddhist Center here in Orlando.  There they teach time tested instructions for reducing stress, increasing happiness, and developing tools and techniques to achieve real and lasting inner peace. At least this is what they advertise.  I decided to check it out for myself.

A friend and I decided to check out tonight’s class which focused on “Offering the Victory” which was the seventh installment of the series based on Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s book Eight Steps to Happiness.  The focus was to experience training the mind in loving-kindness. The more capable we are of opening our hearts to others, the more natural happiness will arise inside. We learned Buddhist methods for bringing about such a blissful transformation of the heart and mind. 

Overall the experience was slightly different than what I expected, but then again I didn’t really have a preconceived idea of what to expect.  I kept an open mind going into the class, so I was very pleased by the experience.  Everyone was very kind and generous carrying such a calm energy about themselves that it naturally projected towards everyone who entered the center.  We slipped out of our shoes and slid into seats just before the class started.  In general I would describe it as a very peaceful learning opportunity where everything was very open and encouraging, where patience and acceptance naturally found a conjoined home.  I was slightly anxious about meditating for such long periods of time (15 minutes may not seem long in a beer pong contest but when everything is silent and you are focused inward on inner light it can feel like an eternity), but I was again pleasantly surprised.  It naturally slipped by with modest effort and I felt an internal alignment happen with little notice.  Afterwards, the energy around me just felt good.  I don’t know how else to illustrate it.  It was positive and good. 

Exploring Buddhism is fascinating to me, as is any religion or spiritual belief that I’m unfamiliar with in this juncture of my journey.  My beliefs are what they are, but I embrace the willingness to learn about what is important to others, and through that knowledge there is always a personal gain and growth.  Tonight’s class wasn’t just focused on Buddist teachings, but primarily on meditation and how by applying meditation for mere minutes a day we can see visible and lasting changes in our relationships at work and at home. Buddhist meditation is method for creating a permanent place of peace and sunshine right inside your mind.  I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the center and plan to visit again soon.  If you live in Orlando, I’d love for you to join me.  Just let me know!

Here is the center - not far from Track Shack off Mills Ave.

Looking for a Thai restaurant with an amazing ambiance and food of traditional Thailand here in Orlando? Well, I've got a great recommendation for you: Thai House of Orlando.  This gem is right off Colonial (SR 50) so no wonder I've never bothered to pop in before (despite raving reviews friends have showered me with).  Who wants to deal with Colonial traffic?!  Let me tell you... it's worth it!  LOVE this place!  The food is fantastic, the ambiance is authentic (or as much as it can be in tourist-driven Orlando) and the staff is amazing.  If you wanna head over... let me know.  I'll definitely be back so why not meet you there!? www.thaihouseoforlando.net

Leigh Shannon, one of Orlando’s most recognized and known gay entertainers, just celebrating 32 years as a female impersonator and entertainer this past January.  Her show at  Hamburger Mary’s in downtown Orlando has quickly grown to be a huge hit.  Shannon hosts a the popular cabaret dinner show “Leigh Shannon’s Cabaret Dinner Show” every Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The free show starts seating for dinner and appetizers at 6:30 p.m., which is when I suggest you get there because it will be a packed house (but call at least 3+ days in advance – it sells out quick!). There is no cover, and there will be no tables to sit at if you don’t get there early.  Female impersonators entertain you well past 10pm.  The show is not recommended for those under 18 due to content.  I’ve been dying to see the show for weeks, so I was thrilled Girl’s Night Out took place here a couple weeks ago.  What an amazing time!  Fantastic fun for any special occasion or just a night out.  Definitely a MUST SEE for anyone living or visiting Orlando.  www.hamburgermarys-orlando.com

Martini Time!

Leigh Shannon on stage

Cher impersonator

Silly girls...

Me, Bonita (our instructor) and Jasmine after our first salsa class

A Brief History of Salsa: Salsa dancing was invented in the late 1960s, when the fancy footwork and quick, determined steps used by salsa artisans to manually crush tomatoes gradually migrated to the dance floor and were paired up with the Cuban rhythms and other Latin touches of salsa music, which actually derives its name from the unrelated but quite coincidental acronym:Sexy Abdomens Let Seduction Accelerate.  And we LOVE that now don't we?! 

Today, salsa dancing is practiced on every continent in the world, with the exception of Antarctica, where the hot music and heated passions would cause catastrophic ice shelving, which—in turn—would cool the oceans so dramatically that narwhals would most likely get big britches and think they're King Cold of Ice Ocean and start knocking our oil tankers around.  We can't have that happen.

I've never taken a formal dance class (unless you count the 'movement' dance that our mothers signed us up to take in middle school that required us to wear only black leotards and red tights - and of course I don't) so I was a tad anxious about what to expect.  Score!  Jasmine and I were the only students for tonight's class, so our instructor Bonita was 100% ours.  She was fabulous, taking things slow as she taught each step.  Who knew dance was such a great workout.  I'm convinced sitting on the toilet tomorrow will be an experience in and of itself with my thighs as sore as they already are.  So.. I end the evening with a handful of Advil and the 1-2-3-pause-5-6-7 running through my head.  I'm already looking forward to tomorrow night's class.  Well... I say that now.  Check in with me tomorrow to see how these legs are feeling.  

If you want to join us, check out the school: www.latinexplosiondance.com.  Would love to see you in class (Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 7-8pm is the one we're attending)!

Heading to our first salsa class starving, we went on a quick hunt for food that didn't require us to sit any longer in the terrible traffic off SR 50.  Maria Bonita's Mexican & Cuban Restaurant was identified by my trusty GPS and salty chips and salsa made our mouths water even more (if that was possible).  The dive is tucked near a shopping plaza (not easy to access off 50) and its exterior is slightly run down, but in the words of Jazzy "its something new for both of us so lets try it!" so we did.  Inside was brightly decorated with an authentic Mexican feel... the service on the slower side... but the food was tasty.  This being said, I don't think either of us have laughed so hard as when Jasmine found "twigs" in her taco.  Not just one.. but two... small looking twigs.  Upon further discussion with our server we learned they weren't twigs but instead pieces from the cilantro.  Who knew?  Anyway, if in the area, here is their website: www.mariabonitarest.com

Of course we had to snap a photo with the huge blow-up margarita!

Just something fun

Walking into this dive with Steve and Megan was like being escorted through DC with the president and the first lady... everyone knows them!  I'm not normally a fan of large breakfasts (unless it consists of an old waffle iron, my Paw Paw, a breakfast bar from the 70's and the 10-year old version of myself) but our Sunday morning trip to Juno Beach Cafe was a delightful way to kick off the last day of our HRB weekend.  The food was wonderful and the treatment we received was over the top.  I think the female servers got more of a kick out of seeing Steve with all the ladies than anything else.  Thank you Meg and Steve for a fabulous recommendation!  Here is the Cafe's website if you're in the area: www.junobeachcafe.com 

The gang at breakfast

Yes yes... most of us have worked in the industry long enough where we understand the whole celeb world and after meeting many of them, know they are people just like us.  That doesn't mean we don't have a ball when given the opportunity to steal a sneak peak into their world.  Steve was a kind captain to take all us crazy HRBs out on the intercoastal this past Saturday and what a fabulous time we had!!!  Is there truly anything better than a gorgeous Florida day spent on the water?  Especially after scoring some amazing loot at fabulous prices... and being armed with cocktails (I promise we don't have drinking problems!).  It was a perfect day all around... and the fact that there are a ton of celeb homes along the way just enhanced the trip even more.  Now... I'm sure the multitude of photos taken will result in nothing by tree covered homes that we will never remember what belonged to which star... but we had a fabulous time gawking at the ridiculously large estates and making threats that we'd jump off the boat if Steve just got "a lil closer"... I'm sure I could charm the security guards... don't you!?

I'm ready to go on the boat!

The HRBs on board of "Below Me" - ready to set sail!

Cocktails in hand

Our two amazing hosts for the weekend... "Scuba Steve" and his beautiful wife Megan..

This is ingenious!  A floating TIKI BAR... with a slide in the back. My future job when I retire. :)

Megan, Me and Jenny

Never did make it to the lighthouse... NEXT TRIP!

Not sure what's going on here... but I suspect Steve was trying to make me fall off the boat while Jenny laughed and snapped photos of it.. lol

Just an example of the gorgeous homes we saw along the intercoastal (can't remember whose house this was)

The HRBs... lovely ladies!

Titanic re-enactment... we were ALL a bunch of dorks.  Ha Ha Ha

Yeah... not so flattering but I had to take a turn.  Hee hee hee

Sunset was beautiful!

How do you not just fall in love with a place named "Leftovers"!?  It's creative and slightly cheeky that you don't know what to expect walking into this cute little cafe tucked away in an odd shopping center.  But again... our hostess Megan didn't mislead us!  This place was perfect for a late lunch after a day of bargain-shopping in West Palm Beach.  Chris, our server, was a hoot... and while who can expect anything less of a male server who has 5 gorgeous gals at one of their tables... he also did a terrific job.  The menu is filled with amazing items that are just exotic enough to entice you to try something you might normally not... and the open kitchen framed in various snapshots makes the experience interactive and festive.  I can't vouch for their dinner menu (though I heard it was on the pricey side), but lunch was fabulous.  Be sure to slip in a cocktail or two... despite not having their liquor license, they make a mean white sangria!

Goodwill shopping in West Palm Beach?  Sounds like an oxymoron, right?!  But hello.... its the BEST place in Florida to do just that!  With the likes of the Lauderdale compound, Tiger Woods' estate, etc. etc. etc just within a 30 minute vicinity... why wouldn't you check out the bargain shops first?!  I don't know about you, but I certainly don't have an extra $5000 laying around to throw at a Chanel jacket or Cartier watch.  But the good news is... lots of locals do (and boy do they!)... and when they grow tired of their trinkets... where do you think they go?!  To the local consignment shops and bargain places like the Goodwill Boutique.  We hit some amazing local shops and everyone scored at least one or two deals (my weakness seemed to be for jewelry this trip).  The people you meet in these places are more interesting than what you'd see sitting on South Beach any given Sunday... and that in and of itself makes the adventure so fun.  At one of the consignment shops I noticed a book for sale that advertised ways to "bargain-shop in West Palm Beach"... apparently we're not the only ones to stumble across this delicious secret!

Check out the shoe... look close...

Don't you LOVE the pony shoe!?!?  I did... but we didn't FALL in love so it was left behind.

Nell modeling one of the beautiful fur coats we found... such beautiful pieces in this one consignment shop!

What's a Friday night without a little shopping with your girls while throwing back a few cocktails as you yell "Opa!"  Nell's flight was delayed just a tad so we chose to invest in the gained hours by indulging in two of our favorite pastimes: shopping and drinking.  My favorite quote from Anthropologie was "Is this $50 cute?" as we tried assessing whether or not an item (that we obviously didn't need because come on... have you seen our closets?!) was worth its pricetag.  My 50's-esque hat ended up with the "no" answer so we parted a sad farewell.  Taverna Opa is always a fun place to go friends, and the local DJs that were there hosting fun games and events made it even more entertaining.  Great entertainment mecca.... food, entertainment, shopping, and amazing people watching.  The clothing on these young girls seem to just keep getting smaller.. and smaller.. and smaller!!

The HRBs minus Nell (killing time before she flies into town!)

Cheese!  Megan and Mali looking H-O-T!

Me and C-Co... can you tell we're glistening outside of Taverna Opa?  :)

Upon arriving at the Sheiman pad... we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading to the airport to pick up the fifth HRB, which would then officially kick-off the 2010 HRB Girl's Getaway Weekend.  Megan, being the fabulous local that she is, steered the gang of ravenous chicas to this cute waterfront dive.  It is what is sounds like... a huge Tiki Hut on the water.  Thankfully Mali made the educated decision to sit farther away from the band (so the girlie gabbing could go uninterrupted) because shortly after our cocktails arrived so did the first of several bands from Tropical Storm Bonnie.  We fortunately had great seats that also happened to be covered and not in the line of fire.  The food was yummy and cocktails delish... but the atmosphere on the water and just catching up with the girls was priceless.  Steve came and joined us for a while, and I'm sure quickly decided to be even more sparse than he had planned all weekend.  That much estrogen must scare a man just a little... 

We all had the Lobster rolls and margaritas (except me who stuck opted for the white wine), agreeing it was a great choice.  If you are in the area - its a must do!  They don't have a website, but google the name of the restaurant and you'll find it.  

Just gotta love it...

This chain got their start in 1978 with the primary focus being deep-dish pizza in Chicago.  New menu items and new beers have been added through the years as the BJ’s brand has expanded across the U.S.  We have a couple of these restaurants throughout Central Florida, but I went to the one near Millenia Mall off Conroy Rd.  After a long day at work, a friend and I decided a glass of wine and cold micro brewed beer was just what the day needed... and we couldn't have made a better choice for the evening.  The staff and management was amazing with their service.  Any place that goes above and beyond to assist with my food allergy scores high in my book and BJ's did just that.  Definitely recommend this place if you have one near you.  Here is their main website: www.bjsrestaurants.com