Dallas Vegan Thanksgiving Holiday Guide

If it wasn’t obvious with the cooler weather, the time change bringing an early loss of daylight should make it quite apparent that fall is fading fast and winter is right around the corner. If it’s still not obvious, perhaps a quick trip to most retail stores who are busy erecting their holiday displays (already looking forward to December) will remind you that Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Either way, it’s time to start getting your head-right-with-Tofurky. Here’s a quick holiday guide for ways to get your Thanksgiving fix on November 25th without the fuss – happy dining!

image courtesy Velo Steve

 

Holiday Meals To-Go

Vegans get three great options for meals this Thanksgiving;

 

Spiral Diner (Dallas & Fort Worth)

Spiral’s closed for Thanksgiving, but that’s no reason to miss out on their home-style vegan goodness for the holiday. They’re cookin’ up  Tofurkys, Celebration Roasts, and all the fixins & desserts to order and enjoy at home.

Said fixins include (but are not limited to)

• Sesame Glazed Green Beans
• Whipped Coconut Sweet Potatoes with Pecans
• Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
• Cranberry Pecan Dressing
• Mac n’ Cheese (yessss!)
• …and other Spiral favorites

Orders are due by Sunday, November 21st and must be picked up during regular business hours on Tuesday the 23th or Wednesday the 24th. Check out the order form online, or head to either restaurant to submit your order.

 

Whole Foods (Various Locations)

This year Whole Foods is offering a full vegan holiday dinner including:

• Wild Rice Cranberry Fig Field Roast En Croute
• Vegan  Mashed Potatoes
• Cinnamon-Dusted Butternut Squash
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Wild Mushroom-Sage Gravy
• Cranberry-Mandarin Orange Relish.

Get more information online or visit the Whole Foods near you.

 

Cafe Elite (Plano)

Fresh off their Grand Opening celebration, Cafe Elite is also offering a vegan holiday meal comprised of:

• Classic stuffing & gravy
• Green beans
• Sweet potato casserole
• Cranberry sauce
• Gardein Chick’n cutlets.

Price is $13.95 per meal. For dessert, add a slice of pumpkin pie for $3, or “cheese” cake for $3.95.

Orders are due by Wednesday, November 17th and must be picked up during regular business hours on Tuesday the 23th or Wednesday the 24th.

Visit the store to order, or call (469) 828-0607 for more details.

1501 Preston Rd No. 800
Plano, TX

 

Holiday Meals Dine-in

 

Kalachandji’s (Dallas)

Kalachandji’s will host their annual Thanksgiving day (Thursday the 25th) buffet with dining typical Thanksgiving favorites such as:

• Tofu Turkey & Dressing
• Candied Yams
• Green Beans
• …and more

Price is $15.95 per person. Seating Hours for lunch are 11:30am - 3:00pm and dinner from 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

2010 Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off - November 7th

 

The 22nd Annual Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off in Round Rock, Texas is just around the corner on Sunday,  November 7th. It’s your chance to sample an array of delicious vegan chili as teams from all over Texas compete for cash prizes and the right to be named “best in Texas.”

Head down to Round Rock for a day full of food, music, and tasty food. Visit VeggieChiliCookoff.com for more details.

Interested in entering your own chili, or being part of a team? Call Ricky Burke at 972-235-5665 or 214-460-3385.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off
Old Settlers Park 3300 East Palm Valley Blvd
Round Rock, Texas
Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
11:30 am – 5:00 pm

Make Your Reservations for Next Week’s Dallas Vegan Week!

Working in conjunction with Mercy For Animals’ restaurant outreach program, five upscale Dallas eateries will each offer delectable vegan dishes on their menus for the entire week starting Monday, October 24.

By offering vegan menu items, these progressive restaurants are helping to promote a compassionate, healthy, and delicious way of eating.

Invite your friends – veg*n or not – to head to any one (or every one!) of these restaurants – it’s a perfect opportunity to show your friends how exciting an expertly crafted vegan meal can taste (and look) – as well as demonstrate to chefs how offering meals such as these is good for business year ‘round.

Visit the event website for details on joining our friends at MFA for special dine-out events taking place at each restaurant throughout the week.

Dallas Vegan Week - Participating Restaurants

Salum Restaurant

4152 Cole Avenue, Suite 103
(214) 252-9604

Tempura Cauliflower and Broccolini with White Bean Puree, Capers, Currants and Almonds (pictured above)
Chefs Abraham Salum and Al Havens

The Second Floor

13340 Dallas Parkway (in the Westin Galleria)
(972) 450-2978

Soba Noodle Salad with Baby Bok Choy, Thai Chili Vinaigrette and Asian Pears
Chef J. Chastain

Tillman's Roadhouse

324 West 7th Street (in the Bishop Arts District)
(214) 942-0988

Grilled Marjoram and Garlic Marinated Local Tofu Steak with Roasted Red Pepper BBQ and Lentil-Corn Salad
Chef Dan Landsberg

Bijoux

5450 West Lovers Lane, Suite 225
(214) 350-6100

Chanterelle Mushroom Ravioli with Cauliflower and Olive Oil Emulsion and Roasted Mushroom Dust
Chef Scott Gottlich

Stephan Pyles Restaurant

1807 Ross Avenue, Suite 200
(214) 580-7000

Surprise New Millennium Southwestern Vegan Dish
Chef Matt McCallister

Texas State Veggie Fair Wrap-up

An amazing time was had by all last Saturday, October 16th 2010, at the Texas State Veggie Fair. DallasVegan.com would like to thank everyone that came out to support our first (but certainly not last) major event to celebrate the thriving vegan scene we have here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Thanks to all of the organizations and vendors in attendance, as well as our amazing volunteers. Without them, none of this could have been possible.

Rather than give our own review of the event, we thought we’d share with you all the great things others had to say about the fair. We’ll wrap that up with a Flickr slideshow with great pics courtesy Sylvia Elzafon.

 

“Texas State Veggie Fair” – Oct 18 2010 VegNews Press Pass

“State Veggie Fair Draws Veggies, Vegans, and Indie Rockers” – Oct 18 2010 Side Dish

“Texas State Veggie Fair gives real thing run for its money, almost” – Oct 17 2010 Pegasus News

“Forget Fried: Activists Go Green at the First Ever Texas Veggie Fair” – Oct 17 2010 SMU Daily Mustang

“Texas State Veggie Fair” – Oct 16 2010 WFAA News 8

“Field Trip! Texas Veggie State Fair” – Oct 16 2010 VegFortWorth.com

 

Meatless “McMuffins” from MFA at McDonald’s Protest Wednesday AM

Our friends at Mercy for Animals (MFA) will stage a “Tasty” protest at a new McDonald’s location opening downtown in the West End Wednesday morning, September 22 at 8:00 am. From the press release:

Donning aprons, and backed by a banner that declares, “Free Vegan Food Samples – Healthy, Cruelty-­‐Free & Delicious,” members of the animal advocacy organization, Mercy For Animals, will greet customers of Dallas’ newest McDonald’s restaurant grand opening – dishing up free vegan “McMuffins,” served with a side of truth about McDonald’s’ cruel treatment of animals.

We can’t think of a better way to start the morning than with a cruelty-free breakfast goodie and friendly conversation with the great folks at MFA. Be sure to stop by and say “hi,” if you’re in the area.

Click for full press release

McDonald’s Protest
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
8:00 am
440 N. Lamar St., Ste. 107A (corner of Pacific Ave. and Lamar St.)
Dallas, TX

Cafe Elite in Plano - First Look

 

 

Recently, we checked out Cafe Elite - a new vegan restaurant that opened last week in Plano.

The menu included a few Asian favorites such as spring rolls, Lo Mein, and Pho. However, they also offered a much welcomed variety of other items such as Raw Pizzas, Sloppy Joes, burgers, and vegan chili.

The Chic’n Salad was a delightful spread of fresh mixed-greens topped with Gardein “chic’n” and accompanied by a delicate, yet flavorful house-made vinaigrette. The homemade Sloppy Joe was a heaping helping of ground “beef” and tangy sauces served on a light and fluffy bun that held up well to the “Joe.”

Cafe Elite also carries vegan desserts such as chocolate cake – not sampled on this visit, but we’ve heard other diners use many superlative phrases to describe it.

Cafe Elite is operated by followers of Supreme Master Ching Hai, so you can entertain and inform yourself with Supreme Master TV, playing on TVs in the front and rear of the restaurant. Perhaps the best description of the channel’s programming, delivered in a subtle and positive manner, is taken from their website:

People must realize that putting down that piece of meat, which is poisonous, is all they have to do to obtain peace on Earth, and to eliminate hunger for good, and to save the planet...

Keep in mind that patience is a virtue as they continue to work out opening kinks in their ordering/serving system. However, based on this first visit we’re excited to have this versatile vegan option on the north side of town.

Check them out and let us know what you think!

 

 

Cafe Elite
1501 Preston Rd No. 800
Plano, TX 75093
(469) 828-0607

Fried Inspiration – Vegan Fried, Fried Rice

The Texas State Veggie Fair is right around the corner on October 16th, which means the Vegan Fried Foods Contest is, well, right around the corner.

Remember, your entry it doesn’t have to be *completely* original – maybe you have a special way of making a common fried dish that’s just really darn good. Or, you might try combining two things that should never be put together – it might just be perfect when you throw it in a vat of frying oil.

Want to enter, but still not sure what to do? If you’re in need of a little inspiration, check out our video on the new Dallas Vegan YouTube channel! I can say with personal experience that coming up with a recipe is not too difficult, and fun to boot! So get your fryers ready and submit your entry soon!

Dallas Vegan Drinks - September

Dallas Vegan Drinks September marks the 12 installment of Dallas Vegan Drinks - It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we’ve had Vegan Drinks here in Dallas.

With plans for the Texas State Veggie Fair in full swing, we’d like to  invite those interested in volunteering with the fair to pizza LOUNGE at this Thursday night to discuss volunteer opportunities. Our volunteers are going to contribute greatly to the success of the inaugural Texas State Veggie Fair, so please consider coming out to speak with organizers and find out what you can do to be a part of the event.

Regardless of your interests in attending, the bottom line is that Vegan Drinks is a fun night for meeting fellow veg*n & veg-curious folks for good conversation and information swapping in a fun, non-formal environment.

As in the past several months, Vegan Drinks will be at pizza LOUNGE, the best pizza joint in town - accompanied by a wide selection of beverages. Don’t miss it!

 

September Dallas Vegan Drinks
pizza LOUNGE
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
841 Exposition
Dallas, TX

Texas State Veggie Fair Vegan Fried Foods Contest – Call for entries

If you haven’t yet heard about the Texas State Veggie Fair, then you may not have seen our announcement from several online media sources last week (including Hanna Raskin at the Dallas Observer). Point being – we have a huge event happening on October 16th, 2010, that we want YOU to be a part of.

Your first opportunity to join in the fun is to sign up for the Vegan Fried Foods competition. It’s almost impossible to not be aware of the crazy fried foods available at that other not so animal-friendly fair. The big problem with that competition is that hardly any of the items are vegetarian, let alone vegan. Here’s your chance to show the world how fun and creative vegan cooking can be (like Tofish & Chips, pictured right).

Put your vegan frying skills to the test and compete not only for cash prizes – but more importantly, bragging rights for being the winner of the inaugural competition.

Space is limited to 15 contestants, so sign up as soon as possible. Visit this page for more information and how to apply.

Not a cook?

Stay tuned for information about how YOU can be a guest judge at the competition!

Protest Week in Dallas!

Okay, so this isn’t an “official” protest week per se, but there sure has been a higher-than-usual frequency.

Besides their veg-leafleting at the West End this past Monday, Mercy For Animals made local and national headlines with their “Biohazard Crew" protest encouraging shoppers to "Recall All Eggs, Choose Vegan!" MFA Texas Campaign Coordinator Eddie Garza had this to say about the event:

We had an amazing turnout! Our 'biohazard crew', decked in white jumpsuits, rubber gloves, face protection masks and holding signs that read 'Recall All Eggs, Choose Vegan', sent a clear message to Dallas -- that choosing a compassionate vegan diet is the best way to prevent animal cruelty and to protect their own health, as sickness and disease runs rampant on factory farms.

There’s no eggs-aggerating the fact that the Dallas Observer has been all over the vegan news scene the last couple of days (hopefully you’ll forgive the pun after reading some of the stories)…

Robert Wilonsky had the first scoop on MFA’s activities on Monday…followed by a great egg-protest write-up courtesy Andrea Grimes on Tuesday…continuing with a mention of the PETA vegan feed-in by the Lettuce Ladies going on Thursday.

Aside from these special protests by two big organizations, we can’t forget to mention Animal Connection Texas and their longstanding weekly protests of DFW area Petland stores, held every Saturday (various times/locations). Their commitment to standing up for animal rights in our community for such a long time is certainly commendable.

So, the moral of this story is - there are ample opportunities to get active as a Dallas Vegan and we’re getting noticed more and more everyday. Keep up the great work!

PETA Lettuce Ladies Veggie Dog Giveaway
Thursday, August 26
12:00 pm
In front of City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street
Dallas, TX

MFA Vegan Food Giveaway and Outreach
Friday, August 27, 2010
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Pacific Ave. (between Market and Lamar Sts.)
Dallas, TX

ACT Petland Protests
Every Saturday
Various Times/Locations

Vote for Dallas Favs in 2010 VegNews Veggie Awards

Each year, VegNews magazine holds its annual Veggie Awards, a comprehensive “best of” list as voted for by readers. To win a category is truly an honor, as VegNews is highly regarded worldwide as a leader in vegan news, trends, and lifestyle info.

This year, Spiral Diner is on the ballot for “Favorite Vegetarian Restaurant.” They won Restaurant of the Year in 2007 – help them bring it home once again!

Also on the ballot for “Favorite Nonprofit Animal Organization” are our friends at Mercy For Animals – let’s get them a win (after all, it was their Vegetarian Dining Campaign that got us Daiya cheese in the first Tex-Mex joint in Dallas)!

While your at it, why not issue write-in votes for “Favorite Animal Sanctuary,” Serenity Springs Animal Sanctuary and of course, Favorite Blog – DallasVegan.com!

 

2010 VegNews VeggieAwards
Deadline for entry – August 31st

Vegan BBQ! MFA Launch Party This Saturday (FREE)

Mercy For Animals (MFA) is holding their “official” launch party this Saturday from 12:00pm – 4:00pm at their office pool located within Cityscape Dallas Apartments.

Since their opening in March, MFA has organized many leafleting, feed-in, and other events aimed at increasing awareness in Dallas for their cause – establishing and defending the rights of all animals.

As if the launch is not occasion enough to get to the party, they will have vegan desserts provided by Spiral Diner and veggie dogs and burgers graciously sponsored by Bliss Cafe.

So be sure to RSVP and make your way to the MFA Pool Party to meet some awesome veg*ns and celebrate this exciting event with the MFA crew!

MFA Launch Party & Vegan BBQ
Cityscape Dallas Apartments
Saturday, July 24th 2010
12:00pm – 4:00pm
6467 Melody Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
R.S.V.P. EddieG@MercyForAnimals.org
or call 214.609.4066.

Sol’s Nieto Mexican Grill…*The* Vegan Tex-Mex Destination?

In this economy, it seems almost a weekly occurrence that a retail store or restaurant closes its doors. As a way of combating these tough times, many restaurants are looking for ways to help increase their customer base (and cash flow). One such restaurant, Sol’s Nieto Mexican Grill on Mockingbird Lane, found potential in making a simple tweak of the menu to attract a completely new crowd they'd never even thought of.

After receiving a sample of Daiya vegan cheese (via Mercy For Animals’ Vegetarian Dining Campaign), management at this well-established family-owned restaurant took a chance and added it to the menu shortly thereafter. As a result, they’ve already experienced increased traffic as new customers call/visit to confirm that the rumors of vegan-friendly Tex-Mex are true.

As it turns out, Sol’s already offered many vegetarian options that could be made vegan by omitting the cheese. All beans (refried and borracho) as well as the rice contain none of the “usual suspects” (chicken stock and lard) as in most other Tex-Mex establishments. By adding Daiya vegan cheese (one of the hottest new vegan cheeses to hit the market), Sol’s positioned itself to become the vegan destination for Tex-Mex in the D/FW area.

So, what does that mean to Dallas vegans? Many foods that were previously a distant memory are now all of a sudden “back on the menu”. Things like…

Cheese & Veggie Quesadillas…

and Cheese Enchiladas…

and my favorite, Cheese & Veggie Chimichangas…

Sitting down to a gooey, cheesy plate of nachos and a frozen margarita on a patio is truly a Texas tradition (if not a religion). So much so that many long-time vegetarians thought they'd never be able to ditch dairy. By adding vegan cheese to the the Dallas Tex-Mex dining scene, Sol's turns this into a "cruelty free" tradition available for everyone.

Sol's Nieto Mexican Grill
6434 East Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, TX
(214) 826-5564

Vegan Chef Jeanette from Crosby Catering at Taste of Dallas this Sunday

Just received this bit of news from Dallas’ own Crosby Catering & Coffee – vegetarian/vegan catering service:

Crosby executive chef and owner, Jeanette Prasifka, will be a featured chef at this year's Taste of Dallas. This year's festival is moving to Dallas' own Fair Park, and is expanding into 150,000 square feet of AIR CONDITIONED indoor space! Yeah! Chef Jeanette is proud to be one of only two female chefs featured this year.

On Sunday, July 11th at 3:00 PM, Jeanette will be sharing her secrets for a delicious Asian-themed vegan meal: Spicy Orange 'Beef' and Broccoli, Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Corn with Asian Coconut Lime Glaze. We hope you will join us at this fun, informative and DELICIOUS event!

With the weather becoming more and more unpredictable around here, sounds like air conditioned Taste of Dallas at Fair Park is a great place to visit this Sunday.

Chef Jeanette Vegan Cooking Demo
Taste of Dallas
Sunday, July 11th
3:00 PM
1200 S. Second Avenue (Grand Avenue)
Dallas, TX 75210

Celebrity Chef Tal Ronnen @ Whole Foods Park Lane Tuesday, June 22nd

Tal Ronnen, celebrity chef and best-selling author of The Conscious Cook, was in town today giving a workshop at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School (featuring a scrumptious “chicken" scaloppini, pictured right).

Missed it? Don’t worry. Go to the Whole Foods Park Lane on Tuesday, June 22nd, for a live cooking demo and book signing from 12:00pm – 2:00pm.

 

Tal Ronnen Demo & Book Signing
Whole Foods Park Lane
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
8190 Park Lane, Suite 351
Dallas, TX 75231

Get thee to pizza LOUNGE tomorrow night for Dallas Vegan Drinks

Dallas Vegan Drinks + pizza LOUNGE = ♥

Vegan Drinks has been in Dallas for eight months. Have you attended yet?

pizza LOUNGE has been in Dallas for six months. Have you visited yet?

If you answered no to either of these questions, kill two birds with one stone (probably not the most appropriate saying for a vegan blog, but you know what I mean...) and make plans NOW to get yourself to Dallas Vegan Drinks @ pizza LOUNGE in Deep Ellum tomorrow night (Thursday, 6/10).

pizza LOUNGE is exactly what Dallas needs more of - mainstream restaurants that "get it". They have a great menu that anyone, vegan or otherwise, can enjoy, but also happen to have an awesome vegan selection and display it proudly.

Let's show our appreciation and make this a heavily attended event. Invite your friends, family, veg*n or not to enjoy some great vegan pizza (and, as appropriate for this event, a great bar).

Vegan Bob Armstrong Dip is Vegan B.A.D. (in the acronym sense and in the way Michael Jackson means it)

Last week I had the urge to create something new. I wanted to “veganize” something decidedly un-vegan. The Double Down? It had already been done. Plus, it was kind of creepy even in its vegan state. I thought, “What’s a local, iconic dish in need of a vegan-friendly makeover?”

Luckily, a new Mattito’s moving in across from my office provided some much needed inspiration. Bob Armstrong dip. It’s not overly complicated, it’s delicious, and it’s apparently beloved (sometimes to the extreme) amongst the denizens of our fair burgh. Plus, it’s Tex-Mex, and Tex-Mex is to Texas as Chili’s* is to 49 other states. That is to say, it’s our default answer to “What should we eat in order to make everyone in our party of 2-100 happy?”

For those of you unfamiliar with the dish, Bob Armstrong Dip is an “off-the-menu” appetizer originally found at Matt’s El Rancho in Austin that found it’s way north to the family’s Dallas-area restaurants, Matt’s Rancho Martinez and Mattito’s. I use the term “off-the-menu” loosely as 60% of the time, everyone in the restaurant orders it every time. The components: queso, guacamole, sour cream, and ground beef. [It is worth note that I’m finding conflicting info on sour cream’s inclusion in the original recipe in addition to the fact that Mattito’s appears to not be in the original family any more. Oh well, who cares about history when your brain is set on feeding your mouth vegan B.A.D.? Ok, was that acronym awesomely placed? Methinks so.]

Decent vegan queso has been a mystery in my household. No more. I’ve adapted the recipe from this site (I realize you can no longer find the recipe on that site, but I bet if you use the wonders of Google, you will find that someone was nice enough to use a cached version and put the recipe in a popular vegan forum**). First adaptation: double the recipe - you’ll want more, trust me. Second, skip the mustard and add a handful of cheddar Daiya and a handful of mozzarella Daiya at the same time you’re adding your Earth Balance (or whatever vegan margarine you’re using). I would also suggest that you use a whisk AND a spoon in order to get the flour and nooch out of the corners of the pot when trying to get a thickened but smooth texture (add a tad more water if needed, you can always cook a bit longer to thicken it out). Also, be liberal with those “dashes” of chili powder and garlic powder.

You should now have a pretty amazing queso base. Is it good enough to just stop and eat? Sort of. The flavor and, more so, smell (very important) will be genuinely queso-esque. The texture isn’t quite there yet. The good news is that you’re about to fold a bunch of creamy ingredients into the mix to solve this problem. The whole here is certainly greater than the sum of the parts.

Guacamole. I’d almost always tell you to make homemade, fresh guacamole studded with chunks of delicious avocados. Almost always. I found this stuff, and, quite frankly, it’s the best “guacamole in a box” that I’ve ever had. The added bonus is that it’s much creamier than the fresh stuff. Plus, who wants to slave over a cutting board for 30 minutes to get the perfectly sized diced tomatoes and onions when your extra efforts will be indiscernible once mixed into a delicious conglomeration? “Not you” is the correct answer. [Please don’t call me a slacker, I make some mean fresh guac too. Trust me, this is for your own good].

Sour cream. I took a poll and Tofutti won out.

Ground beef. I tried Upton’s Naturals’ Ground Beef Style Seitan. I didn’t see it on their website, but they have it at the Whole Foods on Park (isn’t that technically at Greenville and Blackwell? Yes.). When preparing, I’d suggest using a bit of oil in a medium-hot pan and using a sturdy spatula to break it apart as you cook it. Five minutes or less - pretty easy. But, feel free to use your favorite vegan ground beef-style whatever.

Assembly. Pour yourself a big bowl of vegan queso. Add a big spoonful of guacamole, another of Tofutti sour cream, another of your ground beef-style seitan, and maybe some pico de gallo for garnish. Admire your work briefly:

Stir together completely. You now have the creamiest, queso-iest vegan dip in the world. Skeptical omnivores like my wife even like it (seriously). I wish I had pictures of the stirred version, but 4 of us literally ate that whole bowl (and a second one – don’t judge). I’d suggest serving with plenty of tortilla chips, tortillas, and a few (or more) beers or margaritas. Perfect for sunny afternoons on the patio, all Summer long.

_________________________________________________________

*Speaking of Chili’s, if you follow this recipe, but omit the guacamole and pico de gallo, and go easy on the Tofutti sour cream, you have something eerily close to their Skillet Queso, only "veganized."

**No luck? Here.

MFA Exposes Dairy Cow Abuse in Ohio

Mercy For Animals (MFA), who recently opened its newest national office in Dallas earlier this month, presented an undercover investigation exposing abuse occurring at Conklin Dairy Farms in Plain City, Ohio. 

Eddie Garza, the MFA Texas Campaign Coordinator, assisted with the press conference in Ohio on Tuesday and on Wednesday a worker at the farm was arrested on 12 counts of cruelty.

The undercover footage, taken over the course of April and May, documents a shocking pattern of cruelty. What’s even more disturbing is that this farm was chosen at random – which makes you wonder how many other farms harbor cruelty such as this.

Thanks to MFA for helping to bring these people to justice, and for continuing to fight for the rights of farmed animals everywhere.

 

Warning! The following video contains graphic and disturbing images:

Black Vegetarian Society of Texas 3rd Annual Cook-Out – This Saturday

Come join BVST for their 3rd annual cookout – this Saturday, May 22nd at Flag Pole Hill near White Rock Lake for vegan food, games, and fun.

Bring a vegan friendly dish to share, or come with an appetite and a $3.00 donation. The weather looks great for Saturday, so it should be a perfect day!

Visit the event’s facebook page for contact info and more information.

BVST Cook-Out
Flag Pole Hill - (north of White Rock Lake)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
11:30 am – 4:30 pm
8100 Duran Circle
Dallas, TX

Support World Week for Animals in Laboratories

World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL) is an annual event designed to expose the plight of animals used for testing and research. WWAIL seeks to educate the public about the scientific, moral, and economic objections to animal experimentation, also known as vivisection.

In 1986, in an effort to increase the effect of the event, In Defense of Animals (IDA) expanded a day of observance for lab animals into a week-long observance. Since then IDA has served as the international coordinator for WWAIL.

Join Animal Connection of Texas (ACT) in a peaceful demonstration against the University of Texas Dallas’ unjust treatment of animals in their laboratories. If you're not sure where you stand on the issue, check out this great interview with Dr. John J. Pippin about animal experimentation.

Alicia Townsend hosted the last demonstration against UTD, which was picked up by The UTD Mercury. Let's try to ruffle a few more feathers this time!

UTD DemonstrationUniversity of Texas Dallas
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, TX 75080
**We will meet at the intersection of W Campbell and N Floyd Road**
Contact Anthony Dean - fighting4them@gmail.com - 817-637-2716 with any questions or concerns.

WWAIL starts April 17th and end on April 24th so it is not too late to email us at events@dallasvegan.com to get your event listed. Outreach is the key to ending vivisection.

Earth Day Events This Weekend - Ben Shaberman and MFA

Quick tip on a couple of great events to check out this weekend…

Plano Live Green Expo / Ben Shaberman

In addition to a wide array of green exhibits, vegan essayist Ben Shaberman presents a reading from his book of humorous essays, The Vegan Monologues, at 9:30am and 12:00pm. This is an an amazing opportunity to see a nationally published vegan author and show our Dallas Vegan support!

Plano Live Green Expo
Saturday, April 17, 2010
9am – 7pm
Plano Centre
2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy. Plano, TX 75074

Oak Cliff Earth Day

Head to the 4th annual Oak Cliff Earth Day celebration on Sunday. Our friends at Mercy For Animals will join over 100 exhibitors on everything from green living to tips on the environmental benefits of switching to a vegan diet. Check out what should be a great event!

Oak Cliff Earth Day 2010
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Noon – 5PM
Lake Cliff Park
1200 N Zang Blvd, Dallas, TX 75203

Email us at events@dallasvegan.comto get your event listed.

Dallas Vegan Drinks – This Thursday, April 8th!

Okay, we’ve received some comments on the post-load (or lack thereof) recently. Rightfully so – we admit things have been a little quiet here on the blog – but rest assured it’s not because nothing is going on for vegans in Big-D.

We’re feverishly putting the final touches on the new Dallas Vegan website (something we’re going to need your help with to finish). Between that, the benefits, and all the pizza eating going on (more on that next week), time has not been our side.

But never fear – the one constant you can count on every month is Dallas Vegan Drinks, going on this Thursday, April 8th at Idle Rich Pub.

Invite some friends and join us and other veg*n friendly peeps for networking, tasty beverages, and fun. Bring your business cards, lit, and anything else you want to share with a great bunch of motivated, awesome people.

RSVP

Dallas Vegan Drinks
Thursday, April 8th
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Idle Rich Pub
2614 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204

MFA Benefit concert – This Friday, March 26th

In support of opening a new office in Dallas, Mercy For Animals (MFA) is organizing a benefit concert this Friday, March 26th, at The Cavern. Show begins at 8:00 pm (doors at 7:00 pm), $5-10 donation (or more!). Check out some awesome bands and help the animals!

The show will feature five local veg-friendly bands including Museum Creatures, Division Of Power, Soft Environmental Collapse, Saboteur, and The Shortest Distance.

	Soft Environmental Collapse
	Saboteur
	Division Of Power
	Museum Creatures
	The Shortest Distance

About MFA

Dallas got its introduction to Mercy For Animals and its founder, Nathan Runkle, during the 2009 Alan Ross Freedom Parade when more than 60 volunteers marched on behalf of the organization.

During that visit, Runkle also screened Fowl Play, a documentary produced by MFA exposing inhumane treatment of factory-farm laying hens, to the media at a dinner hosted by Spiral Diner. While MFA had no formal presence in Dallas at the time, it made sense for an organization focused on defending the rights of animals raised for food to establish roots in a food-centric city such as Dallas.

Since then, former Dallas Vegan blogger Eddie Garza has worked on numerous fundraising activities for MFA. Thanks to his efforts and that of many generous donors, the establishment of a local MFA office has become a reality. We’re happy to have MFA in town to join so many other great organizations in defending the rights of all animals.

MFA Benefit Concert
$5-10 Donation (suggested)
Friday, March 26th
8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm)
The Cavern
1914 Lower Greenville
Dallas, TX

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 22nd

A relatively quiet week ends with a rockin’ bang on Friday…

Is there something we missed? Email us at events@dallasvegan.com to get your event listed.

Dallas Vegetarians Thursday Meetup
Thursday, March 25th
7:00 pm
Bengal Coast
3102 Oak Lawn Avenue, Ste 116
Dallas, TX 75219

The Dallas Vegetarians Meetup is an easy-going bunch that meets at various DFW spots on alternating Sundays and Thursdays. R.S.V.P. at their website and join them this Thursday at Bengal Coast, a great Dallas restaurant with lots of vegan-friendly options.

MFA Rock Out for the Animals
Friday, March 26th
8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm)
The Cavern
1914 Lower Greenville
Dallas, TX

Celebrate the opening of Mercy For Animals’ (MFA) newest regional office in Dallas with awesome company and some great bands. Your $5-10 donation benefits MFA and their efforts to defend the rights of all animals.

Stay tuned later this week for more information about this great event!

Whole Foods at Park Lane - Cupcake Bar

Okay, real talk—we’re officially in love with the cupcake bar at the new Whole Foods!

Take a look this totally vegan chocolate cupcake, filled with vegan chocolate pudding and topped with vegan buttercream. Hella good!

(Hint: You’ll have to ask about daily vegan options…they’re not clearly marked on the board.)

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 15th

Openings galore highlight this week – Check it out…

Flagship Whole Foods Park Lane opening

Dallas’ newest Whole Foods opens today, Monday, March 15th. If you don’t have time to stop by this week, Drew gives us a sneak preview…

Whole Foods Park Lane
8190 Park Lane, Suite 351
Dallas, TX 75231

Bliss Raw Cafe – Preston Center opening

It’s now easier (and cooler in the summers) to get your Bliss on in Dallas with a new store location opening in Preston Center this Wednesday, March 17th at 11:00am. With an expanded dining area, this location will accommodate more diners inside than their currently location (although we’ll still love visiting the original).

Skip the green beer for St. Patty’s day and head to Bliss for a green smoothie and other fabulous raw creations from the raw chefs at Bliss.

Bliss Raw Cafe & Elixir Bar
6005 S. Berkshire Ln
Dallas, TX 75225

Beginner’s Raw Potluck - Garland Organic Raw Vegan Meetup

If you can’t quite make it to Bliss but want to try raw out on your own, visit the Beginner’s Support & Potluck event Sunday, March 21st at 5:00pm to learn some tips and tricks and sample some tasty raw food.

Beginners Support & Potluck
Sunday, March 21st at 5:00pm
Register at Meetup.com for location and more details

Whole Foods Sneak Preview

Whole Foods new Landmark store at Park Lane is set to launch tomorrow and we took a sneak peek:





A raw bar featuring raw vegan items, Kombucha taps, and more:

Design your own cupcake bar - yes, there will be vegan cupcakes!

Flavored olive oils and balsalmics on tap in the expanded bulk area:

An expanded selection of our favorite vegan products and new ones, including Upton's Naturals:

Complete line of Vega Sport items, as well as a huge selection of other health and nutritional foods:

Expanded raw foods section including special displays for Dallas' own Hail Merry:

And, of course, the mysterious Cart-o-Lator to get all those groceries to your car:

Plus, much, much more!

8190 Park Lane, Suite 351
Dallas, TX 75231 USA