Photo credit: Bychefchloe.com

Several Christmases ago, my sister gifted me Chef Chloe Coscarelli’s vegan cookbook. I’m not vegan (have you seen my post on my fave tacos In San Diego?!), though I do enjoy quick and simple ways to prepare meals at home without meat. Doing so saves a few dollars and prevents me from touching raw meat with my bare hands, which I’d rather not do. So, Chef Chloe’s paperback was a welcome guide to my fledgling cooking skills and modest budget.

Over the years, Chef Chloe’s Avocado Pesto Pasta, Asian-inspired greens and a Southwest style salad occasionally made it into my cooking rotation. I’m a fan of hers, and even though I don’t make her dishes regularly, I’m impressed by her entrepreneurship and visually stunning food pics from her new restaurant’s Instagram account. Until last fall, I could only admire the buzz she was getting around her first brick and mortar in Manhattan.

As my trip to NYC approached, I peppered my East Coast friends with Instagrams from the restaurant’s account and paired them with lots of heart eyes emojis. I also vowed to drag (passionately persuade, rather) them to join me for an all-vegan meal there if they resisted.

Part 2: Late lunch at by CHLOE, Manhattan

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