I hope you enjoyed my post yesterday recapping the fabulous lunch I enjoyed at the Double Wide Grill in Pittsburgh last weekend. This weekend I’m back in Pennsylvania –this time in the Poconos. I’ll be officiating a wedding this afternoon.
Huh? JL the liberal Buddhist is a Reverend? I am, indeed! Several years ago two of my dear friends asked me to consider becoming an officiant so that I could marry them. What an honor! So, of course, I did just that, and today I am about to perform my fifth wedding ceremony. Incidentally, I recently sent out a press release to my local paper, and a story was published, offering to marry gay and lesbian couples when New York legalizes same-sex marriage … tomorrow!
After a late-morning trip to the gym, and an emergency eyebrow threading, we were off to PA in the early afternoon. With nothing more than a delicious smoothie on my stomach (soy milk, dark chocolate hemp protein powder, a frozen banana, frozen strawberries and maca powder, inspired by Living On the Vedge) I realized food on the road was a necessity. A few days earlier I searched Google for vegan options and stumbled upon favorable reviews of Everybody’s Cafe & Caterers indicating the menu was vegetarian and vegan friendly. It was past 2:00 p.m., we had been driving for 2+ hours and were oh-so-ready to eat.
This was a pleasant place to stop.
The cafe is in an old Victorian home. The various rooms are now dining rooms. It was 105 degrees and we were thrilled to be ushered into a small, air-conditioned dining room.
The menu at Everybody’s is huge. Thankfully, they indicate *vegetarian and **vegan on the menu. Though, be careful because the Seared Tuna was marked **. Um, tuna is not vegan. But still lots of tofu, mock meat, and bean options. We immediately ordered refreshing iced Black Currant tea.
I started with a small salad.
Uh oh. Looks like a cream-based dressing. Nope, it’s chickpea-based, with garlic. And delicious! The main course was a lentil burger.
Oh, okay, and french fries. Hush! The lentil burger was okay. It was to come with mayo, but by holding the mayo it was vegan — and dry. So I added a little ketchup and that helped. The salad, even though it was mostly iceberg lettuce, was the winner. Oh, the omnivore had a huge sandwich of meat (blech). I would definitely return for dinner because they had a whole vegetable page that included a vegan jambalaya that looked fantastic (but $16.95 and I really couldn’t justify that for lunch, which is why I went with the $7.95 burger)
Back in the car for another 30 minutes before quickly checking into the hotel to freshen up for the wedding rehearsal.
After a hot, hot, hot rehearsal (hello Heat Wave of 2011 + an outdoor wedding) the wedding party dined at The Village Squire Restaurant & Charles Dickens Pub. We were in the party room and there was a set menu with a choice of prime rib, chicken, veal parmesan or crab cakes. The parents of the groom, however, made sure the restaurant understood what vegan meant so I was offered a vegetable-pasta stir fry in olive oil and garlic.
Not bad!
And now it’s the big day. Wedding day! My husband is off for a hilly bike ride.
This responsible Reverend, thinking a bike accident could put a damper on the wedding, is opting for a short, hilly, hot, humid run.
I hope you’re having a great weekend!
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Have you entered for a chance to win a signed copy of Vegan for Life: Everything you need to know to be healthy and fit on a plant-based diet by Jack Norris, RD and Ginny Messina, MPH, RD? Do it! I’m accepting entries through midnight (EST) Monday!
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Everybody’s Cafe & Caterers
905 Main St
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
570-424-0896
The Village Squire
Rte 115
Blakeslee, PA 18610
(570) 646-3446
22 thoughts on “Here comes the…Reverend”
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“I recently sent out a press release to my local paper, and a story was published, offering to marry gay and lesbian couples when New York legalizes same-sex marriage … tomorrow!” You are AMAZING!
I think my dad, a liberal atheist, is also ordained. I hope this is right because I’d love to have him marry me one day! (Can he walk down the aisle and then dash up to the front I wonder??)
xo
Yes, your father can absolutely do that! What a special ceremony you will have!
What a cool weekend!!
We’ve really enjoyed it!
Amazing post and what a fabulous weekend! The veggie pasta dish looks great and so do you! 🙂
Thank you, Christine!
Loved every word and photo, JL… but got a special kick out of your “emergency eyebrow threading.” You have it going on my dear friend… on EVERY level! And bring a real depth of meaning to the term “blessed union.”:) <3
Thanks, Deb 🙂 You know me, I’ll be the first out there in a civil right’s march, but I’m gonna get my brows done on the way. It’s how I roll. 😉
Love that outfit!
Aw, thanks!
Your blog has really made me look at vegan food in a different light, even the protein shake you had sounds delicious! I always look forward to reading your posts. Thanks so much for sharing! =]
This comment made my day! I’m so glad you’re finding the blog helpful–that’s why I do it! Thank YOU so much for reading!
Hey, you look so badass as Reverend Glamour-Puss! Glad that you are finding vegan eats here in PA and that the maca smoothie provided some relief during these hot times!
Loved that maca smoothie — and so happy you inspired me!
I think you look absolutely stunning on that picture!
THANK you! So kind of you.