Traceability is the process of identifying and tracking a product’s creation process from raw material to finished goods. Conveying traceability data is an extremely useful tool to communicate information about the product as it moves through the value chain. Traceability is a particularly impactful tool for advancing sustainability objectives, but it still has a long way to go before it is an integral part of sustainable supply chain management, and before it is widely used by companies.
In the context of sustainability, traceability is a tool to assure and verify sustainability claims associated with commodities and products, ensuring good practice and respect for people and the environment all along the supply chain. The value of traceability with regard to sustainability comes from the realizability of information coming from a traceable system.For example, schemes ensuring that minerals are not sourced from conditions of armed conflict (known as “conflict minerals”) aim to address the human rights abuses in conflict areas and avoid purchasing materials that can directly or indirectly finance and increase the intensity of those conflicts. Programs that certify the use of products that are grown in sustainable cultivations, whether they relate to food (e.g., cocoa, nuts, or coffee) or to other commodities (e.g., cotton or wood), can have numerous effects on the environment, from the reduction of carbon footprints to the prevention of deforestation.
[Part 2]: What does traceability look like today?
With current technology available to trace each raw material that goes into a product and follow how a product is used and where it is discarded, traceability has emerged as both a feasible and effective front. In fact, digital traceability enables companies to meet and balance a broader set of business objectives, including efficiency, resilience, responsiveness, and sustainability. Across most industries and sectors, we are already starting to see companies with traceable supply chains. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, WHO estimates that around 11 percent of medicines in developing countries are counterfeit and that “anywhere from 100,000 to a million people die each year due to falsified drugs” (World Economic Forum). Recalls of medications are often unavoidable when a product is contaminated or deemed unsafe. Thus, traceability provides a potentially life-saving informational perspective on pharmaceutical products, such as status confirmation and expiry date.
[Part 3]: How do we make traceability more transparent? [Case study in the menstrual industry]
Companies are rushing to more closely track materials across their supply chains (due to new regulations and environmental laws). To dive into an industry-specific example, over the past few years, feminine hygiene products have been turning up contaminated by PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These “forever chemicals” are ubiquitous and persistent manufacturing chemicals that have been linked to a range of health issues by the EPA. In a series of analyses commissioned between 2020 and 2022, it was found that 48 percent of sanitary pads and liners were found to contain PFAS. Thus, there has been a major push to develop cleaner and more sustainably made period products, such as menstrual cups and underwear.
In the realm of menstrual products, the company Augusthas demonstrated the power of traceability and digital communication to its users through its online platform. Moreover, Aisle is another sustainable period product company that prioritizes traceability as demonstrated through its partnership with the B-corpcertification. This allows a third party to run a comprehensive analysis of Aisle’s supply chain, the sourcing of their materials, and their after-life product management. Having a non-biased standardized source means more transparency between the companies and consumers and accountability for said companies.
For Aisle, sustainability means that the company’s products are made using traceable raw materials verified by their cradle-to-grave tracing processes. In other words, it’s not just about the textile that period garments are made of, but the process that gets the products to the consumer.
Traceability, while a technical term, allows consumers to track the cycle of a product. This comprehensive insight helps those wanting to support sustainable companies, and “vote with one’s dollar.”
The time has come; It is the final stop on the Plant Based Food Tour of Princeton. This week we’ll be hitting up a variety of restaurants. We’ll give you our take on ice cream, pizza, and fully plant-based restaurants. Have you been curious about dairy free options at local ice cream shops, but still too nervous to take the leap? We will convince you! Wondering how pizza can be vegan? You’ll be surprised. Overwhelmed by all the different options at the local juiceries and plant-based restaurants? We’ll help you figure out what’s best for you. While this may be the final stop, we hope that we’ve encouraged you to continue to pick plant-based options when dining out in Princeton and wherever else you go. You can do something good for both your body and the planet!
Sweets
Thomas Sweet – Most Likely to Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
Thomas Sweet is most well-known for its blend-ins, which are a variety of toppings that you can get mixed with ice cream in a special machine to create a soft serve-like consistency. Because I wanted to sample the shop’s vegan options, however, I wasn’t able to get any of the flavors that were available for blend-ins. Their only vegan offerings were two flavors of sorbet: watermelon and pineapple. I ordered a single scoop of the watermelon, which I thought had a bit of an artificial candy-like flavor. The texture of the sorbet was quite enjoyable, though; I was expecting something like Italian ice and so was pleasantly surprised by how smooth it was. While Thomas Sweet may not be the best place to go if you’re looking for vegan frozen desserts, the blend-ins looked super fun, and I would definitely recommend giving them a try if you eat dairy. The store is not too far from campus and there are some outdoor tables right outside, perfect for a sunny outing with a few friends. I also loved how charming it was inside, with bright colors, whimsical decor, and even a funhouse mirror. Overall, Thomas Sweet is my ideal childhood ice cream shop with some creative twists!
Bent Spoon – Most Vegan-Friendly Ice Cream in Princeton
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Bent Spoon will never fail to surprise you with their creative flavors. This holds true when it comes to their plant-based options. Their vegan flavors currently entail dark chocolate, raspberry, mango, organic coconut, cookies and cream, blood orange, and coffee coconut. I tried the organic coconut, cookies and cream, blood orange, and coffee coconut.I was thoroughly impressed with them all, but I think my favorite was the coffee coconut. Most ice cream shops typically only offer sorbets as their dairy-free options, so I love that Bent Spoon offers some more traditional, creamy/milky dairy-free options such as cookies and cream. Their creamier, more traditional ice creams seam to be coconut-based, so if you like coconut, this is perfect! They also hit it out of the park with sorbets if you are looking for a fruity, summer vibe. Regardless of what you’re in the mood for, if you are looking for plant-based ice cream, Bent Spoon has you covered.
Halo Pub – Creamiest Ice Cream in Princeton
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Overall, I had a really great experience at Halo Pub, but it did come with some disappointments for the vegan in me. I was disappointed to discover that their sorbets still had dairy in them and they were all out of their dairy-free flavors (but I will definitely return to try the dairy-free when they are back!). Because of this, I ended up ordering cookie dough and M&M ice cream which were both absolutely delicious! That said, as I’m writing this a couple hours later, I’m definitely having stomach pains. I would say the deliciousness was definitely worth it for me, but if you are more strict with your plant-based diet, be sure to go when their dairy free flavors are available!
Pizza
Jules Thin Crust – Most Likely to Challenge Your Notion of Pizza
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Jules Thin Crust doesn’t just provide your simple cheese pizza — indeed, they offer an impressive number of coded options and toppings from which you can choose! While many of their options are cheese-based or include meat, they also present several vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, including many no-meat pizzas, one vegan option, custom pizzas, and vegan cheese substitutes. After perusing their menu online, I ordered a mini Mexican pizza and a field salad with balsamic dressing. It took me just a minute to walk from the gates to pick up my food! The mini pizza was equivalent to about 2 slices of a large pizza, and at $8.25, was pretty good value for all the toppings you get: tomatoes, corn, scallions, cilantro, mozzarella, and chipotle sour cream, all on top of a delicious black bean spread on a crispy thin crust! Although the cilantro was a bit overpowering, the fresh tomatoes and sour cream really complemented the black beans well. The organic salad, albeit a bit pricey at $9.25, was well-sized and flavorful. The dried cranberries, apples, goat cheese, and balsamic were pretty standard additions but nonetheless delicious! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Jules’ Mexican pizza, and would definitely try their other special, non-cheese pizzas again.
Pizza Den – Most Plant-Friendly Pizza Place
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
Overall, my experience at Pizza Den was really great. I ordered a Tomato Pie, which had no cheese, making it vegan and absolutely delicious! I also ordered the Brooklyn Pie which was even more delicious with a fluffy crust, a lot of sauce, and only small pieces of whole mozzarella (which is great for the plant-based eater like me who will eat cheese sometimes but doesn’t want so much that it will make her stomach hurt!). They also have the option to use daiya cheese (vegan cheese) which I love for the dairy-free and pure vegans out there! Last, I ordered the Nutella and banana dessert pizza. I’ve never had a dessert pizza before and I really enjoyed the sweet treat! I also ordered it all through Snackpass and was able to get a discount code so the ordering process was seamless and the price was right!
Fully Plant-Based
Fresca Bowl
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Fresca Bowl offers almost an overwhelming variety of options. Not only do they offer a variety of plant-based bowls (acai, pitaya, kale, chia, and oatmeal), but they also have smoothies, toast, salads, soups, coffee, and poke bowls. I tried the Fresca Acai bowl, the Pesca Noce toast, and Green Machine smoothie. The Fresca Acai bowl was not only delicious, but I was very satisfied with how large the bowl was. It was densely packed with fruits, granola, nutella, and acai, leaving me feeling very full. I feel that sometimes restaurants skimp out on the acai bowl, but Fresca Bowl certainly does not! They have a variety of toasts, both savory and sweet, but the Pesca Noce is a sweet toast with peaches, cream cheese, granola, honey, chia seeds, and cinnamon. It was also really filling and delicious. I highly recommend treating yourself for breakfast or even dessert with the Pesca Noce toast. Last but not least, I tried the Green Machine smoothie. Don’t be afraid to get your daily greens in; this smoothie was delicious and still pretty sweet, despite the main ingredients featuring both kale and spinach. Fresca Bowl is a great and convenient stop to get you plant-based fixings in and they have lots to offer. Maybe too much if you’re the indecisive type!
Playa Bowls – Most Colorful Smoothie and My Favorite Acai Bowl
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
For the last stop on my plant-based food tour, I went to Playa Bowls. There I got a Pura Vida açai bowl and a pitaya smoothie. The açai bowl surpassed my expectations. It had the sweetness of honey, fruitiness of açai, blueberries, and strawberries, and the crunch of delicious granola. It was nicely cold and I recommend it. The smoothie didn’t quite meet how delicious it looked. Being a bright pink pitaya mixture, I expected lots of fruity flavor. What I got was nicely creamy, but not very flavorful. It was very far from the sweetness, acidity, or kick usually present in a good fruit smoothie.
I love the inside of Playa Bowls. It is located on Hullfish Road next to Lan Ramen and down the street from the public library. I was asked whether or not I wanted a bag and I did not receive any unnecessary plastic or waste. The plastic smoothie cup claims to be made of recycled plastic and the shop advertises their commitment to reducing waste. I recommend ordering the Pura Vida or another açai bowl the next time you go to Playa Bowls.
Tico’s – Most Fantastically Fruity Flavours
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Based: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Got a sweet tooth? Love you some fruit? Want to combine the two? Look no further than the astounding establishment that is Ticos! Located on Spring Street, Ticos is a Princeton town stalwart that is totally worth your time. For this review I ordered their Pina Colada smoothie and the Sweet Thing organic bowl, both of which were packed with fruity goodness and left me very satisfied long after the food had disappeared. I have never tried a smoothie bowl with a guava base before and the Sweet Thing bowl really impressed me. The Pina Colada smoothie is my go-to when ordering at Tico’s and I cannot rave about it enough. The menu at Tico’s is mostly fruit items, but you can order quesadillas as well. There is a large range of plant-based options, but keep in mind that all of their smoothies contain yoghurt, so if you are searching for a wholly vegan option you will have to ask them to substitute the yoghurt for ice. I have never had a bad experience at Ticos and I doubt you will either; go on… Check it out!
Planted Plate – Most Plant-Based Plate in Princeton
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Wow. So many plant-based options to choose from. My personal favorite was the cauliflower bites. They would certainly satisfy a buffalo wing craving anyday. The vegan ranch was also a wonderful dipping sauce. I was surprised by the pitas served with the hummus; they were warm and both crispy and soft. 10/10 would recommend. The main dish I had was the cali burger, which was good, but a little dry. The bread and toppings were, however, very fresh and I felt like I was eating good, quality ingredients. Hot take: Planted Plate has the best french fries in Princeton. I also learned that if you’re on snack pass you can get 25% your first order at Planted Plate and if you’re a student you can get 10% off anytime!
Arlee’s Raw Blends – Best at Making the Ingredients Shine
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
While the focus at Arlee’s might be on juices, don’t be deceived—they have a surprising amount of variety in their menu items, including breakfast items, wraps, salads, snacks, desserts, and even pizza. Furthermore, everything is completely plant-based! My sweet tooth was calling and I was especially enticed by their plant-based cheesecake, so I ordered two slices, one strawberry and one mango. For my daily caffeine fix, I also got a cold brew latte made with almond milk. As a big fan of fruity desserts, the cheesecake was right up my alley. It was lighter than traditional cheesecakes but still had a nice tang, and the crust made from raw almonds actually resembled a graham cracker crust more than I expected. I personally liked the strawberry better than the mango, but would happily take another slice of either! One note is that you should avoid letting the cheesecake sit for too long—I left it at room temperature for a few hours before finishing it, and the texture softened a lot once it was no longer chilled. The cold brew latte was sweet but refreshingly so, with a pronounced cinnamon taste. It did seem a little watery to me, especially because I tend to like strong coffee drinks. That being said I finished it easily (and also loved the glass bottle it came in!). One drawback is that the items at Arlee’s can be quite pricey ($8.99 for each slice of cheesecake and $10.99 for a 16oz. latte). While perhaps not affordable on a regular basis, and also a little far from campus (near Hoagie Haven), the quality of the ingredients at Arlee’s and its exciting plant-based menu make it a great place for a special treat.
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
Welcome to the fifth stop on our Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton, and definitely the one a lot of us were most excited for! This post will be your ultimate guide to deciding where to beg your parents or significant other to take you out to dinner, while also keeping the plant-based diet in mind! We’ve discovered that even at a steakhouse, you can still eat plant-based. We hope this post inspires you to both treat yourself and the planet with these high-end plant-based options.
Agricola Eatery – Most Plant Forward
Price: $$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
It is probably safe to say that Agricola is the most plant-forward of the high-end restaurants in Princeton. I went on a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed their outdoor seating on Witherspoon St. I tried their two entrees that they note as being “inspired by the cultural shift towards sustainable, plant-based eating.” To say that I was thoroughly impressed is an understatement. The LoRe Pea Ravioli featured several veggies such as carrots and peas, used a very creative pea filling, and was topped with an almond pesto. The Spring Vegetable Barigoule was a delicious soup with peas, carrots, mushrooms, and artichokes as well as sourdough bread. Both entrees exceed my expectations by far. They were completely plant-based, tasty, and filling.
I also tried the Roasted Local Mushrooms, Broccoli Rabe, House-made Fries, and Avocado as sides. They were all fantastic. The fries were the perfect balance of fresh and fried, the broccoli rabe had a nice kick to it, and the avocado was light and simple. The Roasted Local Mushrooms were the star of the sides, though. They were hands-down the best mushrooms I have ever tried. Overall, this meal was very tasty and, most importantly, extremely plant forward. Oftentimes, vegetarian options at restaurants are very dairy heavy. I loved how creative Agricola was with their plant-based options and loved that they were fully plant-based. Agricola is helping lead the cultural shift to healthier and more sustainable diets!
Winberies – Most Surprising Plant-Based Creativity
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
For the type of place that serves bar food, I was really surprised with the amount of plant-based options Winberies has to offer! Most places have plant-based appetizers and salads, but Winberies actually had two entrees that I could order! For an appetizer I ordered the beer baked pretzel sticks. It came with three large sticks, which I thought was decent for the $9 price, and they were super fluffy and salty. The perfect appetizer! For entrees, I ordered the veggie rice bowl and the housemade vegetarian burger. While I think the veggie rice bowl could’ve had more flavor, I was really impressed with how many vegetables were included in the bowl and how light the entree was. Typically, restaurants like this tend to make things super heavy, but the veggie rice bowl was delightful and felt good to eat! Most innovative was the housemade vegetarian burger. The burger was made out of portobello mushrooms, brown rice, oats, and beets, and had a really shocking look and consistency. It honestly looked like a real burger and gave a beyond burger vibe but with whole vegetables instead of the scientifically created beyond meat. The burger was definitely mushier than other veggie burgers I’ve had but was really exciting to try and tasted pretty good! Last, but certainly not least, was the apple crisp for dessert. The dish had diced apples warmed up with rum caramel sauce, hazelnut streusel, and vanilla ice cream. How could you go wrong?
Overall, Winberies really surprised me with their thoughtfulness for plant-based eaters and I would not hesitate to go again with some friends!
Witherspoon Grill – Fanciest Restaurant With the Best Bread
Price: $$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Witherspoon Grill is located in Hinds Plaza in the centre of downtown Princeton. The restaurant has a large outside eating area for the summer months, and impeccable service. Make no mistake: Witherspoon Grill is a restaurant committed to serving meat, and as such their plant-based options are thin. I ordered most of their non-meat options: Fries, Onion rings, Artichoke Francaise, Asparagus, and the Ricotta Ravioli. A veritable feast. While all of these options were really tasty, they were mainly appetizers, and the only entrée option that was in any way plant-based was the Ravioli. The star of the main meal was undoubtedly the artichoke francaise, however the sauce was a little thick and I left feeling extremely full. This was possibly contributed to by the fantastic desserts: flourless chocolate cake and peanut butter lava cake. Ultimately, I would encourage you to eat out at Witherspoon Grill, but keep in mind that you are going to be limited on creative plant-based options. Oh and one last thing: their bread is fantastic!
Mediterra – Most Fresh Ingredients
Price: $$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Mediterra did not have many options that did not include meat or cheese. I tried the Pasta-less lasagna which was flavorful and featured some fresh eggplant, but the portion was very small for the $25 cost. The Market Bowl was tasty and a fun mix of different vegetables. One the side I tried the papas bravas and burrata with fried artichoke. The papas bravas was definitely the best bang for your buck item in terms of plant-forward options at Mediterra (only $8). Without it I definitely would have left hungry. The fried artichoke was fun to try, but the portion size was quite small and the flavor of the artichoke was hidden by the frying method. I was pleased with the chocolate ganache tart as dessert. The rich chocolate tart was complimented well by the coconut crema and raspberry sauce. Overall, I enjoyed the food, but it was unsatisfied with the small portions for a big price. It was clear the ingredients were fresh, which was a plus.
Local Greek – Most Comprehensive Platter
Price: $$-$$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
For week 5 of the Plant-Based Food Tour, I ate at Local Greek. This restaurant has its main location a 12 minute walk from Fitzrandolph Gate. It also has a location with takeout and very limited outdoor seating on Nassau Street reviewed last week. Over two trips, I tried two entrees, a side, and a salad.
The first entree I tried is the Greek Falafel Platter, which is a vegetarian option. This falafel was good, but it didn’t set itself apart from other falafels. The accompanying tzatziki sauce improved this and made the falafel less dry. This platter also comes with a small salad, some pita bread, and a choice of rice or fries. I enjoyed the salad, but like the falafels, it didn’t impress me too much. The fries and pita were fine, if standard.
The second time I ate from Local Greek, I decided to try something new. This was the Gigantes entree, described as large lima beans in a Greek herbed tomato sauce. As seen in the picture below, this is the dish that made my desk look like a bit of a crime scene (presumably because it tipped and spilled during my walk home). I quite enjoyed the warmth of this dish and the heartiness of the lima beans however. Because I am not familiar with this dish, I don’t know if the oily quality of the sauce is typical, but know that this is how the dish was for me.
Lastly, I tried the Horiatiki salad and the hummus. The salad was fine; I appreciated the feta cheese, but the dressing didn’t add much and there was little else done to the cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and olives besides being sliced up. The hummus tasted pretty standard as well, though I appreciated the chunkier texture of the chickpeas.
Local Greek is located at the intersection of Leigh Ave and John St with a satellite location on Nassau St. The restaurant offers limited indoor dining, takeout, and outdoor seating. There is a good amount of plant-based options on the menu and they are clearly labelled with “vg” for vegetarian and “vn” for vegan. Order the Greek falafel platter for a solid plant-based entrée with a side of fries and a small salad.
La Mezzaluna – Most Welcoming High-End Restaurant
Price: $$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
After seeing rave reviews for the rigatoni vodka at La Mezzaluna, I had to give it a try for myself. I certainly wasn’t disappointed—I especially loved the sauce, which was rich, creamy, and slightly sweet (would recommend using it as dip for the complimentary bread!). I was even able to sub whole wheat penne for the rigatoni at no additional cost, which I appreciated since most restaurants charge extra for whole wheat pasta. The portion size for the entree was generous and definitely left me feeling satisfied. I also ordered an appetizer of arancini (rice balls) and a side of wild mushrooms. While both were solid dishes, the rigatoni vodka was by far my favorite, and I do wish that the portion size for the mushrooms was a bit bigger. The overall menu at La Mezzaluna is not especially plant friendly, as it uses a lot of dairy ingredients, but there are nonetheless a number of great vegetarian options — rigatoni vodka, vegetable risotto, pumpkin ravioli, truffle gnocchi, and fried zucchini blossom, to name a few. Located down Witherspoon Street, the restaurant is relatively close to campus and seemed quite popular when I went to pick up my food. It has a classy vibe but still retains a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, making it the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or to simply enjoy a delicious restaurant meal.
Alchemist and Barrister – Tastiest Brussels Sprouts Appetizer
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Alchemist and Barrister far exceeded my expectations to say the least. A big contributor to this was an appetizer special they had for the week which was crispy brussels sprouts with almonds and an asian sauce. I went to eat here with some friends and the brussels sprouts were immediately gone, everyone raving about the amazing flavor. If you see this menu item on the weekly specials again, you must go! An absolute 10/10 and I plan to try and make brussels sprouts at home like this! The other appetizer we ordered was the cauliflower crusted pizza which had mozzarella, pesto, and diced tomatoes. I thought this pizza made for the perfect appetizer and the cauliflower crust was a delicious, plant-forward edition. Lastly, I ordered the beyond burger which was probably the best beyond burger I’ve had at a restaurant. They made the burger really thick, which is my personal favorite type of burger, and the brioche bun, red onion, and arugula were all really awesome editions. The french fries on the side were crisp and flavorful and the pickle was beautifully salty and crunchy. I can honestly say I would return to Alchemist and Barrister and would be excited about doing so… especially if they have those brussels sprouts!!
Mistral – Most Interesting-Tasting
Price: $$$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Mistral is a sophisticated restaurant and bar at the end of Witherspoon, right across from Princeton Public Library. While it has a relatively few vegetarian options (and no vegan options), their dishes are all quite tasty. The ambience is rather cozy, and the atmosphere is not too formal, despite being a high-end restaurant. This week I ordered the endive and beet salad, the herb and ricotta ravioli, and the chocolate tart. I was extremely satisfied with all three dishes, but the highlight of the meal was actually the beet salad. The mix of textures and tastes was well-composed and well-executed. Mistral was an overall positive experience, and I am glad to have visited this week.
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
Are you in the mood for a delicious breakfast or a quick snack? This easy vanilla muesli bowl is a great way to spice up a healthy classic with fresh fruit. You can make this bowl without spending time in a kitchen cooking anything, though you will need access to a refrigerator if you’d like it very cold. There are several things about this recipe that make it sustainable. For one, few of the ingredients are heavily processed. Additionally, the milk alternatives mean there was no cow required, saving methane emissions and large water usage. Lastly, you can make the fruit more sustainable sourcing it from the most local providers. I’ve even grown strawberries at home, so you can reduce pollution and follow this recipe with fruit fresh from your garden. You can also modify this recipe to include as much or as little sugar as you’d like.
Ingredients:
1 / 2 cup old – fashioned oats
1 / 2 cup vegan milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 strawberries
1 banana
Nuts, chocolate, or any other fruits you’d like to use
Steps:
Step 1: To start, combine the oats with the milk and 3 / 4 of the honey. I didn’t have any old-fashioned oats so I substituted instant oats from the U-store. I also used soy milk from the dining hall, though I would have chosen oat milk if it was available. Oat milk is often creamier and uses less water than almond milk. Once combined in a bowl, you can put the bowl in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. If you don’t have access to one like me, it’s perfectly fine without doing so.
Step 2: Cut up your bananas into coins and strawberries into small pieces. Put these fruit toppings on the oat and milk mixture and add any chocolate, nuts, granola, or fruits you’d like. I had a little honey left over, so I drizzled that on top. Enjoy!
Welcome to the fourth stop of the Princeton Plant-Based Food Tour! This week we are hitting it off by exploring the vegetarian and vegan on-the-go options, as always highlighting the accessibility, cost, taste, plant-based ‘friendliness’ and creativity of the different restaurants on Nassau and in the vicinity. We hope that reading this post may inspire you to venture out to get some plant-based goodness, and next week we will be bringing you a review of Princeton’s high-end restaurants!
Jammin’ Crepes – Most Locally-Sourced Food
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Jammin’ Crepes is, hands down, one of the best, coolest places on Nassau. For starters, they sell homemade preserves – how cool is that? Jammin’ Crepes also have a great focus on sustainability: for example, they source from local farmers and food artisans, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the food that they serve. As I stood in the restaurant waiting for my order of a vegan veggie kimchee crepe, I noticed several posters about reusing and recycling and eating locally on the walls, reflecting the overall sustainability focus of the establishment. The Jammin’ Crepes indoor space is amazing – with wooden decor, their menu displayed on wooden-framed blackboards hanging from the tall ceiling, jars of preserves lining the walls, it is like a funky countryside house in the middle of pretentious Princeton architecture.
The vegan veggie kimchee crepe that I got had roasted cauliflower, kale, kimchee and baby spinach (the cauliflower and kale being the ‘seasonal vegetables’ components of the crepe). A little skeptical about this combination at first, I was astonished at how finger-licking yummy the crepe was. While the kimchee spoke to the pickle- and preserves-making skill of Jammin’ Crepes suppliers, the other greens worked very well together to make this crepe taste more like a home-made savoury pie. Although vegan and hence not containing cheese, the filling was soft and stringy and went well with the crepe itself, which, by the way, despite being gluten-free, was absolutely delicious. The portion size was very big; the kimchee made the crepe moderately spicy and also quite messy to eat, so I was glad I was back in my dorm, able to help myself with a knife and fork. Overall, would 10/10 recommend Jammin’ Crepes as a cool sustainability-focused place on Nassau that serves fantastic crepes!
Small Bites by Local Greek – The Biggest Small Bites
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Too tired to make the trek to Local Greek? No worries, Small Bites by Local Greek can satisfy your gyro cravings right on Nassau Street. They offer a vegan gyro that will easily fill you up. It was delicious too, featuring an assortment of vegetables and hummus. It even came with a bonus side dish. I also ordered a side of Greek fries which you can never go wrong with. On top of all this, they gave me a student discount as well, bringing my total to $12 which, for the amount of food I got, was a steal. I would highly recommend checking out Small Bites, especially on a sunny day when you can sit outside while you enjoy your gyro!
Princeton Soup and Sandwich – Cutest Restaurant and Most Complete Meal
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Despite being located just behind the Nassau Inn in Palmer Square, Princeton Soup and Sandwich is undoubtedly a hidden gem. I ordered my meal (their soup and half sandwich combo, with fresh made lemonade) and immediately received a text saying that it would be ready in 10. I rolled up to the restaurant, which has a really cute little outside seating area, and found my food already ready and waiting for me. My soup was tomato and basil with rice, twinned with their vegetarian gazpacho sandwich. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these items and the tomato soup was especially delicious. Their freshly made lemonade was a really nice addition to the meal, which was finished off with one of their chocolate chip cookies. Ultimately I was left feeling very satisfied with my order; I mean, what more could I have asked for? Overall the Princeton Soup and Sandwich menu doesn’t have a huge amount of vegetarian/vegan options but those that they do have are extremely good. I would definitely urge you to check it out; if not for the food, then for the vibes of the restaurant, which are honestly immaculate!
Say Cheez – Most Cheese Options
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
This week on the plant-based food tour, I went to Say Cheez Cafe. This restaurant primarily serves grilled cheese sandwiches, but offers mac and cheese, empanadas, and soups as well.
There are various grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu, but I chose to build my own. This option means selecting one bread, two cheeses, one topping, and a sauce for a total of $4.95. I chose white bread, pepper jack, mozzarella, and Daiya vegan cheddar cheeses with jalapeno toppings and oil and vinegar sauce. The jalapenos were the highlight of my sandwich. The vegan cheese fell a little short of my expectations, but it was inoffensive and I appreciate it being an option for an extra $1.65. The bread was nicely grilled, the vinegar sauce added a nice acidity, and the sandwich was nicely wrapped for eating wherever.
I also tried the Tiger fries from Say Cheez. These are the standard fries dressed with “homemade Tiger sauce.” I liked the sauce, but it didn’t blow me away. It was creamy and slightly spicy. I mixed the ketchup packets in my takeout bag with the Tiger sauce and I much preferred that combo. The fries themselves were fine, though I would have preferred them to be a little more crispy and salty.
At Say Cheez, there is an acceptable amount of vegetarian options, but the only vegan one is to build a grilled cheese with only the vegan cheese. For non-vegans, two cheeses are free with extras costing more. Moreover, there is no vegetarian or vegan protein option. I received a plastic fork in my takeout bag without asking for one, so comment if you’re able to use reusable utensils.
Say Cheez Cafe is located on the campus side of Nassau Street in the same building as Thomas Sweet. There is outdoor seating, takeout, and delivery. Try the Daiya vegan cheddar cheese to see if you can replace dairy.
Ficus – Best Boba!
Food:
Price: $$$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
Boba:
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
Since we came back to campus, Ficus has been my favourite location to catch up with friends over a drink. This restaurant/cafe opened in January 2021, and so it is most well-known as “the new boba place”. The menu is indeed pretty drink-focused, but they do also offer some light lunch options e.g. ‘lifestyle bowls’ and sandwiches. For instance, a vegan friend of mine whole-heartedly recommends the eggplant sandwich. Sadly, I avoid gluten, so when I went to do the review, I got a Beet and Orange Salad, a Chocolate Croissant (for a friend) and Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea. The combination was a little strange, due to the limited vegetarian gluten-free options.
The salad came with some goat cheese to sprinkle on top and a zesty dressing that brought out the freshness of the arugula leaves. Not salty, but rather sweet and flavorful, it reminded me of the RoMa beets salad (for those who know it). It was not very filling though, so I probably would not recommend making it your lunch if you are hungry. As for the dessert, my friend said that she really enjoyed the chocolate croissant and to me the boba was, as always, supreme. I will definitely keep coming back to Ficus for the amazing bubble tea that they offer – while they have fewer options than Kung Fu Tea and slightly higher prices, I much prefer Ficus boba and I also love the friendly service and the general atmosphere at Ficus. There is a cafe/serving area on the ground floor, with a seating area for dine-in upstairs and one outside. The restaurant is a good 10 min walk past Green Hall on Nassau, but the yummy drinks more than make up for it and especially on a sunny day the walk provides even more time to chat with friends!
Diesel and Duke – Most Likely to be Cheap and Meatless on Mondays!!
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Next Monday I highly recommend checking out the Meatless Monday deal at Diesel and Duke. Ordering online I was able to get a Beyond® Burger as a part of their Meatless Monday deal for just $5, a Kale Krunch salad for $3.28, and FREE order of fries! I was satisfied with the amount of food for a low price. The Beyond® Burger didn’t completely fool me like other plant-based burgers, but with all the toppings it gave me the feeling that I was eating a hearty burger. The kale krunch salad was not the freshest, but I appreciated the healthy side option. The free fries were a nice added treat! Overall, they have a variety of plant-based options and on any day of the week their regular burgers can be replaced with a Beyond® patty for just $3. It was super easy to order online and the food was ready in no time.
Olives – Most Options & Best Tasting!
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
Olives is a small but reliable stop for grab-and-go, located a short walk down Witherspoon. With a rather large menu, they are sure to have something for both vegetarians and vegans. I ordered the Santa Monica wrap ($9) on the vegetarian specials menu, as well as the baklava ($3), which was described as “the best in town”. I was extremely satisfied with both items. The wrap had an ample filling of hummus and vegetables. The baklava was also surprisingly good, and was not overly sweet, which is a common flaw I find in baklava. I will definitely be coming back to try some of their other menu items, and for the baklava too. Altogether Olives is possibly a somewhat hidden gem on Witherspoon and is definitely worth giving a try despite it being a small shop.
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
Are you ready for your mind to be blown? This is the easiest and most delicious vegan curry recipe you could ever find. Not only will it make your taste buds happy, but it will make the earth happy, too. Legumes are twenty times less land-intensive and emit twenty times less greenhouse gas emissions than ruminant meat. Chickpeas are also a far more resource-efficient protein than meat. Check out this quick and climate-friendly recipe to make your diet more sustainable!
Ingredients:
2 cups of rice (for serving)
1 tbsp of any oil of your choice
1 medium chopped onion
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp fresh ginger
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
½ turmeric
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp curry powder
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
2 14.5 oz cans of chickpeas/garbanzo beans
1 14.5 oz can of coconut milk
Steps:
Step 1: Start cooking the rice before you do anything else. The curry cooks quickly so you want to give the rice time to cook so that it is ready when the curry is.
Step 2: Chop the onion and prepare your spices. Drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Step 3: Heat a skillet with 1 tbsp of oil over medium heat. After a couple of minutes, toss in the chopped onion. Cook for two minutes until it starts to become translucent.
Step 4: Add the spices followed by the chickpeas. Give that just a minute or two to cook.
Step 5: Then add the diced tomatoes with all the juices and the coconut milk. Bring to a slight boil and cook for 5-7 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Step 6: Serve over rice and enjoy!
This series is brought to you by student group, Greening Dining
Welcome to the third stop on the Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton! This week we are continuing the international exploration with Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine. As always, we reviewed these restaurants and their plant-based dishes, using metrics like price, taste, and creativity. Next time you eat out, order one of the items we recommend. Follow the Office of Sustainability and Greening Dining on Instagram to see video reviews and come back next week to learn about the best plant-based grab-n-go restaurants!
Mexican
Tacoria – Most Outstanding, Full Stop.
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
If you haven’t been to Tacoria, what have you been doing? Not only does this restaurant have a great range of vegetarian and vegan options, but each of these dishes is absolutely delicious and never fails to bring a grin to your face. At the time of undertaking this review I had never tried Tacoria’s brussels sprouts; having now tried them, I doubt I will ever order meat from them ever again. My order, the brussels sprouts burrito box, was absolutely spectacular. If you are a bigger fan of the mission-style burrito, Tacoria has you covered, also allowing you to customize your order to include a number of ingredients, but most excitingly their golden (fried) avocado. I cannot rave about Tacoria enough, and with the restaurant being located right on the middle of Nassau Street there is simply no excuse not to try it out. Just last week, Tacoria added a new plant-based option to their menu in the form of Beyond Tacoria burritos, which is great news for plant-based eating, but possibly bad news for my wallet.
Qdoba – Most Customizable, Best Fake Meat Options
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
I can’t say I have been itching to go to Qdoba in a while, but when I learned that Qdoba was now serving Impossible™ meat as one of their protein options, I couldn’t wait to give it a try. I had a customizable burrito bowl with Impossible™ meat as my choice of protein; the best part about Qdoba is that you can customize your meal to be exactly how you want it! It tasted just like a burrito bowl with ground beef. Some of you out there may be looking for more of a veggie-based option, which Qdoba can provide. Rather than choosing a fake meat protein, you can make a veggie burrito/bowl/nachos, etc. However, if you are looking to satisfy your meat cravings without the meat, Qdoba has exactly what you are looking for! Go check it out and don’t forget to get a yummy side of chips and guac to complete your meal.
Taste of Mexico – Most Intriguing
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
In order to find Taste of Mexico, you have to know where to turn on Nassau street. Luckily for me, I can see the front of the restaurant from my window. Taste of Mexico is a really cute place with beautiful multi-colored lights out front, and a nice seating area for when the weather is nice. Their menu is not particularly creative when it comes to offering plant-based options and only really has a couple of different menu items to choose from. For this review, I ordered the vegetable enchiladas with chips and guacamole as a side. I was a newbie to enchiladas (I know, what have I been doing, right?) and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the side of rice and beans that was honestly the star of the meal for me. When you order chips and guacamole at Taste of Mexico, be warned you receive A LOT of guac, but it is very tasty so if that entices you, you should definitely check it out. All in all, I would recommend Taste of Mexico, but keep in mind that if you are looking for a truly plant-based option you are going to be a little limited.
Mediterranean
EFES Mediterranean Grill – Most Beautiful Falafel Plate
Price: $$
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
This week on my plant-based food tour, I ate at Efes Mediterranean Grill. There I got a falafel plate and hummus.
The falafel plate was quite good. The falafels were a beautiful green in the middle, tasted great, and were cooked nicely. For $3 I added a large shepherd salad, seen on the left of the entree. This was perhaps even better than the falafel. I really enjoyed the tomato, cucumber, and seasoning. Before adding the tzatziki sauce and another sauce which I couldn’t identify, I found myself wanting the fries and falafels to be a bit saltier and more flavorful. Adding both sauces and mixing the falafels with the salad fixed this however, making a tasty combination. After my wonderful experience of hot takeout at Chennai Chimney last week, I was a little disappointed by the temperature of the entree when I opened it in my dorm, but I’m sure the cold shepherd salad factored into that.
I also tried the hummus and pita bread off of the sides menu. The hummus was no frills, plain hummus, but I did like it. I am someone who doesn’t prefer too much roasted red pepper or additions to my hummus, so take that how you will. The pita bread is store bought, but it does the job. I believe each $.40 order of pita bread is 2 pieces since I ordered $.80 of it and I got 4 pieces in packaging for a 6-pack.
Efes Mediterranean Grill is located at the intersection of Olden and Nassau, right across the road from Hoagie Haven. It took me 8 minutes to walk from there to the middle of campus and another 4 to get to Whitman. Google Maps says it’s a 17 minute walk, so come here when you aren’t pressed for time. I forgot to ask for no plastic utensils, but I didn’t receive any regardless. This pleased me, but remember to bring your own utensils or your reusable bamboo ones from the Office of Sustainability! There is limited indoor dining, takeout, and some outdoor seating, not in service on cold days. Though it is not the most value for your money, I recommend the falafel plate.
Mamoun’s – Most Flavourful
Price: $
Bang for Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Mamoun’s is a deceivingly long restaurant located at the top of Witherspoon street. I ordered the combo plate, a dish that allows you to select any three of their vegetarian options to be served over rice or salad. I chose falafel, baba ganouj, and hummus, whilst also ordering a side of baklava for good measure. I was absolutely blown away by the assembly of items I chose; each was a taste sensation arranged pleasingly on a plate. The rice and falafel in particular were extremely tasty, and once I had finished my dish I sincerely wished I had more left. If you have a sweet tooth I would 100% recommend the baklava, which is an absolute delight. The combo plate was just one of a number of plant-based options on offer at Mamoun’s, which are all well worth your time and money.
Another huge bonus of Mamoun’s is the speed with which they complete your order: I had ordered, paid, and received my food within 10 minutes! All in all I would urge you to go and check out the plant-based options at Mamoun’s, as you will certainly not be disappointed!
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
Looking for a way to spice up your meals? Tteokbokki, or spicy stir-fried rice cakes, is a common Korean street food dish that you can recreate at home. Although traditionally made with anchovy stock, this vegan version substitutes vegetable stock that has a deep umami flavor developed using shiitake mushrooms, kelp, radish, onions, and cabbage. The dish requires a few special ingredients, such as rice cakes and gochujang, but they can easily be found at an Asian grocery store. Furthermore, the vegetable stock can be prepared in bulk and used as a substitute for anchovy- or meat-based broths in other Korean dishes—including kimchi and soybean paste stew—to make them plant-based. The kelp used to make the broth can also be stir-fried and served as a side dish. Not only is kelp a good source of protein, it can be sustainably farmed since it requires minimal land and freshwater resources. Give this recipe a try, and hopefully it will inspire you to explore plant-based versions of your favorite international dishes!
Ingredients:
Vegetable stock (makes 10-11 cups)
5 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 ounce dried kelp
1 pound daikon radish, peeled and cut into ½-inch thick slices
1 large onion, sliced
4 green onions, cut into 2-in. long pieces
2 cups green cabbage leaves, sliced
4 quarts water
Tteokbokki
1 pound tube-shaped rice cakes (if frozen, thaw and soak in cold water prior to cooking)
Step 1: Prepare the stock by putting all of the vegetable ingredients into a large pot along with 4 quarts of water. Cover and cook over medium high heat for half an hour. Then reduce the heat to medium and cook for another half an hour, until the radish is translucent.
Step 2: Pour the stock through a mesh strainer over a large bowl. The liquid should be clear and light. You can store the stock in an airtight container for up to a week in the refrigerator, and up to 3 months in the freezer. The strained vegetables can also be reused to make stir-fried kelp and radish pancakes instead of going to waste.
Step 3: Pour around 2 ½ cups of the vegetable stock you made in Steps 1 and 2 into a pot. Mix the red pepper paste, pepper flakes, and sugar in a small bowl and add to the vegetable stock. Add the rice cakes and chopped green onions as well.
Step 4: Cook uncovered over medium high heat. When it begins to boil, stir gently and continue stirring until the rice cakes are soft and the sauce thickens (10-15 minutes). If the rice cakes do not soften, add more water and continue stirring. The flatter the pan, the quicker the sauce will thicken as well.
Image credit: Maylin Horchler
Step 5: Remove from heat and serve hot. Optionally, you can add vegan mozzarella cheese (e.g. Violife) or make vegan tofu fish cakes to serve alongside the tteokbokki.
Image credit: Maylin Horchler
Recipe adapted from the Maangchi blog. Image and adaptation credits to Maylin Horchler, a sophomore at Rutgers University.
This series is brought to you by student group, Greening Dining
Welcome to the second stop on the Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton! While we may not have traveled in a long time, this tour will be taking you around the world over the next couple of weeks. This week we are featuring Asian cuisine in Princeton and how you can eat plant-based at these restaurants. We are going to give you our take on these restaurants and their plant-based dishes, using metrics like price, taste, and creativity. Don’t forget to check in next week for the next part of our international cuisine tour as we explore Mediterranean and Mexican meals!
Chennai Chimney – Best Takeout Experience and Most Creative ‘Doughnut’
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
On the second stop of my plant-based food tour, I went to Chennai Chimney, an Indian restaurant on Chambers Street. This restaurant has an extensive menu, so I decided to eat vegan (with one exception) to narrow down the choices. I got khadar sabzi for my main, sambhar vada as a side, and non-vegan garlic naan. I really enjoyed my experience, and I recommend the sambhar vada of what I tried.
The khadar sabzi was great. I am not someone who seeks out spice, so I ordered the mild heat, and it was the perfect level of slightly challenging spice. The menu describes this dish as “seasonal vegetables tossed with peppers, onions, tomatoes, [and] crushed coriander,” and that is very accurate. I loved the variety of fruits and vegetables; there were more than I could identify. The dish came with basmati rice that made it a more filling meal. The liquid was a little oily, which I didn’t mind, but others might want to avoid. I also can’t say it had a lot of protein, so try something else if that’s what you’re looking for.
My favorite dish I tried at Chennai Chimney is the sambhar vada, found in the “Chennai Specials” section of the menu. The website described this dish as “South Indian deep-fried lentil doughnut immersed in sambhar, onion, and crisps.” I had never tried sambhar vada before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The doughnuts were very filling and bites of them dipped in the sambhar were delicious. Once again, the spice was perfect for me and you can increase it if you’d like. In the sambhar were peppers which added color and flavor to the dish. It was $6.95 and I recommend it to all eating at Chennai Chimney for their first time.
Lastly, I tried the garlic naan out of the breads section of the menu. The naan was beautifully charred with ample garlic spread on top. I personally would have liked a little more salt, but otherwise it was some good naan. Add this onto your order if you’d like a little more food for just $3.75.
Overall, I was quite impressed with Chennai Chimney. The food tasted great, the takeout was steaming hot after a 15 minute walk from Nassau Street to Whitman, and they didn’t give me any napkins or disposable utensils like I requested. For the most value, get the sambhar vada and experience a whole new meaning of doughnut.
Chennai Chimney offers a 10% discount on both dine-in and takeout for Princeton students. They have indoor seating, takeout, and delivery. The only plastic waste came from the bowls of food and plastic wrap to keep it hot. Find this restaurant across from Milk and Cookies on Chambers Street off of Nassau.
KBG Korean Barbeque and Grill – Most customizable
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
KBG was very easy to make plant-based because they primarily offer build-your-own bowls. They have tofu as a protein option (and shrimp tempura for the pescatarians out there). They have a plethora of veggies to add to your bowl; however, there were not a ton of seasoning differences between the various veggies. I will also say if you prefer a crispy tofu this is not your place. They do have a wide variety of sauces that you can spice things up with! The portion size was pretty big, but the vegetable spring rolls were also a nice addition to the meal.
Nassau Sushi – Most Creative Veggie Sushi
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
I loved my experience at Nassau Sushi. A lot of restaurants can be pretty boring with their veggie sushi options, but Nassau Sushi is definitely putting in the effort to be more creative with their vegetarian and vegan-friendly sushi. I tried the oshinko roll and the sweet potato roll; both were delicious. Oshinko is a type of yellow radish and I love the crunch; other veggie sushi I have tried have been kind of soggy so I appreciated the oshinko roll. The sweet potato roll was really fun with both its presentation and flavor, as it featured stingy fried sweet potato. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vegetable tempura and the tofu teriyaki appetizers. You can never go wrong with fried foods! I was definitely expecting the tofu teriyaki to be more firm and even crunchy, but the flavor was unbeatable, I can’t lie. I felt super full after this heavy meal, so I would recommend not doubling up on the fried foods in the future, but it was still a delicious experience! I highly recommend Nassau Sushi, especially in the warmer months, as they have great outdoor seating.
The Mint – Most Menu Options
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
The Mint is an Indian restaurant with a huge menu, featuring plenty of plant-based options. I tried the vegetable samosa—turnovers stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas—and the palak paneer—cottage cheese in a creamy spinach puree, served with a side of rice. The two samosas were generously sized and stayed nicely crisp on the outside while plush on the inside. I would definitely recommend eating these with the mint and tamarind chutneys that they come with, which balance out the richness of the samosa with notes of freshness and sweetness. I appreciated the creaminess and strong spinach flavor of the palak paneer, although there was far more puree than paneer and I found the cheese to be a bit bland. On the whole, I was really impressed by the extensive number of vegetarian options at The Mint and the overall variety of its menu. There is a special Vegetables section on the menu with 26 items and ingredients including paneer, lentils, and chickpeas. Although vegetarian dishes are far more abundant, there are also seven items marked as vegan. I would definitely recommend exploring the menu at The Mint! With so many options, ranging from entrees to breads to desserts, there’s definitely a way to satisfy your taste buds while eating plant-based as well.
Amazing Thai – Most Unique
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
I really went out on a limb with the food that I decided to try at Amazing Thai. They have so many cool options I wanted to try it all. I got their pad thai fried rice (fun, right?!), drunken noodles, and mock duck. The pad thai fried rice was an extremely interesting experience; I think pad thai flavor belongs with noodles, not rice, but it was still such a fun dish to try. The drunken noodles feature wide noodles, similar to pad see ew, which I love so I enjoyed this dish. It wasn’t the most flavorful noodle dish I have had, but it wasn’t bad by any means. The highlight of my experience at Amazing Thai was the mock duck. They did an excellent job replicating duck from the flavor to the texture. I am a huge duck fan and had high expectations and Amazing Thai did not disappoint. I would highly recommend.
Thai Village – Most Consistent
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Image Credit: Leena S. via Yelp.com (left) and Joy L. via Yelp.com (right)
Thai Village offers the option to make most of their entrees with tofu or just vegetables, so it is super easy to get a tasty, plant-based meal. They offer a wide variety of noodles, curry, and rice dishes – plus other creative specials. I had the pad thai with tofu. There was a large amount of tofu and it was well-prepared. Their to-go service is super quick and you get a better deal on prices if you call them and place the order rather than using an online ordering platform. Their to-go packaging is mostly plastic, which is not the most sustainable option, but they did ask if/what utensils I needed in order to minimize excess waste. Thai Village is a little bit of a ways down Nassau, but it is well worth the trip!
Schouse Szechuan Cuisine – Most Creative
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
While I wouldn’t say that Schouse has a “plant forward” menu, a vegan or vegetarian can definitely easily find something to eat here. The restaurant has a section of their menu which is just vegetables prepared in different ways (probably meant to be sides) which I really appreciate, as often I don’t want anything super fancy; I just want a nicely cooked vegetable! I ordered the eggplant with garlic sauce and the lou mein with vegetables (with no egg!) It was my first time ever trying eggplant so I was definitely hesitant but the dish ended up being super flavorful! If you like eggplant, you would definitely like this dish. The lou mein was solid and plentiful, definitely a go-to if you’re looking for a staple noodle! Overall, though Schouse has a pretty meat-heavy menu, they totally surprised me with their delicious vegan options!
Ajiten – Coziest!
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant-Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease Of Access: ★★★★★
Ajiten, with its unassuming storefront right down the street from Rockefeller College, is a rather quaint Japanese restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. Currently their indoor dining space is open, but somewhat limited; if you’re visiting with more than four people, it’s worth considering ordering takeout instead of dining inside. Their main specialities are ramen and sushi, both of which are unfortunately not vegetarian. While lacking a sizable vegetarian menu, they did have a handful of options; I tried the server’s recommendation of the vegetable croquette curry [$13.00], as well as the cucumber umeboshi (pickled plum) rolls [$7.50]. The curry could have had a bit more substance to it, but the flavors were good, and the vegetable croquette was very light and crispy. As for the rolls, they were somewhat basic, but well-made nonetheless. Ajiten would be a nice excursion with a small group, with its short distance from campus and straightforward menu.
Sakura Express – Most Enticing!
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Sakura Express is smack dab in the middle of Princeton, located adjacent to Hinds Plaza on Witherspoon Street. While the menu boasts mostly of seafood or meat options, there are also a number of different vegan/vegetarian options to entice you. I was in the mood for sushi when ordered from Sakura, and I therefore opted for the veggie roll, which comes with 18 pieces of avocado, spinach and cucumber sushi. 18 pieces is more than enough to fill you up but I was also intrigued by the seaweed sushi roll, so I added that and the vegetable gyoza to the cart for good measure. I was blown away by the vegetable gyoza, which honestly forced me to wonder why I had ever ordered meat and seafood versions in the past. I would have loved to see a bit more creativity and flavor flair with all of the veggie sushi options; however, they were definitely worth the money I paid for them. Ultimately, Sakura Express is definitely worth your time, and will fill you with a relatively inexpensive plant-based meal!
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
This series is also on our Instagram (@tigersgogreen)! To check out the video version of this plant-based food tour, click here.
Yogurt parfaits are a quick, easy, and customizable breakfast or afternoon snack. You can use your choice of fruits, nuts, granola or other toppings; mix it up and experiment! The general process of putting a parfait together is the same regardless. Try going for organic products, which have a number of positive environmental impacts compared to conventional agriculture. Notably, organic food is not grown with harmful synthetic pesticides and prevents toxic runoff from polluting air and water. Organic agriculture also employs a number of farming practices like crop rotation and natural fertilizers to preserve soil health.
For this recipe I used:
~¾ cup strawberry yogurt
For a vegan alternative, there are plenty of non-dairy yogurt products out there. I would recommend So Delicious Coconutmilk Yogurt, but feel free to try different brands to find one that you like, or use one that you’re already familiar with!
6 oz blackberries
1 banana
1 handful of chocolate chips
2 handfuls of almond granola
Of course, portions will likely vary depending on your preference and choices of toppings.
Steps:
Step 1: Once you have your ingredients ready, you’re all set to start making your parfait. Simply layer in alternating layers of yogurt and your toppings.
Step 2: To avoid your crunchy toppings getting soggy, put them in the upper layers, while your fruits stay on the lower levels.
Step 3: For your last layer of toppings, feel free to add some garnish or decorative flair! (I’m a fan of fruits so I tossed all my extra fruit on the top.)
This series is brought to you by student group, Greening Dining
