Wonderful Weekends: Hotel Motel Holiday Inn

Last Thursday was my birthday.  On my actual birthday, I went to Glen Ivy Hot Springs, relaxed by the pool, soaked in the mineral baths, basked in the sun, and sipped on Pina Coladas all day long.

Map of the Grounds at Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Then Dan whisked me away to The Veggie Grill for Dinner.  I got the Grilled Chick'n Sandwich with Sweetheart Fries.  Dan Got the BBQ Sandwich with Mac and Cheese and we split an order of Buffalo Wingz.  All was delicious (except we didn't really care for the mac and cheese much, but no fault of the Veggie Grill..it is great for a GF option, we're just not big fans of rice pasta.)  and I brought home a piece of carrot cake to enjoy in bed while watching TV.

Dinner at the Veggie Grill in Irvine

We headed to Long Beach to the Holiday Inn to meet up with friends for drinks in the penthouse bar.  For those who are familiar with Long Beach, this round tower of a hotel is in a pretty random spot. Sure it's pretty close to the airport...but so is all of Long Beach.  Neither Dan or I had ever been there, but would always tease about how when we made it big, we would stay in a room at the Long Beach Holiday Inn and have drinks in that bar.  Silly us.  Anyone can hang out in that bar, and you certainly don't have to be highfalutin to enjoy a nice room on the 11th floor overlooking the runway.  Since most of our friends and family still live in Long Beach, we thought it would be a great place to meet up.  Dan and I got a room, so we wouldn't have to worry about driving (Thank goodness, because we both had way more than our fair share of drinks!)

Holiday Inn of Long Beach

Sunday morning we headed to an old, old favorite...The Potholder, to get a greasy breakfast to fight off the hangovers.  We hadn't been there in many years.  So long in fact, that I didn't remember whether or not they had any vegan options.  Well, they didn't haved much, so I settled on a side of breakfast potatoes, a dry veggie burger, and some toast.  Ha.  It's a good thing I'm not too picky, and was happy just to get some food in my belly.  And we were a day off because I did find out a bit of interesting news.  Long Beach now has its very first vegan restaurant.  Long Beach Vegan Eatery opened its doors today.  I'll be heading there tomorrow to check it out!

We headed home to our girls and spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around watching TV and snacking on pita chips and hummus. 

A wonderful weekend indeed.

Veggie Grill Treated me to Dinner for my Birthday!

If you sign up, Veggie Grill will treat you to a free birthday dinner too!



We ordered Chill Out Wings (bite sized chillin’ chickin’ with tangy BBQ sauce and chipotle ranch) and Dan dined on a Chipotle BBQ sandwich (shredded veggie-steak, marinated in tangy BBQ sauce, with chipotle ranch, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato) and a side of Steamin' Kale (tender kale with a ginger-miso dressing and roasted sesame seeds). I ordered up a Santa Fe Crispy Chickin' sandwich (crispy fried chillin’ chickin’, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, southwestern spiced vegan mayo) and a side of Sweetheart Fries (scrumptious sweet potato fries, seasoned and served with chipotle ranch) and for dessert we shared a piece of carrot cake. Our whole meal, including my agave sweetened strawberry lemonade, and Dan's Fat Tire, only set us back $20, since VG comped my sandwich, drink, and dessert!

After dinner, we rode the "Big Wheel." I do not think I like ferris wheels. In fact, I'm pretty certain.

VeganMoFo and The Veggie Grill

I've posted about The Veggie Grill in the past. When the place first opened I was very apprehensive. But, it has certainly grown on me over the last year. Since the beginning, the food has been great. I just wasn't sure about the business model: Good for you Fast Food.

I made the trek to Irvine today, to cash in on my "free birthday entree" they sent to me in the mail. The place was PACKED! Almost every table was full and there was a line to place your order. Normally, that would be a bad thing...but I was so stoked to see so many people opting for a cruelty free lunch, when there was a pizza joint, an ice-cream shop and many other omni choices in the University Town Center within steps.

I ordered the "Carne Asada" sandwich with Sweet Potato fries. Actually I ordered 2. One for my free lunch, and another to bring home for dinner later. Let me tell you...this seitan is AMAZING. Even heated up several hours later...DELISH. The chipotle mayo is the perfect finishing touch to this delicious sandwich.

If you live anywhere near one of these "fast food" establishments...I suggest you stop in for a bite. You won't be dissapointed.