Vegan Dining Away from Home

Farmington Country Club
with a view of the Blue
Ridge Mountains

I just had the pleasure of spending a very relaxing four days in Charlottesville, Virginia, attending the wedding and pre-event festivities of my cousin, whom I adore, and his wonderful bride!
The weather was fabulous and it would have taken a major event to dampen the joy we were all feeling during those days of celebration.  The words of "America the Beautiful" surely resonated with me during my time there - the beautifully landscaped lawns of the golf courses, the gardens in full spring bloom at the charming Clifton Inn, the backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains during our stay at Farmington Country Club, and the Jeffersonian architecture at the University of Virginia.

Jefferson Rotunda at
University of Virginia

When it comes to vegan food however, let's just say there was a need to be creative.  It didn't at all effect my experience but it led me to put together some tips for you for the next time you travel:
1.  Country clubs and hotels are fabulous ~ but vegan breakfast is hard to find!
Breakfast menus often boast eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, muffins and more, but the only vegan options are often items that come on the side.  You will need to ask questions and be creative. Ask for toast or an English muffin and see if they will accompany it with sliced tomato, avocado, jam or peanut butter.  If you are gluten free, they often have oatmeal, but just be sure to ask if they can make it with water.  Fresh fruit may also be available, but I brought some vegan protein bars with me so I could avoid issues with less forgiving menus.  If you must have a vegan milk in your coffee, you should plan to bring your own.
2.  Gourmet does not equal vegan.
We ate at a cute local gourmet shop, where you could dine in or carry out, but gourmet often means pretty presentations and attractive pastries, not creative vegan dishes.  You may be able to find a salad, or deconstruct one to make it work for you.  I wound up with some seaweed salad and a side of roasted potatoes.  I like them both but generally not together...be prepared to be creative!

The Clifton Inn

3.  Not everyone knows what vegan means, even if they pretend to.
At Zocalo, a local restaurant, I had a spectacular vegan meal with roasted mushrooms and lentils in a spicy tomato sauce.  The staff at the Club and Inn could not have been nicer, but it turned out that they weren't as aware of the difference between vegan and vegetarian the way the restaurant had.  I was presented with a lovely salad at dinner one night, followed by a plate with grilled asparagus...sitting on top of cheesy grits.  Always confirm what a dish will be before it gets to the table, and what ingredients were used in the cooking of the dish.  Butter and chicken stock are not ingredients many servers tend to include.
Any tips you'd like to share? Post them below!  Happy and safe travels!