Our day in the Gardein kitchen was obviously the standout day of our Los Angeles visit. It was magical, and one that I wish I could re-live. The rest of the trip had some highs and unfortunately, some lows.
Let’s start with the highs…
When we arrived at the hotel, the woman working the front desk noticed that I was there from Gardein. She loves their products.
I explained that I’d won a recipe contest, and she was thrilled for me. Then she said, “So wait. Does that mean you’re vegetarian?” I said that David and I are both vegan.
She was instantly very excited and said, “Well, you’re the person I need to talk to then!”
She explained that she wants to go vegan and told me about her family cooking history. We hit it off right away, and I gave her my card with blog address.
Then she started clicking through her computer and said that they had a room overlooking the water that she’d move us to instead. I’ve never been offered an upgrade for a room in my life. So it was such a wonderful surprise.
On our way out for dinner that night, I stopped by the desk again to give her an extra copy I had of Kristy’s book, But I Could Never Go Vegan. (I had already purchased a copy when the publishers sent me one for review. I figured I’d pass the extra to a friend while I was there.)
She was so tickled, she came out from behind the desk to give me and David hugs. It was such a great moment of connection.
That night David and I went to dinner at Sage Vegan Bistro. I’d been to their Echo Park location, but never the one in Culver City.
They have an outdoor seating area. And the inside has a vaulted ceiling/warehouse feeling to it.
After a full day of travel, David and I were both famished. We started with an appetizer of fried artichoke hearts. The appetizer came with two dipping sauces – ranch and marinara.
Living in Iowa, I really miss decadent appetizers at restaurants. Here, vegan appetizers are rare. And if they exist, they’re usually things like an olive plate or pita and hummus.
Those are just fine. But I miss the possibility of nachos, buffalo seitan or cauliflower, fried pickles…
This one was definitely decadent. And as a huge artichoke heart fan, I was all over it. By the time dinner arrived, I was pretty much full.
David had the spicy pineapple fried rice and salad, which was very tasty. The fried rice included tofu, broccoli, almonds, and onions.
I ordered the spicy Brazilian burrito. I am crazy about plantains. So when I saw the burrito was stuffed with them along with black beans, rice, and avocado, I had to order it.
Unfortunately, they seemed to have forgotten the plantains. I opened the tortilla and poked around looking for them, but they were nowhere to be found. The burrito was still good, though.
(Update: Once I got home, I created this black bean burrito recipe with plantains to scratch that itch.)
The following day was the cooking class in the Gardein tasting kitchen.
When I woke up and opened the curtains, this was the view. The light was that perfect, hazy Southern California glow that they captured beautifully in the Christmas in LA video.
(Have you seen that video? It’s my favorite melancholy love song to Los Angeles.)
Looking out, I felt so overwhelmed with joy at my good fortune. Knowing that the day before the icy wind had been whipping my face, and that day I was soaking in palm trees was almost too much happiness to contain.
And now for the lows…
The following day, our luck shifted. When we woke up, David was burning up with a fever.
We were supposed to spend the day hiking with our dear friend, Leah. But David was in no condition to go anywhere.
I offered to stay with him. But he insisted that I go see Leah. He just wanted to sleep all day. And he knew how much I’d been looking forward to it.
I went to Whole Foods and picked up some juices and food for him. Then I went to see Leah.
Leah and I went for lunch at SunCafé. They’ve moved locations since I was last there. They’re now in a larger space with an outdoor seating area.
I felt delighted for them that their business is booming. There were loads of people inside.
It was a far cry from when I used to be the only one in their smaller location while people walked inside, heard the place was vegan, and then left. Now the tables were packed.
Leah and I split the cashew kale shake, which was amazing as always.
Then I ordered the French onion soup.
It was fabulous. It tasted like a mushroom broth base, lots of sautéed onions, and cashew cheese with croutons on top.
I made a bit of an ordering blunder by then having the farmers market pizza with mushrooms and onion on a cashew cheese base.
The pizza and soup had similar flavor profiles. In retrospect, I would have enjoyed something with different vegetables more.
I wish I would have stuck with my usual favorites, the raw supreme pizza or the kale colossus salad. The pizza was very filling and plenty for two to share.
It was while we were eating lunch that I started feeling the pangs of David’s illness creeping up on me. David had flown to San Jose for a conference just a few days before our LA trip. And unbeknownst to us, all of his coworkers on that trip got hit with the same thing. I started feeling achy all over, weak, and congested.
However, I had so been looking forward to that day, I pushed on. Leah and I drove to the starting point of my favorite hike.
It starts by the carousel in Griffith Park. And it ends at a helipad at the top of the mountain with an amazing view of Los Angeles and the Griffith Park Observatory. I have made that hike many, many times. It is my happy place.
We had a wonderful hike and a lovely talk. But by the time we were back down, I was feeling the worse for it. I went back to Leah’s house and slept until we were meeting up with friends that night.
I so badly wanted to cancel. But I had made a general call out to friends on Facebook. I didn’t know who was coming or how to let them know that we weren’t feeling well.
I pushed through. It was so good to see our friends. But I wished I was feeling 100% for it.
The next day, David and I couldn’t leave the hotel room. Just outside, there were people riding bikes, paddling on the water, running along the beach, and I was too weak to even make it to the patio.
Our appetites were nil. I was supposed to go to a party Kristy was hosting with some of my blogging buddies, but I was too sick to go. So disappointing.
The next day, we went to a walk-in clinic. We had now checked out of our hotel. Leah was kind enough to let David rest at her house, while we caught up in the kitchen.
Then that night, Kristy and Chris had us over for bowls of soup. Kristy is such a phenomenal cook. And it was a bummer that with our appetites diminished, we could barely taste it.
However, we were thrilled to see Kristy and Chris. I would have been really disappointed to be that close and miss them altogether.
And that night, we left.
I didn’t get to see so many of the people I’d planned on seeing. We weren’t able to go to Crossroads with the gift card that the folks at Gardein had given us (although, we can use it on a future trip). We didn’t make it to Gracias Madre or the new vegan cheese shop, Vromage, both of which I’d been wanting to try. I didn’t get to go to my favorite dress shop.
We were so close to everything we wanted to do/see, but so far away. I couldn’t believe the timing since neither of us had been sick like that in years.
So that’s it. The highs and the lows. Thankfully, we’re both feeling better now.
Jojo
Oh Cadry, being sick whilst travelling sucks! I’m in Hanoi right now and after getting knocked out with a cold / fever / migraine for three days I went out for food and boom, 24 hours later, food poisoning! Ugh! That French Onion soup does look excellent though and I’m finally getting a chance to catch up on blogs which is great.
Cadry
Oh, no, Jojo! That’s the worst! I read on your blog that you weren’t feeling well, but then being hit with food poisoning after that is cruel and unusual. I hope that’s all behind you now, and the rest of your trip is smooth sailing!
Kristy
I love your blog’s new look! It’s beautiful and very fitting for you. 🙂
I’m so sorry you were sick during the majority of your trip. I’m so happy we got to see you, though, because it would have been terrible if we’d been 5 minutes from each other the whole time and never saw each other. Can’t wait to see you both in May!
Cadry
Thanks, Kristy! That’s so nice to hear!
Yes, I’m relieved that we at least got a little bit of time together. It would have amped up the sad factor even more if I’d gone back without seeing you and Chris at all! I’m looking forward to May too!!
cookeasyvegan
Under the circumstances, I’d say to made the best possible use of the ‘good’ time. Over all it looks like a great trip with good friends, good food, and a wonderful cooking experience. Sorry it had to go downhill at the end. 🙁 I love the interaction with the desk clerk, and the fact you had the book to hand her. Maybe we should all carry around a spare vegan book with us just in case!
Cadry
No kidding! It was very fortuitous that I had Kristy’s book in my carry-on.
Hannah
Ugh such a bummer! I’m glad you were at least able to do a few things. LA has changed so much since we were there that I feel like going back would almost be like visiting a new city. That’s what I love about it though. It’s ever changing, but never loses itself. I hope y’all can go back soon for a proper visit 🙂
Hannah
Oh and I loooove the new look here!
Cadry
It’s true! LA just keeps growing, expanding, and changing. It was also a change of pace for us to stay on the west side. I exclusively lived in the Valley when I was there, and so it was fun to have a different vantage point. It definitely makes me wish that I’d spent some time living closer to the water, but maybe I still will at some point! (Fingers crossed!)
Thanks for the kind words about the new look! It’s such a breath of fresh air for me. I’ve wanted to update the design for a long time now, and I love what Melissa, the designer, did with it.
An Unrefined Vegan
Sounds as if the highs outweighed the lows – but it is dispiriting to get sick when on a trip, especially one with so many things to do and so much planned.
PS your site looks wonderful!
Cadry
Thanks, Ann! I’m so happy about the new look. I just keep coming to my blog to take another peek. I love what Melissa, the designer, did with it.
Becky Striepe
Man, I’m so sorry to hear that you got sick on such a lovely trip. But what a lovely story about the woman working at the hotel! High five for spreading the vegan love!
Cadry
Thanks, Becky! It was such a great moment of connection and very fortuitous that I had Kristy’s book with me. It was kismet!
Shannon Y-I-V
Sorry about that experience, Cadry, getting sick on vacation is rotten timing indeed. Glad you are feeling better now and got to enjoy a couple great meals there before you were hit with the thick of it!
Cadry
Thanks, Shannon! Yes, I’m glad the trip wasn’t a total loss. There were still a lot of good points, even though we missed out on some things we were looking forward to doing/seeing/eating.
Siobhan
Sorry to hear you all got so sick on your trip – hope you make it back to LA soon! The vegan food choice sounds amazing. Love your new blog design by the way 🙂
Cadry
Thank you, Siobhan! I’m so excited about it. I’ve wanted a new blog look for a long time now, and I just love what the designer, Melissa, did with it.
Kylie @ FotV
I’m so sorry you guys got sick 🙁 I was so looking forward to meeting you at Vegan Street Fair! But I’m glad you guys got the royal treatment at the hotel and experienced Sage’s new location!
Cadry
I was looking forward to meeting you too! Any chance you’re going to Vida Vegan Con this year? If not, I’m sure we’ll meet in person at some point!
Susan
Such a shame to get sick when you were on holidays. So far from home and from healing, helpful kitties.
The rest of your trip sounds amazing though. I particularly would love that french onion soup. So yum!
Cadry
Thanks, Susan! Yes, some cuddly kitties would have been greatly appreciated! We definitely made up for snuggle time once David and I returned. They were only too happy to keep me company in bed.
Laloofah
I just love your “woman at the front desk” story! How perfect that you had a copy of Kristy’s book to give her (that was so sweet!) I hope she’ll be a frequent visitor to your blog. Experiences like that are so gratifying!
And so is your “then & now” story about SunCafé. The contrast of it once being small and nearly empty with potential customers walking out upon finding it was vegan with its current large, jam-packed popularity so perfectly illustrates the incredible growth of veganism in the past couple of years! (For which I hold you, among others, personally responsible!) 🙂
Bummer about the missing plantains, far bigger bummer about the ill-timed (pun intended) pestilence that found you guys and laid you low! There’s nothing worse than being sick away from home, especially on vacation when it means missing out on so many fun things you’d looked forward to and traveled so far to enjoy. Kudos to you for soldiering on with the hike and party, but I sure hope the Universe makes it up to you on your next trip there!
Cadry
It was so great making that connection and very fortuitous that I had Kristy’s book with me. It was as if I realized, “Oh, I know who this book is for!”
Yes, it’s so wonderful that the business at SunCafe is booming! It’s been nearly 5 years since I left LA, and veganism has exploded there. It was already packed with vegan restaurants when I left, but it’s only more so now. The space where SunCafe is now used to be a pasta/pizza place, and before I went vegan, I went there a couple of times. It’s awesome that the place where they used to be selling all kinds of animal products is now filled with loads of people eagerly eating kale salads and raw tacos. I’d love to see more growth in that direction – especially if it could grow about 2,000 miles east! 😉
Thank you for the sweet words! Hugs to you!
Veganopoulous
how disappointing 🙁 I’m glad you got to do some of the stuff you had planned but what a bummer to miss out on the rest. Great to hear you’re both feeling better!
Cadry
Thank you! It was so miserable sitting in our hotel room checking Facebook and seeing all of the stuff we were missing while only miles away from it all. Luckily, I have no doubt that we’ll be back to LA again. We can make up for those lost days then. I’m relieved to be feeling better too. That thing hit us both like a ton of bricks.
Abby Bean
So disappointing! I’m sorry it wasn’t wonderful through and through. BUT, that French onion soup is the stuff of dreams. WOWZA.
Cadry
Yeah, the French onion soup was fabulous! Before I went vegan, I was a big fan of French onion soup. Since going vegan, I always order it when I see a vegan version. SunCafe nailed it.
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I’m jealous you got to eat a couple awesome meals and see Kristy, but I’m sorry you were sick! I hate when those so close/so far moments happen!
Cadry
They’re the worst! I couldn’t believe that so many things I’d been dreaming about were at hand, and yet I was too sick to do any of them. Still, I’m very glad for the day at Gardein and seeing the friends I was able to see.
BurbankVegan
I am grateful for the time we shared, but sorry illness put such a big damper on your trip!
Cadry
Thanks, Leah! I am grateful too that we did get to see each other a couple of different days. I just wish I’d been 100% for it!
Caitlin
what a trip- truly with highs and lows. i’m so glad you at least got to see kristy and chris a little bit and have your adventure with leah.
Cadry
Me too! Even though there were a lot of things I missed, I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with Kristy, Chris, and Leah!