Dinner with KERF and Co.

on June 4, 2010

Lovinâ€™ staying at the KERF home. So much better than the sub-par hotel. 🙂

Tonight we went out to dinner with a huge group of Charlotte friends. I hung out with:

We went to a place named Brixx, which was a great pizza place for such a varied group of eaters.

The Husband was SO happy to see vegan cheese on the menu! Heâ€™s still on the no-dairy kick (maybe itâ€™s not a kick?). Iâ€™ve never had vegan cheese on pizza â€“ well, I donâ€™t think I have â€“ so I was game to try.

The Husband and I split this Pear and Vegan Cheese Whole Wheat pizza; I had two slices.

I WANT to say the vegan cheese was great because it tasted good (and it was even melty!) but it made my stomach hurt like you wouldnâ€™t believe! So â€“ thumbs down. Iâ€™d probably give it another shot though.

Has anyone else experienced similar trouble with the vegan cheese alternatives?

Plus, a pistachio and gorgonzola cheese salad.

I split this beer sampler with the Hus. I had a Sweetwater 420 and a local microbrew â€“ canâ€™t remember the name!

Itâ€™s nice to know people in the city weâ€™re moving toâ€¦ When we moved to Orlando, it was a huge adjustment for me because I knew NO ONE.

Off to bedâ€¦ Kath is making me OATMEAL in the morning â€“ I am very excited. And then weâ€™re going running. 🙂

Sleep tight, loves!

{ 60 comments }

Jessica @ The Process of Healing June 4, 2010, 10:09 pm
Yay for Kath hooking you up with some friends!!! I imagine how scary it must be to move to a new place without knowing anyone!
Brie (The Fit Bride) June 4, 2010, 10:12 pm
Aww, how fun! That beer looks amazeballs right now. Nom.
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious June 4, 2010, 10:19 pm
I have the same problem with vegan cheese. It’s tasty but just doesn’t sit right. 🙁
Amanda @ Organic Eats June 4, 2010, 10:21 pm
Funny how you brought up the vegan cheese issue! I just posted a question about that on my facebook (I’m considering veganism, but still very unsure). 🙂
Cynthia (It All Changes) June 4, 2010, 10:21 pm
The only vegan cheese that doesn’t bother me is Daiya. Everything else hurts my tummy.
Lindsay @ Summit Sandwiches June 4, 2010, 10:21 pm
That’s such a relief to have friends in the city you’re moving to. I had absolutely no friends in Hartford when I moved here in September. I still haven’t met too many people (minus my boyfriend…maybe he makes up for not meeting loads of people? lol). That’s fantastic that you’ll know some amazing people to hang out with once you move. Also, I’m insanely jealous that Kath is making you oatmeal! Of all people, the oatmeal queen! I’m sure it’ll be a thing of beauty. 😉
Lisa @ bakebikeblog June 4, 2010, 10:21 pm
What a fun evening! Love it!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday June 4, 2010, 10:26 pm
Oh man, I love beer samplers!
gina (fitnessista) June 4, 2010, 10:27 pm
looks like such a blasty 🙂
the cheese thing probably happened because you haven’t been eating much soy lately. since i almost never have soy, when i do, my stomach hurts like a mofo.
enjoy the rest of your weekend! <3
Heather Rose June 4, 2010, 10:28 pm
I’ve had a pizza with vegan cheese and couldn’t stomach it. It was just really odd tasting and not even really melted properly. I’d be willing to give it a try again though, maybe I just had a bad batch or something.

Congrats on finding a place BTW, looks llike an awesome place!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ June 4, 2010, 10:30 pm
That’s so nice she’s letting you guys stay with her. Love that they had whole wheat pizza.
Heather (runningwithsass.com) June 4, 2010, 10:37 pm
how fun! It’s great that you will know so many ppl!
Diana June 4, 2010, 10:39 pm
So nice meeting you tonight! Let us know if we can help you guys with your move or if you questions about your new city. 🙂 And congrats on finding your place!
Cyclist Kate June 4, 2010, 10:48 pm
Yep–I think a lot of people have trouble with highly processed soy products. Vegan cheese is one of those things that can be great in a pinch and for those who are transitioning, but my experience is that most people move away from it as they get more into veganism. I also sometimes wonder whether those highly processed products are really so much healthier than the original animal products…again, they’re great for transition, but I’d rather have real food!

Incidentally, Vegan with a Vengeance (the cookbook) has some amazing vegan pizza recipes…no processed cheese food required!
- Natasha June 5, 2010, 7:14 am
  I totally agree! Vegan with a Vengeance is great 🙂 Vegan cheese was good to use when I first went vegan, but I’ve really moved away from it (and other highly processed vegan foods) over the past few years. Angela at OSG has a great vegan parm recipe using nooch and roasted sesame seeds 🙂
M June 4, 2010, 10:54 pm
How funny is it that Kath is basically moving out the same time you are moving in? Kind of bizarre-the changing of the guards blogger style 😉
- caitlin June 5, 2010, 10:26 am
  the party tonight is called “changing of the guards” so weird!
Erin June 4, 2010, 10:57 pm
Looks like you’re having a great time, even with the subpar cheese. 😉
Amber K @ sparkpeople June 4, 2010, 10:57 pm
I try and eat less dairy, but I like to stay away from fake dairy especially. It definitely scares me.

Hope you had a fun night hanging out with everyone! KERF oatmeal? I’m sure it’ll be awesome to get the expert to make you some. =)
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter June 4, 2010, 10:59 pm
I love seeing all of my favorite bloggers in one place! Looks like a bunch of fun 🙂
Meghann June 4, 2010, 11:02 pm
vegan cheese makes my tummy hurt too
Camille June 4, 2010, 11:04 pm
Your pizza looks tasty!
Angela (ohsheglows) June 4, 2010, 11:06 pm
My tummy can’t stand soy cheese…or any soy for that matter. I don’t do well with processed vegan products. They were ok during the transition from vegetarian to vegan, but I don’t miss them anymore.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is June 4, 2010, 11:35 pm
I would be very excited for Kerf oats, too!
John June 5, 2010, 12:35 am
Sounds like you couldn’t have picked a better place to move to! Good friends and a great new place what more could you want?! Have a good weekend!
Amy @ Amy Starts To Run June 5, 2010, 12:50 am
I’m a vegetarian and pretty open to trying different things, but I’m very hesitant towards vegan cheese. I think the way to do it would be at a restaurant as opposed to a do-it-myself meal.
Jennifer June 5, 2010, 12:58 am
Soy cheese here is cheaper, I think that’s why our campus pub uses it in EVERYTHING! Poutine, nachos, pizza, you name it. It’s good, but definitely doesn’t melt the same.

Great pictures lately, I’m into it!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie June 5, 2010, 1:02 am
That IS good you know people there. I definitely couldn’t move away from family though. Too rough since I have never been without them!
Kellie June 5, 2010, 1:03 am
I have heard Daiya(sp?) is good. Sorry the pizza hurt your tummy. It sure looks good.
- caitlin June 5, 2010, 10:27 am
  ive heard of it but never tried it! i need to!
- Sarah @ See Sarah Eat June 9, 2010, 3:44 pm
  Daiya is the only pizza-type vegan cheese I’ve had and it was great!
Tammy @ Defining Wellness June 5, 2010, 1:09 am
Oh how I wish I could be at your breakfast tomorrow morning. 2 awesome bloggers, one amazing pot of oatmeal, no doubt.
Helen June 5, 2010, 3:12 am
What a great end to your day. It’s great that you will know people when you move, it’ll make the whole process easier for you. I don’t know anyone where I live (apart from my bf + his parents!). It used to, and still does, get me down. I would love to invite friends round or pop out for coffee with people…
Enjoy your oatmeal tomorrow, it will be fab!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs June 5, 2010, 3:25 am
A restaurant that does VEGAN cheese!? That’s amazing!!
Oh you’re so lucky having Kath doing you oatmeal…she’s the master of good oatmeal! Have a great day 🙂
~Jessica~ June 5, 2010, 5:17 am
Vegan cheese gives me horrible stomach ache too ~ I think it’s because it’s so processed, and all of the versions I’ve tried have been made out of soy. Highly processed soy is a killer on the digestive system!

Personally, I don’t think there’s a good vegan substitute for cheese out there at all and I’d rather just do without. The UK vegan alternatives are all pretty vile, but there seems to be a lot of US bloggers who are very impressed with a particular brand (Daiya, I think it’s called?) so perhaps you might want to give that one a try 🙂

Is the hubby totally vegan now or does he still eat eggs and honey?

So happy that the trip has been productive and you’re having such a wonderful time 🙂
- caitlin June 5, 2010, 10:27 am
  he still eats eggs and honey…. just not dairy. he said he’s trying to cut down on eggs.
Kristie June 5, 2010, 7:08 am
The soy cheese that I’ve tried has usually been pretty mean to my stomach too, but I’ve tried rice cheese and other “types” of vegan cheeses that have sat a lot better. Like a lot of others have mentioned, if you (or the hus) can find Daiya, it’s the best I’ve found.
eatmovelove June 5, 2010, 7:10 am
Yeah, there are different vegan cheeses that include soy or rice or whatever so experiment I guess. I eat regular cheese…so yeah…

Wait, I didn’t know you moved! I thought you were just visiting.
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine June 5, 2010, 7:29 am
Such a fun dinner! The only vegan cheese I’ve had and liked is Daiya…a lot of the varieties are really heavily processed, so they’re definitely not easy on the tum! I usually just get a cheeseless pizza, and ask them to really load up on the veggie toppings and spices. Delicious! Enjoy your oatmeal!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) June 5, 2010, 7:36 am
Ugh…sorry to hear about the vegan cheese. I’ve honestly never tried it, but I’m such a cheese snob that I don’t know how I’d feel about it. The pizza looks delicious though. 😀
Marieke June 5, 2010, 7:52 am
You look so happy! Congratulations on the house find.
Ashley June 5, 2010, 8:13 am
I can’t tolerate dairy products, vegan or regular. I’ve been vegan for awhile and have tried soy yogurt, vegan cheese (3 or 4 different kinds), etc…anything even resembling dairy seems to give me a hard time other than almond milk, for some reason. (Yeah, it’s weird.)
Kiersten June 5, 2010, 8:27 am
I like Brixx! It’s the only place I’ve ever been able to get a vegan pizza. The cheese has never given me any stomach problems. Too bad it made you sick 🙁

Congrats on putting a deposit down on a house. I bet you guys are really excited!
Autumn Tao June 5, 2010, 8:39 am
Vegan cheese has never given me a problem. I evolved from pescitarian back to vegan (after a long hiatus) after reading The Kind Diet around the holidays. And I never looked back. A big fear of mine was how my husband would take it, with our homemade pizza night tradition and all. I’m sooo grateful to say we both love Follow Your Heart, having tried both motz. and cheddar. We’ve done parms, pizzas, and quesedillas and loved them all.

Give it another shot girl! Maybe your husband’s transition and the doctor’s advice you should back away from dairy is a sign it’s not meant to be in your diet anymore…
jassy June 5, 2010, 8:54 am
i love reading your blog because it’s always happy and positive…living your life to the fullest:)

enjoy your run:)
Whitney @ Whitinspired June 5, 2010, 9:05 am
I love Brixx!!! I can’t/don’t eat cheese either and I’ve recently become a part-time vegetarian (unless I know where the meat comes from, I don’t eat it) and I love that Brixx has vegan cheese. We go there all the time…and the husband loves the beer samplers. I haven’t ever had it hurt my stomach, regular dairy cheese hurts mine. It’s so interesting how everyone is different.
Wei-Wei June 5, 2010, 9:32 am
What’s vegan cheese made from?! Would it be nutritional yeast, or something like soy cheese? It sounds very interesting.

It’s great that Kath introduced you to so many people! It’s a bummer that she’s moving out, though. :S

Wei-Wei
- caitlin June 5, 2010, 10:28 am
  it was soy cheese! my tummy still hurts.
Melissa @ For the Love of Health June 5, 2010, 9:49 am
It looks like great times to me! 🙂
I have a question regarding beer- can it be labelled vegetarian or vegan?
Have a wonderful weekend!
- caitlin June 5, 2010, 10:28 am
  i think there’s non vegan and then vegan beer but i don’t really obsess about that kind of stuff. beer is vegetarian in my eyes 😉
- Sarah @ See Sarah Eat June 9, 2010, 3:48 pm
  Melissa-check out barnivore.com they have beer & wines listed on there and whether they are animal friendly or not.
Sarah June 5, 2010, 10:05 am
That poor waitress probably didn’t know what to do with all of those cameras at the dinner table!
Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind June 5, 2010, 10:11 am
Caitlin, just catching up on your blog/life…

Congrats on finding a place to live! Wow…so crazy how you connected on such a deep level with the previous tenant. I’m so glad you’ll be featuring her; can’t wait to learn more.

Also, yay for KERF time!
mm June 5, 2010, 12:36 pm
It’s great that you already know so many people there! We had Brixx when I lived in Charleston, SC. I always got the non-vegan version of that pizza- the pear and gorgonzola – OMG. AMAZING!! 🙂
Pam June 5, 2010, 1:48 pm
Vegan cheese at restaurants is probably from a package and really processed … making your own probably won’t hurt you! Embrace vegan cheese!
Ellen June 5, 2010, 2:12 pm
I love pears AND pizza…never thought to put the two together, but I’ll put it on my must-try list :)Glad you’re enjoying Charlotte!

http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
ari June 5, 2010, 2:24 pm
yeah def try the daiya cheese! it’s very cheesy
Stephanie June 5, 2010, 9:18 pm
I have to echo what everyone else has said – try Daiya. The cheese melts and tastes the best out of all vegan cheeses I’ve tried (in second would be Follow Your Heart). But, like most cheese, it is good in small doses, as it’s not very healthy for you.
LindsayH June 5, 2010, 9:43 pm
teese upsets my stomach but daiya does not and its so much better! its soy-free.
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