All posts filed under: vegetarian

Feeling Festive at the Berlin Christmas Markets!

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Berlin is one of the most culturally diverse and artistically relevant cities in the world and there is so much to say about this global capital, but we are gonna save all of that for later… because right now we need to focus on the Christmas markets! This city takes its holiday festivities very seriously, and there are a wide range of Christmas markets for every taste.  We visited a few of the markets, and our favorite is the WeihnachtsZauber at the Gendarmenmarkt, located between the famous Konzerthaus and the French Cathedral.  Our most feverish holiday expectations were met with joyous Berliners occupying pristine stalls selling Glühwein (hot mulled wine), handmade ornaments, gourmet holiday treats, and everything Christmas and Hanukkah themed.   Make no mistake, Santa Claus is definitely coming to this town! ^^^The holiday spirit abounds at this magical marketplace, and we were delighted to see so many festive wares on display in the square.  We spent the entire afternoon perusing the stalls and checking out the goods. ^^^We took a break for lunch …

How to Visit Switzerland Without Going Completely Broke

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Switzerland has a big reputation, and rightly so if you’re into stunningly beautiful landscapes and picturesque snow-capped Alpine mountain ranges.  After arriving in Zurich we subsequently discovered that we had unwittingly plopped ourselves down into the middle of one of the most expensive places in the world to visit.  I quickly realized that there needs to be another element added to that big reputation: the price tag. Our decision to visit Switzerland was a rash and impulsive one, and I remember my thought process being something like yeah, I’m into mountains, I’m into trains, I’m going there!  Needless to say, the bank account is still recovering from these delusional ravings.  I’ve decided to supplement the typical “Check Out How Beautiful Switzerland Is” post (which we shamelessly did right here) with something more practical for traveling on a budget.  These are our tips for visiting Zurich without breaking the bank. Plan ahead.  We had taken a bus to Zurich from Germany, where affordable prices for just about everything are perfect for budget backpackers like ourselves.  Imagine my dismay upon …

A Portrait of Oktoberfest

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The most popular attractions at Oktoberfest are undoubtedly the beer tents.  We had so much fun walking around and exploring each one; they all have their own unique decorations and beer brewed specifically for the festival. ^^^Chris gets excited to have a drink in his favorite tent: the Hofbräu Festzelt. Upon leaving the tents you are met by the massive fairgrounds.  Here you find yourself in the midst of a maze of carnival rides and games which are shared by children and extremely drunk people alike. ^^^This animatronic skeleton is a brilliant feature in one of the carnival rides; it pops out and sprays a stream of pee on people as they walk by.  Needless to say, this ride usually has a huge line of people waiting to be urinated on by the living dead. When we first visited Oktoberfest a few years ago, it was difficult to find a decent vegetarian snack other than a pretzel… but now the festival has several stands offering vegetarian and vegan foods!  Veggie schnitzel?  Yes please! ^^^The veggie schnitzel …

Paris: It’s All About the Crêpes and Macarons

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Paris is a well-known foodie destination… and there is definitely a lot more than just bread and cheese going on here.  Of course bread and cheese is a staple of the budget-travel diet to which the Parisian boulangeries (bread bakeries) cater very well, but we are going to take a second to talk about the desserts.  Some of the desserts aren’t even desserts but entire meals in themselves, like the savory crêpes that can be found in their full glory among bustling Montparnasse crêperies.  But we will get to that soon, right now it’s time to check my blood sugar.  Hmmm it’s a little low… obviously it’s macaron time. ^^^Pierre Hermé and Cafe Pouchkine serve delicious macarons that are easy to obsess over. ^^^We visited multiple Pierre Hermé locations multiple times during our week in Paris.  The consumption of one of these delicate treats could be compared to a religious experience. These are priceier than macarons sold at other pâtisseries, but the taste and quality of these are well worth the splurge! ^^^Still a little low?  Tarte aux …

Scandinavian Eats and Treats

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Scandinavia is often stereotyped as a pricey travel destination, especially when it comes to food.  Restaurants are expensive, food markets are expensive, cafes are expensive, grocery stores are expensive, even fast food is expensive.  So what are we going to do about this?  Compile a list of deliciously cheap restaurants, food markets, cafes, grocery stores and fast food of course!  We’re turning Scandinavia into ScandiSAVINa!  Ba-dum tss!  These are our suggestions for tasty vegetarian eats and treats without breaking the bank. Restaurant: GRØD The Alternative Atlas number one pick for so many reasons.  This Copenhagen-based porridge shop (yes, porridge shop) strives to redefine the concept of porridge and show the world that porridge can be delicious, delicate, and versatile.  That last sentence was taken from their website, and is also the most times I’ve used the word “porridge” ever.  Combine that with a stark minimalist interior space with raw woods and we have something magical… we only spent four days in Copenhagen and ate here twice!  The first time at their original Nørrebro location and a …

Top 5 Dublin Foodie Destinations

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There are one hundred billion pubs, pastry shops and restaurants in Dublin that should be covered here, but alas, the template for this blog only allows 3GB of memory.  So here are our top five foodie spots in Dublin… and yes of course they’re vegetarian!  If you want to eat a big-n’-meaty traditional dish then just google search Anthony Bourdain Dublin and you will find an expensive meal full of steak and Guinness pie… but you know we’ve been drinking Guinness all day and are in the mood for something different!  Who’s atlas is this?  The Alternative Atlas! 1) Fallon & Byrne Foodie Heaven!  This slow food inspired brasserie has multiple levels; a basement wine bar, entry floor grocery store, and restaurant.  We bought our dinner in the grocery store and ate in the building.  Leave your inhibitions behind and check out this cheese counter!  11-17 Exchequer St, Dublin 2 2) L. Mulligan Grocer Hands-down the finest veggie burger I’ve ever tasted.  Not to mention that they have my #1 favorite beer in the whole …

Vegetarian Travel 101

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Backpacking through new countries and sticking with your vegetarian/vegan diet can be quite daunting (try ordering something vegetarian other than a pretzel at Oktoberfest in Munich!) but luckily there are a few foolproof ways to stick with your dietary convictions.  There are wholesome foods available at low prices available throughout most of the developed world (if you know where to look), and there has been a renaissance of vegetarian and vegan food cultures in the United States and Europe.  Just because you are vegetarian does not mean that you have to miss out on the traditional meals when traveling.  These traditional dishes are usually meat-based, but they are often offered with vegetarian substitutions.  We found that even the full English breakfast (usually consisting of sausage, bacon, eggs, etc.) was offered with vegetarian substitutions at most eateries in the UK! Of course you cannot (and should not) be eating out constantly when you are backpacking on a budget, so make sure to take advantage of the farmers markets and grocery stores to make your own meals. …