January 2010
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New Year Resolutions, for vegans!
In the spirits of ringing in the new year (WOOOO NEW YEAR WHAT WHAT IN THE BUTT) and reflection and improvement, we Vegansaurs are sharing our new year’s resolutions with you, dear readers. It can be easy to forget that there’s more to being vegan than abstaining from animal products, so we’ve looked really, really hard into our routines, habits, and patterns for ways to do...
December 2009
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Review: Gardein Buffalo Wings!
Because I’m Canadian, I got in on the Gardein craze a little before most of you Yankees, as the Great White North had that shizz a full year or more before the US of A. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I know my stuff when it comes to pea-protein-based fake meat, so let me lay on you my review of Gardein’s latest oeuvre, Buffalo Wings!
There are a couple schools of...
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Vegansaurus Quickie: Washington, DC!
I couldn’t go back to the east coast and not make a trip to DC. So, gosh darn it, that’s what I did! I only had time for a 24-hour whirlwind visit but of course I had time to go to Sticky Fingers! You may have heard of the all-vegan bakery in D.C., as certain Vegansaurs are a wee bit obsessed!!! with the place. There’s even an interview with the creator of their cute (badger?)...
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United, we make vegan shoes
Why am I the last to know about everything?! Many months ago, everyone’s favorite Brazilian shoe brand, Melissa, joined forces with fashion punk queen Vivienne Westwood. Awesomeness ensued! These fly-ass vegan heels are on sale over at Zappos Couture for $125. I’m not mad at them!
In other shoe partnerships, some dude, Christian Siriano who I guess was on Project Runway did a line...
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Encuentro!
Encuentro, a new vegetarian restaurant in Jack London Square, is a pretty modern, minimalist space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and corner wood tables create a hip ambiance. I went with two other people, and a quasi-filling lunch for us cost $30 (which is a bargain, especially compared to its creator’s flagship Millennium in SF). Note that the menu is not entirely vegan—many dishes...
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I Love the Noughties: A Vegan Decade in Review
If you had to pick a single word for vegan in the ’00s, it would be “mainstream,” as we watched veganism get wrestled away from the Birkenstocks-and-hemp set. Celebrity vegans and vegan fashion changed the public face of a movement that had been left for dead, and the food came along for the ride, with cupcakes and melty cheese pizza replacing granola. We even went political,...
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Grading the government, loving lemons, saving...
The Humane Society gives the Obama Administration a B- for animal protection, based on the Change Agenda for Animals the HSUS set at the beginning of 2009. The full report is in this pdf.
Every country is crazy and racist in its own way: in Japan, you can buy a box of tissues shaped like a bucket of KFC “chicken” with Obama styled as Col. Sanders and emblazoned with the English word...
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Recipe!: Vegan Gingerbread House!
This year I forced the fam to make vegan gingerbread houses. Shweet! My family is super into holiday fun-times like these. We made mini houses so that everyone could decorate their own. I don’t like sharing! Mine is the minimalist (by comparison) one on the left, my mom’s is the fancy one in the center gentrifying the neighborhood with its thatched roof (made with shredded wheat!),...
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Interview: J.T. Yost!
J.T. Yost is a cartoonist and portrait artist. His book Old Man Winter, which won the prestigious Xeric grant, features a mix of humorous and heartbreaking stories, animal rights-related and otherwise. Another, considerably lighter work of his is the minicomic “Tales of Good Ol’ Snoop Doggy Dogg,” a book filled predominantly with comics based on dreams Yost has had about...
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Recipe: Vegan Pop Tarts!
If you’re like me, or any vegan I know really, one of the things you’re constantly lamenting not being able to eat is Pop Tarts! Well, here’s a recipe that might just rock your world like it did mine! No, seriously.
This recipe makes six generous-sized Pop Tarts; however, considering the time I put into making these, I would suggest doubling or tripling the recipe (particularly...
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NYC: Viva Herbal Pizzeria!
The pizza at NYC’s Viva Herbal Pizzeria is so good, I would brave a blizzard for it, which is exactly what I did last Saturday. As 13 inches were falling from the sky, I managed to finish off two huge slices of vegan pie at this kosher, vegetarian-menu-only spot on the Lower East Side. And when I say HUGE, I mean the size-of-your-head big. With plenty of exotic, fresh, vegan options, this place is...
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A vegan dinner party from Bon Appetit magazine
Check it out! A friend sent us some scans of an article in the January 2010 issue of Bon Appetit—it’s a vegan dinner party, with pretty pictures and recipes! AWESOME.
Would anyone like some cake? How about cake on the beach?
On the menu Guacamole with basil and shallots Fried sunchoke chips with rosemary salt Pan-seared polenta with spicy tomato-basil sauce Quick-sauteed kale with...
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Product Review: Peanut Chews!
Peanut motherlovin’ chews. They are MY JAM. They’re a chocolate-and-peanut candy from a Philly company and they are delicious. Falling under the accidentally vegan category, they are enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. I grew up on these! They were my big brother’s favorite candy, and as he’s the first-born male and no cares what girls think (what about MY needs,...
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Holiday Nog-in! Vegans need to enter!
There is a Nog-In (which is more of a holiday nog-off because there will be a winner! with prizes! I think!) on Sunday, Dec. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fabric8 in SF. We want a vegan to win this piece! If you think your nog has what it takes to reign supreme, email them to enter! Remember, the secret to any delicious nog is just a shitload of booze. Also maybe a couple of twenties. And it might help...
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The 13 Cutest Animals of 2009: The Ultimate... →
Aww, Videogum! Vegansaurus loooooves Videogum, and today, Vgum loves us back. Huuuugs, you guys!!
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Sell your crap, help animals!
I know you, you are full of crap! So’s your house! Junk everywhere! Junk you don’t need! Genius idea: sell it on ebay! But do it through Out to Pasture’s eBay store. When you do, 10 percent of the sale goes to the Out to Pasture Sanctuary, an animal refuge for abused and neglected farm animals in Oregon. You get rid of shit you don’t need and the piggies get food and...
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Vegan action alert: Solano County SPCA needs help...
Hey Vegansaurus readers! Eve at the SF Appeal calls our attention to a serious situation at the Solano County SPCA! On Thursday, Dec. 17, 83 puppies were rescued from California Pets & Supply in Dixon, which appears to have been a front for a pretty big puppy mill operation. The shelter presently has 100 total dogs and puppies from that rescue operation, some as young as six weeks old, and is...
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Frantic rationalizer alert!
[Ed. note: please also read this lighter-on-the-swears response from Vegansaurus pal Tim.]
Hey guys! You’ll never guess what! Didja know? Plants have feelings!!! Yet another New York Times fuckface has come out of the woodwork this holiday season to rationalize her lack of dietary ethics and consistency. Citing many of the admittedly complex and impressive defense mechanisms plants possess,...
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Alyssa Milano transforms herself into "Jersey...
Alyssa Milano, who we think is vegan (though not even Google knows the right answer! why can’t we ever tell with actresses! I guess it just depends on what diet their trainers has them on) but who is definitely a vegetarian and friend to animals, just did a video for Funny or Die about what would happen if she were to become a guidette on the new MTV show “Jersey Shore.” It...
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Recipe: Vegan Nutballs!
They are similar to Mexican wedding cookies and Russian tea cakes but at my house, we call them nutballs. The other difference is that these are so amazingly awesome and all the other powdered sugar lookalike cookies are gross or just bland. This recipe is passed down from my grandma and these are my favorite Christmas cookies EVER. Now, my friends, I am sharing this special recipe with you...
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Cute Kucinich Alert!
We already love Dennis Kucinich and he keeps getting more lovable. According to an interview he did (somehow - I don’t know how this shit works) with reddit, Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio, durr) would force the entire population of the US to eat vegan brownies if he were made supreme dictator for a day. Yes, this is the kind of terrible joylessness we’d all have to look forward to if a vegan...
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Recipe: Veggie fries!
Recipe review spoiler alert: these were a huge hit for dinner last night. Both Jordan,14, and Jon Alex, eight, gave the veggie fries two thumbs up and the okay sign while chewing with their mouths full. (They are presented here as tofu crisps, but no way in hell would they have tried anything called “tofu crisps”) Eight-month-old Ehren, full from his lunch of macaroni and applesauce,...
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Dane with a mission
One of my favorite dogs on twitter is @Mozartdane. Yes there are dogs on twitter and yes I have a favorite one. Why is Mozart my favorite? Because he’s an amazing artist! Mozart is a puppy mill rescue dog who now lives at the Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue in Ohio and it’s there where he discovered his love of painting. Mozart sells his paintings on his website and all proceeds go to the dog...
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New Vegan Food Truck on Dolores Park: Sunny...
Oh snap, a new food truck called Sunny Vibrations just had their grand opening today on Dolores Park, parked at 20th between Dolores and Church. And it’s GOOD and vegan, and the prices are reasonable. If you’re like me and live or work nearby, or if you’re a sunny day Dolores beach tourist, then this is the elusive five dollar lunch you’ve been searching for. They’re...
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RANT: Climate change, Copenhagen, and why vegans...
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard something about the climate conference in Copenhagen this week. The media declared it a failure before the conference even started, but leaders from all over the world are, at the time of this writing, still meeting to figure out how to stop the world from drowning/boiling to death. They may have even reached a meaningful...
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I've never heard of fried owl
The science world was in a tizzy last week as a new study was published about the veined octopus, a.k.a. the coconut octopus. Turns out these guys will collect coconut shells and use them as little shelters. OMG SO CUTE. This would make the octopus the first known instance of an invertebrate animal to use tools!
I happen to love octopuses because they are one of the smartest animals on earth!...
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Rest stops for beavers, delicious trichinosis,...
Vegan Tamale Fest at Papalote on Saturday!!!! Yes! That’s tomorrow, Dec. 19, beginning at 11 a.m. at the 3409 24th St. at Valencia Street location. Bay Area vegans, you are obligated to show up and eat as many tamales as you possibly can. Then, buy more to take home and freeze. Where there’s demand, there’ll be supply!
Wir liebe euch, beavers! Berlin cares about its...
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First annual Vegan Tamale Fest at Papalote's...
Vegansaurus already loves Papalote, and with the news of the first annual Vegan Tamale Fest, the love, it is growing. As Broke-ass Stuart points out, there are tons of confirmed attendees on Facebook. B-AS also says something about vegans farts stinking but I think that might be something about vegans having regular bowel movements because of the healthy food we eat. Lots of omnis are so fucked-up...
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Vegansaurus Last-Minute (totally selfless!)...
It’s down to the wire, folks. If you’re anything like me, you’ve left your holiday stuff to the last minute (though, to be fair, you had the best of intentions and meant to get started in September), and now you’re faced with the seven-day holiday insanity challenge. Well, friends, I am here to help. Here it is, the Vegansaurus Last-Minute Holiday Gift-O-Rama!
1. Signed...
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A Vegan Etsy Christmas
Etsy has many vegan items for sale but guess what, they also have a whole vegan section (go over to vegweb.com for a chance to win a VeganEtsy grab bag!)! Their motto is, “we read ingredients” which is great because I HATE READING. So just for you, I searched all through this section to find some lovely Christmas gifts! Yay, I’m the best! Whether you are looking for presents for your favorite...
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Mission Street Food: Vegan Night
I just got back from MSF’s vegan night, and I think it’s safe to call it a success. The food was great, every table was filled, and even the meatmouths seemed to be enjoying themselves. Well done, no hard feelings, and let’s make this a monthly affair, okay?
Our table ordered three rounds of vegan burgers on flatbread (with tangy shaved fennel), the broccoli rabe, the roasted...
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The poor vegan’s guide to eating raw and organic...
As an early 20-something living in the Mission, working for just above minimum wage at a peace nonprofit in East Bay, balancing my drive to be an ethical consumer while adhering to a hella tight budget can be a real challenge. To avoid breaking the bank, I often bypass expensive bars, shops, concerts, clothing stores in favor of free or inexpensive local shows, lectures, art openings, meditation...
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Chestnuts Roasting in My Oven
That makes it sound like I’m preggers, but it’s not a euphemism! I roasted my own chestnuts and it was easy-peasy. Now you can do the same! This is a nice activity because unlike all the dead animal-based holiday traditions, this one is totally vegan! So you can make all your non-vegan family and friends join in because we all know how omnivores love (to cling blindly to) traditions! I first...
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Recipe For a Cold Winter's Night: Moosewood's...
Risotto is so fucking great. It’s the best food. It’s hearty like a casserole, gluten-free, and you can throw basically anything into it and it tastes great. It’s my new favorite thing; I had such a great time making the pumpkin apple risotto from Bust magazine (recipe in the Oct./Nov. 2009 issue) for Laura’s thanksgiving potluck, that all I want to do now is throw...
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VEGAN COMEBACKS! by Noah and Amanda
Sometimes you have to deal with stubborn meat-eaters who want nothing other than to lull you back to the dark side with promises of charbroiled cow anus and bacon flavored chicken dick. What follows is a template for a conversation with a stubborn Meat Nazi that you can use as a reference if ever you need a snappy vegan comeback!
Asswipe: You’re a vegan? So you’re some fruity little malnourished...
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Gather is a fancy-ass new restaurant in Berkeley...
Millennium, you just can’t stop. And we don’t want you to. Hot on the heels of Eric Tucker’s Encuentro, another Millennium chef, Sean Baker, opens Gather in Berkeley. It’s stated on the site that the restaurant will always be 50 percent omni (read: meaty meat) and 50 percent vegetarian—so what, 25 percent vegan? Not bad for the obnoxious bougie eating scene in the...
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Recipe: Ebelskiver!
When drooling through my (food) pornographic William’s Sonoma catalog, something caught my eye. I knew I had to have it. That something was an ebelskiver filled-pancake pan. Did I blow $40 on a specialty item I would rarely use? HELL YES I DID. And it was SO fucking worth it.
What are ebelskiver, you wonder? Well, they’re pancake puffs filled with compote, essentially. The pretty...
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Mission Street Food Offers Olive Branch Sans Pork...
Should we take credit for this? If you recall, two weeks ago Laura called out Mission Street Food for serving pork on a night when their proceeds would be donated to vegetarian food organization Food Not Bombs (oops!). A discussion ensued in the comments, with Anthony, the man behind Mission Street Food, chiming in, saying the pork was donated, the chef picked the charity and in addition, a few...
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Recipe: Yummy Biscuit Coffee Cake
Hello hello! Here we have a delicious coffee cake that borrows a simple biscuit recipe for the batter. Yum!
I love coffee cake and this has that soda-biscuit flavor that reminds me of the old country. It’s also super-quick and easy to make! Pro tip: it actually goes just as good with tea as it does with coffee. So versatile! Ingredients Cake 2 cups flour 1 Tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp...
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New Restaurant Review: Green Papaya Vegetarian...
Green Papaya, an ALL-VEGAN THAI RESTAURANT in downtown Berkeley, opened this week. Upon walking in, one might feel as if he or she is in the center of a fresh papaya, with long walls freshly painted green and pink curtains.
Glancing at the shiny flat screen pasted on the wall, I thought we were in a Supreme Master joint, but then I saw BEER. The menu was super-cute, with appetizers billed as...
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Vegan Sausage and Butter Bean Winter Cocottes
This recipe is my current favorite cold weather comfort recipe, and it came together by accident. It started with a sale on Le Creuset* mini cocottes, loosely translated as “tiny and adorable cast iron baking pot”. “Cocotte” is also an old-timey word for “high-class prostitute”, and when these pots come out of the oven, you’ll feel like a cooking pimp....
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Ecorazzi Lists Top 5 Animal Rights Victories of...
Ecorazzi listed their top 5 animal rights victories of the year! They included California’s SB 135, which made tail docking illegal. Pretty exciting stuff!
Though the list is a bit premature, no? You totally still have 20 days to save polar bears and stuff. GET ON THAT, SLACKERS!
Image: Flickr/JelleS, via Creative Commons
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Product Review: Rising Moon Organics Vegan...
These gooey, delicious pillows of pasta from Rising Moon Organics are totally vegan! HUZZAH! I’m obsessed with this stuff. It cooks in an easy five minutes and makes a filling meal. And check it out, zero grams of fat and three grams of fiber per serving—shweet!
I’ve tried Rising Moon raviolis in the past and I didn’t like them that much. I think it had more to do with...
