Dallas Vegan

Avocado, Strawberry, and Grape Tomato Salad (Gluten-free, Soy-free)

2011-06-10T23:26:00.001-05:00

Now that Summer is here, you can enjoy this refreshing salad using local organic summer produce brought to you by The Blissful Chef. Berries, peppers, and tomatoes are available now at the Dallas Farmer's Market!

Makes 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients

1 avocado, cubed
1 small carrot, thin matchsticks
7 grape tomatoes, halved
4 strawberries, greens removed, cut in thick slices
1/2 cup yellow pepper, thinly sliced
6 butter lettuce leaves, washed and torn
Pinch pepper and sea salt
Balsamic vinaigrette (store-bought or made from scratch)

Preparation

Toss salad ingredients together in a medium bowl with the amount of vinaigrette you prefer. Serve immediately.

This recipe comes from Blissful Bites: Vegan Meals That Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet by The Blissful Chef. It's now available for pre-order on Amazon. The Blissful Chef teaches healthy cooking classes every Wednesday and Sunday. See her website for more details. Present your Forks Over Knives movie stub for $10 off any class!

We've Moved!

2011-04-13T19:24:00.001-05:00

You will now be redirected to our bigger and better site at http://DallasVegan.com!

Dallas Vegan Thanksgiving Holiday Guide

2010-11-08T23:52:00.001-06:00

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

2010-10-28T20:28:00.001-05:00

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!

2010-10-19T21:59:00.003-05:00

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

2010-10-18T23:22:00.001-05:00

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

Texas State Veggie Fair - October 16th - Details!

2010-10-05T12:52:00.002-05:00

On October 16th, DallasVegan.com presents the inaugural Texas State Veggie Fair. The Texas State Veggie Fair combines cruelty free vegan food options like veggie corny dogs with cutting edge acoustic and electronic musical acts. We're excited to announce the final lineup of food vendors, bands, and other entertainment:

Vegan Fried Food Contest: A vegan fried food contest featuring judges prominent in the Dallas food scene including: Teresa Gubbins from Pegasus News, Lisa Petty from NBC DFW, Matt McCallister – Executive Chef from Stephan Pyles, and Stephen Doyle from the Dallas Observer.
Vegan fair food for purchase: Local vegan food heavy-hitters such as Spiral Diner, Tough Cookie Bakery, and the soon to be opening V-Spot Veggie Café will offer treats such as vegan corn dogs, Frito pie, and funnel cakes.
Entertainment lineup: An eclectic mix of acoustic, rock, and electronic entertainment from the likes of Saboteur, Adam and the Ancient Gods, Jessie Williams, Joe Ray, Todi Stronghands, Mike Townsend & James Genova, Here Holy Spain, Rocket for Ethiopia, The Hormones.
Animal friendly organizations: Local and national organizations dedicated to education and awareness of animal rights and other vegetarian/vegan issues will attend, including: Mercy For Animals, Black Vegetarian Society of Texas, Animal Connection of Texas, and Dallas Vegetarians.
Kid friendly enjoyment: Children can play fun carnival games for prizes, enjoy a bounce-house, and family-friendly performances throughout the day from clowns, fire dancers, and more.

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

2010-09-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

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

2010-09-19T16:13:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-13T22:00:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-07T22:48:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-02T00:38:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-08-25T22:18:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-05T20:52:00.002-05:00

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)

2010-07-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

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?

2010-07-15T09:30:00.001-05:00

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

2010-07-06T19:52:00.002-05:00

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

2010-06-21T21:40:00.001-05:00

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

2010-06-09T12:04:00.008-05:00

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)

2010-06-09T00:15:00.013-05:00

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

2010-05-27T21:39:00.001-05:00

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

2010-05-20T04:30:00.006-05:00

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

2010-04-18T04:30:00.002-05:00

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

2010-04-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-23T22:46:00.001-05:00

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

2010-03-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-03-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

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

A Dallas Vegan in NYC

2010-03-10T06:30:00.000-06:00

It’s no surprise why New York is a must see (and taste) destination for vegans. Not only are there more vegan/vegetarian restaurants there than in any other city in the US, but they’re condensed in such a small area that getting to each takes no time at all (anytime you cram 8.3 million people in an area 10% smaller than Dallas, the law of averages is going to be on your side).

Compared to Dallas, it’s obvious the depth of vegan goodness is much greater in NYC, but what about the breadth? For instance, New York has Curly’s Lunch, a funky little vegetarian diner with great mac & cheese and burgers – but Dallas has it’s own funky little diner too (ours just happens to be award winning and all-vegan). However, last time I checked there were no all vegan/vegetarian sushi bars in Big-D.

So what else are we missing? What can a motivated Dallas entrepreneur do to fill the gap? Let’s take a look at some of the highlights…

Cocoa V

Vegan. Chocolate. Wine. Three words that sound great together, also describe the menu at Cocoa V - a vegan chocolate boutique and wine cafe in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC. If there’s anywhere in Dallas you can get vegan wine & chocolate, we’ll be there – stat.

assorted chocolate truffles

Chipotle

Yes, I know – a 1500 mile trip to vegan Mecca and we’re talking about a chain restaurant? Well it just so happens that this particular location was one of two in the country to offer a new burrito option –the Garden Blend. Worth mentioning because with recent large chains such as Sprinkles making news offering vegan cupcakes, there’s hope that others might join the bandwagon.

Garden Blend burrito and Brooklyn Brewery beer

Vegan Treats

While Soy & Sake, an all vegan/vegetarian sushi joint, was truly unique – I was most satisfied with their desserts, courtesy of Vegan Treats.

Vegan Treats, a bakery out of Bethlehem, PA, delivers their vegan bliss weekly by truck to several nearby cities including Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and (luckily for us) over 40 different restaurants in New York City.

Forget about vegan for a minute – Vegan Treats creates some of the most amazing desserts - vegan or otherwise – I’ve ever tasted. With a 2008 Peta “Proggy” award for best vegan bakery, its no surprise why so many restaurants forgo making their own desserts and rely solely on Vegan Treats.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Bomb, Key Lime Cheesecake, Death by Chocolate

Candle Cafe

We ended up saving the ultimate eating experience for last. Candle Cafe, sibling restaurant to Candle 79 (VegNews magazine’s 2009 Restaurant of the year), was a mind-blowing example of what a completely vegan fine-dine restaurant can achieve. The presentation was what you expect in any traditional fine-dine restaurant - absent the bones and flesh. But presentation means nothing if the food isn’t up to par, and Candle Cafe doesn’t disappoint. I can honestly say this was the best meal I’ve had in years.

Porcini crusted seitan with garlic-shallot-potato mash

So what about Dallas?

Should Dallas strive to be more like NYC?

Absolutely not! – just as it shouldn’t strive to be more like Austin or Portland or any other notoriously “vegan friendly” city. Dallas is as atypical of many large US cities as it is of most other cities in Texas, so why would we want the vegan culture to be like everyone else? There are enough uniquely talented and dedicated people in this city to make it a vegan destination on its own.

Dallas prides itself on its plentiful restaurants anchored by world-class chefs – most very willing to accommodate vegans with a special dish upon request - but the mere fact that it is a special request implies it’s an afterthought. While we may not have an all vegan fine-dine restaurant any time soon (or vegan chocolate wine bar, or all vegan sushi, or…), any number of local chefs could take the challenge and put a a vegan section on the menu. At the very least, a single vegan entree (even if “accidentally” vegan).

The key to making this happen includes letting your voice be heard. Ask the wine bar down the street to carry vegan dessert items from local purveyors like Amy’s Raw Chocolates and Hail Merry. Write to Chipotle and tell them why they should expand the Garden Blend burrito to Dallas. Tell your favorite chef how much you would appreciate him putting that special dish he makes “just for you” on the menu. Not only is this good for all of your fellow vegans, it’s good for those omnivores to see that, in fact, there’s more to vegan food than lettuce.

While I loved the NYC experience, it only helped me to visualize the great potential we have here in Dallas. Let’s put our collective will together and make that visualization a reality!

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 8th

2010-03-08T06:30:00.000-06:00

Great events happening this week in Dallas. Check it out…

Dallas Vegan Drinks
Thursday, March 11th, 2010
6-8 pm
Idle Rich Pub
2614 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX

Come celebrate St. Patty’s day a little early in a traditional Irish pub. Enjoy happy-hour drink specials and enjoy great company with a veg*n-friendly crowd.

BVST Meatout 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
10 am-3 pm
Center for Community Cooperation
2900 Live Oak St, Dallas, TX

“GIVE PEAS A CHANCE”

The Black Vegetarian Society of Texas presents their annual Meatout celebration at the Center for Community Cooperation.

The event is free, so grab the family and head on down for some interesting activities including a vegan cook-off, health screenings, door prizes, and more.

Vegan 101 Potluck
Saturday, March 13, 2010
1:30 pm
Lake Cliff Park
N. Zang Blvd at E Colorado Blvd, Dallas, TX click for map

Join the Vegan 101 Meetup group for a vegan potluck at Lake Cliff Park (near Spiral Diner in Dallas). This group of vegans always puts on an awesome potluck, so whip-up your best vegan dish and head to the park for a day of food and fun.

Have an event you would like featured here?
Email us: events@dallasvegan.com

Vegetarian Leafleting Outside Jay-Z Concert

2010-02-16T01:51:00.000-06:00

Mercy For Animals invites DFW activists to a concert leafleting event. The Jay-Z concert will bring in hoards of people from all parts of Texas. If for every hundred leaflets handed out just one person decided to go vegetarian, that alone would save 95 lives a year. So come out and join like-minded people with one common goal: to end animal suffering. Please note that you do not have to be a vegan or vegetarian to leaflet and speak out against animal cruelty.

Vegetarian Leafleting Outside Jay-Z Concert
American Airlines Center - west side
2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, TX 75219
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
5:30PM - 7:00PM

All leaflets will be provided--just bring yourself, your energy, your smile and your passion for helping animals. Contact Eddie G with any questions or concerns at eddieg@mercyforanimals.org or by phone at (469) 826-2644.

Why leaflet?
Most meat eaters aren’t aware of the horrors animals experience on factory farms. By leafleting at large public gatherings like concerts, grocers or campuses, you help to educate and raise awareness about the mass amount of chickens, pigs, cows and turkeys used for food in the United States. Leafleting is also a great way to meet new people and break any shyness habits you may have.

CLICK HERE for more information about leafleting.

Vegan Drinks - Rescheduled for Thursday, Feb 18th

2010-02-11T16:39:00.000-06:00

February Dallas Vegan Drinks to try again next week...

"I could really use a drink... "

Alas - Winter Blast 2010 has cancelled our Dallas Vegan Drinks get together this week, but we're not yet giving up on the month. Please join us for a rescheduled event next Thursday, February 18th.

Come share a drink with fellow vegans and talk about what you did on your snow day - as well as other great veg*n topics sure to come up.

RSVP

Thursday, February 18th

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Place: Idle Rich Pub

2614 McKinney Avenue Dallas, TX 75204

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

2010-02-08T08:42:00.000-06:00

Sweet Tooth
We're über-excited about all the new vegan sweets poppin’ up around town! Swing by Sprinkles in Preston Center for vegan red velvet cupcakes or Starbucks DFW-wide for Lucy’s vegan cookies! Want indie? Grab some vegan cinnamon coffee cakes and banana nut muffins at Roots Coffeehouse in North Richland Hills...or hold out until Valentine’s Day for Tough Cookie Bakery’s specialty offerings: whoopie pies and Valentine’s cookies and cupcakes! Grab TCB’s V-Day treats at The Pearl Cup, Crooked Tree Coffeehouse and The Green Spot. Custom orders can also be placed at ToughCookieBakery@gmail.com.

Prost!
Join Dallas’ chapter of VeganDrinks.org for high-hop brews and other adult sips at Idle Rich Pub this Thursday at 6:00 PM. Vegan Drinks Dallas is a great place to network, socialize and promote our cruelty-free lifestyle. Contact Jamey Scott at Jamey@DallasVegan.com for more information.

Film Fete
Spiral Diner founders Amy McNutt and James Johnston are seeking investors for Fort Worth’s Citizen Theatre. This will be America’s first-ever indie film house offering all vegan concessions. We couldn’t be more thrilled about our friends’ future venture! Contact Amy McNutt at Veg@SpiralDiner.com for all the deets.

Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti Relief

2010-01-28T11:00:00.000-06:00

Jade DeGrio of Spiral Diner hosts a vegan bake sale to help benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

All proceeds will go to Direct Relief International. Come out and grab your favorite vegan treats while they last. There will be a variety of treats that will tempt even the biggest carnivore:
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Fudge
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Rice Pudding
Coffee Cake
Strawberry Pie
...and loads more!

Dallas Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti
Transit Bike Shop
3839 McKinney Ave #155
Dallas, Texas 75204
Saturday, January 30, 2010
11:00am - 4:00pm

Why a vegan bake sale?
Well the most important reason is sugar--people eating more than they should--and that = mucho money for the people of Haiti! Inspired by Post Punk Kitchen's Isa Chandra Moskowitz, vegan bake sales are popping up from Los Angles to New York. So far, with the help of many hunger vegans with a sweet tooth nationwide, over 10,000 dollars has been raised. With all the great vegan chefs in Dallas there is no reason why this bake sale shouldn't be just as successful!

What is the Haiti Earthquake?
On Tuesday January 12th, 2010, a major 7.0 earthquake, the most powerful to hit Haiti in a century, struck southern Haiti shortly before 5 p.m. The impact of the earthquake resulted in massive damage, and massive lives lost. The Haiti people were left without basic resources. Let's help 'em out!

Reminder - Dallas Vegan Drinks This Thursday

2010-01-13T06:30:00.000-06:00

First Dallas Vegan Drinks of 2010 is almost here!

We had a great turnout in December - let's start the New Year off right with an even better event.

Lots of exciting things are going on with some awesome Dallas Vegans. Get together and discuss what everyone is up to and how you can become a part of the action.

Are you part of an new or existing organization and you'd like to get the word out? Do you need volunteers for demonstrations, or just help in general? Need some inspiration on food - cooking, restaurants, etc? Or maybe you'd just like to have a beverage or two with some cool people?

Whatever your reason, we'd love to see you and grow the network of veg*ns in the Dallas area.

RSVP

Same time. Same place.

Time:
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Place:
Idle Rich Pub
2614 McKinney Avenue
Dallas, TX 75204

What is Vegan Drinks?

Vegan Drinks (www.vegandrinks.org) is a monthly social networking meeting to bring together veg*ns of diverse backgrounds in one place to discuss our hopes, dreams, ideas, and...well...to have a few drinks for happy hour!

Feel free to invite your friends, vegan and other open minded people, to promote your causes, talk about vegan food, or just shoot the breeze.

Vegan Drinks’ mission is to bring together a diverse group of people to build new coalitions and promote the sharing of resources. Vegan Drinks is for newbies and oldies. All we expect is an interest in animal rights, veganism and the pursuit of after-work fun. Show up and introduce yourself, pass around business cards (if you've got ‘em) and embarrass yourself at least once an hour.

Be friendly! We'll be passing out name tags, so you can march right up to someone and greet her by name.
If you're representing an organization (either as an employee or volunteer or general supporter), talk up the organization and the work you've been involved in.
If you're representing YOU, talk up your vegan and AR interests, your favorite restaurant, your dream job for animals, your blog, etc., etc.
Sip a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, we don't care!) and relax with like-minded folks for a couple of hours.

Brendan Brazier Seminars at Central Markets next week

2010-01-08T06:30:00.000-06:00

Brendan Brazier, Ironman Triathlete, Ultramarathoner, and author of Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life, will conduct several seminars in Central Markets across North Texas starting next week. He will be at the Dallas store on Friday January 15th.

Brendan, who also formulated the Vega vegan health food product line, is an inspiration to vegan athletes everywhere looking for validation that their vegan diets and extreme sports can indeed coexist.

This is a unique opportunity to hear him describe his vegan fitness program in person – so don’t miss your chance. Space is limited, so be sure to call and RSVP.

Brendan Brazier: Thrive Fitness Seminar
Central Market – Dallas
5750 Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX
Friday, January 15th
5 – 6:30pm

Click here for a full list of appearances in the area.

Green Tomatoes (without meat, dairy, or Kathy Bates)

2009-12-17T23:44:00.000-06:00

I picked up my CSA share on Saturday, and I had a veritable plethora of green tomatoes and some assorted hot peppers (jalapenos and the like). I’ve never cooked with green tomatoes (that’s a Southern thing, apparently, and quite frankly, Texas isn’t really Southern – it’s Texan*.), so I snooped around the internet, fished through approximately 2 billion recipes looking for something to do other than fry them and wound up with the following:

Hot N Spicy Green Tomato Soup ~~with Crispy Pancetta~~

The recipe was fairly simple to veganize:

1. Skip the pancetta and just add a tad bit more oil for cooking the onions to make up for the missing grease.

2. Substitute veggie broth for the chicken stock.

3. I had a leftover Chipotle Field Roast Sausage, so I diced that up and quickly browned it and set aside to fill in for the pancetta (not necessary, but I liked having something crunchy on top).

Ok, so I had so many tomatoes that I had to try the frying thing as well. Luckily, I remembered staring at this recipe for a month while my favorite vegan food blogger was working on getting her book out (more on that to come because I really like a few of the things from this book so far).

And to top that, I’ve been hearing so much about Gardein lately (I don’t eat a lot of faux meat, but thanks to the Oprah exposure, I had to give this a shot), that I went all vegan Paula Deen and fried up the faux chicken according to the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.

So, now I had a meal fit for a ~~king~~ Southern gentleman.

The highlight was definitely the fried green tomatoes (with a bit of balsamic reduction and served on some mixed greens from the farm) and the Gardein (the closest thing to real chicken texture that I’ve had) was a very close second.

Final Result: All of it was good. Damn good. Gluttonous good. Like I’ll likely not eat for the next 24 hours because I’m so full – well… except for the glass of chocolate Silk and the TCB chocolate chip cookie sitting next to me on the desk while I type this. But, seriously, 24 hours starting…….now.

*Green tomatoes are not tomatillos (something I do know how to cook being from Texas), but this soup has a consistency and taste similar to the tomatillo sauce you would put on enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos, etc. That being the case, I’m planning on topping some vegan tamales with the leftovers tomorrow evening – nice bonus, I must say.

Chanukah Potato Latkes

2009-12-13T12:35:00.001-06:00

I like mine crispy on the outside and just a little soft on the inside. How about you?

Here’s my recipe:

5 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 yellow onions, quartered
½ cup egg replacer
1 cup matzo meal (flour, bread crumbs, or panko bread crumbs can also be substituted)
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Oil for frying

Grate the potatoes and onions together in the food processor. Mix in the dry ingredients. Let the mixture stand for about 5 to 10 minutes. Heat a sauté pan with a thin layer of oil to medium high. You can use canola, vegetable, or even peanut oil. Form about a 2 tablespoon ball gently in your hands so it does not fall apart. Drop it into the pan and flatten lightly with the spatula. Allow the pancakes to fry for a few minutes before moving them or else they may fall apart. Flip them over and press gently to flatten. Cook until golden brown.

Feeds about 8-10 people.

Serve with your choice of Tofutti sour cream or applesauce.

Holiday Reds

2009-12-11T11:07:00.000-06:00

According to VegNews Magazine, Yellow Tail’s Shiraz is America’s “Favorite Vegan Tipple.”

Umm…seriously?

Okay, we get it. Yellow Tail’s red wines ARE vegan-friendly (no egg whites or isinglass used in the fining process), affordable, and available in some of the most remote areas of the country. But here in Dallas, vegans don’t have to settle for reds that are only a step above Boone’s…or maybe Mad Dog 20/20.

Here’s what we’re buzzin’ on this season:

Michael~David - 7 Deadly Zins

Michael~David’s 7 Deadly Zins is a full bodied red wine with heavy notes of blueberries, raspberries, chocolate, and tobacco. Hints of vanilla make this vegan-friendly, uber-jammy red easy to sip alone, but it also pairs well with a box of Spiral Diner’s Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies. 7 Deadly Zins can be found at just about every DFW wine outlet, but the best values are at Goody Goody ($11.67), and Central Market ($11.98).

Dry Comal Creek - “Black Spanish” Dark Red Lenoir

The fact that this wine is produced in the Lone Star State is only part of why we’re such big fans of Dry Comal Creek’s “Black Spanish” Dark Red Lenoir. It’s also made entirely of the Texas-native Black Spanish grape! This spicy, vegan-friendly red wine boasts notes of mulberry, black cherry, chocolate, and compliments a variety of Texas-style vegan eats. Grab a bottle of our favorite Texas gem at vegetarian-owned Dallas Fine Wine & Spirits.

Stephen Vincent - Crimson

We’re responsible for tipping-off Barnivore to Stephen Vincent’s Crimson, a vegan-friendly syrah-cab blend that features blueberry and ripened plum notes. We heart this budget red for its fruit-forward, medium-bodied frame, making it the perfect wine for mulling this holiday season! Go ahead and splash a jigger of brandy in your mug…we won’t tell.

Whole Foods' Faux Chicken

2009-12-07T08:56:00.000-06:00

Ever call up your favorite Asian take-out, and are greeted with, “Sweet & Sour Tofu?” instead of something like, “Thank you for calling...”?

Totally embarrassing, right?

Well, that’s how I feel at the Whole Foods deli in Highland Park. Kinda like my favorite take-out joint, the guys here usually start filling my order before I even make it all the way to the deli case.

Hmm…maybe it’s time I start a collection of disguise wigs just like Uncle Nancy.

What keeps me—and so many other vegans—coming back are the deli’s fabulous faux chicken creations! Whole Foods’ Mock Chicken Salads, Sweet Chili Soy Nuggets, and Savory Mushroom Soy Nuggets are beautifully presented, packed with flavor, and the chicken-style soy nuggets taste and feel like the real deal.

Mock Chicken Salads come in two different styles. Original Mock Chicken Salad is made with diced soy nuggets, Nasoya’s Nayonaise, celery, and parsley. The Sonoma Mock Chicken Salad contains red grapes in the mix, and Follow Your Heart’s Vegenaise is used instead of Nayonaise.

The deli’s Sweet Chili Soy Nuggets are prepped with broccoli, carrot shreds, and a sweet Asian chili sauce, and the Savory Mushroom Soy Nuggets are made with wild mushroom and sage gravy, onions, parsley, and a few other add-ins.

Whole Foods’ faux chicken deli offerings are not only big sellers with the veggie crowd—omnivores dig ‘em, too! At least according to Whole Foods checker Jon Adams.

“I would say at least half of the people who buy the fake chicken also have real meat in their carts,” states Adams, “And the other half are vegans like you who come to the line with lots of beer and wine,” he says laughingly.

Um—that was research. I swear.

The popular Soy Nuggets are produced and distributed by a North Carolina-based company called Delight Soy. The company produces its goods on a small scale, making them available on an irregular basis, and only at a short list of natural markets and eateries.

“That’s why when they sell out, there could be long stretches before you can get more,” says Adams.

But you can usually find Delight Soy’s plain Soy Nuggets and Soy Patties in the freezer case at the Whole Foods on Lemmon. A single serving (3 nuggets, or 1 patty) contains 130 calories, 7 grams of fat, 9 grams of soy protein, and 2 grams of dietary fiber. Four-serving packages sell for $5.99, and very little prep work is needed to recreate your deli faves! The best part: No wig required.

Shh...

2009-11-30T12:27:00.000-06:00

...it's not official yet.

Bliss Raw Cafe tentatively opens at Preston Center on December 15.

Re: Who wants to join a CSA?

2009-11-23T14:04:00.000-06:00

I've been meaning to post a response to Drew's piece and finally found some time with the slow work week. Here's the ugly/wonderful truth about CSAs.

Firstly, I'm a current shareholder in a CSA in Balch Springs (more to come in a later post complete with pictures, interviews, thought, etc.). Investing in a CSA is much more difficult than simply saying "if I pay x amount, then I get x amount of food." It's not the grocery store, it's real life, and real life depends on sunshine and rain. Any guarantees made by a farmer should be taken with the utmost caution.

In the CSA formula, the farmer is the most important variable as this is where your investment is going. The idea is that with your investment money, the farmer can devote 100% of his/her time to growing quality food for you instead of spending a significant share of their time and resources marketing themselves at farmer's markets, restaurants, etc. What your investment money can't do is change the weather by importing peppers from Holland (that's what super markets are for).

Drew highlighted a local CSA, Tucker Farms. Here's a line straight from their website:

Be aware that buying a share is not an iron-clad guarantee of vegetables every week. If a freak storm or bad drought destroys the crops, there may be little to “share.” And usually, there’s no money back guarantee. It’s a shared risk.

That's about as clear cut as it gets, but I'd like to add to it this:

"WE LIVE IN NORTH TEXAS. When was the last time we went for a year without a freak storm or drought? And there's NEVER a money back guarantee. Also, if you don't like eating leafy greens in the winter, you'll need to move south of the equator or go to the grocery store, because that's a big part of what grows in the winter in real life!"

All I'm saying is that you shouldn't expect a 1/2 bushel of anything if it rains over 24" in a month (like it did way back in........oh yeah, October).

Ok, now that I'm done scaring you, I want to tell you why I am (and why you should be, if it's right for you) in a CSA.

1. I love my farm and my farmer.
I believe in supporting local businesses, in reducing my impact on the environment, and eating quality organic produce. My farm and my farmer enable me to do all of the above. In addition, my farmer can answer questions that the produce guy at the grocery store can't. She can tell me definitively when and how what I'm eating was produced and how I can grow some of it at home (should you be in to that sort of thing).

2. Nothing tastes better than produce picked that day.
Seriously.

3. I get to try new things.
Apparently we don't get to see but a fraction of the total catalog of edible produce in the super market. It's all dictated by huge supplier's profits on common, popular fruits and veggies. Your local farmers don't believe in that kind of thing. They plant stuff you've never heard of in addition to the regular stuff. And very typically plant unfamiliar varieties of things you have heard of. They're all good.

4. If you want farming to go back to its roots, you have to be part of the solution.
My farmer can't compete with the huge producers, no more than you or I could. But, when you can gather some like-minded folks to help share the risks of the single farmer, that farmer can flourish in their own right. It's an amazing concept (not surprising that everyone in the Northeast and on the West Coast are way ahead of us on the concept, but we're catching on!!).

5. While Whole Foods might be organic, this stuff is ridiculously organic.
Hand plowing, hand weeding, on-site irrigation, natural & organic pest control. This is so environmentally friendly, it's ridiculous. My farm has a homemade wind and solar-powered water pump. How cool is that?

A good resource for finding a CSA in your hood is http://www.localharvest.org/. Just be sure to know what you're getting into. Things you need to do/decide:

If the Fall is rained out and there's a drought in the Summer, will I be going hungry because I spent all my grocery money on the CSA? (The answer should be no.)
Am I willing to share with friends and/or learn how to can food lest the occasional onslaught of food go to waste? (When the weather is nice, folks have been known to have more food than they know what to do with. This is, of course, a good thing.)
Can I cook or am I at least willing to try? (If you can't, what are you going to do with all these veggies?)
What crops will be produced and when? (You may get sick of eating the same things over and over during certain seasons, but, again, this is real life - nothing is grown year-round like it is in your nearest super market.)
Is "Organic" important to me? (Not all CSAs are organic.)
Is "Local" important to me? (If you're joining CSA, it should be).
Are you grossed out by people talking about locally-raised, grass-fed meat and raw milk? (You shouldn't be because CSA farmers generally run in circles with the folks who produce those products and often offer their products at additional costs to their shareholders. I think it's a wonderful thing - I just join the other vegans on my farm by not purchasing their goods.)
Commit to visiting the farm before joining and understanding how things are done.
Commit to meeting the farmer before joining - this is where your investment is actually going!!!

Ok, all done. Now get out there and eat local (after some research, of course).

Who wants to join a CSA?

2009-11-15T08:43:00.000-06:00

The concept has apparently been around for awhile, but with the recent locavore and organic food movements becoming more popular, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) are gaining popularity once again.

Here’s the concept in a nutshell: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Purchasers make payments before the growing season and in return receive proportionate amounts of produce each week throughout the growing season.

EatGreenDFW reports that Jerry Tucker of Tucker Farms is offering shares right now! Depending on the growing season, he is planning on a 32 week growing season, but it may even last longer! By my calculation, that’s almost 8 months of farm fresh produce, weather permitting. You can expect 40 to 50 different varieties of vegetables, and herbs, upon request. Tucker will speak with you in advance, to ask you your likes and dislikes. He says that you can even customize your selection each week by email.

Both half and full shares are available with the half shares priced at $300 (or less than $9.50 a week) and the full shares at $500 (or about $16 a week). A full share is supposed to yield a half bushel (about 13"x13"x6" box) of seasonal vegetables, and can be paid off in installments of $125. More details are available here.

Here’s the catch: Tucker Farms is near Ennis, about 45 minutes south of Dallas on Rte. 75. If there’s anyone out there who wants to join the group or knows of any other good CSA’s, we’re trying to arrange a local pickup here in the DFW metroplex. Give me a shout at veganeatsdallas@gmail.com if you’re interested or leave us a comment.

Dog & Kitty City Annual Holiday Raffle

2009-11-12T00:20:00.001-06:00

It’s that time of year again when the question abounds - “what are you thankful for?” This year, I’m fortunate to be thankful for many reasons – one of which is to be introduced to such a great organization – the Dallas Humane Society Dog & Kitty City no-kill animal shelter (DKC for short).

DKC is the city of Dallas’ only no-kill shelter, providing a home for so many dogs & cats that otherwise may not have had a chance to live, much less the opportunity of finding a forever home with a loving new family.

Each year the holiday raffle is one of DKC’s most successful fundraisers, and hopefully this year is no exception. Raffle tickets go for a mere $5 a piece and offer the chance of winning some great prizes, including items such as:

Professional pet photo session with blue mutt photography
$100 gift card to Whole Foods Market (where you can buy a plethora of vegan goodies)
2 $75 gift cards to Bolsa MarketCafeWine Bar – a favorite of Dallas Vegan
An obscene amount of wine – we’re not absolutely sure whether or not it’s all vegan – but after you finish the first of 2 double-magnums of doghouse chardonnay, you may not remember much in the morning anyway

Click here for a complete list of raffle items

For tickets, please visit http://dognkittycity.org/raffle – OR – come to Dallas Vegan Drinks tonight (Thursday 11/12) and make a direct purchase (you need not be present anywhere to win).

Vegan Drinks November – This Thursday, 11/12

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

Just a reminder, Dallas Vegan Drinks is this Thursday, November 12th, at Idle Rich Pub.

Our first Vegan Drinks was awesome, so we’re looking to keep the momentum going.

What is Dallas Vegan Drinks?

Dallas Vegan Drinks is a continual work-in-progress designed for you, the DFW vegan community. We want everyone to come out and talk-up an organization you belong to, or maybe a new restaurant you found - anything having to do veganism and all that implies. With your continued participation and feedback, we’re sure this will become a fun monthly networking & social opportunity for all of us.

New for November

This month, we’ll be trying something a little different. The “official” event at Idle Rich lasts from 6-8pm, but some of us plan to move on and grab a bite to eat afterwards. This time we’ll be heading to Cosmic Cafe. Feel free to join us and continue the conversation with some new friends.

Find us on Facebook

If you haven’t become a fan on Facebook yet, you might not have seen the event listing for Dallas Vegan Drinks. Be sure to check it out and RSVP!

Dallas Vegan Drinks
Thursday November 12th, 6-8pm
Idle Rich Pub
2614 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX

Celebration Restaurant

2009-11-04T11:45:00.000-06:00

Although Celebration Restaurant has been a Dallas institution for almost 40 years, they made the news most recently as they were reportedly shut down by the City of Dallas for holding a neighborhood farmers’ market without the required permit.

I had not been to Celebration for many years, and at least since I’d turned vegan. I remembered the place as a meat-and-potatoes, homestyle-type, southern American restaurant where we would go for large gatherings. With all this hubbub about them holding a farmers’ market, I decided to do some investigation to see if there were any decent options for us vegans.

It appeared as if there might actually be some good vegan items, since according to the restaurant’s mission statement, Celebration is “striv[ing] to become a leader in the Dallas environmental movement by supporting local farmers and vendors by taking conscious measures to reduce our carbon footprint.” Among those measures, they claim to use local ingredients whenever possible.

Celebration is also holding a “Dinner with Dialogue” on the second Monday of each month. On November 9, for example, Pamela Walker, author of Growing Good Food to Eat in Texas is scheduled to speak about sustainable agricultural practices, and also Michael and Debbie Sams of Full Quiver Farms and Dairy.

Given the promise of potential vegan options, I made a reservation for 13 people, and we were fortunate enough to snag one of the private rooms that I remember so fondly. The place itself is a stone building and it’s got a very camp feel. The menu features mostly meat items with only 2 vegan options: spaghetti and a vegetable plate, which was a little disappointing.

The lack of selection in entrees is made up by the fact that they are served with your choice of soup or salad, and you can order free “seconds” (and thirds, and fourths, in our case). The Light Basil Vinaigrette with Garden Salad and Fresh Vegetable Soup are both vegan, and we ordered both:

The vegetable soup had a slight metallic taste, although it was chock full of veggies. The salad was a hit-even without the croutons, which we did not verify whether they were vegan.

For entrees, we chose the spaghetti and marinara, since we could order it with our choice of veggies, and, as you can see, it was nothing fancy:

The veggies available on our visit included spinach, broccoli, new potatoes, local acorn squash and okra. We were told that the vegetables are typically steamed with light seasoning and olive oil, but you should probably check for specifics upon your visit.

Since we ordered them steamed, they were very simple. You could probably request that they be sautéed, if you prefer.

Overall, I enjoyed the simplicity of our meal and the selection of veggies, including local ones. But, I didn’t feel like the restaurant has yet fully realized their goal of being a “leader in the local environmental movement.” Most on-menu items contained one of our typical plot spoilers, which here included some type of meat or dairy. Vegan options could have been more clearly delineated on the menu, which still proved to be a bit confusing for us and our server, despite my advance preparation. In my opinion, being a leader in the local environmental movement would necessarily include a greater focus on vegan options. I hope to see the menu here continue to evolve to meet this goal.

Celebration Restaurant, Catering, & Market
4503 W. Lovers Lane
Dallas, Texas 75206
214-351-5681

This Week in Dallas

2009-11-03T11:19:00.000-06:00

Sorry for our brief hiatus. We’ve been super busy working on our main site (coming soon)!

So here’s the deal—we’re putting Veg-Head of the Week on hold for a bit. Just too much on our plates at the moment. But we promise VHotW will return shortly.

Check out what's happening for veg-heads in Dallas this week...

Skinny Bitchin’ in Dallas

Join Kim Barnouin, co-author of Skinny Bitch, at The Joule tomorrow for organic wine tasting and desserts. Bardouin will be in town celebrating her newest venture HealthyBitchDaily.com. Click HERE for more details.

Bliss Raw Café & Elixir Bar

We’re all about sampling Bliss Raw Café’s new menu! We hear they’ve just launched a killer raw Vietnamese Pho, California Pizza, and a long list of decadent raw desserts created by celebrity chef Miranda Martinez. Get ‘em while they’re hot! Or maybe we should say “cold.”

Whole Foods Market

You know those Soy Nuggets and Mock Chicken Salad we always rave about? Well, you can now buy those same soy nuggets (plain) in the freezer case. We were totally stoked to get that scoop!

Spiral Diner Cookbook: Sweet Potato Pie

2009-10-28T17:15:00.000-05:00

Check out what I'm baking instead of pumpkin pie this holiday season...

I finally tackled Spiral Diner's Sweet Potato Pie from their upcoming cookbook! And I've gotta say - it's hella good! Too bad y'all missed it at Vegan 101's Halloween Party last weekend...CRAZY GOOD TIME!

Are Pixy Stix Sandwiches Vegan?

2009-10-22T22:45:00.000-05:00

I think it’s an obvious statement that we are each one of us vegan for a variety of reasons. I dare say we likely don’t all agree on the big stuff: politics, religion, so on and so on. We probably don’t even all agree about the differing degrees of veganism or the ends we’d like to see from these lifestyle means.

I celebrate that diversity. It’s what can make this movement successful. You see, you need the preppy assholes (like me) to go vegan as much as you need the punks and the hipsters to go vegan if you’re striving for real change. I call it the Breakfast Club Theory - we’ll achieve more if we have on our side “a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.” Differing ideals bringing attention to one cause – pretty good stuff.

With that in mind, I was so pleasantly surprised to find a (very) conservative and (very) religious columnist and blogger for our own Morning News with some interesting views on food & veganism: Rod Dreher.

The very omnivorous Mr. Dreher contributes pretty regularly to DMN’s Religion Blog as well as his CrunchyCons Blog over at BeliefNet.com (the self proclaimed largest spiritual website) – not the typical avenues one would expect for getting info and engaging in discussions about eating local, the ills of factory farming*, veganism or even Mercy For Animals' cause (I think we’ve seen that one before).

Religion (Eastern Orthodoxy, if you must know) was the motivation behind Rod’s (very) brief vegan stint. The Great Lent requires that followers give up meat and dairy for a little over a month. I know, I know, that seems too easy. What I like is that he gave it a shot, and in doing so brought attention to our cause on a variety of levels. I’ll take Bible beaters and Skinny Bitches alike, whatever their reasons.

*Read that report from the Pew Commission – awesome info. Just print it double-sided at your office (hope my boss is not reading this), because it’s pretty long.

___________________

And because I couldn’t resist, I’ve assembled a vegan Breakfast Club of my own:

The Brain, the Athlete, the Basket Case, the Princess, & the Criminal

Oh, and no definitive answers on the vegan status of Pixy Stix through a limited amount of research, so use your best judgement.

LUSH Holiday Collection 2009

2009-10-22T06:41:00.000-05:00

Yay! It’s Christmas in…umm…October! Well, at least here at Dallas Vegan. The good people of LUSH Cosmetics just sent us a few products to sample from their 2009 Holiday Collection. We couldn’t be more thrilled!

LUSH offers an array of unique, handmade body products (bath bombs, bubble bars, shower jellies, and bath melts), 75-80% of which are totally vegan! Some of our year-round faves include the AvoBath Bath Bomb, Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly, and the Sex Bomb Bath Ballistic.

Hmm…maybe that’s why vegans taste better—erm—we mean smell better…yeah.

Here’s what’s keeping us fresh these days:

Candy Cane Bubble Bar

We were stoked to find the classic pink & white Candy Cane Bubble Bar in our holiday sample pack! This bar of bubbly goodness will make your tub so super-sweet and frothy, you’ll think your bathing in a vat full of cotton candy. ($5.95)

Satsumo Santa Bath Bomb

A fat Santa-shaped bath bomb with bright notes of orange and lemon. We busted our Satsumo Santa in half to spread the cheer over two long baths. (Albeit, back to back.) Like the AvoBath Bath Bomb, Satsumo Santa’s sharp citrus scent will make your warm bath both relaxing and energizing. Nothing like a little yin with your yang, eh? ($5.95)

Snow Fairy Shower Gel

To put it simply, we’re in love with the Snow Fairy! The catalog description reads: “Candy floss pink with a sweet, magical scent and iridescent brush of glitter, a non-surprising hit with the ladies…a more surprising hit with grown men!” No argument here. ($8.95 - $19.95)

Want to Believe Bath Melt

This X-Files-esque lump of charcoal and fennel claims to “detoxify the naughtiness right out of you.” Um, we’re holding onto this little gem until after our crazy weekend at the Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party…that’ll really put it to the test! ($6.95)

Swing by our favorite LUSH retailer at NorthPark Center and grab a few vegan bubble bars for a chance to win LUSH’s Bubble Beard Photo Contest. And send us your best shot, too!

Our local winner will get a slab of LUSH’s Play Your Cards Right Massage Bar, and the winning photo will be featured on Dallas Vegan!

Submit your photo to dallasvegan@gmail.com by November 2, 2009. Winner will be announced on November 6, 2009.

Lather up, folks!

Veg-Head of the Week: Mia Bissette

2009-10-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

This week I have the honor of presenting our “Veg-Head of the Week”, Mia Bisset. She’s not only a vegan, but an animal lover and a distance athlete that uses her racing as a means to raise money for animals in need. It’s difficult for us to sum-up all of her accomplishments (because it's such a long list!), so we’re going to let Mia make the introduction in her own words. Welcome Mia!

My name is Mia Bissette and I am honored to be Veg Head of the week :) I so appreciate the wonderful vegetarian/vegan community here in the DFW area and I look forward to meeting more and more of you!
I had the great blessing of being able to retire as a hair stylist after 15yrs (in 2006) and really follow my passion which has everything to do with the welfare of animals large and small. I became a vegetarian in April 2006 as well, after a friend described to me how she was stuck in traffic behind a chicken transport vehicle and the horror she witnessed. Ten months, after learning the truth about the dairy industry, I became a vegan. I still fly high everyday knowing that I no longer contribute to the mistreatment of any animal.
I've had the great fortune to work with groups who do everything from rescue and rehab dolphins and whales off the TX coast (www.tmmsn.org) to caring for exotic cats (lions, tigers...) in a wonderful rescue sanctuary (www.insyncexotics.com) and finding homes for unwanted dogs and cats (http://www.pawsinthecity.org/). I also became a certified veterinary technician after 2 yrs of school and passing the state and national boards. Finishing first in my class was a proud moment for me. In the future I'd still like to be part of rescue teams who find homeless animals after major disasters.
My most recent accomplishments have involved doing triathlons to raise money for a rescue group or farm animal sanctuary that I choose because it touches my heart. Two yrs ago I raised over $1000 for Animal Acres in Acton, CA (http://www.animalacres.org/) by completing a sprint triathlon here in Dallas. Last year I raised close to $3000 for Ruff Houzen Rescue (http://www.ruffhouzen.org/) run by my friend Ashley Paige in Los Angeles, CA., who has single-handedly rescued and found homes for over 600 cats and dogs. Ashley is definitely one of my heroes and a great inspiration to me.
This year I completed my first Olympic distance triathlon and raised just under $4000 for PETA! (http://www.peta.org/) I've also rescued and found homes for 15 dogs this year, one of whom has become another hero of mine and one of my best friends. The other 14 went to loving homes.

During this past year I have become very interested in eating mainly a living raw food diet. I still love some vegan goodies as well but mainly stick to raw these days. I went to a wonderful class to learn some preparation techniques and raw food recipes here in Dallas when we were so fortunate as to have Jackie and Gideon Graff here from Atlanta, GA. I'd love to share one of the recipes with you. From the great minds of the Graffs I give you the Raw Apple Pie with Raw Nut and Date Pie Crust…

Nut and Date Pie Crust
1 c. almonds, soaked for 12 hrs., drained and dehydrated
1 c. pecans, " " " " " " "
1 c. walnuts, " " " " "
1 1/2 c. medjool dates, pits removed
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp vanilla powder (5 vanilla beans + 1/2 c. buckwheat groats in a blender till powder)...store this in airtight container in fridge or freezer
~or~ 1 tsp liquid vanilla

Place almonds in food processor and process until it resembles flour
Add salt and vanilla and process well
Add pecans, walnuts, and dates to food processor and process until mixed well
Press mixture into 8-10 inch glass pie pan

*Crust may be made ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen

Apple Pie
1 nut and date pie crust
6 golden delish or fuji apples peeled and cored
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsp cinnamon
4-6 medjool dates pits removed
1 tsp vanilla powder
1 c. raisins
2 tsp flax seeds, ground fine

Prepare pie crust
Place 1/3 of apples, salt, cinnamon, dates, and vanilla powder in food processor process until mixture is almost consistency of apple sauce
Continue adding apples, processing only until apples are chopped into small to med. size pieces
Add raisins
Stir in ground flax seeds and mix well and let sit for 15 mins.
The raisins and flax seeds will soak up the juice from the apples
Place apple mixture in pie crust

Optional: top with chopped walnuts and a few more raisins

I encourage everyone to look into raw foods and to incorporate them into your diet. Thanks to Jackie and Gideon for this wonderful and easy recipe (http://www.sproutrawfood.org/).

Thank you, Mia, for that great write-up! We look forward to seeing more awesome things you do for animals in the future!

Unhealthy Arlington? Not so fast…

2009-10-16T00:33:00.001-05:00

Contrary to popular belief (at least belief held by Men’s Health magazine), there’s more to Arlington than fast food and Jerry World (both of which are decidedly not vegan-friendly).

However, we’ve been tipped off to a few goings-on in Arlington that we thought we’d pass along that might help improve its “unhealthy” image.

First, in response to the nationwide press, the city now plans to have a downtown farmer’s market on Fridays through the end of the year. Get there today to pick up some fresh veggies.

Next, head to the Arlington Whole Foods Market on Saturday from 1-2:30 and sample some fabulous Hail Merry Products, which are now available there (Hail Merry will also be in Richardson on Sunday).

Here at Dallas Vegan, we're big fans of the Chocolate Mint Miracle Tart!

Finally, if you’re not sure what to do with your fresh veggies once you get them - Head to a raw food lecture on Monday, October 26th.

Now, we’d just like to see some vegan-friendly restaurants we can dine in before watching the Cowboys choke at the last minute of a game (Sorry…I shouldn’t let my bitterness for attending the home opener spoil this delightful story). Tell us if you know of any!

“What’s The Point Of A Meat-Filled Life? or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Eat A Vegan Diet”

2009-10-15T07:39:00.000-05:00

Firstly, thank you to the Dallas Vegan family for welcoming me to their little (and rapidly growing) corner of the blogosphere. I hope to not disappoint.

Secondly, “Have a Cheeseburger. It will make you feel better.”

Never has an odder shot across the bow started such a silly war of words. A brief (very brief) background for those unfamiliar: Eddie G and Jamey wanted Fair-fare.; Omnivores didn’t care-care; Dave Faries threw out a dare-dare.

And we answered. Sort of.

When I say “sort of,” I mean that we all threw out anonymous blog commentary on one of Dallas’ finest food-blogging forums. Fair enough – it’s a viable medium in this day and age. With that in mind, my first assignment is to gather a selection of Dallas’ loudest food related (and some non-food related) blogging voices and see what they have to say about our agenda/lifestyle/diet. I’d like to paint them in broad strokes for the sake of my loquacious ways with the goal being to expound upon some of the details/debates in the coming weeks. This week: Dave Faries’ What’s The Point Of A Meatless Life?

If cheeseburgers are the omnivores’ ammo, Dave Faries has elected himself to the rank of General for their army. Actually, that’s unfair. Maybe he’s our Great Mediator – the one who can initiate the end to the on-going cold war between the Meatless and the Meaty. In whatever capacity he’s acting, it is his column that is up for discussion. He posited the simple question: “What’s The Point Of A Meatless Life?” He further stated, “I’ve never understood why one would choose to be vegan or vegetarian in the first place. Well, there is one exception. If someone doesn’t really like the flavor of meat, a vegetarian/vegan diet makes perfect sense.”

Dave, there are many things I like, including the taste of meat. If your reasoning is a simple as “Liking: Doing :: Not Liking: Not Doing,” then we are at an impasse. However, I hear you’re a wonderfully intelligent man (or so Eddie G says), so, in turn, let me ask you, “What’s The Point Of A Meat-Filled Life?”

Certainly a genuine answer to Dave’s original question could be that the point of a meatless life is one’s desire to not contribute to an environmentally unsustainable, cruelly efficient, and, in many aspects, health-depriving industry.

Certainly a genuine answer to my rebutting question could be, “It tastes good.”

I’m a recently reformed meat-eater. In AA terms, I’m carrying my one-year chip. There weren’t twelve steps for me - just a one step realization (through a decent amount of research, mind) that the many reasons for a meatless life far outweighed that one glaring reason for a meat-filled one.

As stated, I will be explaining these reasons in greater detail over the coming weeks and hopefully inviting you all on a fact-finding mission (or at least a fact-based opinion-finding mission).

I’ve explained to many a newly met vegan that I still have to read a daily argument in support of our lifestyle. When someone like Dave makes available a forum for those arguments, I can only applaud his actions. It’s also possible that Mr. Faries doesn’t truly believe everything he said. That the food columnist for a local alternative weekly wouldn’t be best served by pumping up the comment volume with a fiery, debatable topic would be a conclusion not easily ignored.

But, oh, some of the things he said. Surely he must believe them if he had the courage to argue them. “Because ancient humans lived off the hunt as well as the gather, there’s no fundamental wrong in a steak, a rack of lamb, or roasted cuy for that matter.” That’s another gem from his post. What it presupposes is that ancient humans’ environment, survival strategies, and ethics are directly related to those of modern man. What this post presupposes is…maybe they aren’t?

Basing fundamental rights and wrongs on 200,000 years of history will leave one with a very mixed palette (or should we say palate, as the case might be?). I prefer that we would base our understanding of fundamental wrongs on all the knowledge gained in that time. Like irrigation, for example. It’s pretty ancient in its own right, and at present, it’s a practice used to produce an alternative energy source for humans. Alternative, that is, to the product of another perfected practice: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).

Dave’s remark that, “You can argue the harm caused by large slaughterhouses. They unnecessarily stress the animals, sometimes create public health issues and pump more than their share of pollution into the environment,” is a statement I can agree with. His cop-out that, “Of course, that doesn’t prevent a person from finding meat from environmentally friendly free range farms,” however, isn’t the solution I was hoping for.

“Environmentally friendly free range farms” are better, in theory, than CAFOs in my book. Then again, the next sentence in my book would be that veganism, in reality, is better still. “Free range” is ambiguous at best - the USDA applies that term to poultry only and their definition states that producers must only allow poultry “access to the outside.” So, under current regulations, “free range” is stuck in a very gray zone. The eschewing of meat and animal products is not. [This is not to say that I’m against truly “free range” farms. I’m a huge proponent of local farms and even local, family operated, meat producing farms. They’re not all perfect, but there are good ones out there that care about their processes and products. Not everyone who considers his/herself a vegan will agree with me on that point, but I’m putting it out there. Discussion to take place at a later date – promise!]

Fear not, Dave, we still love you. You give Dallas the opportunity to hear from Veggie ~~Girl~~ Guy and the vegan community a chance at a lively debate. At least you didn’t argue about carrots’ souls or potatoes’ eyes. Just kidding Uncle Nancy, I love you too.

But, of all the people I’d find through researching our local bloggers’ various spotlights on the vegan community, I stumbled upon the most unlikely ally. I found an extremely religious, conservative, National Review-contributing voice whose opinions and experience in the vegan arena stood out above the rest of the food critics. Hell, he’s not even a food critic. But more on him next time….

-bc

Dallas Vegan Drinks - October 2009

2009-10-14T05:50:00.000-05:00

Despite the gloomy weather, several dozen local veg-heads came out for Dallas Vegan Drinks’ inauguration at Idle Rich Pub last Thursday. Our Jamey Scott did an amazing job coordinating the event!

Attendees mingled with Dallas food celebs Lisa Petty of NBC-DFW, Good 2 Go Taco’s Jeanna Johnson, and a number of high-profile veg-heads—Brad Cameron (“bc” of Dallas Observer’s City of Ate commentary fame), vegan musician Justin Wilson (Red Animal War , Saboteur , The Numbers Twist), and Tough Cookie Bakery’s Chris and Jennie McEwan.

Idle Rich Pub served veggie brats in honor of Oktoberfest, and a few veg-friendly purveyors handed out gifts and discount coupons, including Good 2 Go Taco ($1 off any vegan tacos), Tough Cookie Bakery (free vegan cookies at the White Rock Local Market), and Lush (cosmetic sample-pack).

After a few vegan beers, Jamey and I chatted-up Brad Cameron about organic, sustainable farming (a subject he’s all too familiar with). Brad went on and on about the ill practices of commercial farming, even going as far as describing methods used at his in-laws’ farm. We were so impressed by this ex-UT frat guy’s knowledge on the subject, we decided to include him as the newest member of Dallas Vegan!

Can you blame us? I mean—anyone who can dominate blog commentaries like this guy deserves a platform of his own, don’t you think? Check out Brad’s first post tomorrow, where he’ll tell you what he thinks about other Dallas food writers' views on veganism.

Veg-Head of the Week: Dianna Wike

2009-10-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

Veg-Head of the Week, Dianna Wike, is a true inspiration! This 57 year-old veg-head began her cruelty-free path nearly 35 years ago, when most of us were still…umm…not born yet. At least here at Dallas Vegan.

Wike states, “Back in 1975, I was 22 years old and recently divorced. I weighed 92 pounds and was a total mess! I read a book called Remember, Be Here Now by Ram Dass, and it was a huge influence on my life at the time. So, that was when I became a vegetarian.”

Now a vegan for almost 20 years, Dianna Wikes is a friend to all animals. She’s known at her office as the “catch-and-release” gal (sparing the lives of geckos, spiders, and the like), and also does volunteer work at DFW Sheltie Rescue.

Wikes resides in Plano with her omnivorous husband of 30 years, two Shelties (Chip and Dale), and a Peach Fronted Conure (Buddy)…all rescued!

Well—maybe not her husband ;)

Veg-Head of the Week: Dianna Wike

Years Veg: 35 (vegan for 20)

Favorite Veg-Friendly Dig: Chuy’s in Plano

Favorite Recipe: Vegan Cornbread

Dianna Wike's Vegan Cornbread

1 cup unbleached white flour
1 cup corn meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 TBSP of maple syrup
1 cup soy milk
¼ cup oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray iron skillet with cooking spray. Put dry ingredients in one bowl, and mix them. In a separate bowl, mix oil, maple syrup and soy milk together and whisk to froth. (The more bubbles the better.) Add the milk mixture to the dry... stir just until moist. Bake for 25 minutes.

Naan

2009-10-11T18:27:00.001-05:00

Let’s face it—Plano doesn’t have much choice when it comes to upscale vegan restaurants. You can try your luck at Jasper’s, but you may just be eating a plate of sautéed veggies du jour. Sushi bars, on the other hand, seem to be cropping up on every street corner. Naan strikes a perfect balance for us vegans with its blend of upscale Japanese and Korean food located in the Shops at Legacy.

Naan has been awarded many accolades including Best New Restaurant 2003, Best of Big D from D Magazine and Texas Monthly in 2004, and four stars from Zagat in 2006-2009. Most recently, Naan was selected to receive a readers’ choice award for Best Sushi by a local publication.

We dined with the restaurant’s proprietor, Peter “MK” Kim, who recommends starting your meal with some vegan sushi. Naan has great standard maki or rolled sushi, including mixed vegetable, cucumber, and avocado rolls. But, Naan goes the extra mile for us vegans with their latest creation: the “Dallas Vegan Roll.”

Rich, creamy, sweet, spicy, and crunchy, the signature “Dallas Vegan Roll” really satisfies. The signature roll is made with cucumber, avocado, yamagobo, daikon, tempura asparagus, onion, and sweet potato, wrapped with soy paper, avocado outside, drizzled with sweet teriyaki sauce and siracha.

Other vegan offerings include the incomparable “Drew’s Veggie Roll.” Named after yours truly, this one has lettuce, seaweed salad, avocado, and daikon inside, with a cucumber wrapper, topped with spicy sauce, mango sauce, and drizzled with ponzu sauce. Doesn’t the cucumber man resemble Eddie just a little bit?

You could totally gorge out on the sushi here, as did Eddie and myself, but if you are so inclined, give the Korean dishes a try, as well. Typical plot spoilers at Korean restaurants include include pork, seafood, fish sauce and egg. Naan is very sensitive to its vegan constituents and there are many items available without these ingredients on the menu, and substitutions can be made on other dishes if you ask your server.

Start off with a seared tofu appetizer. Not traditional Korean fare, but it’s awesome, so you should try it anyway. It’s topped with a spicy soy sauce and what was described as a fresh pico de gallo salsa:

As for the more traditional Korean fare, try the vegetarian Bi Bim Bap, which translates as “mixed.” This dish is actually vegan, ordered right off the menu. It’s a cold dish with mixed Korean veggies and served with the traditional chili paste. You can mix everything together, or just pick it out individually to taste each component on its own:

As for the hot entrees, try the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap, without steak, which is a similar dish to the vegetarian Bi Bim Bap, but served in a hot stone bowl. We splashed some of the Korean chili paste on top, mixed this all up, and gently incorporated everything together to expose the crispy rice goodness underneath:

Another hot vegan entrée is the Tofu & Mushroom Bi Bim Bap, without oyster sauce. Stir-fried tofu and shitake mushrooms with mixed veggies are served on top of Korean rice, and served in a hot stone pot with all that crispy rice goodness on the bottom:

With winter on the horizon, you’ll certainly want to order up a big fiery cauldron of Kimchi Stew (kimchi chigae) or Spicy Tofu Stew (soon dubu chigae). Make sure that your server knows you want it to be made without meat and with tofu instead. Ours came with both tofu and kimchi, topped with green onions:

Finally, don’t skip the Korean-style pancake (pajun). Menu options only include a seafood version, but it can be ordered special with either green onion or kimchi. We really enjoyed both, but our favorite was the green onion version served up on a cast-iron skillet:

And, how could I fail to mention--Naan also serves happy hour daily from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a plethora of drink specials, including $1 sake, and select half-priced sushi.

Legacy Naan

7161 Bishop Road

In the Shops at Legacy

Plano, Texas

972-943-9288

Free Screening of Award-Winning Documentary Fowl Play

2009-10-09T19:43:00.001-05:00

Join Mercy For Animals for a free screening of the award-winning documentary, Fowl Play.

This powerful film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey behind the closed doors of some of the country's largest egg production facilities and graphically illustrates the heartbreaking plight of laying hens condemned to lives crowded inside file-drawer-sized cages.

Through touching interviews with animal rescuers, undercover investigators, veterinarians, and animal behaviorists, we hear compelling stories motivated by kindness and courage from the dedicated individuals who are fighting to save the modern day hen - perhaps the most abused and exploited animal on earth.

To learn more about the film, visit www.FowlPlayMovie.com.

Contact Eddie Garza to RSVP, or for more information, via email at DallasVegan@gmail.com or by phone at (469) 826-2644.

Where: Clubhouse of Serendipity Apartments, 8780 Park Lane, Dallas, TX 75231

MAP

When: Friday, October 23, 2009 - 7 p.m.

If you need more information, click HERE to e-mail MFA.

Reposted from www.MercyForAnimals.org

Veg-Head of the Week: Miranda Martinez

2009-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Dallasites may know her as that Latin bombshell from the TXU commercials, but to local vegans, Miranda Martinez is more than just some hot chick on TV.

Okay—we dig that, too!

But the thing Dallas vegans love most about this local veg-celebrity is that she dishes out some of the most creative raw vegan eats this town has to offer!

Veg-Head of the Week: Miranda Martinez

Years Veg: 2

Career: Raw Vegan Chef at Bliss Raw Café, Actor, Producer, Casting Associate, and Entrepreneur.

Highlights: Featured Chef at the 2009 State Fair of Texas Celebrity Kitchen, Commercials for Wal-Mart, JC Penney, Taco Bueno, Chevy Tahoe, Avon, Radio Shack, Doritos, and Tostitos.

For those of you who missed Miranda Martinez’s demo at the State Fair of Texas' Celebrity Kitchen, no worries…you can grab her famous Raw Pineapple Cobbler recipe HERE. Our "foodie-fashionista" friend, Lisa Petty, got her hands on the recipe back in July.

Check out VivaRaw.com to learn more about Miranda Martinez's inspiring life story.

Vegan Drinks – This Thursday!

2009-10-05T06:30:00.000-05:00

We’re excited about the new Vegan Drinks monthly get together – this Thursday at Idle Rich Pub.

We’ve had some great feedback so far and there should be a pretty good turn-out. Don’t be left out – be sure to meet us for some drinks, eats, and great company. Drink specials during the event, plus, Idle Rich is providing vegan brats – just for us.

This is Dallas Vegan history-in-the-making, people!

Not only that, but we have awesome giveaways from vegan-friendly purveyors for some lucky winners that attend.

Looking forward to meeting some great new faces!

RSVP on our Facebook page, or email Jamey@dallasvegan.com.

Vegan Drinks @ Idle Rich Pub
Thursday October 8th, 6-8pm
2614 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX

The State Fair of Texas Goes Raw (sort of)

2009-10-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times - it was time to go to the State Fair of Texas. Ok, so maybe there wasn’t quite that much drama, but the visit last Sunday certainly evoked some extremely different emotions.

The worst of times…

As a child growing up going to the State Fair of Texas, I have fond memories of the tic-tac-toe playing rooster, the worlds largest pig, and other shows meant to sucker-in a little kid’s fascination with animals – who doesn’t that grew up in the area? However, going back to the fair as a vegan adult, things begin take on a whole new perspective.

State fairs have their origins as livestock expos, so it’s obvious you’re going to get a healthy dose of pigs, cows, and various other creatures for the public’s viewing pleasure. For the most part, the animals are relatively clean and healthy – a perfect representation of what the industry would lead you to believe the entire farmed animal population consists of.

Huh?

However, most vegans understand that these conditions are far from what many animals endure. Try watching this video of a recent PETA undercover dairy farm investigation. It makes it kind of difficult to believe their “facts” about cow comfort being “very important to dairy farmers”. One begins to get the impression these exhibits are no more than propaganda meant to give people a sense of comfort that the animals they choose to consume actually lead peaceful lives before being lead to slaughter.

At least this guy is enjoying some rest (more than the rest of his family will ever get)

The best of times…

Luckily, the fair is not all about the animals. Between the midway rides, carnival games, and some truly bizarre people watching, there are plenty of other things to enjoy. But the real bright spot of this day was getting to see the multi-talented raw vegan chef, Miranda Martinez of Bliss Raw Cafe, ply her craft in front of a room-full of lucky fairgoers at the Celebrity Chef exhibition.

Miranda made her now-famous Raw Pineapple Cobbler for the crowd of hungry participants, some of which were probably a little shocked she didn’t need a deep-fryer and a vat of grease to make a kick-ass dessert. Miranda described how Bliss was out of some of their desserts and needed to whip something up with ingredients on hand. I remember getting the tweet about it a while ago, rushing to Bliss, and subsequently being blown away! It’s amazing to think this delicious treat was thought up “on the fly” – but it’s simply a credit to her status as a raw chef genius!

(Jamey) Rubbing elbows with celebrities (Miranda) at the fair

After devouring my sample and mingling with other fans at the demo, I was able to leave knowing that – if for only one day – the Dallas Vegan community had a bright and shining star on display at the State Fair of Texas.

Veg-Head of the Week: B.J. Hernandez

2009-09-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here at DallasVegan.com, we’ve got the scoop on all things vegan in DFW. Yeah, we get around. And we never shy away from an opportunity to meet other like-minded people.

On our scouting missions, we’ve met some of the area’s coolest veg-heads! Well, we want you to know them too, so we’re starting a new feature on the site that will showcase a different DFW veg-head each week. Shoot us an e-mail at dallasvegan@gmail.com for your 15 minutes of fame!

Veg-Head of the Week: B.J. Hernandez

B.J. is currently a senior at Flower Mound High School, where he serves as principal trombonist of the award winning Flower Mound High School Wind Symphony. In addition to playing trombone in his high school band, B.J. is member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, the Texas All-State Band, and he also doodles with the accordion.

But the coolest thing about B.J. is that he’s a kid with a conscience! B.J. recently participated in the Texas Freedom Parade with Mercy For Animals (MFA), and he’s known to distribute Vegan Outreach and MFA pamphlets to his peers in the burbs. Way to speak up for the animals, B.J.!

Years Veg: 4

Hobbies: Playing music, riding bikes, reading, gardening, camping, and cooking…mostly black bean burgers and flour tortillas.

Goals: Play trombone in a major orchestra and live healthy.

Favorite Recipe: Chocolate Walnut Fudge from The Good Heart Recipe Book by Jonsi (of Sigur Ros) and his partner Alex. Check it out!

Chocolate Walnut Fudge

3 cups walnuts
2 cups coconut
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/3 vanilla bean
3/4 cup agave nectar
pinch of salt

Blend the walnuts. Then blend the coconut. Then mix it together in a bowl with your hands…Add the other ingredients, then refrigerate for at least one hour…Last, cut into rectangles.

B.J.—keep being awesome!

A Note of Thanks/A Call to Action

2009-09-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

It’s difficult for me to write this post, as I get extremely emotional thinking about the incredible events that occurred over the past few days. I tear up just thinking about it.

I have been on a not-so-secret mission to make Dallas—a city I love more than any other—a green-urban-hip place to live. I can now, without any hesitation, say I see a light at the end of the tunnel!

On Sunday, September 20, a large group of local animal rights activists came together to represent Mercy For Animals, an organization that focuses on farmed animal issues, at the 2009 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. Our mission: to let Dallas know that “no one is free when others are oppressed”!

The marching group was composed of people from all walks of life with one common belief—that all living beings have the basic right to live a life free of harm and suffering.

Nathan Runkle, my friend and founder of Mercy For Animals (MFA), flew in from Chicago to oversee our grassroots effort in Dallas, where more than 60 like-minded individuals marched in support of MFA’s work. Dallas’ MFA marching group outnumbered every other city’s this year!

How did this happen here in the land of beef, beef, and more beef? Because change is here! I wanted it. And you wanted it. Together, we're making it happen!

On Monday, Spiral Diner hosted a private dinner for Nathan Runkle, several high-profile animal rights activists, and a couple of media representatives. Restaurant owner Sara Tomerlin, and founders Amy McNutt and James Johnston prepared a Texas style vegan barbeque in honor of Nathan, and all proceeds went to Mercy For Animals.

Following dinner, Nathan spoke about MFA, and screened a documentary entitled Fowl Play, which illustrates the abuse and torture of farmed animals used for food. Arnold Jones of the Dallas Voice must have been so horrified by the film, he ran out of there before it was over. And who can blame him? Most of the scenes were too unbearable to watch!

Teresa Gubbins of PegasusNews was so moved by the event, she’s featuring it as the top story on PegasusNews tomorrow!

So I want to thank everyone involved in making these events so successful. I am so proud to know so many kind and compassionate people in Dallas!

Thank you all so much for your supporting this cause that’s very close to my heart, and know that this is only the beginning of a movement that’s going to hit this city by storm!

We must stay active, though!!

Please start by supporting the amazing work Mercy For Animals does.

This is our chance to make Dallas truly shine!

And stay tuned to DallasVegan.com for more opportunities to be a part of this evolution.

Photos by Drew and Nathan

Vegan Drinks – Save the date – October 8th!

2009-09-21T23:33:00.001-05:00

On Thursday, October 8th, Dallas Vegan will be organizing the very first Dallas Vegan Drinks at the Idle Rich Pub from 6-8 pm!

What’s Vegan Drinks? Well, to be brief – it’s vegans, in a bar, drinking.

Ok, well to be a little less brief, Vegan Drinks was started as a monthly social networking group in New York City that has spread to other parts of the country. Other cities like San Francisco, Boston, and Philadelphia have organized Vegan Drinks, so we thought it was as good a time as any to get started here in Dallas.

More details to come later – but save the date and time to get ready to mingle with other vegans, vegetarians, or anyone interested in learning more about it!

Vegan Drinks @ Idle Rich Pub
Thursday October 8th, 6-8pm
2614 Mckinney Ave
Dallas, TX

Mercy For Animals March – This Sunday

2009-09-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

This Sunday, September 20th, vegans, vegetarians, and others compassionate towards animal rights will march in the 2009 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade representing Mercy For Animals (MFA).

So why is this big news? To start, not only is this the first organized MFA event in Dallas, but it’s the first in the entire state of Texas. The fact that Dallas can represent this well respected organization in the animal rights community is HUGE – and goes a long way to show the progressive, open-minded culture that exists in the city.

What’s even more amazing is that Nathan Runkle, the founder of MFA, is taking time out of his busy schedule to personally join the march participants on Sunday.

Nathan Runkle

In addition, on Monday evening following the parade, Mr. Runkle will present a private screening of MFA’s new film, Fowl Play, for select activists and local Dallas media. The film documents what goes on behind closed doors at Hy-Line, a major egg hatchery located in Iowa, in an effort to explain how eggs make their way on to the plate and the suffering involved in the process. Attendees will get a chance to speak with Mr. Runkle about the film and his organization.

An example of the cruelty caught on tape as male chicks are separated and ground-up alive

Nathan Runkle, who recently was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall Of Fame, founded Mercy For Animals in 1999 at the age of 15. The organization now boasts more than 25,000 members and is a leading activist for farmed animals. They employ a no-nonsense approach towards educating the public by providing information about the abuses occurring on factory farms – usually in the form of undercover investigations, as well as sharing helpful tips for making more cruelty-free choices. Their website, Chooseveg.com, is a wealth of information for those interested in learning more about their investigations.

With so many fantastic and award-winning restaurants, Dallas has come a long way in the vegan dining community. This event will help to solidify this city as a big supporter of animal rights as well.

Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade
September 20, 2009
Parade starts at 2:00 pm

photos courtesy of http://www.mercyforanimals.org*

Z Pizza in Flower Mound

2009-09-11T06:17:00.000-05:00

Those of you following the “Veggie Guy” column on Dallas Observer's City of Ate already know about Flower Mound’s Z Pizza. The small California-based chain makes a mean vegan pie loaded with Daiya cheese. Yeah, we’re totally stoked! We understand, though, that FloMo might be a bit of a haul for some of you DFW veg-heads. But we’ve got a little motivational nugget for ya’ll...

We’re giving away two coupons for a free pizza at Z Pizza. With a purchase of $20 or more, you’ll get to take home a free 10-inch Z Pizza for breakfast—erm—we mean lunch…yeah. Just make sure to order your pies with regular or whole wheat crust (gluten-free crust contains egg).

To win, all you have to do is watch THIS CLIP from Fowl Play and leave a comment here by 11:59 PM on Monday, September 14, 2009. Two winners will be chosen at random.

We’ll announce the lucky veg-heads by 8:00 AM on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

Ready—GO!

Product Review: Hemp I Scream (Double Dutch Chocolate)

2009-09-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

I was in the mood for something sweet the other day at Whole Foods Lakewood as I was perusing through the frozen foods section. I took a gander though the ice cream selection when I noticed Hemp I Scream (which was rather miraculous, given it’s nondescript packaging). I’m not sure whether or not it’s a new item – it’s quite possible I’ve just never noticed it before.

“Hemp I Scream” is essentially an ice-cream cookie sandwich sold in individual packages. This flavor was “Double Dutch Chocolate” - hemp “I Scream” stuck between two hemp cookies (which had the approximate texture and slight taste of an oatmeal cookie).

The only thing that really needs to be said about these is –HOLY FREAKIN’ CRAP THIS THING WAS AMAZING!…but in the interest of blogging – I suppose I will continue (if only to relive the magic for but a brief moment).

The cookies were truthfully some of the best cookies I’ve had – you would never know they were frozen. Very moist and chewy, they held their shape well, but not at all hard like other frozen cookies I’ve had. The ice cream was rich and chocolaty with a great consistency, a perfect compliment to the cookies. Seriously – this is one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time.

Their website claims this to be a “Sweet and Healthy” treat. I don’t know about the healthy part, but even at 360 calories I could really care less. At least the hemp is organic, and it’s always a hoot to tell your non-vegan friends you’re eating it (don’t worry – their website also says it’s “Naturally drug free”).

Hemp I Scream

Available at Whole Foods – Lakewood

2118 Abrams Road

Dallas, TX

Vegan Athletes?

2009-09-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

I’m sure we’ve all had the questions from friends & family about our diets - “are you getting enough protein?” - “where do you get your calcium from if you don’t drink milk” – etc. I understand that many people don’t quite “get” our diets and how being vegan can actually be an extremely healthy way to go. So, I politely thank them for their concern and try to explain how almost all foods have some form of protein in them and that – contrary to popular belief – cow’s milk is not necessarily the best form of calcium. Some get it, some don’t – but that’s okay.

I can only imagine that when you’re a professional athlete, those kinds of questions increase. Luckily, there are many successful professionals that have proven what one can achieve on a vegan diet. For instance, there’s the Vegan Fitness Team: Robert Cheeke – a professional body builder, Brendan Brazier – a champion tri-athlete, and Tonya Kay – world class dancer. Each has been successful in their respective fields of competition. They’ve even starred in a great movie highlighting their performance within the vegan lifestyle.

There’s also one of my new favorite hockey players – Georges Laraques – NHL tough-guy who recently went vegan after watching a powerful movie. I’ve watched hockey for years hating him while playing for the Edmonton Oilers and beating up on my favorite Stars players, but now I have nothing but respect (although I’ll still root against him when he plays the Stars next year).

And lest we forget (lest he kick all of our butts) about Mac Danzig – Ultimate Fighter 6 champion.

tell this guy he’s not getting enough protein

That brings me to myself. I started running last year, and I guess you could say after running my first marathon in April that I’m officially a “runner”. I may not be breaking world records any time soon (or any time later for that matter), but I think this allows me to consider myself a vegan “athlete”.

Gans, Allison, Cervando, and myself triumphant at the OKC Marathon

After my first swimming lesson on Wednesday (well, first since Kindergarten) in anticipation of completing a triathlon in the near future, I began to wonder about what other vegan athletes in the area were up to.

One awesome Dallas athlete I’m aware of is Mia Bissette. I’ve been following her on Twitter for a while now, but have yet to have the privilege to meet. She’s currently training for a triathlon raising money for Peta, and rumor has it that Dallas Vegan is in line for one of her awesome recipes when she returns from her extensive travels (maybe her fabulous looking deviled tomatoes?).

So, the bottom line to this post is - who are the other vegan athletes in Dallas, and what kinds of inspiring things are they getting in to? I know that there are more of us out there, so let’s hear from you!

Dog Day at Lee Harvey's

2009-08-31T08:32:00.000-05:00

Dog Day at Lee Harvey's benefitting Dog & Kitty City was a blast! The guys of Dallas Vegan met some really cool peeps and pups...and a few kittens, too.

We took this opportunity to distribute Mercy For Animals and Vegan Outreach pamphlets, and also signed up a few more animal lovers for THIS EVENT. (You should join us!)

Jamey, Drew, and Eddie G

Jamey and Melanie

Drew (holding his new furry friend)

Nicole and Eddie G

Nicole and Jake

Nicole and the sweetest young ladies in Dallas

Dog Day at Lee Harvey's happens every Sunday. Go out and enjoy a few beers with your own furry friend!

Sunergia Soyfoods - Are You Ready for Some Nufu?!

2009-08-26T15:15:00.000-05:00

Football season is upon us. Really, what would football season be without a big platter of buffalo-style tofu wings and blue cheese dressing?!! Soy bleu, that is.

I came across Sunergia Soyfoods a Virginia-based company selling all organic, Kosher, vegan, and wheat-free soy products. In particular, I was interested in trying their soy "blue cheese." Their products are not yet available locally, but can be ordered over the internet here. Jon was kind enough to send me a sampler pack representing their innovative product line with Soy Bleu , Soy Feta, peanut & ginger "nufu," and pesto flavored tofu.

I was totally impressed. Sunergia distinguishes themselves from other soy product manufacturers by using high-quality ingredients. All of their products are certified organic and kosher under strict supervision. The difference is definitely noticible in the taste. In addition, their products are fortified and are high in protein and fiber.

I crumbled the mediterranean-style Soy Feta directly from the package on top of sliced tomatoes and loved it! The biggest criticism from both the vegans and non-vegans alike was that it tasted *too* close to feta cheese.

The Soy Bleu also went over the top with field greens, green apple, walnut, and aged balsalmic. The flavor was eerily close to real blue cheese, but slightly less creamy and not quite as pungent. I was perplexed at how it could taste so similar! You've got to just try it for yourself to experience it. One of the ingredients on the label was chia seed. Yes, that's right...as in chia pet. I'm still waiting for those little green sprouts on my head!

Pesto "More than Tofu" on left, peanut and ginger "Nufu" on right

The biggest surprise to me was Sunergia's Nufu. What is Nufu you ask? Nufu is an amazing new product line for those of us who rely heavily on tofu and other soy products as our protein source. Nufu is essentially soy-free tofu made from peanuts instead of soy. Wow, I was floored! I seared some slices and served simply atop field greens with an asian dressing, some cilantro, shredded carrots, and crispy corn tortilla strips. Absolutely amaaazing.

The pesto flavored "more than tofu" was also good. It was a firm textured tofu marinated with a blend of basil, nuts and garlic, in a basil-garlic marinade. I followed the recommended preparation method and sauteed slices in olive oil. I could easily eat a whole package as a quick dinner preparation-with at least 7 other flavors that would cover the whole week. Serve with some veggies, and voila!

Make sure to request Sunergia products at your local Whole Foods Market. Or, until then, you can get you some on the internet at Pangea Vegan Store.

Spiral Diner Cookbook: Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-08-26T12:06:00.000-05:00

You all know about those Chocolate Chip Cookies from Spiral Diner, right? Yeah, the HUGE, chewy ones loaded with chocolate chips...

Well—I ate about 8 of those last weekend…freshly baked!

Things are looking good for Spiral Diner’s upcoming cookbook—the recipe Amy and James sent me was flawless! Take a look at my snapshots...

Sorry I can’t share the Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe with you guys, but here’s one I’m happy to give away:

Martha Stewart's Butter Pecan Cookies

VEGANIZED!

3/4 c pecans
1/2 c (1 stick) vegan margarine
1/3 c vegan can sugar, plus more for coating
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup unbleached white flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a baking sheet, toast pecans until fragrant (about 6 minutes). Let cool completely; finely chop.

With an electric mixer, cream margarine and 1/3 cup sugar until light (about 1 minute). Beat in vanilla and flour, scraping down sides of bowl, just until dough comes together. Fold in pecans.

Separate dough into 12 pieces; squeeze dough to shape into balls. Roll in sugar. Place on a baking sheet (3 inches apart). Gently flatten with the bottom of a glass (reshape sides if necessary). Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes). Sprinkle with more sugar. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Makes 12 cookies.

Dog Day this Sunday at Lee Harvey’s benefitting Dog & Kitty City

2009-08-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Come to Lee Harvey’s this Sunday, August 30th from 6-8 pm and visit with some great puppies from Dog & Kitty City, Dallas’ only no-kill shelter.

On Dog Days at Lee Harvey’s, the gates are closed off and your pups are able to roam around and have fun while you enjoy a few cocktails. While you’re there, purchase some of our “doggie bags” filled with treats for your furry friends – proceeds will benefit Dog & Kitty City.

In addition, the most talented, best dressed and friendliest pups will win prize trophies!

Come out, and you might see some of my favorite guys down there:

Dundee is a handsome shaggy pup, very cute and friendly.

Flash is a sweet, energetic boy with such a soft coat – he was adopted once, but they brought him back :( He’s a great pup and deserves a wonderful home.

Latte is such a self-sufficient girl that she takes herself on walks.

Let’s give some support from the Dallas Vegan community and head to Lee Harvey’s for Dog & Kitty City (as if anyone really needs a reason to go to happy hour anyway…!!!).

Dog Day at Lee Harvey’s

August 30th, 6-8pm

1807 Gould St.

Dallas, TX 75215

214-428-1555

Humane Society of Dallas

Dog & Kitty City

2719 Manor Way

Dallas, Texas 75235

214-350-7387

Tofish and Chips

2009-08-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

While some see August as the worst month of the year, I see it as simply a prelude to the greatness that is fall in Dallas.

Yes, it’s still 90+ outside, but there are faint glimmers of what is soon to come in September. Cooler weather, regular season football, and fried foods.

I took inspiration from a recipe I found for cornmeal breaded tofu and made it into a meal even Big Tex would be proud of. If you ever liked fried catfish, this is definitely something to check out.

I used the same breading the recipe called for, however, the base of the “tofish” I thought needed some modification. The easy mock tuna-salad I make uses garbanzo beans as the base, which to me, has a slightly fishy flavor – so I felt that was the key in taking this recipe to the next level.

To-Fish

1 package extra-firm tofu
1 can garbanzo beans
1 tbsp kelp granules
1 tbsp flax seeds + 2 tbsp water
Soy-milk

Directions

Grind flax seeds into fine powder
Mix with water to make a sticky paste
In separate bowl, mash garbanzo beans well with a fork
Mix in crumbled well pressed tofu
Mix in kelp granules
Mix in flax seed paste
Form into bite-sized nuggets
dredge in soy-milk
coat in cornmeal mixture

Cornmeal Mixture

2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup corn meal
1 tsp cajun spice (or chili powder)
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
salt to taste (after frying)

Fry these up in some canola oil, and you have yourself some tasty tofish bites that rivals any of the fried food the State Fair dishes out.

Enjoy these with some vegan tarter sauce, fries, and a cold British ale, and you have yourself one happy reminder of the great times ahead in September and beyond!

Hibashi Teppan Grill & Sushi Bar

2009-08-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Stepping into Hibashi Teppan Grill & Sushi Bar, your first instinct is to turn around and wonder how you walked into Ghost Bar: Northwest Dallas. A sign near the entrance read “Sake bombs $3”, and the bright and futuristic “Sky Blue Wave” sculpture behind the bar is the first thing you see. Only the absence of techno and smoke machines (and a large sushi bar) convinced me I was in the right place.

Unfortunately, this was high-noon on a work day and cocktails were not on the agenda. After hearing sometime ago of Hibashi’s new lunch options, I figured it was worth a shot.

The lunch menu offered one veg option - “Teppenyaki Vegetable Bowl” ($8) with white rice and a salad. 7-8 vegetarian rolls were also available, ranging in price from $4 to $8. I ordered the bowl and a couple of rolls to get a good sample of what Hibashi had to offer.

The salad was nice and simple – lettuce, cabbage, and carrots with a ginger dressing that had lots of potential. The flavor was excellent - citrus based, slightly sweet, and just enough ginger. Unfortunately, there too much of the dressing. To compound this problem, separation caused minced ginger to lay on top of the lettuce, while the rest of the salad soaked in a large pool of liquid forming at the bottom (hint – ask for the dressing on the side).

About the time I was finishing my ~~soup~~ salad, the vegetarian rolls arrived. I ordered the Vegetable Tempura Roll ($6) and the Asparagus Roll ($4). The tempura rolls were supposedly sweet potato, zucchini, and yellow onion. In reality, I could hardly tell what I was eating – the cuts of vegetable were so small in proportion to the rest of the roll that it was difficult to tell. It was even more difficult to tell by taste or texture, as the breading, rice, and sauce transformed the roll into a bit of a mushy mess.

The Asparagus wasn’t bad, however, its presentation could have used some help. The roll wasn’t very well manufactured, i.e., the nori was falling apart before even picking one up. Not good for a restaurant where “world-class artistry of sushi” is claimed on the website.

Unfortunately, things only got worse with main entree. The Teppenyaki bowl came with an overcooked and under-flavored assortment of uninteresting vegetables – carrot, zucchini, broccoli, and a few mushrooms (maybe I should have ordered one…or three…of those sake bombs?).

The sides sauces that came with the lunch couldn’t even save the meal. Somehow they managed to make two very strong flavors – ginger and mustard – bland. After requesting a hot chili sauce and trying (in vain) to come up with a good combination of flavors, I decided I had enough.

A return trip many weeks later offered better presentation on the avocado rolls I ordered – but they were tiny and flavorless. Little else had changed with the food, but they did turn off the lighting around the bar and other parts of the restaurant – I suppose to make it look more like a lunch spot than an empty disco. Worst of all, they didn’t even have the sake-bomb special anymore (I had planned on trying a few this time – just in case the food hadn’t improved).

Clearly, Hibashi’s strength is in evening dining, which might make it a nice place to try with some cocktails, live hibachi grills, and the sights and sounds of the bar - but for lunch, it’s a no.

Hibashi Teppan Grill Sushi Bar
13465 Inwood Rd
Dallas, TX

Spiral Diner Cookbook: Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies

2009-08-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Have I mentioned I’m a big fan of Spiral Diner? The place rocks!

Okay—I’m a little biased. I used to work there. But I think it’s fair to say most DFW veg-heads agree.

Even VegNews Magazine thinks so. Once again, Spiral Diner is up for Best Vegetarian Restaurant in America by the publication. And why wouldn’t it be? Spiral Diner dishes out amazing vegan creations, and founders Amy McNutt and James Johnston are a couple of the coolest people on the planet!

Here at Dallas Vegan, we’ve been given the opportunity to test out recipes for Spiral Diner’s upcoming cookbook. Sweet gig, huh? So over the next few months, we’ll be posting photos of our favorite dishes and sharing our thoughts with you guys.

To start things off, we hit an old fave—Spiral Diner’s Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies. These brownies are some of the biggest sellers at the diner, and they also hold a special place in my heart. On my second day working at Spiral Diner Dallas, I almost ruined a large batch of them. Here’s what happened:

I failed to gather up all of my ingredients before starting the process, then realized I was short a few cups of flour after mixing several of the ingredients. I panicked! My manager, Kjersten, just laughed at me and told me to find Sara Tomerlin (owner of the Dallas branch). Luckily, Sara tweaked the recipe and made it work. But I did get put on dishes for the rest of my shift :)

This new home-size recipe is right on the money. Only problem is they’re wickedly good and so easy to make!

So what's the problem? Well - I’m a single guy with an insatiable sweet tooth. Gonna have to hit the gym a little harder just to keep some around at all times! Take a look at the end results.

As much as I’d like to share the recipe with you fine folk, I’ve been sworn to secrecy. You’ll just have to wait until the cookbook hits the stands. But in the meantime, swing by Spiral Diner to find out why these Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies are such hot sellers!

And a shameless plug (for my non-local friends): check out my recent "Veggie Guy" adventures on the Dallas Observer’s City of Ate.

A Dallas Vegan in Miami

2009-08-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

Ok, so , I've been m.i.a. for a little while. Truth be told, me and the significant other just got back from vacay in sunny Miami! Miami is a large city with a wide variety of international cuisine, including a very diverse array of Latin and Carribean foods. After a bit of digging and some great tips from Lauren Reskin over at Meatless Miami, we had no problem finding some great vegan and vegan-friendly options.

Our Dallas Vegan in Miami adventure begins at the European Corner for a special arepa breakfast. These little venezuelan sandwiches were made to order for us with plantains and black beans. Served, of course, with an obligatory colada chaser.

Om Garden was "om"mazing (sorry I couldn't resist). Open just over one year, we found this restaurant's unique mix of raw and cooked vegan items really hit the spot. I mean, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Right?

Raw, chilled carrot coconut curry soup made with fresh carrot, ginger, cashew and coconut milk:

The Om Plate with your choice of 3, 4, or 5 raw appetizers. Pictured here are the Mystical Mushr-Oms, Seven Seas Seaweed Salad, and kale salad with orange peppers, carrot, and lemon dressing:

And, finally, the Rainbow Roll with carrot, beet, avocado, baby greens, cashew pate, mango, figs, and balsalmic syrup:

Pita Spice was falafel perfection. Say no more. 1049 Washington Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Ready.....

just wait.....

Oh, ya!

That's what I'm talking 'bout! Pita spice has quite possibly the best falafel I've had in my life!

The Cafe at Books & Books on scenic Lincoln Road in Miami Beach:

Not a completely vegan restaurant, extremely vegan friendly, but how would you ever guess?

Yummy avocado salsa, also known as guacamole, but if you stick home made chips like this on it, you can call it whatever you want as far as I'm concerned...

For entrees, one vegan fajita wrap and one vegan platter...

Next up, the United Kingdom's only Michelin-rated Chinese Restaurant -- Hakkasan by Adam Yau.

We ate at Yau's Miami outpost in the Fountainbleu hotel. Here are some highlights:

We started with dim sum appetizer (below), wild mushroom lettuce wraps, followed by hand-pulled noodles with wild mushrooms, tofu hot pot with luffa melon (below), stir-fried lotus root, lilly bud, and asparagus in black pepper sauce (below), and gai-lan with garlic sauce:

Unlike any other asian restaurant I have eaten at in my life, Jasmine rice is served a la carte (but I guess that should be expected from a Michelin-starred restaurant!).

Believe it or not, local Florida chain Pollo Tropical has some cheap vegan items like boiled yucca with garlic sauce, black beans and rice, and plantains! I could live on the stuff...

Lichi, the adorable "Plantain Girl"...

And, finally, I can't forget Jugo's, which has a huge selection of fresh squeezed juices, tropical fruits, and plantain chips fried on location:

5721 W Flagler St. Miami, FL 33144 in South Miami.

We really needed another week to sample all of South Florida's delicious vegan fare, and to lay on the beach and chill. Next time, we plan to visit the renowned Sublime restaurant in Fort Lauderdale (which, according to its website, 100% of its profits go to organizations that promote animal welfare), and Lifefood Gourmet, for gourmet raw food.

Amy’s Raw Chocolates – Official Launch Party

2009-08-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

On a recent night, I experienced a series of firsts. My first raw foods meetup, first taste of durian, and the first time I’ve been told that eating chocolates can be a good thing.

Speaking with Amy Hirsch at the official launch party for Amy’s Raw Chocolates, you know that there’s more to her story than just delicious tasting chocolates.

The strange looking (and tasting) durian

Amy’s transformation to chocolatier began with an insatiable craving for chocolate and other sweets (which is usually a good start). Unfortunately for Amy, simply eating the miscellaneous chocolate products available to her only temporarily satisfied these cravings. The processed, sugar filled candies were anything but a positive addition to her diet. Amy thought there surely was a way to get what she wanted, while at the same time giving her body what it needed.

The raw cacao bean – in and of itself, a fine nutritional food

So Amy started off making elixirs with David Favor’s Chocolate Bliss (something you can try for your self at the aptly named Bliss Raw Cafe) as a way to start incorporating more "healthy" chocolate into her diet. As she started experimenting more with raw chocolates, she began to look for more ways to incorporate chocolate into her daily life.

One thing Amy noticed was that as she experimented more with chocolate in her diet, her cravings for others sweet desserts diminished. Before long, a quick bite of her own chocolate creations was enough to circumvent any desire to consume a less healthy option.

Her first creations were yummy chocolate balls that she didn’t feel guilty eating (when was the last time you didn’t feel guilty eating chocolate?). It seems that may have been the impetus Amy needed to start offering her chocolates to others on a wider scale.

Raw Almond Bars and Super Brownie Truffles

Amy’s product list includes her Amy’s Passion, a decadent, rich chocolate that would satisfy even the most discriminating choco-fiend. Raw Almond Bars, as suggested by Amy’s father, are also available to the masses. Last but not least, the Super Brownie Truffles, which are packed with over 10 raw superfoods – enough to make me feel good about myself for eating chocolate for breakfast the last three days!...(she also offers a Raw Chocolate Crunch Bar that I did not get an opportunity to sample.)

While we hope they become offered on a wider scale at some point, for now Amy’s raw chocolates are available via her online store, as well as in person during her Dallas home office hours Fridays from 3-7.

Amy is yet another vegan purveyor we can all be proud of for being in Dallas! Amy…you rawk! (uggh, almost made it the entire post without the typical raw play on words.)

Amy’s Raw Chocolates

5833 Melshire Dr.

Dallas, TX 75230

(214) 236-5107

Tough Cookie Bakery: An Inside Look

2009-08-07T06:50:00.000-05:00

“Tolerance, compassion, and bravery—all qualities necessary to make someone a tough cookie—T-C-B…Tough Cookie Bakery.” That’s the motto that symbolizes this local company’s commitment to making the world a better place.

Freshly baked vegan muffins, cookies, pretzels, and cinnamon rolls — That’s what’s been keeping our friends at Tough Cookie Bakery busy little bakers these days.

Tough Cookie Bakery started their operation back in 2004, traveling the festival circuit in a trailer full of Bavarian style pretzels. The pretzels were a hit! So after years of juggling multiple jobs and baking on the road, Chris and Jennie McEwan ditched their corporate gigs (and the trailer) and decided to give this baking-for-a-living thing a shot.

Today, they’ve expanded their offerings and are now baking full-time out of a commercial bakery in Irving. Their vegan goods can be found at only the hippest shops around town. Crooked Tree Coffeehouse, The Green Spot, and The Pearl Cup all carry TCB items – and folks just can’t seem to get enough. Even Erykah Badu is known to swing by The Green Spot every now and then to pick up a few those oh-so-decadent vegan cinnamon rolls we all dream about. And who can blame her? (Hmm—I wonder if she’s also responsible for those empty trays at The Pearl Cup...)

Well, Erykah—maybe your next cinnamon roll will include a little love from me, too! Take a look at how the magic happens.

So what else do the Tough Cookie Bakers have up their sleeves? You can expect a line of gluten-free pastries, pizza crusts, pies, and artisan breads in the near future. But whatever these two baking fiends come up with next, you can guarantee the guys here at Dallas Vegan will keep you in the know.

Visit with the Tough Cookie Bakers at the White Rock Local Market this Saturday, August 8 to sample their current line of vegan baked goods.

And click HERE for more photos of the bakers in action!

Raw Fruit and Nut Bars

2009-07-31T06:30:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it, there are about a million kinds of health/energy/snack food bars on the market. I used to just get whatever sounded good, or was the cheapest. However, now that I’m more aware of the ingredients that go into the foods I purchase, I generally stay away from anything that has ingredients I can’t pronounce or can’t actually buy in the store individually (unless I’m just unaware of the COPPER GLUCONATE section).

That’s when I became a fan of Larabars and the new Baraka Bars. Their ingredients are simple and few. For instance, the “Cherry Pie” Larabar consists of dates, almonds, and cherries. That’s it. No preservatives, no additives – just real, live food.

So that got me thinking – if the ingredient list is so simple, how hard can it be to make on your own? Turns out – not hard at all!

I picked up my ingredients at Natural Grocers, an awesome store in Dallas near Coit and Campbell everyone should check out. Their raw bulk food selection is in cold storage for freshness, and the prices can’t be beat.

Not only are their prices great (1 lb of raw walnut pieces for $4), but their items are clearly marked with nutritional information, like these raw cacao nibs…

So, with that in mind, I share with you my first two Raw Fruit and Nut Bar creations – Chocolate Peanut and German Chocolate (I’m still working on some catchy names, let me know if you think of one).

German Chocolate (makes 2 bars)

1 tbsp unsweetened coconut
1 tbsp raw walnuts
1 tbsp raw cacao nibs
About 10 Halawi dates

Chocolate Peanut (makes 2 bars)

1 tbsp raw peanuts
1 tbsp raw cacao nibs
About 10 Medjool dates

Instructions
Mix in all ingredients in a food processor. Shape into rectangular bars (or squares, or balls, or…).

Nutritional Info
About 250 calories per bar, 100 calories from fat, 4 grams protein

My thoughts
First off, these were really quick and easy to make. I bought two kinds of dates because I wasn’t very familiar with the different varieties. The Medjool were a bit sweeter than Halawi, but they also cost about twice as much. Next time, I’ll probably use a combination of the two. The cacao nibs were fairly bitter, but it all came together quite nicely. The German Chocolate was my favorite, but the Chocolate Peanut was pretty good too.

I’d also suggest putting them in the freezer until you are ready to eat – they won’t freeze, but they’ll hold their shape better if you’re on-the-go.

Verdict
It probably cost about $10 for the ingredients I used and I could have easily made about 15 bars – so the price is definitely better than buying pre-made bars. It’s also easy to make up your own recipes – just use dates as the “binder” and have fun.

Your homework for the weekend?…give these recipes a try – or better yet – get your favorite ingredients and be creative! Just come back and let us know what you came up with.

-Jamey

India Palace

2009-07-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

Indian restaurants can be a refuge for vegan diners or they can be a nightmare, because of latent ingredients such as whipping cream, butter (ghee), and yogurt.

For years, India Palace has been an institution for fine Indian dining in Dallas. According to its website, India Palace has been named "Best Indian Restaurant" by the Dallas Observer for the past 12 years, and has garnered top rankings by several sources, including D Magazine, the Dallas Morning News, and the Zagat Survey. India Palace has been in its current location in a shopping center in North Dallas since 1985.

In light of its renowned reputation, I set off once again to determine whether India Palace offers similar options for vegan diners. Pardeep Sharma is the man behind India Palace. He is also responsible for the fast, casual spinoff, the Roti Grill. On each of my many visits to India Palace, Mr. Sharma's presence looms large--that is, if you can catch him. Not only does he greet customers, answer phones, and work the dining room, but he was also seen expediting orders from the kitchen on a busy night. With Sharma constantly on the pulse of this restaurant, it's no surprise why India Palace continues to pack the house.

On my latest visit, I spoke with Mr. Sharma and he clarified that India Palace does not use ghee in any of its dishes, which can be the most lethal ingredient for vegan diners. "No, we don't use any of that stuff -- only oil," said Sharma. He listed off a dozen other items on the menu that were vegan. "There is also no dairy in the Roti bread," he proclaimed.

While deliberating the many menu choices, guests are welcomed with a complementary plate of (vegan-friendly) pappadum which is a type of cracker made from lentil flour, along with a tray of dipping sauces-- tamarind, mint, and red pepper.

These traditional appetizers, along with the elegant decor, linen napkins, and formal table service, begin to distinguish India Palace from its competition, and from its fast, casual counterpart.

One of the most exciting focal points in the restaurant is the tandoor cooking station, which is just visible behind a open-kitchen type window. The tandoor is a cylindrical clay oven which is commonly used for cooking skewered meats and baking fresh naan and roti bread. Unfortunately, there are not many vegan options from the tandoor.

On this visit, I tried two vegetable dishes: the Bhindi Do Pyaza, okra cooked with diced onions and spices, and the Saag Channa (my check said without cream-I don't know if it comes standard with cream or not), spinach cooked with chick peas. The dishes are inherently suited for sharing, and intended to be eaten with basmati rice or scooped with bread baked from the tandoor, such as the vegan-friendly Roti bread. Both dishes were each complex in their own regard. This is not surprising since India Palace uses a blend of different spices for each one of its curries. Sharma himself could hardly differentiate the mixtures for each dish.

Bhindi Do Pyaza

Saag Channa

On a previous visit, I had the Channa Balti, which is a less well known dish representative of northwestern India. Balti-style dishes are both cooked and served in a cast iron pot (called the "balti"). Again, this dish is flavored with different spices including onion, garlic, ginger, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, fennel and mustard seeds.

While India Palace may set the bar for Indian cuisine in Dallas, I think the bar could be raised slightly higher with regard to their vegan-friendliness. Whereas the variety of vegan-friendly dishes may be noteworthy, it is hard to discern whether there are any plot spoilers among them.

I mentioned to Sharma that it would be extremely helpful for vegans if they could clarify on their menu with something as simple as a little "v," since there were apparently so many items which would be suitable for vegan diners, that would otherwise go under the radar. He acknowledged this with a nod, before moving on to the next order of business.

India Palace
12817 Preston Road #105
Dallas, TX 75230
972-392-0190

Wild About Harry's

2009-07-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

It’s true. Here at Dallas Vegan, we’re WILD about the fact that Wild About Harry’s offers veggie dogs! And we’ve done the research for y’all—they’re completely vegan…and wildly delicious!

Order your veggie dog Chicago style with yellow mustard, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, a single pickle spear, and a dash of celery salt. Don’t be alarmed by the neon green relish. That’s half the fun!

Or maybe try the New York. It’s loaded up with sauerkraut, diced onions, and spicy mustard. Add a little ketchup if you’re feeling rebellious. I did!

But if all those fixin's sound like more than your belly can handle, just order your dog plain and dress it up yourself. Heck—even top it off with your own personal stash of nooch. We won’t tell ;)

Wild About Harry's

3113 Knox St.

(214) 520-3113

Dallas Vegan

Avocado, Strawberry, and Grape Tomato Salad (Gluten-free, Soy-free)

Ingredients

Preparation

We've Moved!

Dallas Vegan Thanksgiving Holiday Guide

image courtesy Velo Steve

Holiday Meals To-Go

Spiral Diner (Dallas & Fort Worth)

Whole Foods (Various Locations)

Cafe Elite (Plano)

Holiday Meals Dine-in

Kalachandji’s (Dallas)

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

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

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

Texas State Veggie Fair Wrap-up

Texas State Veggie Fair - October 16th - Details!

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

Cafe Elite in Plano - First Look

Fried Inspiration – Vegan Fried, Fried Rice

Dallas Vegan Drinks - September

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

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?

Protest Week in Dallas!

Vote for Dallas Favs in 2010 VegNews Veggie Awards

Vegan BBQ! MFA Launch Party This Saturday (FREE)

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

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

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

Get thee to pizza LOUNGE tomorrow night for Dallas Vegan Drinks

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

MFA Exposes Dairy Cow Abuse in Ohio

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

Support World Week for Animals in Laboratories

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!

Earth Day Events This Weekend - Ben Shaberman and MFA

Dallas Vegan Drinks – This Thursday, April 8th!

MFA Benefit concert – This Friday, March 26th

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 22nd

Whole Foods at Park Lane - Cupcake Bar

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 15th

Whole Foods Sneak Preview

A Dallas Vegan in NYC

assorted chocolate truffles

Garden Blend burrito and Brooklyn Brewery beer

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Bomb, Key Lime Cheesecake, Death by Chocolate

Porcini crusted seitan with garlic-shallot-potato mash

So what about Dallas?

Dallas Vegan Weekly – March 8th

Great events happening this week in Dallas. Check it out…

Have an event you would like featured here? Email us: events@dallasvegan.com

Vegetarian Leafleting Outside Jay-Z Concert

Vegan Drinks - Rescheduled for Thursday, Feb 18th

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Vegan Bake Sale for Haiti Relief

Reminder - Dallas Vegan Drinks This Thursday

What is Vegan Drinks?

Brendan Brazier Seminars at Central Markets next week

Green Tomatoes (without meat, dairy, or Kathy Bates)

Chanukah Potato Latkes

Holiday Reds

Whole Foods' Faux Chicken

Shh...

Re: Who wants to join a CSA?

Who wants to join a CSA?

Dog & Kitty City Annual Holiday Raffle

Vegan Drinks November – This Thursday, 11/12

Celebration Restaurant

This Week in Dallas

Spiral Diner Cookbook: Sweet Potato Pie

Are Pixy Stix Sandwiches Vegan?

LUSH Holiday Collection 2009

Veg-Head of the Week: Mia Bissette

Unhealthy Arlington? Not so fast…

“What’s The Point Of A Meat-Filled Life? or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Eat A Vegan Diet”

Dallas Vegan Drinks - October 2009

Veg-Head of the Week: Dianna Wike

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

Have an event you would like featured here?
Email us: events@dallasvegan.com

photos courtesy of http://www.mercyforanimals.org*