Portland, Seattle, San Francisco...

I'm about to head to Portland and San Francisco for the first time! And also to Seattle for the second time, but it will be my first experience at the VegFest. Afterwards I'm taking a roadtrip back to Los Angeles, stopping in San Francisco and a some other places along the way (like the Azna Gluten Free bakery).

I've already been to the following places in Seattle:

• Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe
• Hillside Sandwich Shop
• Might O' Donuts - must go back!
• Pizza Pi - must go back!
• Sidecar for Pig's Peace
• Sureshot cafe
• Wayward Cafe

I want to go to places with unique menu items (trying to avoid Asian and Indian). I'm also a little over vegan pizza - there's so much in L.A. - though I'll likely make an exception for Pizza Pi because it's so fabulous. ; ). Places that are healthy, organic, and eco-friendly get priority, but I do like the occasional vegan junk food - I hear Portland has some great corn dogs!

I've got Robert Cheeke as my tour guide (who knows Portland like the back of his hand) but what do you recommend I do? What restaurants are a must? If I could only go to one restaurant in each city, what would you suggest?

Here is what people have recommended so far:

Portland:

• Back to Eden Bakery
• Bay Leaf
• Blossoming Lotus
• Bye & Bye
• Hungry Tiger Too
• Portobello Vegan Trattoria
• Proper Eats
• Stumptown Coffee (almond latte)
• Vita Cafe (biscuits and gravy)

Seattle:

• Georgetown Liquor Co was on a Top 5 Veggie Burger list, and I love their tag-line: "STRONG ENOUGH FOR A CARNIVORE, MADE FOR A HERBIVORE!"

San Francisco:

• Greens Restaurant
• Herbivore - The Earthly Grill
• Maggie Mudd (did an interview with them at WorldFest)

Vegan donut shops on the West Coast: video reviews

In light of all the drama surrounding Dee's Donuts in Los Angeles, I thought it was good timing to celebrate two wonderful donuts shops with excellent vegan options: Mighty O' in Seattle and Ronald's in Las Vegas.

Click on HD for the best quality

Sureshot cafe - Seattle: yummy vegan scone

I just ate my strawberry-peach vegan scone that I bought on Saturday from Sureshot cafe, and it still tasted fresh and delicious...never-mind that it was so greasy that it soaked the brown bag it was in. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture because I was too excited to eat it! It was a good size, with icing, and strawberry-peach filling.

Sureshot is a little cafe in the University district. I went in because it had a big sign bragging about all its vegan pastries.

Hillside Sandwich Shop - Seattle

Wow - Hillside Quickie's Sandwich Shop was great.. I haven't had a gyro since I went vegetarian 6 years ago, and this one was amazing. I subbed the potato side for mac and yease and it was very yummy too.

Stay tuned for the video review!

Mighty O Donuts - Seattle

Mighty O was amazing. I'm bringing back 6 donuts to LA! I'm so mad LA doesn't have an organic, vegan donut shop...or pizza place. Maybe I'll have to open my own....

UPDATE: They survived the plane ride back to L.A., even after being in my bag for about 6 hours (leaving for the airport until getting home). Then, I froze them and they actually tasted good the next morning, even before defrosting them! And lastly, I put a frozen donut in the microwave for 30 seconds and it was very tasty. Definitely not as good as fresh in the morning, but better than no vegan donut at all!

Wayward Cafe - Seattle

Yum! The cheezy tofu scramble at Wayward Cafe is excellent - very different flavor. Even the toast is amazing!

I asked for kids portions of the pancakes and bisket so I could try more items from the menu!

The silver dollar pancakes are fluffy, light, and slightly sweet.

The biscuit and gravy is savory, with mushrooms. The biscuit has herbs in it, giving it great flavor. The gravy is great - not too thick, but packed with authentic gravy flavor.

Stay tuned for the video review!

Pizza Pi in Seattle = Best vegan pizza ever!

Loving Seattle already since Pizza Pi is in walking distance from my friend's apt and their Garlic Sauce Pizza is out of this world amazing!

Why can't L.A. have it too? (I'm sorry Lex, but Purgatory Pizza is nowhere near as good. Even though they use the same Teese cheese, the flavors at Pizza Pi are so much better and more creative)

UPDATE: I went again the following night and had the Thai Chicken pizza - sooooo good!

Stay tuned for the video review!

Seattle - Vegan recommendations?

I'm going to Seattle tomorrow for 3 days - got any great vegan recommendations?

There is a wonderful site full of info about vegan options in Seattle - there are a ton!

THANK YOU LEX! For showing me a picture of vegan donuts in Seattle! I seriously want to cry that place looks so good - vegan donuts are so rare, and that place is a mile from where I'm staying!

I saw Quarry Girl's post on Seattle too - I love you guys!