Me: Vegan

Leading a busy life, full of activities is difficult enough on its own.  Trying to stay healthy and eat three meals a day, ideally that consist of something better than a handful of brazil nuts and a Happy Planet juice, is a whole other ball game.  I have created a network in my mind of the closest Vegan restaurants, Vegan friendly places to grab a bite to eat, and places to eat if you’re in total desperation

My #1 suggestion to travelers and locals alike, is to check out www.happycow.net for their absolutely invaluable list of Vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly places all over the world.  This site has pulled me out of innumerable binds in my Vegan life (which makes me think I should drop them a donation!)  Below is a list of the Vegan, vegetarian, and veg-friendly places in town that I eat at regularly and would happily recommend:

3G – 3424 Cambie St.  They have wonderful service, and feature nearly all Vegan, chinese food (do ask about dairy in the “meat” dishes though.)  **I recommend: The “Chicken” Drumsticks, you can’t go there without ordering them!

Bodhi Choi Heung – 3932 Fraser St.  This is a wonderful Buddhist restaurant that is nearly Vegan, but again, do ask about egg or dairy in items.  **I recommend:  The Lemon “Duck” it is in a VERY sweet lemon sauce so please be warned if you aren’t a fan of super sweet food.  I find it devine though, and the crispy bean curd “duck” is simply amazing!

Loving Hut – 546 West Broadway.  I adore this place because it is smack in between my work and my school, right on a major transit hub (Broadway & Cambie.)  They have traditional American food like pizza (with Daiya cheese,) caesar salad, soups, wraps, nachos and the like.  **I recommen: The Loving Hut Pizza;  it’s got a heavenly garlic sauce and is creamy, cheesy and just a flavour sensation!

Budgies Burritos – 44 Kingsway (Kingsway & Main.)  100% Vegetarian burritos to go, or to stay if you really want.  These are typical, Amercian style burritos, with Yves Ground Round, or various types of beans, veggies, and instead of cheese (which is only available as dairy) they can substitute extra avocado for no extra charge. **I recommend: The Poser on whole wheat, with black beans and fresh salsa, done Vegan.  Can’t go wrong.

Organic Lives – 1829 Quebec Street.  100% Raw, Vegan place with a somewhat limited menu and hefty prices, but delicious and unique.  **I recommend: The Caesar Salad with raw croutons.

All India Sweets – 6507 Main St.  This place has traditional Indian food with a $9.95 vegetarian all you can eat buffet every day until 10pm which has a fair bit of Vegan options.  They also have samosas, tikkis, and weird little curried things that are grab-and-go for $.75  **I recommend: The Buffet, it’s cheap, and the curries are all delicious (though one looks like tofu, but is actually cheese!)

Banditas Tacqueria – 2781 Commercial Drive.  Absolutely fabulous Vegan food!  I wouldn’t say that it is Mexican at all rather it is based upon Mexican and they have used the idea to create a terrific, unique menu.  They use Daiya cheese and can make basically everything Vegan upon request. **I recommend: The Taco Salad done Vegan.  The lime dressing tastes so fresh that  I have a theory that they make it fresh for every order.

Cafe Deux Soleils – 2096 Commercial Dr.  Great vegetarian late night spot for a beer with friends, or to catch some local music or maybe even a poetry slam?  Not much for Vegan options though…  **I recommend:  The Tofu Scramble, it’s the best on I’ve found so far in town!  Seriously, delicious.

Sejuiced – 1958 W4th.  This place is a rad little juice bar, with soups, salads, sandwiches and little dessert treats as well.  I’m somewhat confident that they are just about Vegan except for honey, and maybe something else that isn’t coming to my mind right now.  Suffice it to say, they are chock full of Vegan yummyness!  I recommend:  The veggie sandwich.  It sounds so boring and plain, and it is in the best way!  It is a simple, perfectly made sandwich.

Gorilla Foods – #101 – 436 Richards St.  If raw food is new to you, Gorilla will ease you in with foods you’re used to but happen to be completely raw.  Menu includes devine smoothies, raw pizza, raw fudge, raw soups, raw falafal.  Everything is 100% raw and Vegan, and shall I add, made with love <3  **I recommend:  Thai Collard Fresh Wraps;  I can’t recommend these highly enough in fact!  They are absolutely heavenly and come with a beautifully spiced chutney.

Sweet Cherubim – 1105 Commercial Dr.  They have Indian food and some American food, but after half a dozen rotten salads, 2 or 3 rotten somosas, and a rancid bowl of stew, I have abandoned their food possibly forever.  However, their desserts are to die for, and have (so far) never steered my wrong.  **I recommend: The Bliss Ball.  Anyone in East Van will tell you that you haven’t lived until you’ve tried them!

The Cafe @ Eternal Abundance – 1025 Commercial Dr.  This is a tiny, all Vegan and Organic, half raw, half cooked cafe with soups, raw zughetti, a raw burrito, raw burger, salad, etc.  **I recommend: The Gazpacho, but you can only get it during the summer months.  It is totally raw, mostly local, and 100% delicious!

Deserts – 905 Commercial Dr.  They are totally vegetarian, and have a great Vegan selection.  It’s quick, cheap food on the drive, and you’ll enjoy your meal, so I recommend it when you’re in a hurray.  **I recommend:  The Vegan Falafal, it’s soooo good!

Hon’s Wonton House – 1339 Robson St.   This is a huge restaurant with two completely seperate kitchens, one with meat and one that is completely vegetarian.  I love the food here, and there’s a terrific variety of veggie chinese food.  **I recommend: The Bean Curd Skin Rolls in Black Bean Sauce, always a hit.

The NAAM – 2724 W 4th.  I’m fairly confident that this is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver.  There is nearly always a line up out the door, and they are open 24 hours.  The service is iffy, but the food is always good; not a ton of Vegan options, but they do used Daiya!  **I recommend: The Thai Noodles.  It’s sort of their take on Pad Thai.

Karmavore Vegan Shop – 468 East Columbia St.  Karmavore is an absolute must visit for Vancouverites.  They have a marvelous selection of Vegan meats, treats, books, shoes & boots, Vegan condoms (that’s right,) clothing and so much more; all 100% Vegan!!!  **I recommend the invaluable Vegan Bodybuilding book by everybody’s favorite Vegan bodybuilder Robert Cheeke.

This is by no means a complete list of veggie friendly places to eat in our fine city.  I strongly encourage you to check out happycow for the full list.  You can also email mevegan.com at penniesforprince@gmail.com  for personal advice, recipes, feedback, or maybe a home delivered batch of Chocolate Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream Icing!

Bon Appétite!

A trip to your local Veterinary Emergency Room is never farther than one curious nibble away.  If you are a cat parent like I am you are probably very well aware that they are known for their insatiable curiosity.  My girl, Douce, is a big fan of eating plants, she will eat then right down to the root if you don’t catch her in time!  Lucky for us, we only have “cat friendly” plants in our home.  Firstly, despite their beauty and heavenly smell, Lillies are EXTREMELY poisonous to cats, and should never be anywhere in your home!  Here is a list of common plants to remove from your home immediately to prevent your little ones from taking a fatal nibble (Please be aware this is NOT a complete list, please do some research before bringing a new plant into your home.):

Almond (Pits of)
Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apple Leaf Croton
Apricot (Pits of)
Asparagus Fern
Autumn Crocus
Avacado (fuit and pit)
Azalea

Baby’s Breath
Beech
Belladonna
Bird of Paradise
Black-eyed Susan
Black Locust
Bleeding Heart
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Branching Ivy
Buttercup

Cactus, Candelabra
Calla Lily
Carnations
Charming Dieffenbachia
Cherry (pits, seeds & wilting leaves)
Cherry, most wild varieties
Chinaberry
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Cordatum
Corn Plant
Cornstalk Plant
Crocus, Autumn
Crown of Thorns
Cuban Laurel
Cutleaf Philodendron
Cyclamen

Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly Nightshade
Death Camas
Devil’s Ivy
Delphinium
Dracaena Palm

Easter Lily *
Eggplant
Elaine Elderberry
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
Evergreen

Ferns
Flax
Four O’Clock
Foxglove
Fruit Salad Plant

Geranium Gold Dieffenbachi
Heartland Philodendron

Hemlock, Poison
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horse Chestnuts
Hyacinth Hydrangea

Iris

Janet Craig Dracaena
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil

Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley

Marigold
Marijuana
Miniature Croton
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in Law’s Tongue
Morning Glory
Mushrooms

Narcissus
Nightshade

Oleander
Onion

Peach (pits and wilting leaves)
Pencil Cactus
Peony
Periwinkle
Philodendron
Pimpernel
Poinsettia
Poison Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Poison Oak
Poppy
Potatos
Primrose
Privet, Common

Rhododendron
Rhubarb

Saddle Leaf Philodendron
Skunk Cabbage
Snowdrops
Star of Bethlehem
Striped Dracaena
Sweetpea

Tansy Mustard
Taro Vine
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves)
Tulip

Virginia Creeper

Water Hemlock
Wisteria

Yews –
e.g. Japanese Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
American Yew

Last night’s dinner was one of my more memorable ones.  I come from a Ukrainian background, so I am a big fan of perogies, sausages and onions.  I decided to conquor this childhood delicacy which was, fortunately, simple and quick.  The meal started with a trip to SuperStore, a place I generally avoid like the plague for it’s crowds, low quality standards, and ocasionally selling shark fin soup in tins.  I do make the trip out from time to time because of their low prices on a few of my favorite organic items, and they are the only store I’ve found that sells Vegan parogies, No Name brand Potato & Onion stuffed (1kg for $2.10!!)

I picked up a bag of parogies, then headed back to my neck of the woods, to my friendly neighborhood organic grocer, Drive Organics (1045 Commercial Drive) to pick up a package of tofurky sausages,  3 small red potatoes, two large onions, some garlic, and a leek.  I thawed the parogies, then fried them for 20 minutes with one chopped onion in some cooking oil.  After the first 10 minutes, I added in the Tofurky sausage.  In a separate pan I began frying the 3 cubed potatoes for 5 minutes, then added in the other chopped onion.  I let them cook for 8 minutes while stirring both pans often.  Finally, I added the leek, and the garlic and let the veggie mix cook for 5 more minutes adding just a dash of salt and pepper.

I ate it all together, and the only thing I would have added would be tofutti sour cream, though it was all absolutely delicious anyway!

I hope you try this, and I hope you find it as tasty and affordable as I did!

A

Alan Donohue – He is a singer in the British rock band The Rakes.  He is a supporter of the AR group Viva!, an anti-factory farming group.
Alanis Morissette – Talks about how she felt after making the transition to a Vegan diet:  “I feel very alive. … I have no more aches and pains, and my allergies are gone, too.”
Alicia Silverstone -  This beauty says that her Vegan diet has made her “feel healthier than ever before.”
Alyssa Milano – Says:“I turned vegetarian after 9/11. A friend of mine came back from New York and said that he couldn’t stand the smell of burnt flesh. It immediately reminded me of a barbecue.”
Andre Tonelli – He is a guitarist, composer, producer, teacher, and all over beautiful man!
Andre 3000 (Benjamin)
Andrew G
Andy Hurley
Anoushka Shankar
Anthony Kiedis – Lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he shares his personal chef, Laura Dakin, with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  She travels to the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary each winter to cook yummie vegan food for the Sea Shepherds while they prevent Japan’s illegal slaughter of  the endangered great whales.

B

Benjamin Spock, M.D. – He went Vegan from the age of 88 until his death at age 94.   He said that after adopting the Vegan diet, he had a vigor and enthusiasm that he hadn’t experienced in years.
Benjamin Zephaniah
Bif Naked – She identifies herself as XveganX (Vegan Straightedge.)  She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband.
Billy West
Brian Bell – He is the background guitarist and vocalist for the band Weezer.  He has been nominated on PETA’s list of Sexiest Vegetarians.
Brian Greene – He is a professor at Columbia University, and a highly respected Theoretical Physicist.
Bryan Adams – This talented singer/songwriter/photographer/activist says that: “I love Japanese style veggie dishes of tofu and mushrooms…but I suppose I have to admit that I love the Elvis of all vegetables…the potato.”

C
Carrie Anne Moss
Casey Affleck
Casey Kasem – This successful host of American Top 40  says about his Veganism:  “What’s terrific today is the idea that as a vegetarian you are not only making a contribution to the animals, but also to your health and the safety of the planet.”
Cedric Bixler-Zavala – He is the singer from The Mars Volta.  They feature animal rights as an undertone in their music.  He struggled with substance abuse until the drug related death of friend and band mate  Jeramy Michael Ward.
Chrissie Hynde -  She recently began leading protests in NYC against the exploitive carriage horse industry.  She says that since getting married in one several decades ago, she has learned about and witnessed the neglect and abuse of the horses who spend their entire lives pulling tourists about.
Coretta Scott King – Wife of the late Dr.Martin Luther King Jr., she went Vegan in 1995 after her son Derrek illustrated that it was the next logical step in her and her late husband’s struggle for non violence and equal rights.

D
Dan Piraro – He often incorporated Vegan and animal rights themes into his “Bizarro” comic.  He has also raised money for the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary.
Daniel Johns – He is the frontman for the rock band Silverchair.  He talks about his switch to a Vegan lifestyle: “Basically, the reason I’m vegan is because when I was about 16 or 17 years old, I began to understand that we don’t need to contribute to the killing and exploitation of animals to feed our bodies correctly.”
Danny Nova – He is a singer and champion of civil, animal, human and all rights.  He is very openly Pro-Veganism.  He is extremely talented and plays 10 instruments, non including his voice!
Darren Boyd -  He is a British actor who starred in Kiss Me Kate and Saxondale.   While filming a scene in which his character was to be eating meat, he asked to props department to use a soy meat substitute because he “most definatley [won't be] eating meat and nor would I under any circumstances!
Daryl Hannah – This beatiful actress joined the crew of the Sea Shepherd Conservation  Society in 2008 for part of their Antarctic Whale protection campaign.
Davey Havok – This hottie McHottiepants is the lead singer of AFI.  PETA also named him the year’s sexiest vegetarian.    He is set to release a line of Vegan shoes in conjunction with Macbeth shoe company.
Dennis Kucinich -  He is a United States Democrat and Member of the House of Representatives for the 10th District of Ohio.  He has served as Mayor of Cleaveland and a serious candidate for the 2004/2008 Presidential Elections.  He spoke at the 2009 AR Conference in Los Angeles, California.   He firmly believes that “all life on our Earth [is] sacred.”

E
Ed Templeton – He is a professional skateboarder from California who has been Vegan for nearly 20 years.  He says “Once you read about the meat and dairy industry and the things they do, it is hard to keep supporting them. I didn’t want to partake in the killing of animals or spend my money on the whole system.”
Elijah Wood – Well, we think he is Vegan, there are plenty of sites that claim he is, but there is also a report of him just pretending to be because let’s face it, Vegans are hotter, smarter and cooler, but it’s just a jerk move to pretend to be, especially when it’s not exactly rocket surgery to just loose the meat dude!  If you have any info on Elijah’s eating habits, please comment below!
Ellen Degeneres – This gorgeous comedian is a well spoken public Vegan.  She also manufactures a brand of nutritionally complete pet foods.  She has come under fire recently from the Vegan community since she became a spokesperson for Cover Girl cosmetics, which are tested extensively, and horrifically on animals in cruel, useless experiments.  Not to mention they have various types of dead animal parts right in each product.
Emily Deschanel -  Has been Vegan for more than 15 years.  She says watching the film “Diet For A New America” opened her eyes and made her stop eating and wearing animal products.
Emilie Autumn -  This rad lady describes herself as an ‘anarchist violinist.’  She went veggie at 11 after staring at a hamburger and thinking ‘why should I eat this, and not my horse?’  It doesn’t make any sense at all really.  Check out this wicked interview with Emilie:  http://www.peta2.com/OUTTHERE/o-EmilieAutumn.asp    Very cool lady!
Erykah Badu – Beautiful, talented singer has been Vegan for over 20 years.  She is a BIG fan of Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts, a line of 31 flavors of Vegan ice creams…. Mmmmmmm  ( http://www.icecreamproject.com/ )

F
Fiona Apple –  She made a long, passionate recording in 1997 which PETA played as a phone message to Butterbakk Turkey killers.  In it she stated: “There’s no proper way to kill and cook these beautiful birds.”
Forrest Kline
Fred Mascherino

G
Ginnifer Goodwin -  Actress from “He’s Just Not That Into You” has been Vegan for a couple of years.  She became aware one morning of the oddity of consuming another animal’s milk.  This led her to question the whole concept of eating animal products, and become Vegan.
Greg Cipes -  Vegan actor and musician.

H

Heather Mills – A passionate Vegan, Mills once made the logical point about ‘why is it that we find it acceptable to drink cow’s milk, but not rat’s, or dog’s?’

Heather Small

Howard Lyman – He is a former multigeneration factory farmer, who became extremely sick from the chemicals involved in modern animal raising/killing.  He now works diligently with Farm Sanctuary throughout the United States promoting a Vegan lifestyle.  He is a proponant of organic farming methods, and Veganism.  He got Oprah to renounce beef on her show in 1998.
Hunter Burgan

I
Ian MacKaye
Ingrid Newkirk – She is the founder and president of PETA.  At the age of 22, never having had a thought about animal rights, she rescued some kittens, and upon arrival at the local shelter, the staff immediately killed them all.  This even was so unforeseen and devastating that she took a job in that shelter and began cruisading to prevent further suffering to animals.
Isa Chandra Moskowitz

J
James Cromwell
Jason Mraz
Joanne Rose
Joaquin Phoenix – He released a film in 2005 called Earthlings.  If you are not yet Vegan then you are obligated as someone who believes in non-human suffering, to watch this film.  If you have a heartbeat you will be deeply effected by it.
John Feldmann – He is the lead singer and guitarist for the totally epic band Goldfinger.  He is a strong Vegan and animal rights activist.  He is also an open, out spoken supporter of the Animal Liberation Front.
John Peel
John Robbins
John Robb
Jonathan Richman
Jorja Fox

K
K D Lang – This immensely talented singer is a longtime Vegan, making the obvious point that:  “We all love animals.  Why do we call some “pets” and others “dinner?”
Kevin Nealon
Kurt Halsey- On his self named website, filled with his art work, he comments on Veganism:  ”Animals belong to themselves, not to us.  They should not suffer in our systems of food, science, entertainment and fashion.  Instead, they should live free of the tyranny we put upon them.  But they cannot claim this freedom alone.”
Kyle Vincent – He has a memorial fund set up in memory of his rabbit Tofu:  http://www.rabbitsanctuary.org

L
Leonardo Da Vinci – He was certainly a vegetarian, and a profoundly brilliant man.  He has a quote in which he states: “Of the beasts from whom cheese is made, the milk will be taken from the tiny children.”  To me this seems to suggest that he understands that the consumption of cow’s milk is akin to stealing, and I imagine it would naturally follow that he would not consume it.
Leona Lewis – She is working toward launching her own line of Vegan clothing.
Linda Blair -  She founded the Linda Blair World Heart Foundation which rescues animals from ‘death row’ and provides them shelter and love.  She is the author of the wonderful book “Going Vegan.”  She became Vegan after reading about the ways in which farm animals are ‘raised.’
Lori Petty
Luke Cummo – This hottie, hottie, hottie pants is a successful UFC fighter, featured on the tv series The Ultimate Fighter.  He has adhered to a raw Vegan diet for the past 10 years.  He believes this diet gives him the competative edge over his opponants.
Lynda Stoner – An Australian actress, and full-time Animal Liberation activist.

M
Mac Danzig – This guy, based solely on his bio, sounds like a pretty stand up fellow.  He has been Vegan since 2004, has a little daughter, is a semi-professional photographer, and animal rights advocate.  In all honesty, I’m a little turned on right now!
Mariana Tosca
Martin Shaw
Martina Navratilova
Masami Akita – He is the creator of the Merzbow “Noise Project” in Tokyo, Japan.  He is also a supporter of PETA.
Michael Franti – He is a multi-ethnic creator and vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead.  His lyrics often speak about peace and social justice issues.

Michael “Mickey” Madden – He is an advocate for Veganism, and the base player for Maroon 5.

Moby

Morrissey

N

Natalie Portman – Not only is she the most beautiful, talented and highly intelligent Harvard Graduate of all time, but she is a strong Vegan, and has even got a beautiful line of Vegan shoes!  Wow Natalie, will you marry me???

Nellie McKay
Nicole Lapin – She is the youngest news anchor for CNN (started there at 23 years old.)  She began her career working in Atlanta, which, she says, rather than being a barricade to Veganism, just challenged her to find new ways and places to eat.  For example when on the road, she can even find food in gas stations, like simple fruit and trail mix.

O
Ocean
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

P
Pamelyn Ferdin
Pat Neshek
Pat Thetic
Propagandhi Band

Q
Quinn Allman – The guitar player from the band Used, he went Vegan after seeing a video made by John Feldman (of Goldfinger) depicting some of the horrific violence that occurs in slaughter houses, and dairy barns, etc.

R
River Phoenix,
Robin Gibb

S

Saint David

Sara Gilbert — Famous for her role as Darlene on Roseanne, Sara became Vegetarian in her teens, then announced her switch to a Vegan diet in 2008 on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Saul Williams
Scott Jurek
Sean Conant
Seba Johnson
Shane Sweet
Shane Told – The leadsinger of  the Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein.   He says one of his favorite foods is “Qdoba vegetarian tortilla soup… To die for.”
Sinead O’Connor
Steve Kilbey
Stic.man
Summer Phoenix
Supreme Master Ching Hai – She works diligently for peace and spiritual enlightenment.  She has brought the Quan Yin Method to immense popularity in the Philippines.

T
Ted Leo – He is an American Indie Rock singer who has been Vegan for more than 10 years and doesn’t shy away from talking about his passion for Veganism.
Terry Geezer Butler – Original bassist for Black Sabbath.   Stopped eating meat at 8 years old!  Good job Terry
Thom Yorke
Thomas Dekker – He spends his time with his two pugs, Noggin and Captain, and his rabbit Bella.
Tobey Maguire – He cannot stand the smell of leather to the point where he insists that guests in his home remove all leather products before entering his home.

V
Vanessa  Williams – She says two of her favorite Vegan restaurants are Vegan Express in Westwood, LA and Madeline Bistro in Tarzana.
Victoria Moran – A life coach and inspirational author, she wrote a book about a Vegan diet called “The Love-Powered Diet.”

W
Weird Al Yankovic – Everyone’s favorite parody artist went Vegan in 1992 after a fan gave him a copy of “Diet For A New America.”
Woody Harrelson – He released a film in 2004 called Go Further, aimed at changing people’s eating habits and preserving the earth.