EcoEgg Review: An Alternative to Laundry Detergent

Since meeting Bea Johnson last year, our family has revisited many of our lifestyle choices to reduce our plastic waste.  One of the many changes has been to stop buying liquid detergent and opt for powdered detergent in a cardboard box.  The box packaging was great, but the powdered detergent wasn’t dissolving well in our …

Why Every Mom Needs a “Tully”

On long-haul flights I catch up on a year’s worth of cinema.  When Z was little, we packed an arsenal of activities and books to avoid screen time, but now we just succumb.  For a household that doesn’t own a television, we’re resigned to the fact that a few hours of non-stop, in-flight entertainment won’t …

Review: Farmacy Vegan Kitchen and Bakery

We're approaching the last ten days of Ramadan, so it's not the ideal time to talk about food but #veganramadan is real.  I've been pleasantly surprised by the growing number of Muslims who are happily hashtagging and Instagramming plant-based platters for their pre-fasting and post-fasting meals.  Some are only going veg for the month, but …

Review: Detox Market in Ankara

Healthy eating options are popping up all over Ankara. New restaurants, businesses, and kiosks are catering to the gluten-free, dairy-free, and healthy eating crowd like never before. Our latest discovery was found while running errands at Bilkent Center. In both Turkish and English, I recognized the words “healthy”, “cold-pressed juices”, and “flourless”. When I stopped …

Review: Vegan İşleri in Ankara

Though we’re not foodies, we know good food when we eat it. On most days, we’re content with simple, plant-based meals but every once in a while, we go out to eat for some variety. Now, instead of going out, we have another option for delicious vegan dining that we can enjoy right at home. …

Review: Padam Coffee Shop in Ankara

Vegans in Ankara need a hangout spot. Not a pub or a living room but an inviting, neutral space where you can meet friends for tea, have stimulating conversations, and take a break from the city hustle. I recently found such an oasis at the newly opened Padam Coffee Shop near Kuğulu Park, right next …

Review: Ev Yapımı Vegan Lezzetler in Ankara

Since coming to Turkey, we’ve been inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit here. You want to start a business? Come up with a name, open a Facebook or Instagram account, and get to work. We aspire to be self-employed one day and meeting small business owners here in Ankara is teaching us a lot about the …

Review: Ege Günlüğü in Ankara

Aegean cuisine has a reputation for being one of Turkey’s most vegan-friendly regions. Along the fertile coast, a plethora of beans and vegetables grow abundantly and are traditionally slow-cooked with cold-pressed olive oil, fresh herbs and seasonings. Red lentils and bulgur wheat are combined to make mercimek kofte, the vegan version of a ground meat …

Review: Chocolat Garden in Ankara

I’m not much of a baker. I’d much rather leave it to the pros and whip up raw desserts that are much harder to mess up. But, in the absence of the prerequisite food processor or blender, our family has become smitten with a new vegan delight—dark chocolate. Just a few squares after dinner always …

Review: Juice Love in Ankara

In Ankara’s Gordion Mall, there’s a tiny colorful kiosk bursting with color and teeming with life. Curious shoppers ask “Are you selling shampoos? Shower gels?” Even better than artificial colors and synthetic scents, what’s for sale are the fruits of nature’s own coloring box, curated by the Creator—fresh, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices made by …