Autumn Begins with a Stomach Ache

This weekend went by rather quickly, as most of them do, and I am woefully behind in my updates.

Union Sqr. Farmer's Market

However, there was nothing of note that transpired over the last few days. I did visit the Union Square Farmer's Market Saturday morning which was good. I really like seeing fresh vegetables and fruits for reasonable prices. Also, I like seeing vegetables that are not uniform and perfect. The ones that look cloned in the super markets are somewhat suspect...too perfect. I then went up to Eataly, the new Italian food market from chef Mario Batali. The place was amazing, but on a Saturday morning, prohibitively crowded. I would like to check it out at another date to be motivated to continue to cook for myself.

Here are a couple of great websites I want to share - vegan mainstream, and the "Eat This" section of Men's Health. The Men's Health section really puts a microscope to all that we eat and drink and the calories associated with them!

http://www.veganmainstream.com/veganblogs

Eataly

http://eatthis.menshealth.com/home

I will say that Sunday I met friends to watch football at a Mexican restaurant bar. It was significant because I thought I was going to try to eat healthy Mexican and drink a few beers. Well, it was not exactly as planned and I was sick to my stomach afterwards, as well as this morning! I actually reveled in this discomfort because my body is so conditioned for healthy food, that my once iron clad stomach lining totally rejected two tacos with refried beans.

Mario Batali

Just like my body was in shock the first week of veganism, I finally had a meal where I could hear my stomach cry out for mercy. I relished this punishment as getting my just desserts.

Tonight I am heading to Central Park (shunning a client industry event at a pub) for our team training. Oh, that reminds me. I popped into a bar with a client recently and saw a friend I had not seen in a while. He is about 10 years younger than me and had the same lifestyle I used to have. Well, the lifestyle is catching up with him as he certainly looks heavier, and puffier. Now in his 30's he seems to be heading down the same perilous slide as I once did.

Also, Saturday night I visited my friend who was bartending at Landmarc Tavern in TriBeCa. I visited there weeks into my vegan quest and the grill, just steps away, was hissing with thick steaks beckoning me to crack. Well, I came a long way because those steaks did nothing for me now, and I was hungry too! Zero temptation. Those are the little changes that I relish. The crowd was a steady stream of vacationers and locals, mostly foreign born - English, New Zealanders, Russian. And as we chatted, diet was a big part of the discussion, and what everyone ridiculed at first, veganism or vegetarianism, all agreed in the end it is so much better for you.

I love having these conversations from a position of confidence. It's a shame, but the "Meat is Murder" crowd really seemed to put many in the mainstream off, and only now are serious omnivores admitting the benefits of a plant-based diet, and problems with animal flesh diets.

Veganism Becoming Cool

Back when I was 14 years old, in 1982, I was snookered into going away to camp. The camp turned out to be called the Devil Pups, which a was two week Marine Corps boot camp for young teens at Camp Pendleton, CA. It actually was a terrific experience, but one of the by-products was a new haircut. Back in 1982 there was still the post-1970's hangover in terms of style, but it was changing daily. Consequently, most boys wore there hair parted in the middle and below the ears. So when I came back from camp with a short haircut, shaved around the ears I stood out, but it just so happened that the summer of '82 saw music charting from J. Giles Band, Go-Go's, Tommy Tutone, and the Cars. Plus movies like Fast Times, and Diner came out. Within weeks everyone started to get short haircuts. I was on the very cutting edge of fashion by accident. I went from feeling slightly like an outcast, to early-adopter hip in a matter of minutes.

I had the same feeling today leafing through the October issue of Men's Journal magazine - one of their cover stories was The Rise of the Power Vegan Diet. The story spoke of top athletes, like Tony Gonzalez, and business executives, like Twitter founder Biz Stone, who are vegans, and many others now moving towards veganism for dietary reasons, and dismissed the myth that it is a bunch of Teva sandal-wearing activists. Although I have long felt proud of my veganism (after the first few months being ashamed), I certainly did not feel cool, or avant-garde until I read this article. Finally, a mainstream men's fashion and health magazine is talking about the coolness of eating a mostly plant-based diet! I am feeling pretty hip right now!...Or, is it hep?

Remember the Blitz

If you, the reader, would indulge me and let me go off topic, and use this tiny bully pulpit, I want to acknowledge the significance of today's date.

Today, the 7th of September, is the 70th Anniversary of the Blitz, when Nazi Germany launch an aerial bombing attack on the citizens of the U.K. Over the next 8 months the Nazi's decimated London, and other parts of England killing 43,000 civilians, and injuring another 50,000. However, the heroic Royal Air Force, and intrepid British citizens fought back, and in the end, Hitler backed off all plans to invade the country.

As Winston Churchill famously said about the brilliant and brave R.A.F., "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"

3 Year Old Bombing Victim

So often we rightly speak about the Greatest Generation, but we are often referring only to adults. However when I first saw this photo that made LIFE magazine 70 years ago this month it just killed me. I am not sure how these kids so gallantly survived such horror, but they deserve credit as well! A few years ago I met the Lady of London's father who was a young boy during the Blitz and his harrowing tales of watching a German bomber shot down just a half mile from where he was playing with schoolmates, and then running up to see the wreckage, had me enthralled.

Remember the Blitz! And thank a veteran, and in the case of the Bombing of London that is any British citizen over the age of 70.

Back to Work

Not only was it back to the job, it was back to work with my weight loss goals. Not that I was not working on it before, but holding steady was not cutting it, not so close to my goal.

This morning I had my oatmeal, and at noon I went to the gym. The images of the video of training of the  Rangers, SEALS, Recon, and PJs special forces of the U.S. military were fresh in my mind and I pushed myself much harder than normal. It was a terrific abdominal, and cardio work-out!

For lunch I grabbed the Vegetarian Powerhouse salad at Chop't ( broccoli, edamame, carrots, sunflower seeds, walnuts, craisins, and apples chop't with spinach and romaine lettuce).

The Art Students League of NY

One day, 15 years ago, I was whining to a girlfriend about the lack of meaning in my life and she suggested that I take an art class.  I have dabbled in drawing and painting all my life and even sold a couple of paintings...across a bar, of course (as romantic as that sounds, it was a far cry from de Kooning, or Pollack - who sold their paintings for rent or tabs at classic places such as McSorley's and the late, great Cedar Tavern). Actually, I sold a painting to an old bartender at P.J. Clarke's one night at about 3 A.M. for $20...my rent was secured for the month...please, not even my tab was covered!

Colonel Roosevelt

So, thinking back on that advice 15 years ago, and being motivated recently by the nurse's art class, I went today and registered for a weekly class at the famed 135 year old Art Students League of New York. Every Wednesday night through May I will be taking a "Painting from Life" class by the world renowned artist, Leonid Gervits. I am very excited, and quite nervous. I've been painting for years, only acrylics though, and even had a very pedestrian portrait of Theodore Roosevelt hang in the Forbes Gallery...OK, so it was an employee only show 4 years ago. Point is, I never took an art class and after looking at the required materials sheet I know I will be swimming in the deep end! What the heck is "Copal Medium" anyway?

So, it will keep my out of trouble, and I look forward to that! More importantly it is another step in this new lifestyle.

Just A Food Diary

Happy Labor Day! Although the significance of the day is a whisper of what it once was, it is still a three day weekend, and the beginning of football season.

I spent the day in my apartment at the computer - the windows were open for the gorgeous day, but I relaxed a little too much over my vacation and had lots to do.

Today I had breakfast cereal from the company Food for Life with almond milk. I remember seeing this company at the health food trade show, and they had samples of excellent vegan meat that was second only to VBites.  The cereal was pure organic wheat, barley, millets, etc. It tasted like Grape Nuts brand cereal, very crunchy pellets.  Food for Life's brand is Ezekiel 4:9: "Take also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make bread of it." So, you could say they are banking on a marketing slogan from a higher authority. It's not delicious by any means, and its hard to hear yourself think with the loud crunching, but it's extremely healthy, and you feel rather primordial eating it.

For lunch I grilled my zucchini, summer squash, and onions, sliced up my avocado and tomato, slathered my slightly toasted whole wheat tortilla with spicy hummus and enjoyed. Immensely.

A couple of hours later I grabbed a small handful of pistachio nuts, and also made a raspberry smoothie with frozen raspberrys and bananas.

For dinner I had picked up some organic whole wheat spinach pasta and cooked it up. It was just OK, sort of bland, and I have had much better tasting spinach linguine in the past. I heated up some Mario Batali marinara sauce and threw in some fresh tomatoes which was excellent.

But what surprised me was that when I looked at the package compared to a regular box of linguine it was identical in carbohydrates, 43g, and calories from fat, 15g. I guess the healthy/organic/spinach package fooled me into thinking it was a good alternative to regular pasta. Oh, well, I feel good.

By the way, since I'm writing a book about this experience I have been rereading every one of my almost 300 postings. Boy, I really had no idea what I was getting into back then! So much unnecessary apprehension for such a great change in my life!

A Taste of Home?

Perusing the Sunday New York Times today I found an interesting article about “a taste of home.” Now, currently in my refrigerator I have some delicious peaches, and plenty of broccoli, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, avocados, bananas, etc.

Now, if I was in the middle of Afghanistan would my mind wander to these fruits and vegetables currently in my fridge, or would my mind wander to my favorite Chinese, Italian, or Japanese restaurants? Or, would I pine for my favorite meals Mom would make growing up?

This story was about the meals soldiers eat in the middle of Afghanistan and how each of nearly 50 nations serving over there feed their military. Being that these meals come in small packets that the U.S. calls M.R.E.’s, meals ready to eat, these militaries must get creative and give the soldiers a little taste of home.

Whereas an American meal can consist of pork ribs, BBQ sauce, and peanut butter, a French soldier’s meal packet will consist of venison pate, fish soup, and rice pudding. A Ukrainian would have barley porridge with beef, and herrings in oil, whereas a British soldier would receive lamb curry, and bacon omelet with beans. The Danish infantryman will get meat balls in brown sauce, and that got me to start thinking of Mom’s famous Swedish meat balls!

There is a very interesting slide show that shows the different meals these soldiers get on the battlefield here below:


http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/04/weekinreview/20100905_gilbertson.html?ref=weekinreview

The article mentions that other nations love the American M.R.E.’s, even the sophisticated palates of the French “look forward to the visiting Americans and their hamburgers, chili, candy, and peanut butter.”


Will a vegan or vegetarian diet be better for the fighting soldier? Well, I am all for worrying about my own diet, and those of our children, and let those guys over in Afghanistan eat whatever the hell they want!

Sunday Night

As my little vacation comes to an end the last days of summer (unofficially) have been beautiful weather-wise.

Here are some observations I have made recently about diet, dieting, and self-discipline:

* Self- discipline, at times, still eludes me when I am out on the town - my diet is great, my alcohol intake is not. Whereas I was once in the fast lane constantly speeding past even the most souped-up, red sports cars of drinking, I now find myself going the speed limit, and keeping up with traffic. Sure I chose a glass of water now and again while a friend got another round, but, I still feel in social circles that I can only operate in total abstinence (which is not a problem at all), or I generally keep pace with the crowd, which would be fine if I was hanging out at a church group picnic in Alabama, but not so much with the New York crowd. Even a one on one evening with a woman sneaks past 2 or 3 drinks with regularity. It's not a problem, of course, but it bothers me that keeping pace with friends, and dates is a knee-jerk habit -- and I want to break it. Even when I am with superior athletes their elbows are well oiled. So, I can do moderation, as long as my friends are moderate - pretty stupid, I know - but, it's like I always play golf poorly with poor golfers, and better with better golfers.

* There is another big report on the obesity of children in NYC schools where fully 40% are considered too fat. I am glad it is getting so much publicity, but too often well-meaning people throw the baby out with the bath water and institutes really stupid ideas like banning school bake sales instead of changing children's behavior. Kids in the 80's and 90's would snack one or two times a day, today they snack three times a day. In one week the average NYC 14 year old has 24 cookies or desserts, 16 slices of bread, 8 slices of pizza, 3.5 hamburgers and 21 cans of soda. I can assure you that that is at least twice as much as what I had at that age (save for the bread since sandwiches were rather common).

* My uncle came down to the city for a night on the town last night and in between old stories oft told -- like when he rode his motorcycle up to our house in the early 70's and received a startled reception from my parents for his long-hair and beard (my father had just gotten out of the Air Force and looked decidedly un-1970's), we talked about his quadruple by-pass just a year and a half ago. He feels better now than he has in the past 10 years. Now, being that he felt just fine up until the second before his heart attack, it was not the surgery that made him feel so great at 63 years of age, it was his behavior after the surgery. He quit smoking, started exercising and changed his diet to eat much healthier. Just like it is never too late to stop smoking, it is never too late to change your eating habits. And what happens when you do so, no matter your age? You feel 10 years younger! It's truly that simple, and that indisputable.

* We had breakfast this morning, and being a gorgeous day we decided to sit at a sidewalk table at the Pig 'n' Whistle. When I balked at the lack of oatmeal on their menu my Irish hostess, not too politely, reminded me that there was a diner around the corner that I could go to. After this good-natured ribbing she suggested the egg-white omlete with fruit. OK, fine. It was good of course, but when I made my vegetarian wrap later on today I was again reminded how delicious my food is when I prepare it myself. Not to mention I feel so much healthier, and happier, when I fuel my body with nutrient-dense vegetables!

* I have been watching a terrific series on the Discovery Channel called "Making the Cut" about the training of our elite special military services such as the Army Rangers, Marine Recon, and Air Force PJs -- I will never complain about my exercising ever again! The sheer physical (and pyscological) training is so extreme that it boggles the mind, and shows you that your body can do so much more than what you think you can.

I really look forward to the autumn and I am scheduling a weekend out in Montauk in October at the site of my decision to go on this journey and celebrate this new healthier lifestyle, and to continue to strive for even a healthier lifestyle. And for reaching my goal ASAP!

Health = Nutrients/Calories

Great article about Dr. Fuhrman on Vegan Mainstream:

Do you eat more for pleasure or to sustain your body? If you’re not cautious about what you feed yourself and your family now, there is potential for future health problems that can result from poor eating habits. It’s easy to preach about nutrition, but it’s another challenge to walk the walk.

http://www.veganmainstream.com/interview-joel-fuhrman-on-eating-to-live

Gaining a Little Insight on a Late Tuesday Night

Currently, my biggest problem is that I have stabilized in my current weight still between 15-22 lbs off my goal of 225 lbs!

What I am doing is living a healthy lifestyle, and sometimes I feel satisfied with my achievement, but my goal is not met! The issue is clearly human nature to barter and deal and reward myself. What that does is keep me at a manageable weight, while eating mostly a plant-based diet, but incorporating some less than healthy options to satisfy an urge, and also bring back social drinking. Basically, that is akin to running for a touchdown and on the 10 yard line short of the goal you spike the ball in celebration. I need to refocus on my end goal, not be merely satisified with my new lifestyle. I already know that I can live a healthy life - so no worry about gaining it back, I just want to get down to 225 lbs!

I am on vacation this week so I hope to use it as constructively as possible - my goal is to write, work-out intensively, and resist the temptation to celebrate too much.

Yesterday I drank lots of water, had a Chinese lunch of grilled vegetables and shrimp with no rice, met a kid as a favor to a friend to impart some advice on the advertising trade, then went to a birthday party under slightly false pretenses, then found myself listening to rather mediocre band at Otto's Shrunken Head Tiki bar on the Lower East Side. There were as many people listening in the audience as there were on stage singing. It was a trio. But what I found interesting on this quiet Tuesday night in a small place tucked into the concrete near Stuyvesant Town was that I was not judgemental about the place or the people who were a far cry from my fellow reprobates, nor my typical theatre of operations.

I have been pretty hard on myself, and in the midst of my self-centered tough love about my weight there was some collateral damage in words about other people who struggle with weight. I feel bad about that. I've been too judgemental.

Last night the bouncer who checked my ID commented that we were the same age - he was bearded, gray, balding, and tattooed and pierced like, well, a Lower East Side dive bar bouncer. Me: khakis, bucks, and a Brooks Brothers button-down -- otherwise known in this seedy part of NYC as a preppy @#$hole. Although I acknowledged the startling difference in how much older and less healthy he looked than me, both 42, I didn't think long enough to make a judgement about him, instead I was quite friendly to him. When the Trio abruptly stopped playing I got my fellow habitues (all of whom looked like a Andy Warhol canvas) to cheer them on for an encore. The band was a bit startled, but thrilled to continue on. I enjoyed going to a place wildly different from my normal haunts, and feeling comfortable and not judgemental.

Trust me, these little changes are significant because it continues to open my mind on the way to live. Remember, giving up my addiction to meat was an assault on my manhood and patriotism. It was great to learn that eating more like a gorilla strengthened the man I was. Giving up my habit of drinking every night was an assault on everything who I thought I was ... it was great to learn the answer to striving to be a good writer is not found on a bar stool, nor is abject happiness.

Right, now, although the original Hawaii Five-O is currently on TV much to my utter delight, I must steal myself away and get to the gym, and then the store to buy more vegetables!

Golf

Saturday I ventured out to New Jersey to Ridgewood Country Club for The Barclays golf tournament. It is a spectacularly beautiful country club and I had the privileged of playing there once at an advertising industry event - I set the course record for poor play.

Besides being a great way to spend your Saturday I made a few observations:

A.) Tiger Woods seemed especially intense this Saturday, and the kids who adore him seemed a little disappointed with his stone-faced intensity while entering and leaving the practice tee, and practice putting green. Many of the other golfers would give a wink and a nod to their well-wishers. It was peculiar to see the most famous athlete in the world less than three feet away from me, munching on a whole wheat sandwich on the practice green. He is the only golfer I always see munching away on the golf course - I find that quite interesting. I was rooting for Stuart Cink and Padraig Harrington - both class acts of the PGA. And my guy Mickelson had an early exit so I was unable to see him.

B.) On the 5th hole Harrington's tee shot landed just a few feet from where I stood with my friends. It was on the cart path and as he waited for the PGA official so he could get relief for his ball he was close enough for me to notice a black band around his torso through his white shirt. Turns out Padraig has lost 12 pounds this year and now he is really interested in how many calories he is burning up so he wears a heart monitor during tournaments. Interesting. He saved par by the way.

C.) The concessions were your typical fare - soda, hamburgers, hot dogs, candy, and beer. They did have a turkey wrap which looked like it was left over from the last tournament. Sadly, the only thing that I enjoyed(except for a cold beer on a hot day) were the bananas. Maybe I should start my own sports concession company -- save the unhealthy classics, but at least offer one, just one, healthy option!

Laying Down with Lambs

While perusing my Facebook wall with various photos posted I was struck by one of about 8 women tri-athletes. It was posted by a friend and I inquired about the group - a team of women competitors - and was introduced to one of them. The purpose behind this was to expand my social circle with the extremely physically fit. Do I want to do a Sprint Triathlon (0.45 mi. swim, 13.2 mi bike ride, 3.1 mi run)? Yes, I think that is a manageable, even with my poor knees. It is a small, but not insignificant challenge.

So, any thoughts of this new tri-athlete friend being a pathway towards hanging out with healthier people were quickly dashed when I realized she was Australian, and could drink with the best of them. But, it was terrific meeting someone so passionate about fitness.

Now, most all of my meals are plant based, and I'll have fish a couple of times a week. However, I must write about a particular meat meal. The Aussie and I went to a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant called Taboon on 10th Avenue and 52nd in Hell's Kitchen. The restaurant looks like a county home with antique-white tables, chairs and walls, but with a giant "taboon" or clay oven front and center.

Like most NYC restaurants, regardless of nationality, the staff is a hodge-podge of immigrants that rival the U.N. Our waitress was Ukrainian and was probably the most friendly waitress I have ever had -- the Aussie said, "I thought she was going to sit in your lap!" The place had a great vibe, we ordered the Zucchini Cake to start -- feta, parmesan, scallions, fresh mint, parsley, dill, Greek yogurt and fresh lime. I had my eye on  the Vegetarian Grill which was grilled fennel with goat cheese, served over homemade chickpea potato gnocchi, grilled zucchini, tomato, asparagus, oyster mushrooms, and parmesan cheese and chives. Much more cheese than I normal would eat, but I felt less guilty since I was feeling healthier through osmosis sitting so close to a tri-athlete. I was about to order... 

She had the Heraime halibut, taboon baked in a ragout of roasted pepper, tomato, cilantro, mild Moroccan spices, artichokes and hot paprika oil. Before I ordered, as an aside I said, have jokingly, "How's the lamb?" The sweet, diminutive, Ukrainian's eyes widened and with passion like she was on the front lines of the Orange Revolution, she said, "The Lamb Kebabs are the best you will ever have!" Her conviction won me over, and for maybe the 7th time since I ended my vegan quest in May I had red meat.

The portion was not overly large, but by the last kebab I felt I was eating just too much meat, and if not for those starving kids in China I would have left the last half piece of mouth-size kebab on my plate. However, I must admit, it was by far the greatest piece of lamb I ever ate, period, and all told, one of the best (non-vegan) meals I ever had! The lamb was just melting in your mouth, and like with other meats I can love it, but have no desire to eat it more than once a month. However, I strongly recommend Taboon,  an amazing restaurant with delicious dishes - it was spectacular from the décor to the service to the food and even the Mediterranean bread was out of this world!

We rounded out the uniquely New York evening with a night-cap at the famed Elaine's chatting with a couple of old, grizzled, and properly sauced reporters for the Daily News, and NY Times, plus a retired NYPD detective. This was old school, authentic NYC with all the celebrity pictures on the wall, and Elaine herself (sadly she is now morbidly obese) holding court at her same table front and center.

An Argument for Beer?

Here is an interesting article in London's Daily Mail that someone forwarded on to me:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/7966430/Beers-not-to-blame-for-weight-gain.html

“There’s no fat in beer and no cholesterol either, and it’s ridiculously low in calories and carbs,” he says. “Your spare tyre is probably due to all those pork scratchings you ate alongside your pint or even due to your breakfast orange juice which, health clubs please note, does contain fat.”

Pizza Party

So my company bought pizzas for our entire floor...it's lunch time, and about 20 pizzas were just wheeled by with the aroma wafting in the air.


Not so tortuous...heading to Bonobos right now.

The New Food Pyramid

Here is a great guide from Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD, author of "Eat to Live!" As he says,  Forget counting calories. Make the quality of the calories count!  For a more complete understanding of nutrient dense foods for weight loss go to this link:  http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/article17.aspx

Tuesday Musings

I just can't function without breakfast. It was 10 AM yesterday and I was starving - I needed my oatmeal and fruit! Eating breakfast without fail will always keep my appetite in check throughout the day!

Late in the day, though, I had a small handful of chocolate covered almonds because of a terrific sweet tooth - as my penance I decided to walk the twenty-odd blocks and three avenues over after work to meet a friend for cocktails (seltzer for me).

As I was swam upstream on 7th Avenue darting amongst the meandering, and ever-changing gate of mindless tourists my blood-pressure was rising so I escaped over to the throngs of regular commuters on 6th Avenue. Still the same number of people on the crowded sidewalks but locals know how to bob and weave through the crowds so there is more of a flowing, corralled-cattle, waltz, and brushing the shoulder of your fellow New Yorker is the most contact you'll have. However, in rushing through the crowds of tourists it is all chaos, fits and stops, and bumping smack into a gawking tourist in black socks and sandals, and who's belly is stretching his "I *Heart* NY" T-Shirt out over his fanny-pack is the norm. But, God love 'em they spend money in our city. And when we start offering more healthy restaurant options, starting in Times Square, those belly's will shrink!

My mobile rang as I whizzed past Radio City, it was the sweet Irish manager of the Pig 'n' Whistle who called to tell me that the chef, on his own, decided to make my vegetarian wrap the special of the day! It sold "fairly well," and "No" it was not named the Terry Wrap. My reiteration to name this healthy option and putting it on the permanent menu was met with a thick brogue, "Baby steps, Laddy." But, nice to know they gave it a try!

Club Macanudo, NYC

I met a girl friend up at Club Macanudo cigar bar, a great wood-paneled, leather couch, and shiny brass public club of A-type personalities, mostly men, smoking giant cigars and swapping stories as if they are in their own private tree house. My friend gulped down a couple of Chardonnays while I sipped my seltzer (at $5 it was a travesty!) and smoked a Cohiba to relax. It never fails, I always see a celebrity in these cigar bars - ever more popular since the Bloomberg smoking ban. So, as I sat on the tan leather couch telling my friend of the precise moment I decided to try this vegan quest I heard a distinctive voice sitting in the chair besides me.

Rudy Giuliani

As I looked to my right former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani was brushing past me. "Hey, Mr. Mayor." Giuliani was in a jovial mood, said hello to me, and we chatted for 1 1/2 seconds about a friend of his I used to work for. Throughout the next hour a parade of well-wishers came by to shake his hand, say thanks, get their picture taken, and give him free cigars.  You'd think it was 2002! In political terms, a cigar bar on the Upper East Side is what you'd call his "base." It is amazing to see the once very powerful, who used to travel with a phalanx of aids and security, loping into a cigar bar by himself, banging on his blackberry, and chatting with other patrons about NFL trivia  while waiting for his pal.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern

Now, I know you might think that I embellish some things to make this blog entertaining, but, no, I swear to you I sometimes feel like Forrest Gump in this city - always finding myself in situations in which I bump into people in the news. One entertaining story seems appropriate, if not wildly off topic (apologies), now: when the smoking ban first went into effect I was at my typical perch at Pig 'n' Whistle slaughtering Guinness when the Prime Minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, came in.  He was a frequent patron of this pub whenever the UN was in town. That week, as Bloomberg was engaged in his Pickett's Charge against smoking, former mayor Giuliani happened to be in County Cork dismissing the wisdom of the idea. So, knowing that Ireland was contemplating a similar ban, I summoned my rusted artistic skills and drew a political cartoon of Ol' Bertie as a boxing referee between the fighting Bloomberg and Giuliani.

Loyola Rugby with Bertie Ahern, Dublin

A year later, as a result of him remembering that cartoon, which he allegedly kept, I was able to schedule a meet and great with the Prime Minister and the visiting Loyola Marymount rugby team, my Alma Mater. When the university caught wind that this mere "club team" was visiting a foreign head of state, they foot the bill!

For dinner we decided to grab some Chinese at China Fun restaurant. I got the Chinese broccoli (much bigger stalks than regular broccoli with a head more like kale) and brown rice. I tried some of her Kung Po Chicken, but after a mouthful I felt decadent. That is a huge difference from the old me - one mouthful of Kung Po Chicken is good? Then 87 is better!

Now, I can taste some of my old favorite foods for enjoyment, and just a taste only for enjoyment, but not for nourishment -- save that for the great tasting healthy foods.  And yes, this broccoli was tasty!

Monday Meal

After training in the park I showered and went up to meet my friend at Candle Café for dinner. Sitting at the bar area I spoke with the GM and one of the waitresses about my vegan quest. Of course, the big question was did I stay vegan after 6 months? Like, did we convert you? But they seem pretty satisfied that although not fully a vegan I eat mostly a plant-based diet. The GM was getting married in a week and was having Candle 79 cater the wedding. He then told a story about a guy who had a vegan catered wedding, but his friend snuck down the street and brought back a large pastrami sandwich for dinner. He was upset that this guy could not go one meal without having meat.

Now, if he told me that story 9 months ago I would have said, "Hell, I would have done the same thing! Actually, if I went to a wedding and all the food was vegan I would have hired one of those giant trucks that sell In-N-Out burgers to back into the driveway for all the 'normal' people!" A couple of years ago I was in London over Thanksgiving and my girlfriend suggested Thanksgiving dinner at Heather Mill's country house. I thought it was a great idea until I was first told that she was vegan. What? Screw that! I happily celebrated Thanksgiving eating pilfered finger sandwiches at the tiny old Victorian pub, The Red Lion. Boy, looking back I really regret my ignorance!

Red Lion, London

I will tell you the meals we had last night at Candle Cafe were better than 90% of the wedding meals I have had in my lifetime.


The restaurant was packed at 9 PM with many more coming in for take-out food.

Then the COO, Benay, came over to say hello to us. Funny, I felt just as comfortable in this famous vegan restaurant as I did in my old Irish pubs through the years! My friend is a nurse who works 12 hour days and complained that it is too hard to go vegan, though she would like to. Well, Benay took great interest in pointing out all the places on the Upper East Side where you can get great salads, and coffee with almond milk, etc. Acting like a friendly guidance counselor she then gave my friend her business card and asked her to contact her any time with questions about soy, veganism, etc.

My friend got the cold avocado soup - which looked like regular guacamole dip, but was thin and soup-like. It tasted quite good. I just got the edamame.

For our entrees I had the GINGER-MISO STIR-FRY which was seasonal vegetables and tofu in a ginger-miso sauce over brown rice. It was excellent. I was really famished from my work-out, and I was in need of some sustenance - the stir-fried vegetables and brown rice really fit the bill. My friend got the CHILE-LIME GRILLED SEITAN which was roasted vegetable quinoa pilaf, sautéed greens and an avocado salad. Served with a black bean sauce and chipotle coulis. That was really good - the seitan (wheat gluten that looks and tastes like meat), was excellent, as was the sautéed greens.

This was a meal that one would be hard-pressed to believe this was 100% vegan. Nothing better than gorging yourself on healthy food after a work out. I also had the protein smoothie that lasted a few seconds.

Often I have walked out of a restaurant totally full, and begin to feel guilty or less than healthy with a giant steak and macaroni and cheese sitting in my stomach like a lead balloon. However, last night I felt completely full, but light on my feet from such a great meal, and such friendly people at Candle Cafe.

As we walked home I could smell the scent of hamburgers coming from the famed J.G. Melons steps away. I have to admit, although I still enjoy that smell, per se, it felt great to have a tasty meal that was void of animal products - for dietary reasons.