The Coffee Tree, located in Park Place (Norfolk, Va) is not only the most adorable little coffee spot with vegan options- it's got really cool history!

Now I don't know about you, but I love antiquing and thrifting and essentially anything that is retro. So long story short, Gabriel and Tomilynn Rapisardi nabbed this old brick apartment building up. This particular unit (where the store is now located) was once covered up, tucked away and filled with junk. Get this, it used to be one of those confectionary shops back in the day! They uncovered this gem and restored it and now it's a legitimately delicious hangout. Give their story from The Pilot Online a read, great read:

http://pilotonline.com/inside-business/couple-plants-a-coffee-tree-in-norfolk-neighborhood/article_9d43f637-dda2-58da-96e0-9e6a6a030bab.html


My friends took me over to The Coffee Tree just today. It was windy, overcast- perfect day for coffee, essentially. The Rapisardi's were there and we were greeted warmly and felt really welcome, like old friends. Tomilynn was behind the counter preparing and serving- P.S. she is beautiful, funny and was just charming as all get out! Anyhoo, she told us about the vegan whip they carry and we all were on board with getting our vegan smoothies and lattees topped top the brim with the stuff.

My friends got some delicious chocolatey strawberry things and warm, melty caramel things- I got the cold, tropical island smoothie and it was so tasty you guys ( add that vegan whip and it was phenomenal, be still my heart).

So the rain started coming down, as I'm wandering around peeping the local art hanging up and the quaint bouquets of wildflowers on each table (that I took far too many pictures of) when it got crazy outside, quickly! After about only 20 minutes we realized it was time to head home and get out of the weather that was coming in because rain in Norfolk is no joke my friends. Tomilynn walked us to the door (suggested we may want to take our shoes off- to which none of us listened) and my two friends and I waded through shin deep rainwater, trying to scrunch all of us under one umbrella and laughing hysterically. Might I add, we lost a shoe here and there and the sound of Tomilynn giggling in the distance (truth be told) made me almost pee my pants.

All in all, what a freakin' fantastical day at a cool place, with awesome history, with some seriously nice folks and vegan stuff to fill our bellies.

​

I hardly used to visit the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market. It seemed quite bare to me and lacking in options for someone with vegan wants- besides the veggies, obviously! I wanted to indulge in the fresh baked goods and lunches like everyone else was doing at the market's cafe and bakery, but alas, everything had meat, milk or eggs.

​Fast forward a bit..

A good friend of mine told me I had to check out the NEW vegan-bakery shop at the market but I was certain she must be mistaken that it was  vegan friendly. Was it too good to be true?

We made our way to the market and once we got there, we were greeted so warmly and lovingly by the owner. Another wonderful and unexpected surprise was that she shared this great little shop  between her (Kahiau's Organic Sweet treats) & Flutterby Soap which has plenty of candles and bodycare for vegans! Um jackpot! (PS love the conditioner!)

I have gotten to know these big hearted, kind women that run this shop and they have really brought me joy. They put their all into their work and it comes through. I love trying new treats each week, there are gluten free and raw options and everything is always vegan! It's also nice that I can grab my conditioner and soap etc. while I'm there! Yaaaay for cruelty-free beauty and goodies!

Kahiau's now offers meal services for busy people, large families, people who care about GMO's and Organic foods, or people that just love the food and want to stock up their fridge. Be sure to reach out to the Owner for pricing and pick up info! If you haven't tried the Chipotle Mac n Cheeze, you haven't lived!

​So feel free to drop in and say hello each weekend at the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market shops Kahiau's Organic Sweet Treats & Flutterby Soaps. Just don't forget to grab the good stuff before it's gone (like the poptarts )!

​Facebook:

Kahiua's

​https://m.facebook.com/Kahiaupaper/

Flutterby
https://m.facebook.com/Flutterby-Soap-Company-630620676955158/

PS I was never a biscotti fan, also no biscotti I've ever come across is gf and vegan. This is both, BOTH I TELL YOU! It's also not horrifically dry and hard as a rock but is softer and chewy and absolutely phenomenal. You're welcome.


xo Supernaturalegirl

If you have a loveship with Indian food, you must drop by- especially if you're vegan or vegetarian. Countless options, delicious smells and a totally nice staff. It may look like just a hole in the wall restaurant but it's a total gem.

To be honest, the only reason I say "hole in the wall" is because it's kind of the backside of an eerie, somewhat desolate shopping center.  Inside, however, the place is clean, welcoming and decorated with bold colors and textures.

We didn't plan on stopping to eat at all, we hardly ever get into Newport News but the Hubs figured since we were there we might try something I could blog about. Such a smart man. Camera ready and tummy growling, we searched for nearby, well liked places. This was it across the board.

Now, to be honest there is not a TON of vegan options at all, but I love simply curry dishes and am not much for dessert when I am out so it pleased me just fine. My Hubby eat vegetarian sometimes and he had a ton to choose from. All the desserts contain milk, so if your vegan, heads up. The staff was very helpful with this and was sure to warn me when food came what does and does not have any animal products. Very cool.

I got a nice big bowl of basmati rice with curried veggies and it was the perfect balance of spice and hot and yum.

We got some fresh, cold mango juice to go with our hot, spicy meals and it was absolute bliss together. This was suggested from a few reviewers who left comments to pair the juice with your meals and said it was life changing! It was certainly yummy and I would do it again. I am changed.

The meals, like my curry pictured above, came in these beautiful, metal, heavy bowls which added to the feeling of authenticity. Everything they serve is decorative and presented beautifully but that doesn't make it overpriced like most fancy to the eyeball places. There is just a genuine vibe of caring about presentation, manners and service not to mention the absolutely delicious, well prepared meals to choose from.

*I no longer, personally support this business.

​ Fun times at the Virginia Beach "Old Beach Farner's Market"! If you haven't been you need to go! There are so many wonderful vendors there, including my guilty pleasure "My Vegan Sweet Tooth".


Here I am, very excited to eat my Gluten Free, Vegan Zucchinni Muffin. I already knew it would be delicious because I treat myself to their goodies when I shop at my local co-op the Organic Food depot. They have a little space there which has a variety of cookies, muffins etc. I have tasted quite a few of the MVST treats and they all are quite delicious.



By the way, how cute is this brown bag hand stamped with their logo? Adorable.

First things first. This muffin stayed intact when I peeled back the wrapper. That happens almost never when I buy anything gluten free, let alone gf AND Vegan.



It was fluffy, not dry at all and very sweet.  The top was somewhat caramelized and sticky and I loved it! The center wasn't dry and overly dense like most GF treats are.

Time to eat!

I can't wait to try some of the strawberry shortcake, donuts, cookies, pies, raw goodies, brownies and cinnamon rolls. The apple cider donuts are calling my name. Beckoning, really.

I also see some Paleo goodies, ya know, if you're into that sort of thing. I personally will just stick to drooling over her website's delicious vegan delights. I am honestly overjoyed at her GF selection, as Vegan and GF don't often go well together. She has certainly pulled it off. Well done Tonya, well done. *applause*

Yeah. Totally. Yum.


Hubs grabbed a slice of the Vegan cheese cake and it was gone... very quickly. No time for pictures! So tasty! Graham cracker-like crust, so sweet and smooth.



 Now, of course, these are a treat. I am big proponent of fruits and veggies and a clean, cruelty free diet but we all like to indulge and this is my go to spot.

Be sure to check out Tonya's website  and be sure to stop by the Organic Food Depot Co-op for local eats like MVST!

Impressive. I absolutely am in love with Heads up Hydrogreens! We frequent the Old Beach Farmer's Market near the Virginia Beach Ocean front. It's filled with all types of vendors and goodies but this is certainly one we drop by the most often.

So far I have seen three different folks selling these green goodies and I must say they are all very friendly and truly know their product. I feel at ease when buying from them. I feel their honesty and their loyalty to the company and product. They are always smiling and greeting folks warmly.

The Hubby tried some of the Pesto and absolutely loved it! He wasn't aware it had cheese though. He couldn't stop talking about it all day, how tasty it was but how he'd wished it were THAT tasty but Vegan. I told him to stop punishing himself and giggled at him a little. I have thought about asking if they would ever fulfill a Vegan girl's wishes of delicious, creamy pesto, sans the cheese. I may get to asking one day.

We are always offered taste tests, which I love, I mean who doesn't? Everything is always so green, so crisp and so fresh. It's so hot outside and yet nothing is wilted!?!? Amazing. We grabbed a few bags of whatever was up for sale because it is always delicious. WE also tried out some sprouts. Now I don't know about you but every time I buy sprouts they get slimy and moldy so fast, my lettuces wilt and some I just can't manage to save no matter how many bowls of salad I breathe in each day at lunchtime. I NEVER have this happen with my Hydrogreens. They always stay fresh and bright for days and days. It makes all the prepping so much easier. It also puts my mind at ease because I know my money won't go into the compost pile. The sprouts stayed fresh until we finished them all up.

I also want to add one of the biggest things I love about this concept and this company is they state that they are not using petrochemicals or fertilizers or herbicides. So not only does that make the greens totally Vegan, it makes washing them a cinch! I must say I have eaten some on the way home a few times right out of the bag.

The price point is right, the people are charming, the food is fresh, the food stays green and fresh for much longer than your typical grocery store lettuce and it's local! So stop by their booth and taste test some greens and chat up the nice folks at Heads Up hydrogreens!

 Support Local farms and businesses!

The environment was nothing more extraordinary than any other pizza place; it smelled like pizza, it had tile on the floor and friendly people behind the counter.

The only major distinction was a vegan dish on the menu. The girl behind the counter greeted us with a smile and was very friendly and didn't even bat an eye or make any judgmental expressions when we asked for vegan ingredients. She gladly obliged and punched everything into the register tap, tap, tap. We paid, sat and waited.

The wait time wasn't any longer and shorter than any other fast food/pizza place and they even delivered it on a cute little stand with little checker board paper. Unfortunately, the gluten free crust is only available in a small and I do not believe it's a vegan crust. I believe she said that it contained eggs but I may be wrong about that.

 So, yes,  there was a  problem getting a pizza that's gluten free and vegan which made It more a chore than fun trip for me. If you get the gluten free crust they only come in small so it would be a pizza that my husband and I wouldn't be able to share. You see, when the Hubs wants a special treat like pizza, he doesn't want to have to split a tiny pizza. He wants gooey, cheesy, loaded topping pizza. He wants multiple pieces and he doesn't want to have to worry about who gets the last piece and if I have had enough to eat yet. I fully understand as I just want a small  gf/vegan pizza to myself.

Now, had I ordered the small, gluten free crust with vegan toppings, the vegan beef crumbles are NOT gluten free. So you see the conundrum. It is a rarity to find a vegan/gluten free dish, especially in Hampton Roads, unfortunately. 

So I decided I would just have a taste of the regular crust pizza and get it with Vegan toppings. The pizza was okay the crust was decent but the toppings weren't anything to write home about I'm not sure that they were very fresh, there weren't very many and Daiya cheese is my least favorite shredded vegan cheese on pizza. Now don't get flustered, Daiya cheese is one I actually really like in the block form. The shredded kind just doesn't seem to melt or come out very well on pizzas and tastes nothing like real mozzarella to me. I actually love Follow your Heart vegan cheese for pizza!

Needless to say my husband and I were less than  impressed with our outing to this pizza place but if it hadn't been for the very sweet woman behind the counter then I would most likely be giving this an even less enthusiastic review than I am now. Its not by any means a terrible pizza place and it's certainly nice to have an option close to home.


I would like to note that I have  a great appreciation for the fact that there are growing Vegan options in the Virginia Beach area, I just feel this could be better and have more topping options. There are, after all, gluten free faux meat products out there!

My recommendation? We baked up a thick crusted Vegan pizza at home using whole foods already prepped pizza dough (not gf) and I sprinkled on some Italian herbs (per instructions of Miscellany) and smothered my pizza in a block of Follow Your Heart "mozzarella cheese" that I shredded myself. It came out awesome! You could also grab a pre-made gluten free crust from the freezer section or perhaps do a DIY with this killer Gluten free/vegan crust recipe from Minimalist Baker. ENJOY!



Amarie Halley (aka SupernaturaleGirl) is a total Foodie, DIY nerd, Holistic health fanatic and is always testing out and reviewing healthy beauty and lifestyle products.

Check her out at www.supernaturalegirl.com to see her videos and blogs, or find her on Instagram (#supernaturalegirl),Twitter (@AmarieHalley) and Pinterest!

Also, be sure to check out her Vegan Clothing & accessory shop!

While I am not a connoisseur of Mexican style dishes on the regular, I certainly enjoy a good hearty seasoned rice and bean combo. The Husband and I have been on the hunt to find decent eateries offering Vegan options around the Hampton Roads area. 


He  had an old co-worker recommend Pelon's , she is also Vegan and said she really enjoyed grabbing a bite there. His finding out about this tasty place was what set the fire under me to search for more local, vegan fare recently, so be on the lookout for more reviews!

The Pelon's in Virginia Beach just recently began carrying Vegan options , which is great. The Hubs tried to surprise me by driving us out to the oceanfront Pelon's in Virginia Beach only to find they didn't have anything Vegan as an option that wasn't your typical "just leave out the meat" dishes. I wasn't wanting rice and beans, I wanted something special to write about. This was a few weeks prior to them changing their mind and starting to finally offer the vegan choices. i'll have to visit and update you on their atmosphere, customer service and food soon.

Fast forward to a few weeks later and here we are at the Norfolk location, Pelon's. This one was more inviting and had less of a surf shop vibe. It was calmer, quieter and had a wide, covered and enclosed, dining patio. It was gorgeous outside that day, so sitting on the patio was a no brainer.

In lue of my writing a review, the Hubs knew we needed options. He ordered 3 of the Vegan "carne Esada" steak tacos (corn tortillas) a chicken burrito and a Vegan brownie. Just to let you know the faux meat products are Vegan but they are NOT gluten-free so if you are a Celiac I wouldn't reccomend anything but the rice and bean combo, which was super delicious anyhow.

We sat at a fence side table in the sun and i snapped some pictures quickly so that we could get down to business. After all, we came to eat food not photograph it. I had a bite of each, as I am gluten sensitive I needed to taste it for you guys but not make myself feel ill. The Carne Esada steak tacos were filled pretty well with the vegan steak, green tamatillo sauce, fresh cilantro, diced onion, fresh avocado (guacamole) and other spices. The texture of the steak was pretty close to the real deal. It had a firm almost crispy thin layer on the outter edges and a tough red-meat like texture on the inside. It reminded me of blackened steak strip tacos. The spices, fresh herbs and cool veggies, warm tortillas made it crispy, cool , warm, crunchy, soft and a tad spicy. All a perfect combo. We ate them pretty quickly. While the ingredients seem simple, you must know that the cooking technique and spices added to faux meat products is imperitave to getting a good dish, let alone a great one like this.

Now onto the Chicken burrito. This puppy was stacked and stuffed. The flour tortilla was doughy, warm and super soft. It completely wrapped all the ingredients inside helping you not make a huge mess while gobbling it down like someone who hasn't eaten in days. This had loads of seasoned beans and rice and chicken with a nice hot- off- the -grill texture and a kick of flavor. There were also your typical ingredients like cilantro, onions, lettuce. However, typical does not mean that you could do without these. Yet again, these typical and seemingly "normal" burrito ingredients played up the flavors extrememly well. Another win!

Now the Vegan brownie. I don't know about you but when I indulge in a baked pan of brownies, my favorite is the coner peices, you know, the crispy edged ones. This browni reminded me of that. It was crispy and firm outside and soft an brownie-like inside. The taste was of low sugar content and real cocoa baking powder. I am not a huge fan of processed foods and i like a touch of sweetness. The sweet didn't overpower and the crunch was a nice change of pace from typical heavy and fudgy brownies. In all honesty, at first, i thought it was just some regular, possibly partially stale brownie. Now, my Husband IS a huge brownie lover and wasn't the biggest fan of it. I feel if it were taken home as a treat, popped in the microwave for a few seconds and eaten alongside a cool glass of Vanilla Almond mylk, that would be a much fairer situation for this brownie.

All in all it was a lovely day and a great meal. We also didn't get the typical heavy feelings or bloat associated with meals that combine carby/animal by product and spicy. If you're in town be sure to pop on over to Pelon's and try out some of their scrumptious Vgean options at 738 West 22nd Street Norfolk, Va. Please mention my article!


Check out the menu!