Heavenly Veggies - Guam's First Vegan Restaurant

Location:

Marine Drive in Tamuning 

near Kmart behind Club Rapture, and to the left and behind American Music.

Hours:

11:00 am - 2:00 pm on Weekdays 

Website: 

heavenlyveggies.com

Here is a review of Heavenly Veggies, sent in by one of our readers:

Today I went to this new vegan restaurant that opened on Monday (April 30, 2012) called Heavenly Veggies. I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I don’t eat a whole bunch of meat very often. My boyfriend and I are seniors at JFK, and since its close we just walked there after school. They were serving enchiladas and tacos! Now, my boyfriend is half Mexican. He’ll tell me whether some Mexican food we’re eating just isn’t good. He loved it. By the time we got there though, there were no enchiladas left, but I hear it was delicious! The tacos were homemade with whole-wheat flour! All the food was super yummy, we had a cold soup gazpacho made up of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and more. There was some Mexican rice, and the taco fillings were splendid! I really didn’t miss the meat! It was his first time eating a vegan meal too, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything at Heavenly Veggies is made right there in the kitchen. It’s a lovely restaurant too. Gigantic windows letting in lots of light, everything looks and smells so clean, and they have soothing music and beautiful pictures playing on three big TV screens for you to enjoy while you’re eating. It’s a kind of food court setting, where you get your main course, starch, choice of soup or salad, and a veggie dish. Or you can choose to get a little bit of everything, for the same price - $6.50! They also have fruit blends (smoothies) and water, and are promising some vegan desserts to come! Now here’s where things get even better. Heavenly Veggies is a wellness restaurant, and the staff are from the New Start kitchen – and Roxanne Lee from China Wok in GPO Food Court. If you don’t know who she is, she’s only the best baker around! China Wok sells vegan foods as well: fresh lumpia, wraps, cold noodles, fruit boxes. They also have the occasional vegan dessert, and they are absolutely delicious! All of her cakes are rich, moist, and lacking nothing! So to hear that Roxanne Lee is in the kitchen at Heavenly Veggies… no wonder the enchiladas were wiped out! They have a weekly menu with minor changes from day to day. You can find the menu online at http://heavenlyveggies.com/ , they have weekly updates. They may not have much now because they just opened, but Heavenly Veggies is promising much more foods to come, so be sure to check the place out! They’re open from 11am-2pm on weekdays only, and are located behind Club Rapture (to the left of and behind American Music). There’s a great big banner saying “Heavenly Veggies : homestyle vegan cooking” when you go down that road just to the right of Club Rapture, you can’t miss it. Have a good lunch!

Vegetarian Menu at Singapura

A booth at Singapura
Photo from chotda on Flickr, used
by Creative Commons License.

I had the opportunity to try Singpura, a restaurant on the lobby level of the Royal Orchid Hotel that opened early this year. I was lured in by the attractive interior, the well stocked bar, which includes locally-brewed Minagof Pale Ale on tap, and what seemed sure to be delicious food. I was not disappointed! Best of all, however, the restaurant has created a separate vegetarian menu and the kitchen staff is knowledgeable when it comes to vegan diets as well.

I was pleased to learn that they had special vegetarian sauces which they use as an alternative to fish-based versions. Many restaurants on Guam rely heavily on fish sauce and, while they are more than happy to make your meal without it, the food often ends up lacking in flavor since one of its main seasoning components is missing. Because Singapura has created sauces specifically for vegetarians and vegans, everything on this special menu is bursting with flavor. Hopefully more restaurants on Guam will follow suit!

My dinnertime companion and I started with the Sauteéd Eggplant with Basil and Steamed Chinese Buns, then moved on to the Sayur Lodeh - a delicious Malay Style vegetable stew with coconut milk, and a Malay style rice noodle dish called Mee Goreng. To read more about these dishes, you can click through to the full vegetarian menu.

Singapura is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am-11pm. You can reach them at (671) 647-2088 or stop by to visit them on the lobby level of the Royal Orchid. You can also take a virtual tour via their facebook page

Simply Food April Specials

What's your favorite dish at Simply Food? I love the Friday Special, Thai Curry. It is thick and chunky like a stew, the flavor is rich with the sweetness of pumpkin and coconut milk and mildly savory and spicy. I usually order this without the brown rice, as an order of soup, because I am limiting my starches. However, ordering it with brown rice is very tasty as the brown rice soaks up the curry sauce, and the chewiness of the brown rice allows the tastes to mix and linger very nicely your mouth. Delicious!

Simply Food is offering a new soup this month, Spicy Korean Soup on Tuesdays. Try it with the Tuesday special, Vegetable Wrap with a side of Yellow Rice. All specials are only $6.95, plus $2.75 to add soup or small salad. This is a good portion size for the price at the longest standing vegetarian eatery, and one of the best deals for lunch on Guam.

Five things I love about Simply Food:

• Delicious and affordable vegetarian lunch (ask for vegan)

• Unique frozen or nonperishable vegetarian items in the food store.

• Make new vegan, vegetarian, and health conscious veggie lovers

• A meeting place to run into old friends

• Friendly and helpful staff who are usually vegetarian and vegan

Simply Food is open for lunch Mon-Sat, with lunch ending at 2 pm, and the store closes at 6pm. For more information, call the friendly staff at 472-2382.

Ten Things I Love about Pika's Cafe

You will love Pika's Cafe, Tamuning, and their vegan menu items. The cafe opened only November and is already a big hit on island. Here's what I love about the cafe:

10. They make their own peanut butter.
9. They marinate their own vegetables.
8. They make their own sauces from scratch.
7. They make their own unique soups from scratch (ask if vegan).
6. They have crisp potato, taro, banana, sweet potato, and other tuber chips - all local and all vegan.


5. Amazing and creatives salads like fresh greens, watermelon, kumquats, pickled red onions, and a pika vinaigrette.
4. Owner Lenny has plenty of experience preparing vegan-friendly foods in Guam, California, and other places.
3. Pika's has a vegan lunch item called the "Veganita": Tortilla Wrap Panini with Katson's Soy Chorizo-Black Bean-Guam Tofu Scramble, Red Onions, Tomatoes and Romaine with side salsa.
2. Pika's has a vegan breakfast item called the "Vegan Rancheros": Katson's Soy Chorizo & Guam Tofu Scramble, Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, Ranchero sauce and Tortilla.

De-lish!

1. Their friendly staff prides themselves on using *local* produce like corn and fresh herbs, as well as other local foods like tofu.

Check out their Facebook page for location and hours. You will not be disappointed!

California Pizza Kitchen

The California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) located at the bottom of the Holiday Resort & Spa in Tumon has a vegan friendly menu that's posted on their website. Among the many choices includes my favorite, the Vegetarian with Eggplant Pizza (thin crust, no cheese). Only the thin crust is vegan at CPK and can be ordered with any of their pizzas for an extra $2.50. As for their pizza sauces, their pizza marinara, vegetarian black beans, and spicy marinara sauce are vegan. The vegetarian pizza was a great size, crispy and very satisfying topped with baby broccoli, grilled japanese eggplant, red onions, mushrooms and marinara sauce. I went ahead and had the corn omitted and substituted the sun-dried tomatoes with fresh tomatoes. This is a great change from those oily cheese smothered pizzas that you see. Even other family and friends you eat with at CPK will be asking for a bite of your pizza.

Check out the vegan options on the CPK menu and you can practically turn any pizza, salad, and appetizer vegan. The other two most common vegan eats at CPK are the Tuscan Hummus appetizer (be sure to order it with thin crust bread instead of pita) and the Dakota Smashed Pea and Barley Soup (curry-like texture and delicious!).

Local Lettuce

As of December 10, select Payless stores, including Micronesia Mall, started selling a variety of locally-grown lettuce: Red butter, Lollo bionda, Red oak leaf, Green oak leaf, Lollo rossa, Green butter, Green butter incised leaf, and Red butter incised leaf, each for $3.99/lb. "Tri-head" (Green Oak, Lollo rossa, Lollo bionda) lettuce sells for $4.79. The lettuce is grown hydroponically, or without soil, and comes with the root system intact to supply the lettuce with nutrients after harvest. It is pesticide-free and insecticide-free. I sampled each variety and they were deliciously flavorful and fresh. A representative from the distributor told me all Payless stores would eventually start carrying the lettuce.

Try dressing the lettuce up with Thyme-Mustard Vinaigrette. Whisk the following ingredients until smooth and emulsified:
1 tbls. olive oil
2 tbls. cider vinegar
1 tsp. whole-grain mustard
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
pinch of sea salt
fresh ground pepper, as desired

Quick Vegan Eats at GPO

Of course eating healthy food at home, or at one of the great vegetarian spots on island is always your best bet, but when you're out and about and need something to eat on the go, there are a couple of surprisingly good options here on Guam. Lisa has already written about vegan fare at the Micronesia Mall, but there's some at GPO as well!

It's not easy to get a perfect shot in GPO in December, but
that banner reads, "Vegetarian Dishes, Fresh Spring Rolls,
Fresh Salads, Wraps, Cold Noodles, Fresh Fruits and
Assorted Cakes." Yes, please!

Froots, which has an Agana Shopping Center location as well as one in GPO, offers a Mediterranean Wrap and a Veggie Wrap that can be made vegan by omitting cheese. They're also happy to make you a smoothie without the dairy (sherbert or yogurt). My personal favorites, however, are China Wok's already prepared veggie items, like their cous cous wrap and their fresh spring rolls. On occasion, they also have vegan cake slices available. The first time I saw the words "vegan" and "cake" in their dessert case, I was pregnant, craving sweets, and overjoyed -- that is until I realized that I didn't have cash on me, or my atm card. Since then, I have walked by in hopes of seeing vegan cake offered every time I go to GPO, but it was never there. This past weekend, I decided to check once more, expecting to be disappointed when, like the unicorn of the dessert world, THERE IT WAS:

Vegan orange cake, made with whole wheat flour! It was light, not too sweet, and just look at all of that delicious fruit on top (yes, those are pomegranate seeds)! That's not the only vegan cake in their repertoire, either - I have seen them offer chocolate slices as well. So, while you're out doing your holiday shopping, you can still find healthy vegan eats!

Healthy Gift Baskets

How to make your own Healthy Gift Sets & Gift Baskets:

You can find these gift sets at Healthy Hearts in Dededo or you can make your own!  You can personalize it to the person or family you are giving it to, and they don't have to be vegan to enjoy it! Here are some ideas:

• Organic sparkling juices with vegan chocolates
• Aubrey body lotion, soaps, fragrance 
•  Healthy snacks like raw tamari nuts, healthy cashew butter, and fruit 

You can buy a used basket from Salvation Army, Hafa Books, or a freshly made basket from Chamorro Village. You can also ask your friends of family if they have any extra baskets they don't mind parting with. Fill the bottom of the basket with a filler like shredded paper or extra gift wrapping paper. Then add your items into the basket. Add a bow, and viola! you are finished!

Not only is your gift basket eco-friendly and reusable, but the healthy vegan products and foods will be enjoyed by your family and friends!

Happy Holidays!

Infusion Coffee and Tea

Infusion's Vegan Banana Muffin

Infusion is a locally owned coffee shop and cafe located in Upper Tumon across from the Nissan dealership with an additional drive-thru location in the Compadres Mall across from the Harmon Cost U Less. They have a few options for vegans and are quickly becoming my favorite coffee shop - partly for the drinks, and partly for the great atmosphere, gorgeous view, and clean, simple space.

Infusion's staple in the food department seems to be crepes, which are not suitable for vegans, unfortunately. What they do offer is delicious vegan banana and blueberry muffins made with organic sugar. Organic sugar is still sugar, of course, so they're not exactly something you will want for breakfast on a daily basis, but it's always nice to have options! They also offer a variety of smoothies, which are free of dairy as well, and a number of delicious teas, several of which are organic. For coffee drinks, Infusion offers soy milk and vegan sugar. If you do stop by in a pinch and don't have a reusable cup with you, their throw away cups are compostable, too!

Vegan Restaurant Listing

There are some fine dining and competively-priced restaurants on Guam that offer vegan dishes, though it's always best to talk to the chef and manager to be sure you are getting what you order.

Palm Cafe - Outrigger Hotel, Tumon; vegan, prices reasonable $$
     -pitas, salads, Italian, stir fry. ask for the vegetarian menu, which is actually vegan. open 10-10pm.

Ruby Tuesday - GPO, Tamuning; vegetarian. $$
     -salad bar, avocado salsa quesadillas (minus the cheese and butter on the tortilla), (veggie burgers on whole wheat is vegetarian, NOT vegan)

Curry Kebab - Tamuning; vegetarian. $$
     -curries (stick to the eggplant, chic pea, and potato dishes). delicious, but service is slow, and trying to
      determine if a dish is vegan is difficult!

[Colors Red Restaurant - Acanta Mall, Tumon; vegetarian, vegan. $$$
      -tofu steak, and various other entrees and desserts. Call 24 hours in advance to set up a royal vegan
       feast (ask for Chef Eddie).] recently closed.

Clubhouse - Leo Palace, Ordot;  $$$
      -buffet where you can pick vegan items like salad, fruit, vegetable tempura, etc. nice view & entertainment.

The Bistro - PIC Hotel, Tumon; vegetarian, vegan. $$$$
      -from ratatouille to stuffed bell peppers. Call 24 hours in advance for a vegan feast.

Roy's Restaurant - Hilton Hotel, Tumon; vegan upon request. $$$$
      - full course meal, call 24 hours in advance. 

Joinus Restaurant - Tumon Sands, Tumon;
      -salad, steamed tofu, edamame, vegetable teppanyaki, vegetable sushi made-to-order. order ala carte
       and specify no fish sauce, fish flakes (bonito), butter, eggs, meat.

Fortune Cookie Cafe - Dededo; vegetarian, vegan. $$
     -raw papaya salad, curry, stir fried vegetables. The owner is vegan, and the staff know how to honor
      vegan requests.

Aji Ichi - Tumon, Upper Tumon, GPO-take-out. $, $$
     -Miso soup, tofu salad, side salad, vegetable rolls made-to-order. Items are made with MSG.

Cafe Dharma, Maite -  at Synergy, Vegetarian, Raw  $$                
    [-Raw, daily specials, smoothies, raw sweet treats] currently only serving smoothies

Heathy Hearts Cafe, Dededo, Vegetarian, Macrobiotic  $$    
    -Sandwiches, Wraps, daily specials, fresh juicing & smoothies

Simply Foods, Agana Heights, Vegetarian, ask for Vegan    $
    -Salad Bar, daily specials, wheatgrass

Brown Bag Cafe, Tamuning, ask for Vegan
    -Wraps

Thuy's Cafe, Agana. Vegetarian. $
     -Stir fry, curry. Owner likes to make vegetarian food. Be sure you ask her for strict vegetarian (vegan).

Sunset Grill - Asan. ask for vegan. $$
     -catch a sunset and a vegan pizza made-to-order. bar, play pool.

Do you have any other suggestions? Please write !

Indian Spices and Rosewater

Where do I find Cardamom and Rose Water on Guam?

You can buy cardamom and rose water at an Indian clothing store called Meena's. The Indian groceries are located in the back of the store. From Marine Drive you turn onto the road that leads you to GPO. Go past GPO, past Cost-u-Less, look for a clothing store on the left called Meena's. Park, enter the clothing store, walk through to the grocery in the back. They have everything from spices, tea, canned goods, frozen naan, etc. Many Indians are vegetarians, so be sure you read the ingredients to see if there are any eggs, dairy, ghee (yak butter), or even meat.

(http://www.kitchenheadquarters.org/scripts/herbs/herbs_07_cardamom.html)

Cardamom is a spice from the ginger family that can be found in Indian sweets and Chai tea. If you buy cardamom, look for green pods. The cardamom seeds are inside and will remain fresh within the pods. Cheaper cardamom is ground and not as fresh or fragrant.

In Ayurveda medicine cardamom is known for it's spicy unique flavor, and medicinally is reported to treat infections of the mouth, throat, eyelids, digestive issues, and relieves congestion of the lungs. It has also been reported to break up kidney stones and gall stones, and some have used it as an antidote for snake and scorpion bites. All that in a cup of chai!
 
An easy cup of chai tea can be made by brewing Indian black tea (or any black tea) with a half a pod of cardamom (squash the pod and seeds). Add soy or nut mylk and your choice of sweetener for a real tea time treat!

(http://go2.wordpress.com)

At Meena's, they will try to sell you everything, if you look like you are just browsing, because the owners are really good at selling! Rest assured, I was very happy with the extra items that I bought, and all the interesting things I saw. It's an interesting culinary adventure and a little slice of India on Guam.

The Farm at San Benito, Philippines

I had an opportunity to visit a wellness resort in the Philippines called The Farm at San Benito. Their food is all grown organically, and the cuisine is really amazing and award winning. It is raw vegan, so you can eat everything on the menu! What a treat that is!

The grounds are truly inspiring, offering you a chance to relax, meditate, take a few yoga or workout classes, learn to prepare raw vegan food, detoxify with their detox programs, get a massage, or even have a colema!

I had my meals delivered to different places, under the 100 year old mango tree, in the lover's pavilion in the middle of the lake, on the day bed under my tree house (room). One should try all five courses, and the menu changes at every meal!

The Farm is currently running specials until the end of the month, so if you are in the mood to detox, get away, or just do nothing but eat really good food for a few nights, visit The Farm.

It has been one of my best vegan experiences! Please see the two specials below, one is is Wellness Special, the other is a Yoga Special.

GREEN SEASON SPECIALS
at The Farm

The Monsoon Season is one of the best times to visit The Farm at San Benito. The rain and cool breezes nourish Mother Earth while regenerating the lush tropical jungle surrounding the property. This regeneration charges the environment thereby rejuvenation the mind and body during the Wellness and Detoxification Retreats. New Experiences have been developed to increase creativity and relaxation; Creative Arts, Rain Dance, Full Moon Meditation, Shivananda Yoga and More… Move to the rhythm and celebrate the healing “Green Season” with us at The Farm.

4 Nights Wellness Escape
Save 25%, Stay 4 Nights pay 3 Nights Only
Enjoy a 20% Discount on the 5th Night onwards…
4 Nights Wellness Escape Inclusions:
• Choice of Room, Suite or Villa Accommodation
• Welcome Buko Juice & Afternoon Tea
• Daily ALIVE! Vegan Gourmet Meals and Beverages per Nights Stay
• 1-Wellness Retreat Orientation with a SPA Consultant including a Daily Schedule
• 1-30 Minutes Holistic Health Consultation with a Medical Doctor
• SPA Treatments & Medical Services
o Wellness Escape Retreat includes Php 9,000.00 credit towards any SPA Treatment or Medical Service of Choice.
o Complimentary Extra Night includes; Meals, Beverages and a 30% discount on SPA Treatments & Medical Services.
• Participation in Complimentary Daily Activities; Yoga, Meditation, Core Movement, Power Walking, Jungle Bush Walks,
Mandala Flower Arranging, Creative Arts, Rain Dance…
• Use of The Farm Facilities: Swimming Pools, Library, Gym and Meditation Lounges / Pavilions
• Return transfers from Manila Airport – The Farm – Manila Airport or from any point in Metro Manila – The Farm – Metro
Manila.
Extra Nights Include:
• Daily ALIVE! Vegan Gourmet Meals & Beverages per Nights Stay and a 30% Discount on SPA Treatments and Medical Services of Choice.
4 Nights Wellness Escape Rates, Rates are per Person ++ Accommodation Occupancy
4 Nights Wellness Escape, 3 Nights +1 Night Free, 5th Night onwards…
Sulu Terrace
Single Php 42,000.00++/per pax Php 7,000.00++/per pax
Double Php 27,500.00++/per Pax Php 4,500.00++/per pax
Palmera Suite
Single Php 57,000.00++/per Pax Php 10,500.00++/per pax
Double Php 35,000.00++/per pax Php 6,000.00++/per pax
Anahaw Terrace
Triple Php 29,500.00++/per pax Php 5,500.00++/per pax
Quadruple Php 25,500.00++/per pax Php 4,500.00++/per pax
Garden Villa
Single Php 71,500.00++/per pax Php 14,000.00++/per pax
Double Php 42,500.00++/per pax Php 8,000.00++/per pax
Master Villa
Single Php 156,000.00++/per pax Php 34,000.00++/per pax
Double Php 84,500.00++/per pax Php 18,000.00++/per pax

4 Nights Yoga & Detox RetreatSave 20% on the Entire Program!

“Practicing just 15 to 20 minutes of yoga everyday will clear your mind and prepare you for a successful day. Your
energy, breath, metabolism, and overall vitality will stay boosted for the rest of the day”. Designed for practitioners of all levels and approaches to yoga, this Retreat offers a highly effective detox program combined with daily Meditation and Yoga practice.
4 Nights Yoga & Detox Retreat Inclusions:
• Choice of Room, Suite or Villa Accommodation
• Welcome Buko Juice
• 4-Daily ALIVE! Vegan Gourmet Meals & Beverages or Supplemental Diet & Juices
• 4-Daily Nutritional Support & Premium Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1-Prevention Retreat Orientation including Daily Schedule
• 1-Holistic Health Consultation with a Medical Doctor
• 1-Sustainable Lifestyle Discussion
• Medical Services
o 1-Nutritional Microscopy
o 2-Colon Hydrotherapy Sessions
o 1-Wheatgrass Infusion Therapy
o 1-Digital Meridian Diagnostic System (DMS)
o 1-Kidney Cleansing
o 1-Body Salt Bath
• 4- Daily AM & PM Mediation & Yoga Practice.
• SPA Treatments
o 1-30-minutes SPA Treatments
o 1-60-minutes SPA Treatments
o 1-Manicure & Pedicure
• Participation in Complimentary Daily Activities; Core Movement, Power Walking, Jungle Bush Walks, Mandala Flower
Arranging, Creative Arts, Rain Dance, ALIVE! Cuisine Prep Class (Tues & Thurs)
• Use of The Farm Facilities: Swimming Pools, Library, Gym and Meditation Lounges / Pavilions
• Return transfers from Manila Airport – The Farm – Manila Airport or from any point in Metro Manila – The Farm – Metro
Manila
4 Nights Yoga & Detox Retreat
Accommodation, Occupancy Php Retreat Rates ++ per Person
Palmera Suite
Single Php 78,400.00++/ per pax
Double Php 60,000.00++/ per pax
Garden Villa
Single Php 92,800.00++/ per pax
Double Php 67,600.00++/ per pax
Master Villa
Single Php 178,800.00++/ per pax
Double Php 110,400.00++/ per pax

Please Note:
• Promotional Rates are Valid from June 1, 2010 until September 30, 2010.
• All rates are Exclusive of 10% Service Charge and 12% Government Tax
• This Special Offer may not be combined with other Promotions or Retreats available at the same time.
• Free Night is Non-Refundable.
• Rates are Exclusive of Wine & Champagne
• Extra Person Surcharge is Php 1,000.00++ including ALIVE! Vegan Gourmet Breakfast.
• Children under the age of 12 stay free of charge while sharing with their parents. (All Meals are on a Chargeable Basis.)
• Rates are Subject to Change without Prior Notice.
• Cancellation Policy Applies.

The Farm at San Benito
119 Barangay Tipakan, 4217 Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines
Tel: (632) 696 3795 / (632) 884 8073 to 75
24 Hours Cell: (63) 918 884 8078
reservations@thefarm.com.ph / info@thefarm.com.ph
www.thefarm.com.ph

Vegan Fast Food Listing

When you are very hungry, check out these places listed that offer vegan items:

(As  always, be sure to ask for vegan dishes that do not contain meat, dairy, etc. Remember, not everyone understands what vegan means.)

Cafe Dharma, Maite -  at Synergy, Vegetarian, Raw                 
    -Raw, daily specials, smoothies, raw sweet treats

Heathy Hearts Cafe, Dededo, Vegetarian, Macrobiotic     
    -Sandwiches, Wraps, daily specials, fresh juicing & smoothies

Simply Foods, Agana Heights, Vegetarian, ask for Vegan  
    -Salad Bar, daily specials, wheatgrass

Brown Bag Cafe, Tamuning, ask for Vegan
    -Wraps

China Wok, GPO, ask for Vegan
    -Wraps ready made to go

Ruby Tuesday, GPO, ask for Vegan
    -Salad Bar, veggie burgers, guacamole

Taco Del Mar, Micronesian Mall, ask for Vegan
    -Vegan burrito

Cup & Saucer, GPO.
     -Vegan banana almond smoothie, soymilk available for coffee/tea. 

Joinus Restaurant Located in the Tumon Sands Plaza

Ordering vegan food from a Japanese restaurant can be somewhat of a challenge, being that most of their items contain fish products.  However, with a few tweaks here and there, you're able to whip out a satisfactory meal without losing the indulgence of Japanese cuisine.

The Joinus Restaurant located in Tumon Sands Plaza, includes a sushi bar, full service kitchen, and teppanyaki service, allowing a vegan to order several dishes to his or her specifications.  To start, they offer a vegetable salad and regular salad with tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and cucumbers with a yummy Japanese dressing.  Although they may offer you the option of a "complete set" meal, I would advise against this since most of the items included in the set (besides the salad and rice) are not vegan.  However two vegan friendly appetizers are available: edamame and the steamed tofu.  When you order the steamed tofu be sure to tell the waiter that you want it with no fish toppings or fish sauce.  Feel free to request other toppings such as dried seaweed and sesame seeds.

For entrees, you can have sushi and vegetable teppanyaki.  The sushi bar allows you to order any type of vegetable sushi you can think of, from avocado, cucumber, mixed vegetables, to tofu vegetable sushi.  You can order the sushi as either cut rolls or hand-rolled sushi. 

The vegetable teppanyaki is very delicious and my recommendation as a main entree.  It includes bean sprouts, spinach, eggplant, kaboucha squash, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, and tofu.  To order this, make sure you specify no meat sauce, fish sauce, and butter.  If you want more flavor besides the use of sesame oil, salt, and pepper, go ahead and request it with soy sauce, although they usually give you finadene.

While Joinus Restaurant provides a very comfortable atmosphere, be sure to explain your order thoroughly.  Makes sure the waiter writes down your order specifications and be prepared for some weird looks and a lot of repeating of your order.  Most of the workers here do not know what a vegan/vegetarian is, and pretty much every time I eat there, the hostess always says "you really only eat vegetables?"  Other than the subtle alienation, Joinus Restaurant provides you with a full complete vegan meal that leaves you walking out quite satisfied.  

by Beverly Shieh

Healthy Hearts

Don't forget to stop by Healthy Hearts before they close for a week!

Finding Fresh Local Produce

Local produce on Guam can be purchased at grocery stores, farmers' markets, roadside stands or trucks. Many grocery stores, both big and small, carry a small variety of local produce. Depending on the season or availability, tomatoes, okra, green onions, calamansi (local small limes, very fragrant), eggplant (small, purple, and long), chaote (chayote or pear squash), pumpkin, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, white radish (daigo, daikon), and kang kong (morning glory or Chinese spinach) can be found.

The Dededo Flea Market brings together many farmers and sellers of local produce on Saturday mornings for the weekly event. It is located in the parking lot near Dededo Payless. You can browse many items and people-watch on Saturday mornings.

Chamorro Village in Hagatna has farmers' markets open daily, according to the signs posted. Located across from TGIF or Bank of Guam, farmers also sell their produce on Wednesday nights for Chamorro Village Night Market (near the Fisherman's Co-op). I have found boonie peppers, bananas, sweet potatoes, fresh buko (young coconut), and calamansi at this farmers' market.

You can find sweet local corn in Barrigada across from the main Post Office. The farmer has a truck parked outside of the beige National Guard complex. His corn is very sweet and delicious. I usually make a raw corn salad or salsa, and then boil the rest to serve with dinner. Sometimes other vendors show up to sell their tomatoes, sweet tuba (local coconut alcohol, "local beer"), or seafood.

One of my favorite farmers' market is in Harmon next to the Iglesia Ni Christo Church (beautiful, white, grand church with steeple, you can't miss it), east past the Micronesian Mall. There are two vendors, one on each side of the church. The vendor on the west is a local Korean family of farmers. Their produce comes from local farms including their own, and the prices are very good for those watching their budgets. The vegetables are so fresh that they last longer in the refrigerator than produce from grocery stores. Typical vegetables you can find here include tomatoes, watermelon, kang kong, and bananas, to name a few.

On the east side of the church, you will find local Filipino vendors selling different varieties of vegetables that are not from local farms. However, you will find a few seasonal local produce like mangoes or avocados once in awhile.

My favorite thing to get from this vendor is freshly grated mature coconut. It makes me feel like I'm in Southeast Asia, where the vendor cracks open the coconut and grates it on the grinder, right there while you wait, packages it in a plastic bag, and it costs only a few dollars! You can ask the vendor to save the coconut water for you, but there isn't very much, because the coconut is mature. The grated coconut is so fresh and sweet, if you've never had freshly grated coconut, it is unlike any other coconut item you've ever had! I ate it fresh by itself. Amazing! You can also make a fresh coconut crust by dehydrating or baking it in a pan, and then adding a filling of your choice.

Although fresh local produce is not organic, most of it is grown with very little pesticides and herbicides when compared to produce flown in from the States. Some local produce is not grown with pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, but lacks the certified organic label. However, please be warned, produce should always be washed, local or not, with either a homemade or commercially-made vegetable and fruit cleaner to remove pesticides and herbicides.

So whether you want to save a buck, get the freshest produce, or support local agriculture, buying local produce is the way to go!

For more information of how to pick local vegetables, please see this article.
(Since I am currently off island and unable to take my own pictures, the image above borrowed from www.pdn.com)

Warning! Fortune Cookie Cafe is Highly Addictive

Most Asian restaurants can make vegan food because their kitchens are stocked with fresh vegetables and due to the fact that Buddhist vegetarianism being widespread in Asia. However, the Fortune Cookie Cafe in Dededo is unique to Guam because one of the owners, Mr. San Nicholas, is vegan. He and his partner Ms. May have trained their staff and very skilled Thai chef to cook vegan food. As a result, you will not get confused looks from the staff when you place your order and you can expect to get true vegan food.

The restaurant itself is large with a Chinese restaurant feel and large round tables for parties of 10. There is a lunch buffet for under $10, which is more suitable for non-vegetarians. I usually order Pad Thai with mung bean noodles (for a less starchy version) and Tofu Penang Curry with extra vegetables. You should also try their fresh lumpia (spring rolls made from rice wrapper, not fried) with peanut curry sauce and their green papaya salad. Every dish costs around $10, and there is enough to share or eat family style.

It is not very often that I become obsessed with a restaurant, but Fortune Cookie Cafe surely is worthy of addiction!

Vegan fast food from Taco Del Mar

Taco Del Mar is located in the Micronesian Mall Food Court. For about $5, you can get a vegan burrito mondito (or mondo burrito if you are really hungry) that you can get with whole wheat tortilla, beans, rice, pico de gallo, lettuce, olives, cilantro, and your choice of salsa. The ingredients are fresh, service is fast, and the burritos are tasty!

 

Vegan Selections at Taco Del Mar that contain no animal products of any kind:
Tortillas—all flavors
Tortilla chips
Taco shells
Salad shell
Salsa
Habanero sauce
Green sauce
Red sauce
Guacamole
Beans—black, whole pinto and refried
Rice
Cabbage/lettuce
Vegan & Almost Vegan Burrito—tortilla, guacamole, rice, beans, lettuce & salsa
Chips & Salsa
Rice & Beans

http://www.tacodelmar.com/food/vegetarian.html

Palm Cafe at Outrigger

 The Eggplant Marinara is layered with sliced local eggplants, spinach, and mushroom and topped with tofu pesto. It is baked and tastes homecooked. - Wow!

 Spinach Salad with Fig Mustard Dressing - the image says it all!

Hummous on pita with avocados and fresh fruit on the side - an amazing dish!

Curry Kebab

As a vegan, eating out on Guam has been an adventure. As with all restaurants, it is important to have an indepth conversation about what you are ordering with the owner or chef if you have certain dietary needs, rather than the wait staff, who usually does not know as much and may just tell you yes when they don't really know. Eating at an ethnic restaurant can also be tricky when the owner or chef has little command of English. At that point, it gets very interesting for me and entertaining for any observers!

Luckily we had a great conversation with the owner/manager at Curry Kebab before they cooked our meal. In Indian cuisine, ghee, a kind of butter made from milk, and yogurt is commonly used. So we determined which dishes we could potentially eat, then talked to the owner/manager about whether the food could be made without animal products such as ghee and yogurt.  A few of their sauces come pre-made, so although they are vegetarian, they are not vegan.

In the end, we ordered three wonderful dishes with eggplant, potato, and chic peas. The wait for the food can be a bit long, but it's worth the wait.  The food was colorful to the eyes, spicy to the taste, and very rich in flavor!