Daily Grub in Omaha, Nebraska

Today I ran on foot about 15 blocks to Daily Grub and got there right at 2:50pm (they close at 3:00!). Thank goodness, they still served me even though I was sweaty from my run, and forgot cash (it's cash-only). Omaha's very own vegan, slow-food champions Elle Lien and Joey Lynch prepared for me a delicious white-bean paté with harissa, mole-roasted vegetable tacos with vérde sauce, and pineapple-spinach-ginger juice.

The food was excellent, and being that they only opened three days ago, I was impressed with the atmosphere - featuring flowers in antique bottles, a wall-sized chalkboard menu with a lightening-chirping-chick, and simple, warm, country influenced wood furniture.

Elle, the creator and chef, began her career in food with a word-of-mouth raw-vegan food event, Clean Plate, in Omaha in 2009. Daily Grub was an evolution of Clean Plate and is a permanent fixture on the corner of 20th and Pierce. Joey, the right-hand-man, is a visual artist who makes gorgeous paintings, prints, and posters.

The menu changes daily depending upon what's fresh at the farmer's market, and the ingredients are always local, organic, and usually vegan. They even have a weekend brunch featuring vegan waffles! The best part was that Elle and Joey were so friendly, Joey even offered me a ride back to work, how could could I say no?