Happy Monday to my favorite vegans and vegan-food loving readers!
You may (or may not) know that Friday was my birthday and I know that many people stop celebrating their birthdays after a while but for me, I will never stop. I’m happy that I made it another year to see what fascinating things I’ll learn and I will always celebrate that.
But there are certain things like work and a pending book release that take priority so instead of a long weekend away, we spent the day sightseeing at some nearby-ish sites.
First we saw the “Jidova” Roman Castrum. The name “Jidova” is a local word that basically means local. This site was really cool, dating back to late 100 to early 200’s, After the common era and it was first excavated in the late 1800’s and again in the 1960’s. In fact the guide told us that there were plans to do more digging at another part of the property now that they have a clearer image of what’s located there.
As you know, this kind of thing is totally my jam. Seeing just how much history has passed through a country that most of the world knows so little about is exciting and traipsing through the area was just as fun as it was in Drobeta Turnu-Severin and Alba Iulia.
We took some photos and happily listened to the guide give us a detailed history of the place which included arson, a rebuild and yet another fire of indeterminate origins. Talk about drama!
From there we went to the Negru Voda Monastery. Why? Mostly because there’s a really good dark beer named after it and it was close so I figured, why not? I’m not a religious person but I was impressed with how well the grounds were kept and just how nice it all was. There was a small room shaped like a bell, which I thought was really cool even though we didn’t go inside.
There were also these really cool doors that looked monstrous, as if they belonged in a different era. The plan had been to go to the Negru Voda Fortress Monastery as well BUT on the way to Jidova we got a flat tire and after changing it, Cos wasn’t in the mood for 30 minute hike up to the hilltop fortress. Fingers crossed for next time!
So we took the scenic route and headed home, stopping at Târgoviște, the midway point that has a few restaurants with vegan options.
Now allow me a moment to be one of those vegans. These days I’m loathed to eat at places that aren’t just straight up vegan because they don’t even try. The food, when there’s something beyond salad, fries and grilled vegetables, is usually not seasoned and leaves me more upset that I paid for garbage rather than cooking at home.
But as all good vegans do, I did my homework and found a place in Târgoviște called Story. It had 2 pages of vegan options and that seemed like a good start.
Right?
Hmm, well let’s see. The garlic and pepperoncini potato wedges were delicious even though they were clearly frozen but seasoned in house. We shared those and they didn’t last long.
I ordered a pizza but they should’ve just called it a vegetable flat bread because there was nothing pizza-ish about it. There were fresh tomatoes, black olives, red bell peppers and corn and it was average at best. Nothing stayed on top of the pizza dough so it was just a big ol’ mess.
Cos ordered the Garden Gourmet burger and it wasn’t very good. It was overcooked but juicy and once again, unseasoned.
The highlight of the meal was the vegan strawberry cake. It wasn’t made in house but it was pretty good…when it finally arrived at the table.
Overall it wasn’t worth the money we spent but it was nice for both of us to have a meal that neither of us had to cook. Look at me getting all optimistic in my young age! 😛
The day itself was a success, filled with sunshine, fresh air and history. The food? Well it nourished me and that’s what I’m taking away from the restaurant.
The Spicy Spatula 
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