Okay so on Monday I danced at the FBI and the Kennedy Center.
It still doesn’t even seem real.
A little bit of context- I want to be an FBI Agent. Like, not a joke, that is what I plan to do with my life. (No, for the last time, I’m not kidding).
So yeah, performing at the FBI and being interviewed by NBC about my interest in the Bureau and past experiences with their outreach programs was kind of sort of a total dream come true.
And then, of course, if Monday wasn’t exciting enough, I performed at the Kennedy Center. Even more that the dancing, I was totally struck by how humble and beyond talented the other performers were. The show was amazing and I was so honored to be a part of it. The professionalism of everyone involved was totally inspiring!
OKAY OKAY. Onto the restaurant. So! I’m going to college at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in the fall. And of course, when I last visited, I managed to find an entirely vegan restaurant.
There’s something freeing about being able to order whatever you want off of the menu without pestering your waiter with “No cheese, please!” or “Is that cooked in chicken broth?”
Plus, the menu itself was super varied. I started off sharing nachos with my dad. The chips were homemade and warm vegan chili was piled on top. Of course there was nut-based cheese and sour cream, which was pleasantly delicious and not fake-tasting at all. I would have added guac, but that’s me and I add avocados to everything.
I had pizza as my entree and was blown away. The base was a creamy cashew sauce and then the pie was topped off with cashew parmesan, too! Lots of cheesy goodness that tasted great (I’m generally wary of nut-based cheeses). The garlicky mushrooms, red onion, and kale topped everything off wonderfully. I ate so much. It was a beautiful disaster, what can I say.
Surprisingly, the showstopper was dessert. I had been so impressed (and stuffed) by the savory courses that I was planning on passing up dessert. But then I saw carrot cake on the menu and couldn’t resist. I’ve had some bad vegan desserts at restaurants before, and let me tell you this was not one of them! The carrot cake was moist and the frosting was super rich and cream cheese-y. It just didn’t taste vegan at all (and not that vegan desserts taste much different ever, but as a vegan baker, I was surprised that I couldn’t tell the difference at ALL).
While I will most likely be living off of campus food (Wesleyan is rated the most vegan-friendly campus in America sooo) it’s nice to know ION isn’t too far away for a fancy dinner occasion or a baked good indulgence!
I didn’t know you danced? I do too. How exiting! What do you dance?
I am glad your performance went well.
And I really want to visit that restaurant now – I’ve never been to an all vegan restaurant, but I really want to 🙂 Sounds like a great place
I do bharatanatyam (classical South Indian dance), modern, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop 🙂 And it really was a great place!
Wait, you’re a dancer?! Tell me more, tell me more! What an amazing experience for you! My sister was a dancer for 17+ years and I loved going to watch her perform (and dancing in the aisles), ha.
Yup, I’m a dancer! It’s totally fun and super educational 🙂
Wow that sounds fun! and that carrot cake does look perfect, difficult to tell it’s Vegan!
Right?!
Your time at the Kennedy Center sounds like so much fun! Best of luck becoming an FBI agent. I’m sure it’s not an easy task to accomplish but it sounds like a really cool career.
And I always get so excited when I find a restaurant that’s entirely vegan or vegetarian. They usually have such creative options that leave me feeling inspired. Ion looks like it does the same- the food looks amazing!
Thanks so much! It was 🙂
I think you’d have to be super creative to be the chef of an all vegan restaurant — it looks amazing!
Right? It totally was 🙂
You are the happenin’ dancer Medha! And sounds like you found a gem in Middletown. I’ve been to Middletown several times, never been to Ion Restaurant. That, is gonna change!
Thanks! And you have to give it a try 🙂
Congrats on your interview. And I’m so glad you dance! This restaurant sounds awesome! Love everything on the pictures Medha!
Thank you!
Way to go at performing at the Kennedy Center, that’s so cool that you dance 🙂 The restaurant sounds amazing!
Thank you!
Whoa did not know you wanted to someday work at the FBI! Super cool. Also, I’m totally with you on veg/vegan restaurants. It is SO nice not to have to worry that there’s some meat sneaking into my meal!
Thaaanks and yes I feel!
Congrats on dancing at the Kennedy Center! That’s so cool and exciting that you want to be a FBI agent. I knew about the dancing, but this FBI business I totally didn’t see coming! I’m so glad you have a vegan restaurant close to school and how awesome that Wesleyan is the most vegan-friendly campus in the US. Perfect for you!
Thanks! And, yup it totally is 🙂