Organic Restaurants - ALABAMA

Caribbean House
2612B Jordan Ln
Huntsville, AL 35816
205-837-1230
Vegetarian/Vegan

Garden Cove
628 Meridian St North
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-534-2683
Mostly organic

Golden Temple
1901 11th Ave
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-933-6333
Grocery/Bakery/Deli/Juice/Organic produce

Hot and Hot Fish Club
2180 11th Ct. South
Birmingham, AL 35205
205-933-5474
Fresh homegrown local produce, seasonal menu
www.hotandhotfishclub.com

Jerusalem Café
5773 Airport Blvd
Mobile, AL 36608
334-304-1155

Our Daily Bread
2413 B Jordan Ln Northwest
Huntsville, AL 35816
256-722-9696
Mostly vegetarian

Purple Onion
1550 Montegomery Hwy Ste P
Hoover, AL 35216
205-822-7322
Restaurant, Deli, Grill
www.purpleonionofhoover.com

The Standard Bistro
3 Mt. Laurel Lane
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-995-0512
Uses local organic produce and meats

TBO Deli
5510 Hwy 280
Birmingham, AL 35242
205-995-8888
Organic juice bar - smoothies, raw living food daily special

Michele Michaels has been active in raising awareness for alternative and natural methods of curing and treating all manner of illnesses.

You can also access the whole of the site at http://www.drclarkuniversity.blogspot.com/ (we will continue to update) and for more information on curing disease with out drugs/surgery or in combination with traditional medicine go to drclarkuniversity.com

But lately I’ve been wondering:

Why is it that you can get mounds of food for a low price? The answer is simple: you’re not eating the highest quality products available. Mass produced food products treated with fillers, preservatives and pesticides are cheap, which makes them more attractive to use. Some of these chemical agents remain on food through the cleaning and cooking process, which means, sad to say, they become part of your meal. So your favorite dish may taste great and be easy on the wallet. But many people believe your body has to work harder to break down your meal due to the chemical additives.

You may think you’re eating a healthy steamed vegetable based dish, but in reality you may be having something quite different. Organically grown food products are not subject to these processes. The result is a higher quality, healthier product for you to enjoy.

Thankfully, some smart restaurant owners specializing in Asian cuisine have caught on to this. They realize that organically grown food items are truly healthier. They are giving their customers exactly what they believe they are eating.

Asian Organic food, simply put, are foods that are not treated with chemical preservatives and pesticides. They are foods that grown (or raised) without genetic engineering, growth hormones irradiation, antibodies or artificial ingredients. Food grown in this natural environment reduce the bodies exposure to toxins, which can help boost the immune system. Nutrition levels are usually higher in organically grown products in comparison to the same commercially grown items.

And the best part is, it tastes great! I think it tastes even better. Vegetables taste fresher and crispier. You will be eating a healthier meal and not give up any taste and satisfaction. Traditional recipes are still used, but with higher quality, healthier products whenever possible. You can now enjoy Pad Thai, Ribs and Wings knowing that what you are having is safer and healthier.

An emergence of Asian Organic Restaurants has begun in New York City. You can now find your favorite Thai and Vietnamese dishes prepared with organic food products. Most dishes are served “family style”, so everyone can sample this incredibly unique and tasteful cuisine. And you won’t break the bank doing it! Remember that you are getting really getting what you pay for; a delicious, satisfying meal without any chemicals and pesticides.

So the next time you are in New York and in the mood for Thai or Vietnamese cuisine, call ahead and ask if the menu is organic. If it’s not keep dialing. There are much healthier alternatives available to you.

Check out New York City’s premier Asian Organic Restaurant: Tigerland

Tim Finnegan is a freelance copy writer that enjoys writing about various hobbies and interests. His main goal is to inform and educate others on an array of products that are fun, time-saving and interesting at the same time.

Many people have started to focus on their bodies as a temple, and thus have adjusted their diets to help make their bodies more pure. The scope of organic style diets can be as small as enjoying organic fruits and vegetables every now, and then, to being a vegan who does not eat anything that isn’t organic.

With such a diverse pallet of taste that customers bring to the table, organic buffet restaurants have their hands filled trying to please everyone and still turn a profit in the process. The greatest organic buffets are those that are different than traditional buffets in food quality, but similar in diverse selection.

Many organic buffets will be skewed towards the vegan or non meat eating customers as those seem to be the most faithful followers of the trend. Therefore, you will usually see a very few meat offerings on an organic buffet with the majority of the foods being non meat based.

Many would believe the price of organic buffet foods would be higher than those of a traditional buffet, but this is not true. The prices seem to fall in line with that of a traditional buffet. The reasoning could be that organic buffets focus on higher quality vegetables, but offer less quantities of meats. Traditional buffets offer more meats at a less standard of quality, thus lowering the food costs. These factors balance out for about the same price at both a traditional buffet and an organic one.

Della Franklin is a business owner, successful IT Systems Manager & Internet Marketer. She has experience as a teacher, a Certified Network Engineer, as well as being a cook, wife, & mother. See more about her at http://www.eatinghealthysite.com

http://www.foodielooksatfood.com or http://www.dogwoodsquare.com

Many restaurants have recognized that they may lose business if they do not provide vegetarian options to their customers. For example, if a group of eight friends plans to go to dinner and one of the friends is vegetarian, the group may forego a restaurant if it does not offer vegetarian options.

This would mean the loss of eight potential customers. Carrying vegetarian options, on the other hand, could win the continued business of these and many other people. Many restaurants have recognized this.

We all know fast food is not the healthiest, but sometimes there’s nowhere else to go late at night when you just want a quick bite. There are several fast food chains that offer vegetarian options.

Burger King sells the BK Veggie, which is available at almost every one of their restaurants. If ordered without mayonnaise, the BK Veggie is vegan.

McDonalds has a McVeggie, which is not widely available. Consumers, however, should go to McDonalds and ask for the McVeggie to be placed on the menu. The McVeggie is vegan.

At Denny’s vegetarians may substitute any burger with a Boca Burger patty. This provides a lot of options, since Denny’s has a fairly wide selection of burgers. The burgers can be eaten with a side of fries, or a side of onion rings.

As far as subs go, Subway has a couple vegetarian options. The Veggie sub can be made with whole wheat bread (NOTE: Subway’s whole wheat bread contains honey, which some vegans choose not to eat), fresh vegetables and olive oil and vinegar. Subway also has a veggie patty (like a meat patty without the meat). The veggie patty is not vegan, though it is vegetarian.

Quiznos Subs also has a vegetarian sub. Customers have the options of veggies, mushrooms, cheese, oregano, lettuce and guacamole. The sub is toasted just like all Quiznos subs are. This sub is vegan or vegetarian with cheese.

Other popular restaurant chains carry vegetarian options.

Cheesecake factory, for example, has: angel hair pasta with garlic and marinara sauce, an eggplant sandwich and a portabello burger. Other options on the menu may be adapted to be vegetarian. Just talk to the server.

PF Changs Chinese bistro also has several vegetarian options. They serve seasoned tofu lettuce wraps for appetizers, spring rolls (may contain eggs), coconut curry vegetable, as well as other vegetarian plates.

Other than these chains, there are many other options for vegetarians at restaurants. Some of the most vegetarian friendly restaurant types include: Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican and Italian.

Vegetarian activists recognize the value in ordering vegetarian options from restaurants. By ordering these options, consumers are essentially showing the restaurants that there is a demand for vegetarian food. If the vegetarian options at a restaurant go unpurchased, restaurants may phase them out and that can be one step backwards for the vegetarian movement.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Vegetarian guide.

What Type of Food is Served?

New York raw food restaurants serve an assortment of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains—including raw desserts, raw pizza, raw “lasagna,” and more. Surprisingly, raw food tastes great—and best of all, it’s good for you. Raw food restaurants use several tools to prepare food for customers: a food processor, a high-powered blender, juicers, and variable-temperature dehydrators, among others.

Absolutely no microwaves, ovens, or stoves are used. This is done to preserve the live enzymes presents in all raw food. Live enzymes are destroyed when food is cooked beyond 114 degrees Fahrenheit.

Raw Food Chefs & Cooking Schools

The raw food trend has gathered steam in recent months, spawning “gourmet raw food chefs” and raw food cooking schools. Classic chefs are visiting New York raw food restaurants to discover a cuisine that offers surprising diversity, flavor and texture.

Popular New York Raw Food Restaurants

One of the most popular New York raw food restaurants is Pure Food & Wine, which opened in June 2004 and serves eye-catching dishes in an upscale setting. Other well-known New York raw food restaurants include Quintessence, Blue Green, and Bonobos.

Emily Rutherford has been eating a raw vegan diet since 2003. She publishes The Raw Food Restaurant Guide, which includes up-to-date listings of raw food restaurants worldwide, plus where to buy organic produce when traveling. To grab your free copy, visit The Raw Food Restaurant Guide.

If you’re planning to take a cruise, you’re in luck. A number of cruise lines offer vegetarian options, a complete vegetarian menu, or can make you special dishes on request. Celebrity Cruises has received rave reviews for their excellent gourmet vegetarian cuisine, which tailors meals to diners’ needs. NCL and Royal Caribbean also rank highly with vegetarian passengers. Carnival Cruise Lines, on the other hand, may be one to avoid. Although they offer one vegetarian item per menu and claim they can accommodate vegetarian requests, they don’t have a dietician on board, so their ability to make changes is limited. For vegans, this can be a big problem. One vegan reports that she was assured before the cruise that her diet would be no trouble; however, all she could actually eat was bread, lettuce, and an occasional baked potato. When booking a cruise with any company, tell them you’re vegetarian or vegan and ask any questions you may have about menu offerings.

Land-lubbers may find the easiest way to assure a variety of vegetarian choices is to stay at a resort with several restaurants. The Sandals chain, for example, includes up to eleven eateries at each location. Their menus typically include at least one vegetarian option in each category. While that may sound limiting, resort menus tend to change frequently, often nightly. Resorts also usually have a buffet, so you’ll be able to pick and choose. Sample menus are generally posted on a resort’s website, so logging online may be one way to do a bit of investigative work. Still, it’s a good idea to check with the resort before booking to find out how veg-friendly they are.

Higher-end resorts are often more conscious of serving healthy food, including vegetarian dishes. Some of them use locally grown and/or organic items in their cooking. Even if you can’t afford to stay there, you may be able to eat at their restaurants. For instance, the Sugar Mill Restaurant at the Sugar Mill Hotel (British Virgin Islands) is a local treat that’s worth the trip. Voted “The Best Restaurant in the Caribbean” by readers of Caribbean Travel & Life, this gourmet restaurant’s ever-changing menu always offers several vegetarian dishes and its atmosphere makes it a great place for a special night out.

Meat-free travelers interested in visiting the Dominican Republic should consider Sirenis Hotels, which have an all-vegetarian restaurant at their Punta Cana resort complex. Comprised of Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort and Sirenis Tropical Suites, the vegetarian restaurant seems to be on the all-inclusive plan of Tropical Suites but not Cocotal Beach Resort. If you prefer to stay at Cocotal, check with them to find out if you’ll be able to eat at the vegetarian restaurant.

As far as specific countries go, Jamaica is veggie heaven. Because Rastafarians are vegetarian, options abound. The key word to remember is “Ital,” derived from “vital.” Ital cooking uses pure, organic ingredients, and is essentially vegan. However, some dishes may contain honey, so if you don’t eat honey be sure to ask about it. In fact, Ital is a good word to look out for anywhere, as Ital food can be found in other countries, too.

Puerto Rico also has a number of cafés and restaurants which are either all-vegetarian or veg-friendly. If you’re having a hard time finding a place, keep your eyes out for the fast food chain Pollo Tropical, which doesn’t put meat in its rice and beans.

Of course, ethnic restaurants are good stand-bys anywhere. An island’s ethnic population will partially determine what’s available. For instance, Trinidad has a number of Chinese and Indian restaurants because immigrants came over from those countries prior to the 20th century.

For casual or take-out meals, look for natural food supermarkets, which sometimes have delis with vegetarian items. Nature’s Way in the British Virgin Islands’ Road Town is one such place.

The brief list of dining options below will help you get started. Some aren’t exclusively vegetarian, but all include at least a few veggie choices on their menus. Vegan and vegan-friendly are indicated with a V.

Antigua: Kalabashe, St. John’s West. V

Barbados: Back to Eden, Speightstown. V

Cancun: 100% Natural. V

Cayman Islands: Veggie Delights, Georgetown. V

Dominican Republic: Lotos Restaurant, Santo Domingo. V

Nevis: Natural Livity, Newcastle Village. V

Puerto Rico: Asiquesi, Cabo Rojo. V

St. Martin: Top Carrot, Simpson Bay.

Trinidad: Mother Nature, Port of Spain.

Tobago: Kariwak Village Restaurant, Crown Point.

US Virgin Islands: Soul Vegetarian, Christiansted. V

A few good online resources are www.HappyCow.net, www.VegDining.com, and www.VegSource.com. Unlike the first two, VegSource doesn’t have a directory, but its forum has a few threads on restaurants in the Caribbean, and you can always post your own question. Also take a look at the online international yellow pages. Just remember that businesses have to pay money to be listed, so not all restaurants will be represented.

When you’re on your trip, if you want to try a restaurant that’s out of the way, call first since listings can be outdated. With a little preparation, you’ll spend less time worrying about where you’re going to eat and more time enjoying your travels.

Karen Joslin writes for Antigua-Guide.info, VirginIslands-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.

© 2006, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc.
Article may only be reprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all links remain live.

Time for Romance

On The Rocks at Sila Evason Hideaway

Dining on the Rocks, the signature restaurant of the Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa, boasts uninterrupted 270 degree views of the surrounding sea and outlying islands. With tables for two spread over no less than eight different areas, there are never more than a handful of tables in any one section. The most romantic spot however must be the single table which sits alone on its own private deck which is so popular with couples it is often booked days in advance. The menu is innovative and not only reflects a fusion of Asian and Western styles, but also offers some unusual contrasts which can best be described as “New Asian Cuisine” with a wine selection especially chosen to accompany every dish. Try the “Experiences” 10 course set dinner to get a real taste of what this restaurant it all about.

Tempting Thai

Chef Chom’s at Tongsai Bay Cottages

This is one restaurant that can truly claim to offer “Royal Thai Cuisine”, as Chef Chom herself comes from a family who used to cook in the palace of the late Princess Vibhavadee Rangsit. Equally delicious is the more home style Thai cooking, which features the award winning “Tongsai Thai Salad with Seafood”.

The restaurant itself sits on a low hill and is extremely spacious and airy, with seating both inside and out, and naturally offers some great views of the bay below. Despite being somewhat off the beaten track at Choeng Mon Beach, it is well worth the effort to make the trip at least once during your stay.

Gourmet Dining

Betelnut

Betelnut has now been around long enough to be classed as a Samui institution, offering casual yet elegant dining in an intimate setting. Operations are overseen by experienced chef Jeffrey Lord, who’s innovative, creative and spontaneous dishes are a unique fusion of Thai, Californian, European and Japanese styles. Although the menu is small, it offers a wide range of flavours and textures. For serious food lovers, Jeffrey can design special tasting menus with advance notice. Among the dishes on offer are Blackened Wahoo with Samui Salsa and the intriguingly named Buddha Jumped Over the Wall (if you want to know what it is you will just have to go and try it for yourself!)

Mouth-Watering Organic

Zazen Restaurant at Zazen Boutique Resort & Spa

This uniquely designed restaurant sits right on the waters edge between Maenam and Bophut. The menu could best be described as “Contemporary East to West cuisine”, with a strong emphasis on the use of healthy organic ingredients wherever possible, something which surprisingly is not always easy to achieve on the island. There are a number of set menus on offer such as the “Asian Tropical Menu” featuring Oriental Cuisine from six different countries or the four course lobster menu for two, as well as an extensive a la carte menu. The wine cellar selection more than equals the food selection, boasting more than 75 different varieties of wine.

Johny is currently living on Samui Thailand and is working on a number of travel websites. If you are looking for a great Samui hotel then do visiting http://www.mysamuiholiday.com. Read more about Koh Samui in his Samui Guide.