vegansaurus!

Guest post: the Hodo Soy Beanery tour!

There are three main reasons I was pumped when I found out that Hodo Soy Beanery in Oakland offers tours of their factory: 1. I eat a lot of tofu, and I like to know how stuff I eat is made; 2. I’ve been playing with the idea of making my own tofu and goma dofu (sesame seed tofu) at home and wanted to see a larger version of the process in action; and 3. My favorite part of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was when he’d go to some factory to see how backpacks or pencils are made—and this was my chance to experience that thrill live! So last Wednesday, my childhood friend from Boston, Ivy, and I headed out to Oakland to see how beans become that curd we all love.

A little background: Hodo was co-founded by a former investment banker, Minh Tsai, and his brother-in-law Dean Ku back in 2004. They noticed a gaping hole in the tofu market: freshness. In Asia, tofu is meant to be eaten the day it’s made—not packaged in shrink wrap and refrigerated for weeks. They sold their homemade soy products at farmers’ markets, became very popular, and decided to open a factory in October 2009. They don’t ship very far to maintain freshness; you can buy it at Whole Foods and Rainbow, and they sell to super-fancy restaurants—like Coi and the Slanted Door—in the Bay Area. Also, John Scharffenberger is the CEO. Um, random.

Our tour started in an adorable little room with one wall covered in curtains, where our group of 10 visitors were greeted by two staff members and tiny espresso cups of warm soy milk. The milk tasted more like liquid tofu and not very much like the Silk or Edensoy we all know. My friend and I weren’t fans (although she did down hers ‘cause she felt bad), but I can see how some may find it soothing and very clean-tasting. We then watched a video narrated by Mr. Tsai explaining the history of the factory and the details of the tofu-making process. Then they opened the curtain to reveal the extremely clean—and surprisingly small—factory floor.

[can’t see the video? watch it at vegansaurus.com!]

I was a little sad that we didn’t get to actually go on the factory floor, but you really could see everything from the windows and I totally get that they don’t want us nasty outsiders sneezing in their tofu. Our very friendly guide, Rachel (who knew all about Vegansaurus!), explained what every part of the factory did, including the “soy milk cow” (gross?) and the yuba station. Apparently, all their machinery was made by one of the oldest tofu equipment manufacturers in China.

Yuba is the skin that forms on top of the milk—and no, it’s not gross like the shit on old pudding or gravy. Hodo meticulously lifts each sheet of yuba and hangs it to dry on a rack (the ones that day were being lifted by a cheerful fellow named Binky, or something equally awesome, who wore giant headphones and jammed to his tunes as he worked). I’d never had yuba before, but my Chinese/Japanese friend remembered her childhood experience of it as “soapy/watered-down tofu” that she would only force down if her parents doused it in soy sauce and chili oil. But she agreed with me that Hodo’s yuba was frickin’ goooood. Delicate but kinda chewy, and very tasty! We got a whole table’s worth of samples to try, and I had to stop myself from being THAT GUEST and snarfing down the whole plate myself.

We also learned about nama yuba, which is apparently like the vegan version of Burrata cheese, and is a fresh, non-dried version of yuba. It’s not able to be mass-produced, so that shit’s only available to fancy people in fancy restaurants.

Our table o’ soy was adorned with everything from curry-marinated fried tofu chunks to braised firm tofu, spicy yuba strips (holy moly SO GOOD), and hijiki tofu salad, among others. Everything was great and totally made up for not being allowed to get all Mister Rogers on them. There were products that we could purchase, both food and clothing (like t-shirts that said “Who’s your Tofu Master?” and fab hats my friend described as “totally commie Mao with railroad engineer stripes”). We opted for just food and brought home several containers to continue our soy journey later.

While our experience at Hodo was yummy and informative, an aspect of their practices did bug me. The factory produces a massive amount of okara-–bean pulp that’s left over when the soy puree is filtered during the tofu-making process. While some people do eat it in stews or in veggie burgers, the demand is not high enough for Hodo to actually package it for distribution. So they donate it to Magruder Ranch in Mendocino to use as feed. Magruder raises “sustainable” meat in the form of lambs, cows, and heirloom pigs (cause, you know, the fourth most intelligent species on the planet is the same thing as a tomato). They even offer “bucolic weekend getaways” on their death farm, bitchin’ butchering workshops, and “happy” little videos on their Facebook fan page of piglets with their mom-–before they become the subjects of those workshops! SCORE!

I know that Hodo is not a vegan company-–they are just accidentally vegetarian. But I still needed to ask them about their choice of okara beneficiary, since I assume the majority of their customer base is vegetarian, vegan, or at least appreciative of that lifestyle. I asked them why they didn’t donate their feed to a local produce farm for compost instead. They said that they’re in discussion with some farms right now to do that, and that they have so much okara that there is plenty to go around. Perhaps I wimped out, but I didn’t feel that the environment was appropriate to start a heated debate, but I do intend to write to them to encourage them to reconsider their practice, and I think it’d be great if fellow vegans joined me. I understand that to Hodo it’s just waste that they are finding a practical way to dispose of, but it’s also indirectly supporting a meat ranch by helping it spend less money on feed. It would behoove them to consider the demographic that is purchasing their product, and, if nothing else-–even if they don’t care about the ethical implications of their actions—at least see the gesture of giving to a produce farm as a great marketing opportunity. Wouldn’t a vegan or vegetarian feel better about purchasing something without any connection to the meat industry?

I definitely do recommend the tour. I think it’s super-important to know where your food comes from, and having the opportunity to actually see it is pretty rare. Plus, the more vegans that show up and voice their opinion on Hodo’s okara donation practices, the more likely it is they will change them. I don’t believe Hodo is some evil meat-industry supporter—I think that they haven’t looked at what they are doing from a different angle. And what are we vegans good at if not changing someone’s perspective?

Vi Zahajszky left her motherland of Hungary as a child and has spent most of her life in Boston and New York. Two years ago she drove across the country to San Francisco with husband Chris Carlozzi and a rescue pup named The Bandit. Here, among other things, she’s studying fashion design and pattern-making, and has plans to develop a vegan clothing line. Also, she’s enjoying no blizzards. Photo enhancing and video editing by Chris Carlozzi.

No Worries (vegan Filipino food! Act like ya heard!) Pre-Grand Opening Events THIS WEEK!

No Worries is finna open and beforehand, they’re doing it up with tons of food and cooking demos! Hell yeah! For a suggested donation of ten bucks, you get a plate of vegan Filipino food AND a cooking demo with head chef Jay-Ar Isagani Pugao at their restaurant (1442 Franklin St. in Oakland).

There are four events this week: two on Wednesday, Aug. 25 (that’s tomorrow!) from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., and two on Friday, Aug. 27, from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.! You can walk in but it’s prolly best to keep it classy and RSVP. BTW, when you RSVP, you’re emailing a dude named Charles Lovelace. He should marry me because I really really really want to be Laura Lovelace. Or have him be Charles Beck. Either works!

[Thanks for the hot tip, Rachel!]

No Worries, vegan Filipino restaurant coming to Oakland! AND THEY’RE HIRING.

We tried No Worries last year at World Veg Fest and fell in love. I mean, in luuuuurve. We ate so much vegan Adobo that we had to be wheeled out of this event dedicated to healthy living. OOPS! Anyway, at Veg Fest, the No Worries team was talking about plans to open in the Jack London Square area of Oakland and now we find out it’s really happening and they’re hiring (GET A JOB, LAZY! Also, we assume that by “welcoming appearance” they mean that you should pop a few buttons at the top of the blouse, honey.) Vegansaurus HQ(ish) is within spitting distance (how uncouth!) of their new location and you best believe we’re gonna be hitting this place up on the regular. And by on the regular, I mean I am the bird lady currently standing in front of their building. Don’t be afraid to say hi, JUST NO EYE CONTACT.

UPDATE: Heard from Jay at No Worries and he says they’ll be opening at 1442 Franklin St in downtown Oakland in September. So not spitting distance but walking distance (even for me, the laziest of JLS residents) (oh! and close to 12 Street BART!)

Thanks to David Surcamp for the heads-up! He’s the dude who brought you those ridiculous Weekend Ruiner cinnamon rolls at last’s SF Vegan Bakesale. Bow down!

Animal-free circuses don’t blow!

I recently wrote a lil’ rant about how much I hate circuses and I damn near broke Vegansaur Steve’s heart! As he points out:

It really sucks that “circus” automatically makes people think of animals, because there’s a lot of really great circus performance here in SF (along with Circus Center if you want to become a circus freak yourself) and none of it has anything to do with animals.

He’s right, there are some great animal-free circuses! And like he mentions, some animal-free circus schools too. The SPCA, Humane Society, PETA, and Born Free USA all have lists of animal-free circuses! Like Steve mentioned, in San Francisco there’s the Circus Center, where you can take classes and be a clown! There’s also a drop-in trapeze class. A DROP-IN TRAPEZE CLASS! I assume there’s a prerequisite but still, you can roll up and be like, “I wanna fly, motherfuckers!” The Circus Center is also home to the New Pickle Circus, formerly the Pickle Family Circus, founded in San Francisco in 1974. Bonus: The Circus Center is having some sort of showcase at the end of August! You should totally go and send me pictures!

There are also some smaller circus acts in the area that can be hired for fundraisers and other events like The Earth Circus in Half Moon Bay. There’s another one based out of 522 Haight St., Circus Finelli. I love this description from PETA: “Four unruly women clowns present a Slavic, slapstick cabaret with daring comedy and dangerous cutlery.” There are more schools too, like Trapeze Arts and the Kinetic Arts Center, both in Oakland. More proof Oakland is full of circus freaks. Just kidding! No I’m not!

[flyer from The Circus Center’s website]

There’s some bunny for everybody

We got an update on the from the Oakland Animal Services about the success of their recent adoption event. Guess what! Simone that sassy kitty with her tongue sticking out got adopted! But guest what else: Marshmallow the bunny did not (sad face).

Marshmallow’s picture here made quite a splash with the Vegansaurs, as he’s the cutest bunny ever! But it turns out the adoption event was just for cats and dogs—no bunnies included! So there are still plenty o’ bunnies available for adoption at OAS. I’m sure most readers are totally aware that you can adopt bunnies, gerbils, rats, et al. from shelters, but I think the general public doesn’t really know that. Everyone knows you can adopt cats and dogs, but pet stores have the little furries readily available, and I think that’s the first place many people think to look. Of course if pet stores didn’t sell these animals, that would change everything. There are plenty of pet stores that promise not to sell cats and dogs but some of these same stores still sell tiny pets. Why the discrepancy? We need to organize some kind of awareness campaign! So that everyone knows there are homeless pets of all sizes! Get on that!

Now, my pals, let me introduce some of the bunnies available because there’s always room for cute bunny pictures in your day!

This is Barkley doing his “say whaaaat?” pose.

This is Bounce and Downey. I call this one, “Can’t we all just get along?”

This is Momo and Breeze—totally Usual Suspects, right?!

Finally, here’s Zeppole! I don’t call this anything but adorable.

If you are looking for a bunny, always go to your local shelter! I know, “duh Megan,” but you should also spread this message to the masses! Sing it from coast to coast! No bunny left behind!

Alright, PSA over, let’s discuss the cuteness!

Oakland Animal Services Adoptathon! It’s a free fur all!

Oh fur puns, I love it! Guess what else I love: adoptable animals! Oakland Animal Services is having a “Maddie’s Matchmaker Adoptathon” this weekend (June 12 and 13), sponsored by Maddie’s Fund, an adorable charitable organization based in Alameda. Maddie’s Fund is going to pay all adoption fees for dogs and cats this weekend PLUS they will donate $500 for every successful OAS adoption at the adoptathon. $500?! That’s a lotta bones!

As a favor to you, I have previewed all the adoptable animals and OMG the cuteness! Here is Marshmallow, the most adorable bunny ever! Where’re your eyes, Marshmallow?! WHERE ARE YOUR EYES?!

Below we have Simone, a sassy senior cat! Nice tongue action, Miss Sassypuss! To her right is Dusty, who is OMG ADORABLE KILL ME! Guys, I would totally adopt every animal in the world if I had the space/competency. They are so cute and need homes! So if you are in the market, get to this event. And send me pictures of who you adopt because I can live vicariously through you! Party!

[Thanks for the heads-up, Pawesome!]