Autumn Beauty, Vegan Oneonta/Cooperstown

Before setting out on a road trip, a vegan has to consider how long it may be until a proper meal is available. Like a marathoner, it may be appropriate to load up on carbs to anchor the behind in for hours driving (not running). This is why I love Maywood Pancake House so much. The hard part is over (getting past New York City), northbound interstates await with nary a worthy vegan meal in site. But Maywood has vegan pancakes, vegan French toast , and vegan challah bread. Unpretentious dining, great service, and delicious vegan breakfast options are always a wonderful thing… but even more so considering this.

I’ve never been to Cooperstown. Part of the reason for this is that there really isn’t any vegan food options nearby. There is a local natural food store, Cooperstown Natural Foods, which had a great selection of goodies for road snacking.

This sprouted nut blend (Thai lemon curry) from Living Intentions was probably the most delicious nut medley I’ve ever eaten. I loved it so much that I felt it worth taking a picture of its package.

Close by to Cooperstown is Oneonta, a college town with an uncharacteristic quantity of vegetarian eateries: none. We stopped at Green Earth Health Food Market for a veganizable sandwich from the café. Though the staff and vibe is pretty darn awkward (think surly hipster and flaky hippie wrapped in one), the resulting sandwich, made mostly of the store’s products, was pretty darn good. However, the selection in store was not at great as the much smaller Cooperstown Natural Foods. And I am basing this solely on Field Roast Chao and nut cheese availability, an indicator of informed vegan option grocer.

A tempeh reuben. Loved the “not Lightlife” tempeh.

Oneonta did have Soda Jerks Diner, a new “slash/ie” to add to my roadside list. The new “slash/ie” tag is in homage to Zoolander and denotes an eatery that shares operational space with another business. Not your standard slash/ies—like health food store/café, book store/café, yoga studio/café, but weird combinations. Like this auto lube/diner. Even weirder: an auto lube/diner with vegan options.

Though the French Toast was burnt and the tofu scramble needed some of that cooking time, and maybe even more, I had to keep in mind. I was at an auto lube. How amazing is it that in Oneonta, New York a place vegan options exist in an auto lube shop/diner?! 

They also had a juke box.

You know when you see cartoon pictures of the sun? This is their inspiration. This sun in Cooperstown, outside room 104 of the Best Western Plus.

Driving through peak foliage in central New York is an experience not to be missed.

Of course, when in Cooperstown, there’s the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It is a wonderful museum honoring America’s past time. But it’s also about social progress, something that sports have helped a great deal. 

More autumn beauty…

The other-worldly sunrise from our room’s window. 

A quick bite at Garden Cafe in Woodstock and we were homeward-bound. My juice blend and a pan-seared polenta cake with potatoes.