vegansaurus!
01/12/2012
Divino, the restaurant that replaced Fellini, posts menu »
So, we loved Berkeley’s Fellini but it’s long gone so we just have to go get used to that and get over it—which is very hard for us as WE HATE CHANGE. Anyway, the replacement, Divino, has posted their menu and it looks like a bunch of slow food hoo-hah but I’m thankful they’ll still have some vegan options, and the brunch looks especially good.
I don’t know, I love that they still have vegan pizza but I’m bummed that it’s all made with fancy grilled vegetables and not ten pounds of vegan meat. I loved that Smiling Cow pizza—that stuff was ridic! But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, maybe the roasted kumquat and tutti di frutti will be delicious?? I’m willing to give it a shot! Maybe this will finally be the amazingly authentic vegan Italian food that we’re missing in this area? Maybe they’ll make a gnocchi to rival Portland’s Portobello? Maybe I’ll win the lottery and ditch you all to yacht around the world with Jay-Z, Beyonce, and little Jay-Z-Beyonce? THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.
I don’t think they’re open yet but people have been seen inside doing tastings but we don’t care about them because they’re not us. Anyone tried anything yet?? Anyone excited about them opening?? WHAT’S THE WORD LET’S EAT!
Thanks Jennifer Chen for the heads-up!
∞ posted at 09:46 by laurahooperb 
12/30/2011
I’m really craving a Cinnaholic roll right now (as I’m wont to do, as they’re DELICIOUS) and so I’m extra feeling this vegan zombie/Cinnaholic video which is adorable and SPOOKY and extra delicious. Check out all those flavor syrups — I totally would’ve mixed them all together to make one mega-flavor. Fuck it, it’s a zombie apocalypse—we’re all gonna die, time to go a little crazy.
It’s late and I’m a little drunk so that’s what with all the swearing. CINNAMON ROLLS 4 LYFE! GOOD NIGHT!
∞ posted at 18:39 by laurahooperb
12/07/2011
Zachary’s Pizza is offering VEGAN PIZZA! Oh, hell yes! »
Just got an email from the AWESOME Leandra at Zachary’s and she says this re: their new vegan pizza (!!!!):
I am following up with our email conversation WAY back in August 2010 to let you know we are now offering a vegan pizza. Our WHEAT stuffed and thin crusts are now vegan, and we offer Daiya mozz-style vegan cheese. The changes are not yet updated on our website, but should soon. I wanted to let you be one of the first to know! Thank you for reaching out to us.
You guys! This is such awesome, huge news! And how cute and great and smart and funny is Leandra!? Zachary’s, I’m coming home.
Eating at Zachary’s is the first experience with Chicago-style deep-dish pizza that pretty much anyone who grew up in the S.F. Bay Area had. Because of that, it’s always held a huge slice (ha!) of my fatty, vegan-pizza-loving heart! And I remember it tasting SO DAMN GOOD. Oh! Once, I even saw Blossom eating there! BLOSSOM! I am telling you, so many memories, so much deliciousness. This is a historic day, indeed!
Let us all take a moment to reflect on the fact that just a few years ago, the only option for vegan pizza in the Bay Area was NO OPTION. Now, we’ve got millions! Or at least five. We’ve come a long way, baby. I hope everyone, not just vegans, give this Zachary’s vegan pizza a shot because it’s sure to be hella tasty and also not filled with cholesterol and milkfat. Seriously, join us on the vegan side! We’ve got pizza! And it won’t kill you!
Let’s all go and support them and then maybe, JUST MAYBE, we’ll have enough vegan pizzas in the Bay Area to have a VEGAN PIZZA TASTE-OFF. WTF, life is awesome. Thank you, Zachary’s!!
Oh, maybe one day they’ll try a Teese-and-Daiya mix on the pizzas? Because that’s my favorite. BUT I’M NOT PICKY! (lie.) Just putting it out there, spit-balling with the universe, seeing what could happen. Until then, I will eat this Daiya-riffic pie with abandon!
∞ posted at 12:45 by laurahooperb
12/01/2011
Potala Organic opened in Albany (Calif., right next to Berkeley!) and it’s definitely worth checking out. Several times. And then again. It’s from the former chef at Oakland’s Shangri-La Vegan and the healthy, hearty fare reflects that. Seriously, if you feel disgusting after Thanksgiving because you’re awesome and gave it your fatty all, detox at Potala!
∞ posted at 12:47 by laurahooperb
11/26/2011
Happy Thanksgiving from the Monica of the Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy! She sent us this photo of their annual Thanksliving feast (sorry! I can’t read!) her family’s Thanksgiving feast, where they ate roasted root vegetables with sage butter, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, stuffing, Gardein, cranberry sauce, green beans with almonds, potato leek soup, pumpkin pie, apple and persimmon crumble, and apple spice cider.
What a spread!
∞ posted at 08:59 by seriousmeaveness 
11/18/2011
It’s your daily Thanksgiving preview! This is a photo of reader Jon’s first vegan Thanksgiving, which he celebrated at Berkeley’s Cloyne Court. He had an amazing time, which he recounted for us in detail—the phrase “more than enough mash for a baby to drown in” appears—go read it and have your heart warmed! And your appetite whetted!
∞ posted at 11:02 by seriousmeaveness
11/15/2011
Everyday is Earth Day when you are vegan, so represent! »
Karine Brighten is looking for vegans to represent at her second annual Berkeley Vegan Earth Day event. Got a film you want to show? Something to say? She is now taking submissions! You should participate, because you are smart and sexy, which means peeps wants to hear what you have to say. I know I do!
∞ posted at 13:03 by jennybradley 
11/14/2011
Thanksgiving 2011: Where to eat outside of your home in the S.F. Bay Area! »
We love cooking! But maybe you don’t! Or you find a huge Thanksgiving dinner way too much work. That’s OK! Here is a list of places you can celebrate your Thanksgiving, at restaurants or homes. You can volunteer to work and eat for free, or bring a dish to a potluck, or just show up, eat yourself silly, and roll on home. So many options!
What’s the difference between this and our earlier post on vegan Thanksgiving celebrations? These are happening in the SF Bay Area! We’ll add to this list as we get more information, so please, send us tips!
We also have a list of places to buy your dinner to take home, and where to get delicious baked goods like pies! Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, Nov. 16BerkeleyThanksliving at U.C. BerkeleySee our earlier post for details!10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
San RafaelMarin Vegan Drinks Does Thanksgiving!Sampling Tofurky, $1 vegan cupcakes, $5 drink special is a Spiced/Spiked Cider.6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19PetalumaNorth Bay vegan Thanksgiving potluck!Bring a dish to share! Mulled spiced cider provided6:30 p.m.
Every day until Thanksgiving Golden Era is offering a three-course vegan special (but they’re closed on actual Thanksgiving!)
Thursday, Nov. 24Berkeley, San Francisco, San RafaelFree Thanksgiving meal at Cafe GratitudeContact the three participating locations to volunteer (they need servers, bartenders, dishwashers, line cooks, and opening and closing crew), or call (415) 824.4652.noon to 3 p.m.
Menlo ParkRaw vegan Thanksgiving food partyHosted by Elizabeth and Charlie of Bay Area Vegetarians; RSVP required.noon
San FranciscoBAV Vegan Thanksgiving CelebrationHosted by Kim and Jamie; RSVP required.2 to 5 p.m.
San FranciscoFive-course Thanksgiving dinner at MillenniumReservations no longer taken, but first-come, first serve places available at the barContact Millennium for more information at (415) 345.3900, ext. 10.2 to 6 p.m. [time is for bar seating only]
San FranciscoPlant Cafe at Pier 3/the EmbarcaderoTwo $60 prix fixe menus, one “traditional” with turkey, and one vegan!Contact Plant Cafe for details via email, or call (415) 984.1973. Reservations required.3 to 9 p.m.
San FranciscoVegan Thanksgiving at Source, including pumpkin spice snowballs by our Jenny Bradley!Contact Source via email, or call (415) 864.9000 for details/reservations.
Saturday, Nov. 26San RafaelPost-Thanksgiving Vegan Food PartyHosted by Alicia of BAV; RSVP required.3 to 6 p.m.
Anywhere in the Bay Area, throughout the four-day weekend!Want to host a vegan Thanksgiving with BAV pals? Contact Tammy of BAV to volunteer!
[photo by Emilie Hardman via Flickr]
∞ posted at 09:20 by seriousmeaveness
11/04/2011
The Berkeley Student Food Collective is throwing their third annual Harvest Gala this month! On Friday, Nov. 18, to be precise, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the David Brower Center in Berkeley! BSFC member Mina wrote us about it, which we appreciate because certain of us (me), being olds (me), had never heard of it.
Mina explains that the BSFC “is a student-run collective that bases the sale of all of its products on four principles: environmentally sound, humane, fair trade, and community-based. We carry mostly vegan (and entirely vegetarian) products and we also have a bakery and kitchen that produce vegan and vegetarian food daily. We are entirely volunteer-run and a nonprofit organization. All of our produce is local (within 250 miles), seasonal, and organic. All of the products we carry must meet at least one of the four standards I listed above.”
Awesome, right? I love co-ops and collectives. I first found true grocery-shopping happiness when I was buying vegan chocolate cake at the Davis Food Co-op (who’s joining the commune?). My inane nostalgia aside, the Berkeley Student Food Collective sounds delightful, and their gala this year is celebrating their first anniversary at their storefront (at 2440 Bancroft Way, No. 102) (in Berkeley, duh). It’s going to be awesome, with hors d’œuvres and a four-course meal and music and guests and drinks, hooray! Tickets are $50 for the full night, $25 for half the night, and you should buy yours before they sell out!
Harvest celebrations! Vegan meals! Vegetarian grocery collectives! Earnest college students! There really isn’t anything better than fall!
OK there’s way to improve it: Mina, who is in charge of pastry and dessert production, says they just tested a vegan carrot cake bite recipe that they’ll be selling in the store next week—this week, perhaps?—and it is delicious. Consider your Nov. 18 planned!
∞ posted at 09:39 by seriousmeaveness
10/18/2011
Vegucated screening tickets: We have winners! »
Thank you so much for participating! And thank you for all the movie recommendations, there were lots of good ideas.
And now for a movie you all want to see: Vegucated! For the Berkeley screenings, congratulations commenters Woog and Caroline Miazgowicz. For SF, commenters Tierny, meowberto, and tofupuppy! Please contact Karine Brighten to collect your tickets!
Everyone can purchase tickets for the Berkeley screening on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the David Brower Center here, and for the San Francisco screening on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Victoria Theater here.
Karine Brighten is looking for volunteers at both screenings as well! If you volunteer, you get free access to the screening and reception. Awesome! Contact Ms. Brighten to volunteer!
Thanks to everyone who entered, and to Karine for offering the tickets!
∞ posted at 15:07 by seriousmeaveness
