What is Veg Out?
A food exploration column about Louisvillian’s with eating restrictions finding hidden gems at eateries other “restricted” foodies might not know about.
Here’s why Veg Out is back in 2025 after 4 years off:
In early 2019, the editor of The LEO Weekly asked me to write a food column since, and I quote, “You write books and are annoyingly picky and have weird eating restrictions, right?” I responded, “Well, I am a gluten-intolerant vegetarian that avoids fried foods.” To which the editor said, “Bingo. . . I am smelling some high-maintenance gold.”
From the go-go, carefree, pre-pandemic days of 2019 through the first year or so of the soul crushing plague, I wrote this column, Veg Out, so that those avoiding gluten or those steering clear of animal carcasses could read a little about restaurants to which they might not venture without a solid recommendation.
I just finished my 6th book which has taken up most of my discretionary writing time for the last couple years, so I decided to dust off my restaurant reviewing office supplies and get back into the game.
The format of the column follows the hijinks of my wife, Dr. Hope Zoeller, and I, as we try a local hot spot. Hope gives some meatier recommendations to go along with my tree-hugger write ups, and we try to imbibe a bit along the way so you can pair some good liver damage with your expanding waistline.
Hope and I enjoy so many places around town about which we can’t wait to write, but we are always looking for recommendations too. If you have a restaurant or some specific dishes that you think might be good fodder for a Veg Out column, please email me. I am always looking for me new “favorite” eats.
Dragon King’s Daughter (Louisville)
My wife, Hope, and I go to DKD at least once a week and usually we have our niece Hazel in tow. Hazel has been going to DKD since she was 2 (now 10) so she has literally grown-up with specialty sushi, gyoza and edamame.
Let’s start with appetizers. Their salted edamame is a great ‘energy for ordering more food” snack while figuring out your culinary game plan. Hot, fresh, and joyous to see someone not familiar with eating edamame launch a soybean across the restaurant. Also, another veggie friendly app (or entrée if someone wanted to belly up to the trough) is the spicy tofu nachos. Crisp, homemade chips, fresh veggies, a little heat from some peppers, and a deluge of cheese makes for fun for the whole table.
Though not gluten-free, the veggie gyoza are incredible. Before I found out I was gluten intolerant, this was my favorite hors d’oeuvre in the’ Ville. (Just as a quick side note: until I found out that the root of many of my skin and digestion issues was gluten related, I always thought gluten intolerance was just something Millennials made up for fun and/or drama-related purposes).
While soybeans were being popped and menus were being downloaded to everyone’s respective phones, Hope was reviewing the wine list like someone in a Dan Brown book trying to find the secret hiding place of the Holy Grail. When she came up for air after being submerged in vino offerings, we decided to order a German varietal, Gruner Veltliner. Think of the crisp mineraliness of a
Attention anti-pescatarians and sea-o-phobes: if you do not like fish or seafood in general. . . there are many selections at DKD that will turn your fish frown upside down. They offer about a dozen veggie rolls and many can be made gluten free with just a small modification or two.
My normal go-to is a one-two combo of a summer salad roll (Fresh mozzarella, spring mix, red onion, avocado, cucumber, & cilantro inside…drizzled with spicy mayo) and a Buffalo Roll (Fresh mozzarella, cucumber, & avocado inside). I could eat this meal twice a week and never tire of it. But to branch out just a bit and try something a little heartier, my meal-de-jour was their veggie Bibimbap (which are scalding clay pots with rice and a flurry of ingredients that finishes cooking right in front of you). I ordered the Esquites which takes some of the black bean, cheeses, corn and avocado from the latin-side of the Asian fusion dynamic and mixes it with mozzarella, pickled Japanese veggies, and some sizzling rice. WARNING: YOU WILL BURN YOUR MOUTH ON THE INNAUGURAL BITE! It’s a rule.
Hope opts for her favorite; a Son of Jade (red tuna inside with Salmon and avocado on the outside) with a side of Ginger dressing. Since I am zero for 47 trying to teach proper chopstick usage techniques. . . to my shame, Hope uses a fork to demolish her roll.
Hazel has her own favorite. . . and off-the -menu item that the GM made for her that he dubbed “The H Roll.” It is the kids shrimp roll plate, but with the whole roll tempura-fried and then drizzled in spicy mayo. Kids plates come with a side of steamed rice and a small portion of edamame (which my niece has told me is NOT shareable with the table. . . especially not uncles).
We usually tap out on the dessert course, but if you have a sweet tooth, DKD has several Asian-inspired goodies like their Oreo Roll (Oreo cookie crumbles with cream cheese in a soy wrapper and then tempura-fried) or their Banana Pudding Wontons (Caramelized banana, cream cheese, & vanilla wafer. Topped with caramel & cinnamon sugar walnuts. Served with vanilla ice cream.)
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