Gulu Gulu Cafe

 

With October just around the corner, Salem MA, is one of the most popular places to visit for some good Halloween fun. Gulu Gulu cafe is located on Essex St in Salem MA and is a cute cafe that has a lot of good vegetarian friendly options.  In addition to great food and drinks, the restaurant, depending on the night, features live music that makes for a fun night out. 

I found myself at Gulu Gulu Cafe and I had their Lyon Vegetarian panini ($8), also available as a wrap.  This is a delicious grilled Panini made with provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and artichokes.  The panini is also served with chips and a side salad.  It was perfect for the fall weather, the cheese melted in my mouth. In additon to the Lyon Vegetarian panini, I had a cup of the Hungry Mushroom soup, $(3), a lightly creamed soup filled with fresh mushrooms. I liked the fact the soup was not too heavy like most mushroom soups that are available.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and what I consider to be the perfect vegetarian comfort food ( hot soup, and a warm Panini) for the fall weather.  The staff is friendly and the ambiance is  reminiscent of a European style cafe with couches, paintings and wooden tables. Other vegetarian items include a variety of , crepes,wraps, salads and grape leaves.  The free wireless internet and the outdoor patio are nice touches.

Parking is on the street and the prices are same for lunch or dinner. I wish they had a half soup and sandwich option as the I could not finish my panini.  However if you find yourself in the Salem MA area, Gulu Gulu Cafe is nice place to relax and unwind with some good food.

New England Soup Factory

No matter what time of the year it is, nothing can cheer me up like a bowl of soup. I am a huge fan of soups and needless to say I was very excited when I stumbled upon the New England Soup Factory in Salem MA. They have two other locations, one in Brookline and the other in Needham MA. The menu mentions they carry 150 different types of soups, and the choices of soups are continuously changing.

I went to there for lunch and on that particular day they had three different types of vegetarian soups, each with a distinct flavor. The service was very friendly and I was able to sample all three of the soups.

The first soup I tried was the Black Bean and Yellow Rice with Habanera but found it too spicy for my liking. The Roasted Peach and Ginger soup was a yummy cold and sweet soup that tasted like a peach yogurt smoothie however I could find no taste of the ginger. Out of the three soups, the one I liked best was the Spinach & Zucchini Bisque, a warm cream based soup with shredded spinach. Besides soups, there are quite a few good vegetarian/vegan options on the menu. I ended up ordering the sesame noodles ($3.25), a side dish made with vegetables and ginger in a sesame soy blend. I really enjoyed the taste of this dish but quite contrary to my experience with the Peach Ginger Soup I found the ginger in this dish a bit overpowering.

Depending on the day, the selections of soups could be hit or miss but it looks like they try to offer something for everyone. The ambiance is casual and simple but I did not have a problem finding a seat to have lunch. If you are in the area, the New England Soup Factory is worth checking out for a healthy affordable lunch.