Vegan Fare at Kramer's Health Foods

Kramer's Corner Vegetarian Cafe

Kramer's Health Foods is located right off of the Adams&Wabash stop on the brown-line. Advertised as a vegetarian cafe, this health foods store has just about everything for those who are accustomed to a dietary restrictive diet. From vegan cookies to probiotic teas, Kramer's is a staple to get some exotic specialty grocery items. Having shopped at Kramer's in the past, the cafe upstairs never caught my attention. As it has gained more notoriety in the past year, Megan and I wanted to see what the hype was all about. On our usual Monday lunch date between classes at the Loop, Megan and I made our way up to the second floor cafe in Kramers. The small, vibrantly colored upstairs space seemed like the perfect study-vibe atmosphere for working professionals and students alike. The extensive menu of vegan/vegetarian fare ranged from falafel sandwiches, veggie burritos, and the soup of the day to the large freshly made juices. There is plenty to choose from and a must try foodie experience! 

Kung Pao Tofu Special ($6.99)

Not the prettiest of presentations (I am still attempting to master the art of foodie photography), but this dish definitely was full of kung PAO! Tofu always kind of seemed really bland to me in the past, but this tofu was well marinated in the spicy teriyaki sauce. Sitting atop brown rice, the mixture of veggies, peanuts, and tofu was a hearty afternoon lunch that was dirt cheap compared to the portion size! This Monday afternoon special at Kramer's Corner is without a doubt a must have! 

Megan's Vegan Reuben Sandwich ($6.99)

For my special Monday lunch treat, I decided to go with Kramer's vegan reuben sandwich. You have the option to have regular cheese or vegan cheeze, so I decided to go all-out and get the vegan cheeze. As a girl of German heritage, I very much enjoy reubens and have had many in my day. That being said, this was the best reuben sandwich I have ever had. One of my biggest complaints about reubens is that they are often far too overloaded and messy. I had one recently at a diner that was so packed with corned beef that I ended up having to eat it open-face with a fork! This reuben, however, was perfect. There was the perfect amount of vegan "meat," sauerkraut, and cheeze without the sandwich being too messy. It didn't fall apart at all and all of the flavors really balanced out. I especially enjoyed the sauerkraut, which was perfectly tangy. I definitely have to give Kramer's a thumbs up for pricing, too. With the health craze recently, most vegan fare is extremely expensive (a trip to Native Foods usually costs me around $20). This sandwich was only $7, and they even have lunch deals where you can get a sandwich, soup, and small juice for $7! A total steal. If you're in the loop (particularly a DePaul student around CDM) I highly recommend checking out this hidden gem. 

Lunch at Hannah's Bretzel

Last Monday, I was feeling rather under-the-weather with a cold and craving a good soup and sandwich combo. I decided to go to Hannah's Bretzel because I've been there once before and I remembered that they have good sandwich and soup offerings. Hannah's Bretzel offers an array of sandwiches, soups, and chocolates, and boasts ingredients that are entirely organic and whole grain. It is also extremely convenient for when I am downtown for class because there are multiple locations in the loop! 

Organic Barley Soup (12 oz)

For my soup, I decided to go with the organic barley soup. It seemed like the perfect thing to soothe my sore throat and congested nose, and I wasn't disappointed! The 12 oz is considered a small, but I felt it was an extremely generous portion size! It was basically a full bowl of soup and it only clocks in at 90 calories! I have to say I always have respect for restaurants that provide the nutritional info of their food because it allows us to make decisions that are a little bit more informed. The barley, carrots, and celery were delicious and the soup was very satisfying. I also ordered a small coffee. Hannah's Bretzel offers La Colombe coffee and it was really nice! 

Organic Grass Fed Sirloin

For my sandwich, I decided to order the Organic Grass Fed Sirloin. The sandwich is described as "organic grass fed sirloin, Swiss Gruyére cheese, vine tomatoes, organic mixed greens, caramelized organic onions and housemade horseradish aioli on organic bretzel bread." You can also order the sandwich was a "Wecken," which is a smaller portion, but I had a slightly bigger appetite than that. This sandwich clocks in at a mere 590 calories (not a lot for a sirloin sandwich, especially in this portion size) and was absolutely delicious! You could tell that the sirloin was high quality, and the horseradish aioli was a really nice accompaniment to all of the ingredients. My favorite aspect of the sandwich was the caramelized onions. They were super sweet and added a little crunch to every bite. Yum! 

Organic brownie

I was really in the need for a pick-me-up that day, so I decided to treat myself to a brownie. Hannah's Bretzel brownies are made with entirely organic cocoa so they are basically guilt free ;) My only complaint about this brownie is that it is rather small. I took the photo of it in my hand to show that it is barely the size of my palm. It's perfect for satiating a chocolate craving, but a bit of a disappointment if you are looking for a traditional brownie that you'd find at Panera or another sandwich shop. In terms of flavor, it was spot on. The chocolate was extremely rich and the chocolate chips added an excellent texture. 

All in all, my experience at Hannah's Bretzel was very comforting. My only true complaint about this restaurant is that it is quite overpriced. A small cup of soup, sandwich, coffee, and brownie clocked in at $19.50 which is a little steep for Monday lunch. However, I normally wouldn't order that much for lunch so that did contribute to the bill. Also, steeper prices is often the trade-off that you have to make for such fresh, organic ingredients. The organic sirloin and cocoa was definitely worth a few extra bucks! If you're near Hannah's Bretzel in the loop, I definitely recommend trying their extensive (and healthy!) menu! 

Chicago French Market: Chicago Raw

For our Monday lunch tradition, we decided to venture to the Chicago French Market in Ogilvie Transportation Center to try out Chicago Raw! The second we entered the French Market, we were both in complete heaven. The setup of the market is absolutely adorable and includes so many restaurants that we have been meaning to try, such as Da Lobsta and Little Goat Bread. It was overwhelming (in a good way!) taking in all the aromas and deciding where to stop for samples! Luckily, we went in with a game plan to go to Chicago Raw so we didn't have the sheer agony of deciding where to eat. Chicago Raw is known for its entirely vegan, entirely raw menu made of fresh ingredients. You might remember Caitlin's blog post about their yummy hummus!

Fresh Spinach Lasagna ($12)

I ordered the Fresh Spinach Lasagna which is describe as, "aromatic lasagna colored like the Italian flag with thin green strips of zucchini, white cashew cheese and red marinara." The dish comes with slices of tomato and sides of a delicious pesto and olives. I was completely blown away by the flavors in this dish. I have never tasted so many delicious and robust flavors in a dish, especially one that is completely vegan and raw. The side of pesto was bursting with flavors of basil and perfect for spreading on the olives and using as a complement to the lasagna. The lasagna itself was divine. Each bite was exploding with sweet strips of zucchini, creamy white cashew "cheese," and some of the best marinara sauce I have ever tasted. If you are craving lasagna but not in the mood for the traditional belt-busting experience, definitely give Chicago Raw's rendition a try. The portion size is generous and filling without making you feel overstuffed, and the ingredients are extremely fresh.

Kale Salad ($12) 

red peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, 

red onion, avocado, roasted pumpkin seeds, and acai berries. 

A customer favorite at Chicago raw is their Kale salad. Consisting of the above list of ingredients, and dressed in a tangy acidic dressing of lemon and extra virgin olive oil, this is a great healthy lunch option. Even though, there no meat is in this salad, the protein from the pumpkin seeds, is not only filling, but is a great added crunchy texture! Likewise the freshly cut, slices of avocado create a creamy consistency when mixed in with the rest of the salad. I can see why it is a big seller come lunch and dinner hours at the French Market for this raw food stand. I highly recommend it! Being the prefect size, it leaves you feeling full, but nourished and ready to get through the rest of the day! 

The Belmont at Chicago Bagel Authority

Since I have officially registered for the Chicago Marathon this fall, my summer of long distance runs on Saturday has officially started! This past Saturday I ran 9 beautiful miles on the lakefront and to say I worked up an appetite would be a massive understatement. I decided to indulge in a delicious bagel sandwich from Chicago Bagel Authority off of Armitage. I've been twice before and have come to the conclusion that CBA can never go wrong.... this experience was no different. 

I decided to order their newest sandwich, The Belmont, which was originally the April Sandwich of the Month but it was so popular they decided to keep it as a permanent menu item. I can definitely see why. The sandwich is described as, "maple sausage links, smoked ham, chive cream cheese, jalapeños, scrambled egg, pepperjack cheese and Gouda cheese on an everything bagel." When I ordered it, the friendly bagel-maker who took my order asked me if I'd ever had it before and when I said I hadn't he replied, "This is going to rock your world." 

As soon as I took my first bite of this sandwich, I immediately knew my world had been rocked. All of the ingredients work together in an incredibly delicious medley. As you can see from the photos, this sandwich is quite messy. The melted gouda and pepperjack are stringy and most of the ingredients will get stuck to your fingers. However, I am a firm believer that sometimes in life the messiest foods are the most delicious. That being said, this probably isn't the breakfast sandwich to go for if you're terrified of getting your hands dirty or getting cream cheese on your suit. In terms of flavor, the everything bagel is perfectly steamed and the maple sausage pairs wonderfully with the ham for delicious, meaty flavor. The jalepenos pack quite the punch, so maybe ask for the sandwich without if you don't like spicy. The chive cream cheese does a nice job of cooling down the heat, though. Even though I always try to order something different off of CBA's extensive menu, I think I will definitely be back for this one again. CBA is very busy throughout the day but does a great job of serving customers in a timely manner, but even if that still doesn't sound appealing you can always order The Belmont for delivery ;) Two thumbs up!