vegansaurus!

Help out Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary with lingerie and baked goods this week!  »

We love Harvest Home, vegan baked goods, and fancy underpants. This week, these entities form a triumvirate of awesome, in which purchasing the latter goes to help the former, by which we mean: Buy some underwear and cupcakes for Harvest Home!

First, on Saturday, Feb. 11, Harvest Home is having a fundraising bake sale! Stop by the corner of Grand and MacArthur in Oakland between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for vegan treats (and maybe bunnies? maybe?), and help fund the over $4,000 in vet bills Harvest Home has already incurred in 2012. It’s a rough year for rescues, you guys. If you want to bake for the sale, email them ASAP. Get details on the sale at its Facebook event page.

Second, from Feb. 7 (today!) to 14, Purrfect Pineapples is taking donations for Harvest Home! With every minimum $5US donation, you are entered to win one of three Purrfect Pineapples gift certificates! (Brilliant idea: donate $5 10 times.) You may be familiar with the vegan lingerie company from Megan Rascal’s gift guides. Because she’s based in Toronto, Erika has to do a long-distance donation, and being a wonderful person, she’s making it a weeklong public event that rewards you for participating! Vegans are the nicest people.

Baked goods and pretty underpants: Two great vegan things that are easily fetishized together. Wait, no, try again: Two great vegan things that help home bunnies like Twix up there, doing his infamous slipper impression.

[photo of the eminently adoptable Twix by Harvest Home via Flickr]

Hella cats and dogs need your help in Oakland!  »

There about 80 cats and two dogs in Oakland that desperately need your help, whether by being able to foster, provide placement or donate cash-money.
The OAS seized these animals about two months ago (the person with the animals has been charged with a crime of which I do not know) and until this last week, all the animals have been in legal limbo. They are now available for placement! All of the cats have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and tested for FIV/FeLV, etc but may need dental work. Some of the the cats are tame, but many are feral or semi-tame (perfect if you live on a farm or have a large backyard).

Susan Hoffman of Bright Haven explains what is needed:

1.)Placements, especially yard or barn homes for ferals and experienced fosters for shy cats.

2.)Transport assistance: I anticipate transports to South Bay and North Bay and possibly up to the Sacramento area.

3.)Donations: I’m expecting a lot of these cats will need dental care and that’s  going to be expensive.

If you are able to help, she asks that you contact her immediately at @susanh@brighthaven.org or her cell 415-359-4113.

On a final note, Susan urges,”I am begging everyone who reads this to forward it along, talk to friends, see if you can find any way to help some of these cats find a place to go. Easily 40 of these cats are sufficiently unsocialized, they will need yard or barn homes or even inside sanctuary”.

Cats are the best! Here is a picture of Indie Bradley, smiling on top of her new comforter. Because, you know, whatever I own is actually hers.

Oakland’s Hella Vegan Eats is hella delicious and you need to hella be eating it right now!  »

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had the absolute pleasure of eating as much food from the Oakland-based Hella Vegan Eats as humanly possible. Seriously, I’ve been surviving almost exclusively on their bounty of deliciousness. I’ve buried myself in mountains of tamales and eaten myself out in mere minutes! Please forget that you ever read that sentence! On to the food!

Let me give you a list of all the OUTSTANDINGLY AMAZING food I’ve been eating. Nothing has been short of the best g-d thing I’ve ever eaten and here’s the list: Navajo Fry Bread topped with deliciousness like quinoa, sweet potatoes, and other such yum; Orzo with Butternut Squash “Cheddar;” Cranberries and Shaved Brussels Sprouts; Spiced Apple Fritters (HOLY FUCK), and Vanilla-Chai Horchata. And then there are the tamales. OH THE TAMALES! Oy, they are so magical! Perfect masa stuffed with fillings like Spicy Black Bean, Al Pastor, Thai Peanut, or Green Mole. Seriously, so many fresh veggies—including things like purple cauliflower! so pretty!—and tender homemade seitan. I can’t even tell you HOW FUCKING GOOD THIS FOOD IS. Sorry, I am excited, and also very sad that I have none of it left and am forced to eat a stupid-ass massaged kale salad for dinner and be sad. [Ed note: Those tamales are the m-fing best, Laura does not lie! —Meave]

Right now, you can only get Hella Vegan Eats at events, or have them cater your parties (DO THIS), but they are currently in La Cocina’s incubator program and are working toward a food truck, and then world domination. I’m in! I will fight in whatever crazy vegan army they need me to, and you totally want me on your side, because not only am I certifiably nuts with nothing to lose, I can stuff tamales even faster than I eat them. For every tamale I eat, I will stuff two. We can’t lose!

Order from them, follow them on Facebook and Twitter to see where they’ll be serving next, and get ready to have your mind blown!!

[Photos from Yelp because I ate everything too fast to take pictures because I don’t fuck around when it comes to eating.]

Oakland! Please take this adorable, affectionate cat off the streets and into your heart!  »

There’s this amazing homeless cat in Oakland who needs a foster or forever home stat. Please read her story below and if you (or anyone you know! Pass it on!) can help, please email Shani. Thanks!

When I moved to Oakland in August there were about 20 stray and feral cats who are thankfully all fixed now. I began feeding them but one in particular caught my eye. She was so beautiful but fearful of me. She would stay on my porch all day sunbathing. The other cats are not nice to her. Slowly I was able to gain her trust. She would allow quick pets but the “love looks” she would constantly give me showed that she was starving for affection. She had a runny nose that slowly got worse. Two weeks ago I was able to trap her and take her to the vet. She is now in a foster home, recovering, and completely changed since being in an inside environment. She purrs loudly, is INCREDIBLY sweet, loves affection, and even rolls on her back for belly rubs. She is very neat with her litter box and a great eater.

If she is forced back outside in the cold, her runny nose will likely come back. She is between five and eight years old and was clearly abandoned by someone years ago. She’s also spayed. She needs a foster home or more importantly, a forever home.

United for Animals is offering to pay for her first vet visit and a month’s worth of food and litter.

Please, please save her from a miserable life on the streets of Oakland, email Shani today!

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!

Souley Vegan & Food Mill on Living Social!   »

Photo by quarrygirl is making me HUNGRY

Oakland you are so damn lucky today!! Living Social has it made for you. Not only can you get $25 of Souley Vegan for $12, but ALSO snag $30 of groceries from The Food Mill for $15. 

If you’re reading this blog and live in Oakland you best know about Souley Vegan, but maybe you haven’t heard of The Food Mill? It’s rad. It’s got the best bulk section of anywhere I’ve ever seen, even better than Berkeley Bowl or Rainbow Grocery. Maybe not Rainbow. But it’s good! It’s where I bought dried sassafras and sarsaparilla for making root beer. 

Anyway, these two deals combined are almost enough to make me move back to the Bay Area. Promise me three meals at Souley Vegan and I may even come visit? EAT THIS BECAUSE I CAN’T RIGHT NOW I’M JEALOUS! Can you mail Tasty Crispies? Arg!

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]

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving Class with Heather Haxo Phillips  »

You know those sayings, “Time flies” and “The older you get, the years just whiz by”? Well, they are popular because they are true! It’s already November! When did this happen? I’m not ready to put the barbecue away and pull out my heavy coats (okay, sweaters—I do live in California*). November means Thanksgiving! Which means not participating in eating turkey anymore, but still hanging out with the friends/family and eating so much it hurts! Right? Does everyone do that? Has any one else just given up and started wearing sweatpants fashionable yoga pants to the table?

Some vegans eat raw and they like to stuff their faces over the holidays with delicious, healthy, raw foods. For you, Bay Area raw or raw-curious foodists, Chef Heather Haxo Phillips is here! She not only has a new book coming out just in time for Thanksgiving, she’s also hosting a workshop/dinner in Oakland. Jordan attended one of her classes before and really loved it, so that’s something to think about, too!

Heather’s fancy book!

In case you don’t particularly like clicking on links for information (I know there are a few of you out there), let me list the details for you.

Healthy Holidays: A Survival Guide is Heather Haxo Phillips’ second book. It’s rumored to be filled with over 50 recipes from famous raw food chefs, travel tips and conversation pointers. You can buy it as an e-book or in print form here.

Phillips’ Thanksgiving Workshop/Dinner happens on Sunday, Nov. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Encuentro (202 Second St., we love it there!), and tickets cost $75. Foods that you’ll possibly be learning to make yet definitely EATING as your elegant holiday dinner include: cauliflower bisque; pecan pâté with marinated wild mushrooms and truffle oil; winter greens salad; holiday croquettes in savory sauce; shallot green beans; almond stuffing; mashed notatoes; cranberry orange relish; chocolate ganache truffle pie; and pumpkin pie with cashew caramel sauce.

Hey! I like raw foods! I like eating! I make a really good date, if someone wants to bring me/pay for me. What? It’s the holidays. I’m broke.

*That was for you, Chicagoans! Don’t be mad. I know there is more to Chicago than the winter and seriously, after this post, I’m TOTALLY going to start acknowledging that. Last post poking fun at Chicago winters. Seriously. Totally serious here. It will never happen again.