Vegan Things I Like

Caveman Foods Water Kefir

2012-03-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

We are currently at ExpoWest, which is turning out to be the most magical place in the world both for discovering awesome vegan products and also for business expansion possibilities (which is the real reason why I'm here... no really!). We've had a lot of awesome people visit our booth including today's visit from George of Caveman Foods. George is a vegan dude from Philadelphia who now makes and distributes a kombucha-like fermented water kefir drink in five flavors. He brought over one of each and I decided to start with the original flavor (rose!). I haven't tried the others yet, but with flavors like tarragon, vanilla, and black pepper, they sound pretty promising. One of my favorite things about their brand is that all of their products are flavored naturally with things like real vanilla beans and not with "natural flavors." These taste very strongly fermented (stronger than most kombuchas) and are very refreshing and have a number of health benefits. Check out their website (which is very informative)!

Isabella's V-Chip Cookies

2012-03-08T20:50:00.001-08:00

I am currently in Southern California for Natural Products ExpoWest and stopped by Santa Monica's Co-Opportunity Natural Foods store today for a snack. I was in the mood for something sweet and didn't see anything nut-free in the cooler case with all of the raw vegan desserts where my co-travelers were looking, so I asked an employee if they could recommend any local vegan baked goods. She had a few tasty-looking suggestions, but none looked as exciting as these chocolate chip cookies from Isabella's Cookie Company. I shared these with my travel companions and they were winners all around. These tasty vegan chocolate chip cookies are sweetened without refined sugar. They reminded us of the Soft Batch cookies of years past (remember when those were vegan?!). A must-try if you find them in your area!! They also have an option to order online if you are so inclined. They are definitely worth the effort!

(Very exciting - I now have a laptop and can make these updates on the road instead of storing up pictures until I get back home!)

Olive & Sinclair Double Chocolate Nibs Bar

2012-02-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

The other night in Chicago was BEAUTIFUL. Dan and I were at the MCA where we got some hotly-contested seats for the presentations from some of the top five architectural team finalists in the running to redesign Navy Pier. After the Q&A, we decided to go for a walk (it was too nice to go straight home) and ended up over at Fox & Obel where were enjoyed an olive ciabatta, some mediocre hummus, and this delicious Olive & Sinclair Double Chocolate Nibs bar.

Neither of us had ever tried this particular brand of chocolate, but between the packaging, the nibs, and "brown sugar" in the ingredients list, I was sold! Dan was less sure, but the more he ate, the surer he became. This 67% dark bar had a great sweetness (maybe the brown sugar?) that I'm not used to in dark bars that also contain cocoa nibs. Overall, I give it two thumbs up. Check out their (well-designed!) website for more information (and free shipping on orders over $50). Just in time for Valentine's Day?

2011 - A Travel Recap

2012-01-17T16:36:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to compile this list for a while and here it is! A list of everywhere (outside of the Chicago metro area) that we (Dan and I) visited (and ate) in 2011! Most of these were for seitan-related work, but a few also included yoga-teaching work.

January
Minneapolis/St Paul (driving from Chicago, so we stopped at a number of co-ops along the way there and back including a stop in Madison, WI)

February
Peoria, IL

March
Tokyo
Detroit, MI (Veg MI Fest)

April
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA (drove up from LA... amazing!)

May
Oregon, IL (Yoga and Vegan Cooking Retreat)

June
Portland, OR
Madison, WI (Mad City Veg Fest)

July
Madison, WI (Willy Street Co-op Member Party)
Lake Geneva, WI (Yoga Journal Conference to practice with my teacher, Dharma)
Portland, OR (Vegan Iron Chef)

August
Portland, OR (Vida Vegan Con)
Seattle, WA

September
Portland, OR (VegFest)

October
Dallas, TX (TX State Veggie Fair)
Austin, TX

2012 is already promising to be equally exciting. In the first 6 months we are slated to visit Los Angeles, India, Dallas, Detroit, New Orleans, and Portland! I hope to find many more Vegan Things I Like on these upcoming adventures!

Kabul House

2012-01-10T19:24:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of my first Afghani meal at Kabul House in Skokie, IL (do not judge them solely on the many gross meat photos on their main page). Kabul House is a restaurant that was open in Skokie for a number of years, closed down, and has reopened sort of recently. They have a small menu that includes a delicious Vegetarian Platter. The platter comes with soup (tomato lentil or noodle vegetable, both of which can be served vegan with no yogurt on top) and contains four different dishes which are served with rice. The rice is long-grain and includes shredded carrots and raisins. The dishes are a sort-of curry, though they are differently seasoned than Indian-style cooking, and also a bit lighter overall. They included cauliflower, pumpkin, eggplant, and spinach. I loved all of these dishes, and when combined with the rice, they were even better. My favorite was the cauliflower with the eggplant coming in a close second. The spinach and the pumpkin, which was much sweeter than expected, were also good. If you ever have occasion to head to Skokie, I recommend stopping into Kabul House and ordering up some of this vegan good stuff. Just remember to order everything with no yogurt and none of the chutney-type sauce they bring to the table (it has a small amount of yogurt as well - but the bread is okay) and you'll be good to go!

My Sweet Vegan

2012-01-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

The night before New Year's Eve we had an awesome vegan dessert party at our house. While I am not the cook in our house, I do really enjoy baking and the party gave me an excuse to whip out my still unused copy of My Sweet Vegan by Hannah Kaminsky that I acquired at Vida Vegan Con where Hannah was a presenter.

I made two different things from this book: A crumb-topped brownie and a lemon/lime bundt. I had actually planned to make more, but two days before the party, my cat bit me on the hand leading to a serious infection and two days visiting the emergency room for treatment and IV antibiotics. So, two things it was since I was baking one-handed. Fortunately, our friends brought lots of their own contributions and the dessert table overflowed! The brownies filled with chocolate chips and topped with a cocoa crumble were super delicious. The brownie texture was right on and not too cakey or light. I really recommend these! The bundt was also a winner and for at least a few guests, the unsuspecting star of the table! The recipe called for lemon and lime soy yogurt to be included, but TJ's only had strawberry, so the bundt was flavored with strawberry soy yogurt and lemon/lime juice and zest. It was DELICIOUS and came out of the pan perfectly. A great addition.

So far, my experience with the recipes in My Sweet Vegan have been great. I love the full color photos that help to decide what you want to try and the recipes laid out on one spread, so you don't have to fuss around with the book while trying to make anything. Also, I recommend inviting all of your friends over for a fun vegan dessert party! We had a blast!

Miso

2011-12-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

Just like my previous post about pineapples, I am also no expert on miso's various types and forms, but I do know that it is a Thing I Like. The only other thing I know is that it is sitting in a plastic package in my fridge in a goo-form and that it is delicious. Oh, also, if you add too much of it to food, it becomes inedible. I am not a very adventurous cook and am pretty much seasoning-knowledge deficient, so miso is a pretty good thing to have around. You can add it to water and make a broth that is tasty and only required one simple step. On Monday, I put some miso in water, heated it up, added some dehydrated tofu and seaweed (both purchased at the Mitsua Market in Arlington Heights), with fresh bok choy, broccoli, and sprouts and voila! Chunky miso-flavored soup for dinner!

In March when we visited Japan, my partner geniusly crafted a noodley miso soup with ingredients from a local convenience store right in our hotel room rice cooker. Seriously, brilliant! All 24-hour stores should carry miso, rice noodles, and tofu!

Pineapple

2011-12-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

I really like pineapple, but I don't always particularly care for cutting up a whole pineapple. Fortunately, I have a really great partner who doesn't seem to mind doing the pineapple dirty work. This one is from a few weeks ago and it was de-licious! I also associate pineapples with one specific event in my life. Years and years ago, I was headed to New York for my yoga teacher's birthday celebration and didn't have the foggiest idea what to bring to such an event. What do you get an advanced yogi for his 60-something-ith birthday? And there in the produce market at Essene in Philadelphia (my former city of residence), I was struck by a lovely sight: the perfect pineapple (no, not these!!!)! I tied a bow around it's spiky top and carried in my backpack via New Jersey Transit up to Manhattan. After an amazing yoga practice, I fluffed it's flattened bow and (VERY) shyly presented my carefully selected pineapple. He brought it to his face, smelled it, smiled, and kissed me! I was thrilled. The sight of a whole pineapple always brings me back to that moment and I always smile. The perfect gift.

(Writing this entry I also got curious about when pineapple was in season and I found this very informative website! I now know so much more about pineapples than ever before.)

Take a Hike Scone

2011-11-30T13:57:00.000-08:00

The Vegan Thing I Like today is, I think, kind of unexpected. Bleeding Heart Bakery (multiple locations in the Chicagoland area) is known for their super sweet baked goods (some of which are vegan). Their cupcake icing is so sweet that they have a warning at the counter not to order it if you don't expect an explosion of sugar in your mouth. So, what's perhaps unexpected is that the item I like most of Bleeding Heart is one of their less sweet offerings - the perfectly amazing and delicious Take A Hike Scone.

This scone is darn near perfection. It's just sweet enough and loaded with seeds and dried fruits (no nuts or coconut, both of which I am allergic to - rejoice!). The inside is a bit cakey and crumbly while the outside is just a little bit crunchy. I seriously love this thing. Ever since the new, huge location opened up nearby work, I have to resist the urge to eat these more often. Fortunately, the price keeps me under control (it's worth it, but not always in my budget). Even though it seems weird, next time you're near the Bleeding Heart Bakery, I suggest that you pass by the cakeballs, cupcakes, and even the vegan donuts and go right for this baby! You will not be disappointed!

The Spiral Diner and Bakery

2011-11-23T07:52:00.000-08:00

"The Mitch" Tofu Club with Potato Salad.

One of my favorite things about going to visit my mom in Dallas, TX is that I know we're going to go eat at the Spiral Diner (they also have a location in Fort Worth)! I love this place. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is comfortable, the staff is welcoming... what more could you want!? The food is satisfying, filling diner-style food without being heavy or overwhelming. They have a list on the wall of which ingredients are currently organic and a great list inside the menu of what "tempeh," "seitan" and other potentially mysterious ingredients are actually made of for the veggie diner first-timer. Each location has a great self-serve drink station with natural sodas on tap. In addition to being a great diner, they are also a bakery and always have a good selection of tempting vegan treats on hand so that you can end your meal with a cookie topped with a scoop of house-made ice cream anytime you like! The Spiral Diner also has a small "grocery" section at the front of each location with a few vegan staples, candies, books, tshirts, and more. Dallas is fortunate to have a place like this and I am fortunate to have another reason to visit Dallas more often!

The World's Largest Dog Collectables Museum

2011-11-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

On our most recent trip to Texas, we drove from Dallas to Austin to spend a day there hanging out with our friends and visiting some new customers. We even hired a really great new Austin demo rep. On our way driving back to Dallas, we happened by a roadside attraction that we could NOT pass up: The World's Largest Dog Collectables Museum in Waco, Texas! The museum itself is situated in the corner of a large antique mall. Nothing in the museum is for sale, but many of the surrounding antique booths have great dog-related collectables. We could have easily spent hours here and not seen half of the thousands and thousands of items in the museum, but we saw what we could. We also looked high and low for a vintage pit bull figurine, but came up empty handed. When we left, since we hadn't bought anything, I tried to leave a donation for the dog museum, but the ladies at the checkout wouldn't hear of it. The dog museum is clearly a labor of love and I can't recommend it enough if you're passing by to budget the extra time to stop and take a good look around!

(Some more pictures of the museum can be found on this site!)

Oregano Oil

2011-11-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

Well whew! Sorry about the recent lack of posts. Apparently, I decided to take a break coming off of VeganMoFo! At any rate, I'm back and I still like vegan things. Today's vegan thing is my ultimate winter (and all-season) don't-get-sick product: Oregano Oil. It is truly amazing. I always take this stuff during times of year when I'm more prone to sickness, and especially while traveling alongside so many people's germs, and it always does me right. I'm not generally a big advocate of supplements, etc for daily living, but this is one item that's worth the cost! It can be a little pricey, but for me the results are well worth it. I take about 5 drops a day during normal times and maybe 5 2x/day when I feel like I'm fighting off sickness. The oil itself burns, so I always put a little water in my mouth before dropping it in (you can also go a classier route and put your water and oil in a glass and drinking it). My boyfriend is more hardcore and puts the drops right under his tongue. I've also been told that you can get oregano oil capsules, but I can't vouch for their vegan-ness. At any rate, Oregano Oil is where it's at for avoiding sickness!

(The oil pictured here is Oreganol brand, which I love, but I've tried other brands as well with the same great results!)

A Blog Award!

2011-11-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

In an effort not to be a jerk and despite the fact that Vegan MoFo is over, I have to thank Alexis over at Vegan Miss for passing along this kind award - The Liebster Award. It is much appreciated!

The award however comes with RULES! ;)

“Liebster” is German and means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can also mean ‘favorite’. The idea behind this award is to bring attention to bloggers who have less than 200 followers and show your support during Vegan Mofo!

The rules of winning this award are as follows:
1. Show your thanks to those who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal 5 of your top picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Enjoy the love and support of some wonderful people on the www!

And so, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the following awesome blogs, not all of which are vegan-focused (and one of which I think has slightly too many followers), but all of which are awesome:

5. Fifty

That's a Wrap!

2011-10-31T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yeah! We've reached the end of Vegan MoFo and I could not be more grateful to the 31 amazingly awesome people who contributed to make this month of Vegan People I Like possible! It was such an awesome, informative experience and I really enjoyed compiling everyone's entries and having the opportunity to write about so many people who I REALLY LIKE. You are all the best. In the future, I hope to continue to occasionally feature other Vegan People. It's a really nice way to learn about new vegan products and also to hear about the inspiring work that is being done by so many. You all ROCK SO MUCH. Also, hello and thanks to all of the new blog subscribers who joined on as a result of this blog's participation in Vegan MoFo! It's so nice to have you here! I hope you'll join in the conversation about the Vegan Things You Like and that this blog will potentially introduce you to some great new Vegan Things!

Amanda Riester likes The Chicago Diner

2011-10-31T07:39:00.000-07:00

Amanda Riester is a super inspiring lady and one of the newest members of the Upton's family, as she's recently started working with us to do in-store demos! Who isn't going to want to stop and chat up this lady when they see her sampling seitan in their local store!? She's a competitive body builder, recently winning first place in the ABA Natural North America 2011 and a former Golden Gloves boxer. So yeah, she's pretty awesome. In addition to that badassery, she's also a pit bull mom (me too!) and pet-loss grief counselor. She's the total package of kindness, compassion, knowledge, experience, and good lookin' to boot. What's not to like?! Amanda rocks!

The Vegan Thing Amanda Likes is the Chicago Diner (YUM!)!

What vegan thing do I like? Where do I even begin? I love so much! I suppose other then seitan, which I eat 4 times a day, my favorite vegan thing is The Chicago Diner. It is by far my favorite restaurant! Other then being on my couch cuddled up with my hubby and dogs while watching reruns of The Golden Girls, there is no place in the world I would rather be! I absolutely LOVE it there!

Photo of the Diner's Soul Bowl (obviously)
taken from VeggieDiner.com!

My favorite meal goes like this:
An appetizer buffalo wings with ranch. My main course is a gyro with sweet potato fries and for dessert the chocolate cheesecake with extra whipped cream followed by a cup of their delicious coffee with soy! Sometimes on Sundays, my mom and I drive all the way out there from Schaumburg just for a cinnamon roll and coffee.

When I was training for my last competition, my diet was so strict I had limited food options, but their soul bowl was the perfect meal for me! Yumm!

Emelda Kavanaugh-Ortiz likes Broad Shoulders Animal Rescue

2011-10-30T10:57:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Emelda Kavanaugh-Ortiz! Emelda is a dedicated friend to the animals and the Founder and Board President of Broad Shoulders Animal Rescue. If you're friends with Emelda on Facebook, sometimes you'll get lucky enough to get an updated on the small army of foster animals at her home, including teeny tiny kittens (I hear you bloggers are big cat people, so look, there's a picture of a cat right there! Pandering!). Emelda is a full-time proponent of social justice who also works with the Chicago Abortion Fund and has worked with Food Not Bombs, Animal Defense League, and others. She is a wonderful person to get connected with and, if you're looking for a new cat to move into your house and feature in your blog, she's got you covered!!

The Vegan Thing Emelda Likes is her rescue, Broad Shoulders Animal Rescue!

(Oh my gosh, THAT FACE!!!)

If I can bang my own drum, my favorite vegan thing is the rescue I’m a part of, Broad Shoulders Animal Rescue. As a rescue, we are 100% foster-home based and are all volunteer. We promote animal adoption, Trap-Neuter-Return of feral cats and other animals (the only scientifically proven and humane method for dealing with alley cats), the No-Kill Movement (a fight to stop shelters from killing the animals in their care) & veganism.

We are the only active rescue I know of that focuses on cats and dogs (and small animals occasionally!) that promotes veganism. “Go vegan” is on our business cards, veganism is discussed in our literature and at our orientations, we promote vegan websites/business/etc. on our social media sites and website, and all adopters get vegan information in their adoption packets. Our board is 100% vegan run, all of the events we organize are vegan, and we promote plant-based diets for any animal that can be healthy on such a diet.

We’re celebrating our 3rd year this November with an all-you can eat vegan waffle brunch!

As an attendee in previous years, I can confidently say that the Vegan Waffle Brunch hosted by Broad Shoulders is super delicious, fun, and for a great cause! I highly recommend that you carve out some time to attend this year! You can connect with Broad Shoulders on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Andrea Govender likes Justin's Peanut Butter Cups

2011-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is my old friend, Andrea Govender! I have known Andrea since sometime in the 90's when we spent years navigating hardcore shows and a seemingly vegan-unfriendly suburban Detroit together. Andrea still lives in Detroit, in a big, beautiful, old home that she is restoring with her husband, Curtis. I love her dedication to and passion for a city that so many have left behind (guilty as charged!). Andrea is a jack of all trades working as a nanny and a rock-climbing instructor in addition to being a student and a mom! So yeah, she's a total badass.

She's pictured here with her son, Arlo, and the other Vegan Thing She Likes, Justin's Peanut Butter Cups.

I love many things that are vegan, but when I tried to think of something to write this post on nothing seemed exciting enough. I eat a pretty boring diet, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc. very delicious but not amazing. So last week while grocery shopping I kept an eye out for something new and delicious to try, I found it with Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. I prefer homemade ones, but if I make a batch I’ll eat too many so these are good in a pinch to satisfy my yearning for the chocolate peanut butter combo. I’m also excited about these peanut butter cups because it’s amazing to find something like this at the store! Being vegan has become much easier over the past fifteen years and I’m thrilled to find things like this commercially available. I had the little boy I babysit for, who is not vegan, try them and even he liked them. The picture shows me holding a new vegan thing I like, the peanut butter cups, and my son wearing his favorite vegan thing a “Bacon had a Mom” t-shirt from Herbivore clothing. Thanks Nicole for allowing me the opportunity to share a vegan thing I like!

Chris Zibutis likes Vega Sport

2011-10-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is huge nerd (and, yes, my friend), Chris Zibutis. I mentioned Chris in yesterday's post about his wife, Monica, with whom he lives (duh) and works as a wedding photographer. In addition to photographing weddings, Chris also does other projects including a lot of artist and live music photography, which you can admire on his blog! He's even photographed me and my dogs and made us look good! Chris also makes some downright decent homemade seitan (no sponges!) AND made homemade vegan candy corns at Halloween last year! This is a man with talent!

Photo from shop.sequelnaturals.com

The Vegan Thing Chris Likes is Vega Sport Performance Protein.

After trying many many different vegan proteins and different supplements I have come to the conclusion that Vega Sport Perfomance Protein is hands down the best.

Unlike most Vegan proteins that focus on just one kind of protein or soy protein isolate, Vega makes their own blend of Yellow Pea, Brown Rice, Alfalfa, Hemp and Saviseed (sacha inchi) proteins. It also contains 5,500mg of BCAAs and 5,000mg of glutamine per serving. So you don't have to worry about finding additional vegan supplements.
And most importantly it tastes awesome!

Monica Zibutis Likes Ras Dashen

2011-10-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is Monica Zibutis! She is a stellar wedding photographer and all around super great lady! She works weddings as a team with her husband, Chris, pictured at left. Seriously, if you are getting married anywhere in the world, hire Monica. In fact, even if you're not planning on getting married, you might want to consider it just to get your photos taken by these two. They regularly travel the country (and further!) to shoot beautiful pictures of beautiful people in beautiful locations. You can visit Monica's website here and her blog here. As you can maybe guess from her photo, Monica is getting ready to save us all by populating the world with a new generation of awesome vegans. I can't wait to meet her little human baby (which flavor she's having remains to be seen), but it would be great if s/he waited to join us until after the legendary Zibutis Thanksvegan celebration so that we can all still attend and chow down. See you in December, Zibaby!

The Vegan Thing Monica Likes is Ras Dashen Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago!

I like Ethiopian food, specifically from Ras Dashen in Chicago. I haven't had many pregnancy cravings but that is one thing I just cant get enough of! I liked it before too but lately we have eaten there every time possible that we have been in Chicago. the foods are so simple and delicious and while we usually feel very full afterwards, we never feel awful or greasy like we do after some meals out.

In addition to attesting that Monica is awesome, I can also attest to the awesomeness of Ras Dashen where we just recently went out to eat WITH Monica and Chris! Monica even brings home extra injera bread to snack on for the next few days after a visit. She is committed.

Jess Sconé likes Food for Lovers Vegan Queso

2011-10-26T09:23:00.000-07:00

She may be presenting a pie, but Jess is really thinking about queso.
Image credit: Lucas DeShazer

Jess Scone is the adorable, smiling face behind the blog Get Sconed! (@getsconed on Twitter) where she is dedicating her Vegan MoFo month to animals writing (sometimes - or you know, always - via the help of a human typist) about their favorite vegan foods, pastimes, etc and included my sweet Maizy. Super cute! Jess is also one of the organizers for both Vida Vegan Con and Portland's Vegan Iron Chef. She's also the coolest. I totally love her unwavering devotion to her projects (seriously, the attention to detail that the Vida Vegan Con ladies exhibited and in that pantry selection at Vegan Iron Chef... holy smokes!) and how friendly and laid back she is. She laughs really easily (and a lot) which makes you feel nothing but comfortable around her. Jess rules!

Zelda contemplates her own spicy treat.

The Vegan Thing Jess Likes is Food for Lovers Queso!

This vegan queso is unbelievable and shows just how far the understanding of nutritional yeast has come. It's wonderfully creamy with a nice amount of heat and I'm so attached to the cute little jars that I keep my favorite hair clips in a cleaned one in the bathroom. With each bite, I wonder, why doesn't every single vegan-friendly taqueria serve this yet?! Hint hint, Los Gorditos! True story: I came home after the non-stop weekend that was Vida Vegan Con (where I met said lovely queso purveyors!), barely had the energy to open the fridge, let alone grab take out, but I was so damn hungry! A nuked jar of queso + the end of a bag of chips saved my life. Thank you, Food for Lovers! You really make me consider a party with a nacho pump.

Marla Rose likes Iced Tea

2011-10-25T05:59:00.000-07:00

Marla Rose is another Chicago vegan and one of the main organizers for Chicago VeganMania along with her husband, John. She's also the lady dressed like a cupcake on the website (and at the event)! She writes the awesome blog, Vegan Feminist Agitator in addition to being the Chicago Vegan Restaurant Examiner. She is a super upbeat and nice lady, unless you write something ignorant on the internet and then she will eloquently rip you to shreds. Yep, Marla is pretty darn cool.

The Vegan Thing She Likes is Iced Tea!

Maybe I’m weird that with all the great vegan stuff out there, I choose iced tea. As long as it’s not caffeinated, it’s fresh and there is plenty of ice, I am usually pretty content. (Oh, except for the ultra-fruity teas that taste very artificial or the ones that are supposed to mimic coffee or the ones that are just too wispy and unassertive. Okay, I am a pain.) As someone who almost literally bounces off walls after consuming anything with even the notion of caffeine in it, I am grateful for tall glasses of this stuff. It tastes the very best when my husband pours it for me: he balances the ice somehow like a staircase, the tea is just perfectly refreshing. Or maybe I’m just lazy and I want him to bring me tea. It’s my little secret.

I just happen to have the Trader Joe’s brand Organic Spiced Rooibos Ruby Red Chai here as I am on this particular kick - I am a serial monogamist with the iced tea that strikes my fancy until I move on to another and eventually wander back to teas I have left in the dust (they always forgive me) – and it is a good one. I like rooibos in general because it reminds me of a milder, smoother black tea and this one, flavored with cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and other aromatic spices, is great on its own, with an orange slice or lemon slice or even, if you’re feeling in the mood for a little decadence, dressed up with a glug of maple syrup and a few splashes of coconut milk creamer for a homemade iced tea latte. Mmm…

I spend most of my day writing and a glass of iced tea is my perfect companion. Occasionally the ice shifts and there’s a little clink as everything moves around but other than that, the iced tea is a perfectly silent, supportive companion. It makes me feel a little taken care of whether I’m in the throes of writer’s block or in the midst of a creative flow and is just another example of a lovely thing that happens to be vegan by nature.

Andrea Juracek likes Revolution's Tempeh Ruben

2011-10-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is Andrea Juracek! I love love love Andrea. She is a really cool lady and pit bull mom who started up an awesome Chicago pet rescue with her friends called One Tail at a Time. One Tail does a million cool fundraisers throughout the year (including Doga - yoga for you and your dog which I am honored to teach with my sweet dogs) and helps a seemingly endless amount of dogs find their way out of animal control and into foster, and finally forever homes. Andrea has a super big heart and is so dedicated to social justice for both animals and humans. She is a lady that I definitely recommend getting to know. She also likes great vintage stuff and her husband, Pat (who is a non-Vegan Person I Like)!

The Vegan Thing Andrea Likes is the Tempeh Ruben from Revolution Brewing.

The vegan thing I like is the tempeh reuben (no cheese, extra kraut) from Revolution Brewing in Logan Square. My husband and I went to Revolution when it first opened and this is what I got. The recipes at the time were still being worked out and at first it was not so great - it was just lots of bland tempeh on some bread. Since it was a new place, I brought it up to the manager just to give some feedback. She was happy I did so and comp'd us all our drinks! We decided to keep coming back since it was in our neighborhood and the beer was great. With every visit the food got better and better. The reuben has blossomed into this amazing sandwich that is perfectly seasoned. Revolution's vegan thousand island dressing and sauerkraut add in to make it one of my all-time fav sandwiches.

Carrie Morse likes Rescue Chocolate

2011-10-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Carrie Morse! Carrie is a lady who I met while living in Philadelphia and who I have known for a lot of years now! We bonded over a love of vegan food and pit bulls (which we both share our lives with). She is also a great cook and baker and I highly recommend wrangling an invite to any potluck that she's going to be a part of! Carrie is also known as Supercarrot and you can click that link there to find out how much cool stuff she's involved in.

Also, Carrie's husband, Scott, (oh, they had such a lovely and delicious vegan wedding!) is involved in the 8-Big Brigade Child's Play Fundraiser, so click there to learn more!

The Vegan Thing Carrie Likes is Rescue Chocolate's Peanut Butter Pit Bull!

i was always a huge fan of whatchamacallits in my younger years, and since going vegan, i've relied on luna bar's nutz over chocolate for my PB/crispy fix. it wasn't exactly what i needed, but it was suitable. then along comes rescue chocolate's peanut butter pit-bull. it was exactly what i needed. it has the perfect salt to sweet ratio, and the chocolate doesn't overwhelm the PB. at room temperature, it's sufficiently solid to hold it's shape. (nobody likes a floppy chocolate bar) the peanut butter has some grit to it, which adds to the fun in your mouth. unlike the whatchamacallit, the peanut butter pit bull doesn't have caramel, but that's okay. it was more the crispy peanut butter that i was yearning for, and this candy bar answers it like a champ.

another great thing about rescue chocolate is that they donate 100% of all net profits to animal rescue organizations (the peanut butter pit bull focuses on healing the negative image of pibbles) and living with a pittie myself, i feel it's my duty to eat as many of these candy bars as i can.

I'm so glad to be able to post a great review of these! I've really wanted to try these and support vegan chocolate makers AND pit bull rescue, but I'm allergic to nuts! So, Carrie is doing me a big favor. You can do me a big favor by going out and buying a bar in my honor (or in my dogs' honor... three pit bulls means three chocolate bars for you!).

James Scott likes Zico Chocolate Coconut Water

2011-10-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Jamey Scott is a Dallas Vegan who is involved in a number of projects to help Texans Go Vegan. He works with Mercy for Animals and also helps to organize the Texas State Veggie Fair, which is in it's second year and taking place TOMORROW at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake in Dallas. There will be a vegan deep fried food contest, vendors, samples, speakers and more! (I will be there teaching yoga early on so you can get the body prepared for digestion, and then working with Upton's the rest of the day). So come by the Veggie Fair and say hi to Jamey and thank him for his involvement in such a great event!

The Vegan Thing Jamey Likes is Zico Chocolate flavored Coconut Water.

One of the more recent vegan things that I like (although, it's more of an obsession right now) is Zico Chocolate flavored Coconut Water. I grew up drinking Yoo-Hoo drinks (and the lesser-known "Chocolate Soldier") and loved the chocolately, sweet taste - much more than I liked chocolate milk (it's a wonder I still have all of my teeth!). Fast forward (ahem) a few years, and while I could easily snag a vegan chocolate "milk" product, Yoo-Hoo type drinks were nowhere to be found - until now! When I saw Zico's new Chocolate Coconut Water, I was not entirely excited - given that I'm not a huge fan of coconut water in general. But after my first sip, I knew I had finally found a replacement for those sugary sweet chocolate drinks of my childhood. The best part is, these *aren't* full of sugar, dairy, and high-fructose corn syrup. Just simple ingredients, low-calories and low-sugar, and full of flavor. What's more, its high potassium and electrolyte content make it a great post-workout treat! Try one today!

Wes Keely likes Big Franks (and he can not lie)

2011-10-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Wes Keely! Wes is a dude who I've known for well over a decade since we were young, straight edge Michiganders. Now we're old and (still) straight edge and I live in Chicago and he's in Seattle. When he visits Chicago, he likes to go to Chicago Diner and order like 3 plates of things and mash them all into a single-plate concoction that I have appropriately dubbed a "pile." You'll have to contact him about the proper ratios of food to make a correct pile, but boy do they look good! I tend to stick with a single entree, but you know how they say... go big or go home.

The Vegan Thing Wes Likes is Worthington's Loma Linda "Big Franks."

Hello I have decided to share with everyone in the vegan world and beyond that Worthington's Loma Linda "Big Franks" are 100% a vegan food that I "LIKE"! I am sure some have you have seen these before but if you haven't they are a canned vegan "hot dog" that comes 8 to a can. Open the can, drain the "juice/water" heat them up, pile em high with all your favorite things just like you did when you were a kid and then shove them down your gullet! They have a long shelf life, they are a quick meal to have on the go, and are easily one of the better vegan "hot dogs" on the market. Sometimes you can find them at the supermarket but the will for sure be like $8 a can and that's just way too much. You can buy them on amazon by the case and the break down is way cheaper per dog especially if you order and get the free shipping.

If you happen to be in Seattle please visit Side Car, Seattle's only all vegan store! Not only do they have the Big Franks there for a great price, they also have Mighty O Donuts, Uptons, and are right across the street from Seattle's own Wayward Vegan Café. So come to Seattle and get fat!!

To be honest, I have had a can of these in my pantry that were given to me by a friend for over a year now and we have yet to eat them out of fear of grossness. This review might finally push me over the edge to give them a try! What do you think?

Tom Truty likes Portobello's Arrabiata Pizza

2011-10-20T05:52:00.000-07:00

Tom Truty is today's Vegan Person I Like. Tom is a Chicago native who is now living in Portland, along with his wife Michele, featured just yesterday on this very blog! Tom is a really laid back, funny, and awesome dude. He is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist, so we share a lot of similarities in our spiritual paths and I love meeting people with dedication to deep down real deal self-discovery! Tom and I also share an allergy to nuts, so we can bond over the vegan foods that we are unfortunately unable to enjoy (though, the trade off of continuing to be alive is totally worth it)! Tom also has a blog which you can visit right here.

The Vegan Thing Tom Likes is the Arrabiata Pizza at Portobello in Portland.

The vegan thing I like is the Arrabiata pizza from Portland’s Portobello Vegan Trattoria. I’ve been there a million times…and I order this every time. The crust is perfect New York brick-oven crispy, but the cheese and fennel sausage soothe any ex-Chicagoan’s soul. It’s got chili-fennel marinara, cherry peppers, housemade vegan seitan sausage, basil, and Daiya. They recently changed the cheese over to a housemade cashew version, but they’ll use Daiya if you ask—which I do because cashews will kill me.

Michele Truty likes Cilantro

2011-10-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Michele Truty! I met Michele on one of my seemingly innumerable trips to Portland, where she does it all, involving herself in organizing events like Vegan Iron Chef and Vida Vegan Con! I also learned that she is an Illinois native, which is more than I can say for myself (sorry, I was born in the mitten!). Also, I don't mean to be rude, but in person she looks quite a lot older than this photo she sent (in which, she wanted to emphasize, she is sitting on a vinyl couch) with her old pal, Andy (gone but not forgotten). Oh, and most importantly, she writes Vegtastic Voyage which is a super entertaining and informative vegan blog that you should go check out just as soon as you read the rest of this entry.

Because the Vegan Thing Michele Likes is (one of my favorites) cilantro!!

I’m championing the underdog here and going with cilantro as a vegan thing I like. When people hate cilantro, they really hate cilantro. Not usually one to judge folks on their preferences, I’m going out on a limb this time and saying they’re just wrong. Cilantro is versatile, widely available, and super delicious and nutritious!

You can’t just put it on anything, but almost. I love a spicy cilantro pesto for a pizza base or to dress up some simple pan-fried polenta. Whizzed up with some peanuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices it’s a simple yet dazzling bread-dippin’ dish. Or just shove a handful into whatever Thai thingie you’re making, taco you’re throwing together, or that burger you weren’t remotely excited about…until now.

Sandi Swiss likes Ground Flaxseed

2011-10-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

Sandi Swiss is a lovely vegan lady who is also the bearer of sweets! She is the baker behind the Chicago suburbs' best (only?) vegan bakery, which she runs with her partner Brian, Canary Confectionery! They don't have a storefront location, but you can order baked goods, truffles, and other sweet treats from them for your own party or event. Canary Confectionery even made the cupcakes for my most recent birthday celebration! You will be able to find Canary Confectionery treats for sale in the food court at the upcoming Chicago VeganMania. Sandi also runs a group called Compassionate Friends of the West Suburbs which she keeps updated with information, events, and other items of interest.

The Vegan Thing Sandi Likes is Ground Flaxseed!!

I am sure there is someone our there thinking "WHAT? Of all the awesome vegan foods out there you choose flaxseed!? What about pizza? Or Earth Balance? How is flaxseed better than ice cream? Nothing is better than Diaya cheese...This girl is nutty!"

BUT, after thinking about all the vegan things I like, I realized that I wanted to talk about something that is awesome in more than one way, I use alot, and that some people may not know about. So I thougt about my eating habits, and that led me to ground flaxseed! In addition to the health benefits to flaxseed (Omega-3 fatty acids, high in fiber and lignans) it is very versatile. I first started using it in my morning smoothies for the health benefits. A banana/mixed berry/flaxseed/kale smoothie really makes a tasty difference in the morning!

Being a baker, I also use it as an egg replacer for some of my vegan treats! Some people say it has a nutty flavor, so I usually use it in recipes that go well with nuts or already contain nuts like fall cookies and carrot cake. Now I was really nervous the first time I uesd flaxseed in baking, when you mix it with water or a milk substitute, it gets reallllly gummy and makes for quite the unusual batter. But something magic happens in the oven and fantastic baked goods appear chock full of omega-3's and fiber!

While I was on vacation with my friend Melissa, she made raw "pancakes" using ground flaxseed, and they were so tasty, I make them at home now with bananas and nuts. Flaxseed is also found in crackers and other snacks, however it does need to be ground to get the health benefits. I buy mine whole and in bulk at Whole Foods and grind it in my Vita Mix, because I read that it has the most nutrients right after being ground. The rest I put in my freezer. You can also buy it already ground! If you haven't already tried flaxseed, I hope that you consider tossing it into your next smoothie or cookie recipe.

Chris Tate likes Macbeth's Eliot Shoes

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Chris Tate is Crystal's (you know, yesterday's Vegan Person I Like) other half and her Co-Founder in vegan queso over at Food for Lovers. He is a really friendly and seems like a down to earth guy, which is always how I hope that fellow vegans will be when I meet them! Chris and Crystal's business growth has been quick and it's impressive that they really took the leap in a product that they (and the PPK forums!) believed in. I hope that they sell a whole heck of a lot of queso! Why not help out and pick yourself up a jar (or two or three)?!

The Vegan Thing Chris Likes is Macbeth's Eliot Vegan Shoes.

Photo from Macbeth.com.

I ordered shoes from Macbeth's vegan line from Vegan Essentials when I was 17. I was pretty excited to find vegan shoes after searching the entire internet. I was a new vegan then, too. After 9 years of veganism, I can't find better vegan shoes. I replaced them a few times, but I still wear Macbeths at 25. These cruelty free vegan shoes look great, are durable and last long. I've toured with Macbeths and did lots of walking around (before I could drive). I wear a couple of different colors from the Eliot style.

I think we still need more vegan shoe options. It'd be cool to see more vegan shoe companies pop up.

Crystal Tate likes Hail Merry Blonde Macaroons

2011-10-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

I met Crystal (photo of her on the right with Ani Phyo at left) and her husband, Chris (more on him tomorrow!), both super sweeties, at Vida Vegan Con. Being in a couple that is "behind" a vegan brand, it's really exciting to meet other couples working to make vegan businesses a reality. Crystal is the CEO and Co-Founder of Food for Lovers, a company that makes some darn tasty vegan queso coming straight out of Texas! If you're in Chicago, we'll be offering Crystal's queso as part of our menu at Chicago VeganMania in a few weeks, so make a point to stop by (especially if you haven't tried this queso before). You will not be disappointed!

The Vegan Thing Crystal Likes is Hail Merry Blonde Macaroons!

Photo from HailMerry.com

Our kitchen is pretty much free of sweets. We sometimes make an exception for these snacks, because they're made with maple syrup. These macaroons taste like glazed donut holes, except they're raw. Each macaroon is really soft. Even better, the macaroons are made with coconut oil which melts at room temp. When you eat one, it literally melts in your mouth.

Hail Merry is a vegan female-owned company from Dallas, Texas. They are really involved in their community and are a really great company to check out.

Gill Gillono likes Merry Hempsters Vegan Lip Balm

2011-10-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Gill Gillono. Gill is a Chicago Vegan scene staple who you can usually find smiling or offering a hug or up to her armpits in the nearest garbage can fishing out all of the recyclables and compostables because SOMEONE just chucked it all in there together like a neanderthal! My favorite thing about Gill is the innate value that she sees in every single thing, person, or animal she encounters. She is "too good" for no one and as a result, is the most amazing bridge builder in our vegan community. She brings people together and creates solid, diverse community amongst those who have existed alongside each other for years but never had this catalyst to connect. You can find her doing all kinds of things like Greening (a fancy term for joyfully separating trash!) at Chicago VeganMania (and about a dozen other events and places including the park near her home). She also supports our pit bull friends (she lives with two) by devoting her time to Don't Bully My Breed. She also recently organized a bike ride fundraiser for Chicago's nearby Wedrose Acres animal sanctuary in Gridley, IL where she organizes a monthly vegan potluck which is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

The Vegan Thing Gill Likes is Merry Hempsters Vegan Lip Balms.

Photo from MerryHempsters.com.

As a nature loving, non makeup wearing Vegan gal I realize the importance of cruelty free moisturizers. I am also a Freegan who does not shop unless absolutely necesarry. One of my biggest pet peeves is dry skin, including my lips. I've yet to find a Vegan lipbalm while dumpstering so I was thrilled when the Merry Hempsters generously offered free samples of their Vegan lip balm to all of our riders on our recent 1st Annual Two day Vegan BikeRide for Wedrose Acres. This stuff Rocks! It comes in a variety of flavors, it isn't oily, it lasts, it's made from Hemp which is another favorite product of mine, it's all natural, over 70% organic, certified Vegan, no bees were harmed & it feels great! The company is super kind, generous& supportive of local causes, as well. I'm kind of addicted & when I run out of my sample tube I will venture out of my comfort zone & actually walk in the front door of a store to get more which is a testimony to how much I dig this product.

Kittee Bee Berns likes Leslie Hall

2011-10-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Kittee Bee Berns, another awesome Portland resident that I had the good fortune to meet on my recent trips there. Kittee is a lover of Ethiopian food, which you can find out loads more about in her completely vegan and gluten-free cookzine, Papa Tofu Loves Ethiopian Food. Kittee also co-founded the site, xgfx, which is a vegan and gluten-free recipe resource. She also lives with a really great and very particular dog named Vee who let me ever-so-briefly pet him and, more importantly, admire his stunning shaggy coat. Those two are like peas in a pod, Kittee and Vee. I love it. You can also find Kittee at her blog, Cake Maker to the Stars which, among other things, reviews vegan cookzines in a "Vegan Cook-Zine Museum" feature. Brilliant!

The Vegan Thing Kittee Likes is actually a Vegan Person Kittee Likes, Leslie Hall! Since it's Vegan MoFo "Hump Day" (we're nearly halfway through the month!), Kittee's organized a MoFo Flash Mob to promote the new vegan song from her favorite vegan artist. You may see Leslie Hall all over the MoFo feed today!

The vegan thing that I like is Leslie Hall! She is a great performer (she has amazing dance moves and costumes), and if you ever have the chance to see her live, you should be sure to go. My favorite songs are Craft Talk, Gem Sweater and Tight Pants/Body Rolls. Her lyrics are seriously the best.

Since Leslie knows how hard we're all working for Mofo, she wanted to help us celebrate VeganMoFo Hump Day with her vegan song. This song is unreleased, so you can't find it anywhere else! For you, the link is here! You can also read all of the lyrics at Kittee's blog post!

Mikael Nielsen likes Vegan for Life

2011-10-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Mikael Nielsen! Mikael is easily one of Chicago's most prolific animal activists. You can often find him, along with his daughter Riley, taking to the streets to extoll the benefits of a compassionate plant-based diet to anyone who will listen. Some of the groups he works with are Mercy for Animals (where he serves as Chicago's Outreach Coordinator), Vegan Outreach, Justice for Animals, and Chicago VeganMania. He and Riley also care for a large group of animal friends in their own home (I've never met his canine companion, but I hear endlessly from people about how wonderful he is)! If you see Mikael around town, take a moment to say hello and thank him for all of his dedicated, compassionate work!

The Vegan Think Mikael Likes is the book Vegan for Life by Jack Norris and Ginny Messina.

The vegan thing I like is the new book Vegan for Life: Everything You Need to Know to Be Healthy and Fit on a Plant-Based Diet. Vegan Outreach President Jack Norris has been a hero of mine for quite some time, so I was super thrilled to learn about this book he co-authored with fellow dietitian Ginny Messina. Not to mention that I have been on a real health kick lately, so the timing couldn't have been better. Written for both long time vegans as well as brand spanking new ones, this book makes no over the top claims or promises about the benefits of a plant-based diet. It is just well researched, useful information that all vegans need to know to maintain good health and is written in an easy to understand way, filled with tables and great references. Not to mention a good resource to answer any questions skeptics might have about all the wonderful benefits of a vegan lifestyle. I checked mine out from the library, but will be buying it shortly as it's one of those books that you will make notes in and go back to time and time again. Read this and you truly will be Vegan for Life!

Leigh-Chantelle Koch likes Pure Gaisha Mineral Liquid Eyeliner

2011-10-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

Leigh-Chantelle is another vegan lady who does it all! We met in Portland at the Vida Vegan Conference where she was a presenter and the hostess of the Saturday night Galarama (which I did not get to attend because I was preparing to serve sandwiches to a late-night crowd of hungry Portlanders and visiting bloggers)! At any rate, I found Leigh-Chantelle to be pretty darn charming. When she's not in Portland hanging out with bloggers, she lives in Brisbane, Australia and runs the online vegan community Viva la Vegan! which is filled with articles, recipes, videos, a blog, and more!

The Vegan Thing She Likes is Pure Gaisha Mineral Liquid Eyeliner.

I am obsessed with makeup and I love the Mineral Liquid Eyeliner from Adelaide-based Pure Gaisha. I have quite a few of their wonderful colours that Shane McCann makes. Pure Gaisha is mineral makeup, cruelty free and vegan. I have a few photos of myself wearing the eyeliners.

At a friends’ wedding in Oct 2010 I made some pink accessories to compliment my Fushia eyeliner (above left).

At one of the Princesses and Pirates fundraisers (2009) for my Green Earth Festival I wore the Aqua eyeliner when I was a princess (above center).

At the Green Earth Festival March 2010 that I organised and promoted, I wore the Green eyeliner (above right).

Mineral Liquid Eyeliner- AU$28.00 each

Bronze - Shimmery bronze

Cloud - Steel silvery grey
Cocoa - Rich chocolate
Flower - Hot fuchsia pink
Forest - Dark emerald
Gothic - Jet black
Iris - Bright irridescent deep violet
Plum - Rich deep violet
Snow - Pure brilliant white with just a touch of shimmer
Summer - Fresh bright stunning aqua. A perfect new season look
Willow - A beautiful lavender shade

I also have Makeup Videos on my YouTube channel: Mermaid Makeup Video, 5 Minute Vegan Makeup, All about Vegan Makeup. I also have an article on my Viva la Vegan! website on makeup. I recently spoke at the Vida Vegan Con - where I met Nicole - on the Vegan Fashion panel and the video for this will be on my YouTube channel soon.

If you're lucky, maybe you'll run into Leigh-Chantelle on one of her US tours eating at your local vegan hotspot. Until then, keep yourself entertained and informed on her great website and YouTube channel!

Marci DiVerde likes Upton's Naturals Seitan

2011-10-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Today the Vegan Person I Like is aspiring vegan, Marci DiVerde! Marci is a high school teacher, Spanish language expert, and a most dedicated student of yoga! I love to see Marci in yoga classes every week and she is always cheerful and willing to try any pose once (at least!). She is an inspiration to fellow students and to me! In May she attended the weekend Yoga and Vegan Cooking retreat that I hosted with Chef Kim Gracen and has been aspiring to a vegan diet ever since. Any encouragement or tips that you can leave for Marci are totally welcome and I will have to remember to refer to her to the grand Vegan MoFo RSS feed. So much vegan inspiration in one place!

The Vegan Thing Marci Likes is Upton's Naturals Italian-style Seitan (eep!). She even included a quick-fix recipe that she likes!

I need to preface this with the disclaimer that I don’t think that I can be considered a real vegan because I just started in August(!) and since then I have more than once met my match with a baked good or really tasty cheese. So I guess I should be called a wannabe vegan, vegan in training, veganish, leaning toward vegan tendencies? I’ll let you decide.

Becoming vegetarian was very easy for me since I’ve never been a huge meat eater, but eliminating dairy and eggs completely has been challenging. I have had to re-learn to cook since I turned to vegan ways and making dinner that also appeals to my non-veg husband is difficult. He couldn’t be more supportive but the bottom line is he doesn’t always like what I’ve been making and as a result has been eating a lot of frozen pizza. Not. Good.

Nicole didn’t pay me to say this but one of the products that has been very helpful is Upton’s Naturals Italian flavored seitan. It allows me to make a riff on one of favorite pre-veg meals. The bonus is that it takes longer to boil the water than to make dinner. Here’s what you need:

1 lb. pasta (I like whole wheat farfalle, bowties, but I used rotini this time since that’s what I had)
½ bag of frozen peas
1 package Upton’s Italian flavored seitan
1 package sliced crimini or baby portobello mushrooms
Extra virgin olive oil
Vegan parmesan ‘cheese’
reserved pasta water (optional)

Steps:
Put the water on to boil and heat a large non-stick pan with a little oil (I usually do two swirls in the pan)
Put the mushrooms in the heated oil.
Break up the seitan to look like crumbled sausage and add to the pan.
The mushrooms and seitan are done when most of the liquid has cooked off the mushrooms.
Cook the pasta in according to package instructions and put the frozen peas in about half-way through.
When the pasta and peas are done, drain, and put back in the pot.
Add the seitan and mushrooms to the pot and toss together.
If it seems a little a little on the dry side, add some olive oil or reserved pasta water.
Add a generous amount of the parmesan and serve immediately.
Serves 4

Disclaimer #3: I know I’m sitting on a leather couch. Wasn’t a vegan when I bought it.

John McDevitt likes Vegan With A Vengeance

2011-10-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

John McDevitt is a dude who I met very recently at the Vida Vegan Con in Portland, Oregon. He is super friendly, funny, and seems like an all-around nice guy. About a month prior, I had met his girlfriend, Isa Chandra Moskowitz of the PPK as she was hosting the Vegan Iron Chef competition also in Portland, Oregon. She took a picture with me and my partner to show John, who was at home, that she had met us as she said he was a fan of our products. Very flattering! So, it was really great to finally meet the man himself! As it turns out, John is the author of the blog The Laziest Vegans in the World (love it!) and also keeps things moving over at Vegan Omaha. John is using his time here to rave about his girlfriend's book and I think it's totally right and also really, really cute. Go John.

The Vegan Thing John Likes is Vegan With A Vengeance by Isa Moskowitz.

VWAV was one of the first cookbooks I ever cooked out of. I was already Vegan when the book came out but I was drawn to the book because of the cute girl on the cover and the awesome title. When I got the book in the mail, I got a kick out of "Isa" (I pronounced her name wrong, just like everyone else) and her funny stories. I loved that she had a cat named Fizzle and that he had cooking tips throughout the book. AND I loved how she made Veganism cool and accessible. My favorite recipes out of the book are Fettuccine Alfreda, Chickpea Broccoli Casserole and the Tofu Dill Salad Sammiches.

Awwwwww. Another Vegan Thing I Like is Vegans in Love!

Denver Sheffield likes Vegan Beef Stew

2011-10-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is Denver Sheffield. Denver is the husband of yesterday's Vegan Person, my friend Flo! Denver is born and raised in Georgia, where he still lives south of Atlanta. According to his wife, he spent many years as a vegan "weirdo" in the South, but apparently veganism is even making it's way over to their neck of the woods and life is becoming a lot more comfortable! Denver likes to race sport bikes, cheer for (of course) the Denver Broncos, and spoil the heck out of his bulldog, Chai.

The Vegan Thing that Denver Likes is his favorite comfort food, Vegan Beef Stew.

Photo from Gardein.com.

My favorite vegan food is a meal; Vegan Beef Stew. I grew up on stews, beans and corn bread and meals like chicken and dumplings. When my wife was able to re-create beef stew last winter as a vegan meal it became a staple favorite for me. We found Gardein Beefless Tips. We used the recipe from Gardein as well, but made our own modifications.

When Denver isn't at home eating beef stew, you might find him at Green Sprout eating tasty vegan Chinese food in Atlanta!

Flo Sheffield likes Red Star Nutritional Yeast

2011-10-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Flo Sheffield! Flo is a great friend of mine who lives outside of Atlanta, GA and who I unfortunately haven't seen in years due to distance! Despite that fact, we remain close due to a shared interest in yoga, veganism, our dog friends, and finding our best lives no matter what may come! Flo is a devoted wife, dog mom to her baby Chai (pictured), and a wonderfully dedicated student and teacher of yoga in Atlanta. She is unfailing her in her kindness to others and puts that sweet southern charm (she is originally from New Orleans) to good use making people feel right at home in her presence.

Photo courtesy of the internet somewhere!

Pay her a visit at her yoga blog, Southern Yogini and leave her a nice comment! If you're in Atlanta, check out one of her yoga classes in the area and prepare to be inspired!

The Vegan Thing Flo Likes is Red Star Nutritional Yeast.

A product that I love to use in cooking is Red Star Nutritional Yeast. For me converting to veganisim cutting out cheese was the toughest part. I was able to use nutritional yeast to re-create a hearty and healthy mac and cheese. I also love sprinkling some on a fresh avocado or on popcorn. It really is a staple in our house!

Meagen Hugel likes Vegan Beef Slices

2011-10-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is Meagen Hugel! I was fortunate to meet Meagen a few years ago and now run into her at many of Chicago's awesome vegan events. She is a fun-loving lady (see picture) who also likes to cook, more of which you can check out at her blog, Vegan Food Addict. She was a competitor, along with her friend Blythe, in this year's Chicago Vegan Chef Showdown where her team's amazing all handmade ravioli and accompanying sauces took home third prize! You can often find Meagen out saving the animals with her vegan sister, Lauren, at her side!

The Vegan Thing that Meagen Likes is VegeUSA Vegan Beef Slices.

I love VegeUSA Vegan Beef Slices. Sold at Asian grocery stores, they are also available in duck and pork flavors. These slices are dehydrated so all you have to do is soak them in warm water for a few minutes, drain, squeeze the water out, then prepare however you want. I tend to marinate mine in whatever seasonings I feel like at the time. These "beef" slices are delicious in stir fries, kabobs, wraps, etc. They make an excellent beef replacement in nearly any recipe and have a nice, chewy texture.

Kenny Torrella likes Dun-Well Doughnuts

2011-10-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

The Vegan Person I Like today is Kenny Torrella! Kenny is the Chicago Campaign Coordinator for Mercy for Animals (blog here!) and I got to know him better as my co-conspiritor in planning the Chicago Vegan Chef Showdown MFA benefit a few months ago and I think he's great! Kenny is a driving force in making sure that we all have awesome vegan options when dining out in Chicago, as he is responsible for a number of local restaurants adding tasty vegan dishes to their existing menus. You can often find him out at the "kick off" events launching these additions making darn sure that no one in Chicago has any excuse not make delicious and compassionate dining choices!

The Vegan Thing Kenny Likes is Dun-Well Doughnuts in New York.

Photo from dunwelldoughnuts.com.

Dun-Well Doughnuts was started by my friend Dan, and his friend Chris. Not only do they make beautiful, delicious vegan doughnuts, they do it in style! These two whippersnappers' doughnuts have now been sold in NYC hotspots such as Lula's Sweet Apothecary, Blossom, Cocoa V, and more!

They're currently raising funds to open up a store-front in NYC and I don't know about you, but I would certainly appreciate an all-vegan doughnut shop in the Big Apple! If you donate to them you'll receive various prizes, everything from free doughnut vouchers, to having your own doughnut named after you, to having a private, doughnut-catered event!

They have less than a month and a half to raise another $11,500, so chip in today and reap your reward! Empower two awesome vegans today.

Betty Alper likes Melissa Shoes

2011-10-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Today's Vegan Person I Like is Betty Alper! Betty is the baking genius behind Chicago's Bot Bakery, which makes some of the tastiest baked goods I've had! Everything Bot Bakery makes is organic, vegan, and gluten-free and it all tastes amazing! Their treats combine inspired, unique flavors and are really one-of-a-kind (bell pepper cake with lime frosting!?). They don't have a brick-and-mortor location, but you can find them at farmer's markets and find their goods sold at other establishments around the city of Chicago. You can visit Bot Bakery on Facebook or Twitter and learn about where to find them and just what they're baking up next! Maybe they'll become a Vegan Thing YOU Like!

Betty also hosts a great picnic and is a movie aficionado, having seen something like a million movies in her lifetime (okay, so it's in the thousands, I'm pretty sure). She's also usually wearing something cute and unique (like her), so it's no surprise that the Vegan Thing She Likes is fashion-related in the form of Melissa Shoes.

hi i like lots and lots of vegan food but i also love vegan fashion. one of my favorite brands is melissa. They are all mostly totally jelly material and kinda almost smells like candy. Be careful they are so cute you may want to eat them

Rachael Sanders likes Tacos

2011-10-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Photo by Rachel Renee.

The Vegan Person I Like today is Rachael! Rachael is a former Chicagoian who is now residing in Hawaii! She's the coolest former employee of the South Loop Whole Foods location and I miss her every time I go in there and don't get to visit with her and have her tell me about all of the new vegan stuff in the store. Rachael's entry includes a lot of info about the Vegan Thing She Likes AND a recipe! She even talks about a Vegan Thing that I've previously featured here on this blog. Great minds think alike!

The Vegan Thing Rachael Likes is Tacos!

Hello! I’m Rachael, a gluten free vegan from Chicago currently residing on Maui. If there is one vegan thing I love more than all other vegan things, it would have to be TACOS!!! The best tacos I’ve ever had at a restaurant would have to be from Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant on Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. I seriously pine for them at least once a week now. One taco is $2.95 and stuffed to the max with vegan deliciousness. One is surely big enough to fill me up but I always order 2. Their rice has big chunks of potato in it, and their homemade hot peppers add a really awesome flavor. There are at least 2 restaurants on Maui that serve vegan tacos. Las Pinatas in Kahului has a 3 taco plate for around $10, but their tacos are boring to say the least (boring rice, boring black beans, and boring lettuce and tomato.) Cilantro in Lahaina has pretty decent roasted veggie tacos that can be made vegan, but I’m pretty sure they put some sort of gluten in there somewhere, because I always leave with a bellyache. Alas, I have made countless tacos since moving here. If there is ever a night without a dinner plan, my future husband and I automatically turn to the beloved taco. Some of the taco creations we have had include authentic Mexican rice and beans tacos, potato and homemade soyrizo tacos, Korean tofu and kimchi tacos, thai tacos, and falafel tacos. Corn tortillas really are the perfect vehicle for all foods!

I’m leaving you with the recipe for my Thai tacos, my future husband’s FAVORITE. I first made these a few years ago with my good friend Adam Scartozzi. We used to get together on a regular basis and cook really great meals, and I really appreciate those experiences, because I learned so many essential kitchen skills with him. I would say he inspired me to go vegan, but I don’t want him to get a big ego.

You’ll need to “dry fry” the tofu first. Use this method.

Rae Rae’s Thai Tacos
Makes 8 tacos

Marinade Ingredients :
1lb extra firm tofu (my favorite is the Wildwood vacuum packed super firm)
2 shallots or 1 onion, finely chopped
2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoon Bragg’s or tamari (or soy sauce if you’re ok with gluten)
2 tablespoon red curry paste (I like thai kitchen brand)
2 cups water or veg broth

Peanut sauce ingredients:
½ cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (optional if you don’t like heat)
½ tablespoon braggs
Lime juice from one juicy lime
Water to thin

Assembly ingredients:
16 corn tortillas (or 8 if you don’t double up)
Cucumber cut in half and sliced into thin spears
Carrot, shredded
Thai basil (SUPER IMPORTANT!)
Cilantro
Red pepper, sliced into long thin slices
Fresh jalapeno slices
Several lime wedges

While you are dry frying the tofu, mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. As the tofu pieces are finished cooking, add them to the bowl. Marinate for at least an hour, up to 4 hours. Pour entire marinade/tofu mixture into a large skillet or pot, and cook on medium-low until most of the liquid is gone. While the tofu is cooking, prepare the garnishing ingredients. Heat the corn tortillas. Assemble tacos. Enjoy!

Ari Nessel likes Nessel Development

2011-10-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Ari Nessel is an amazing vegan, yogi, and phenomenally deep thinker who I met several years ago as a result of our shared enthusiasm for yoga, and specifically the teachings of Yogi Sri Dharma Mittra. I was fortunate, a year or so later, to spend time with Ari in New York during our advanced training with Sri Dharma and to have the opportunity to soak up much of Ari's knowledge which he has acquired through a seemingly unwavering devotion to self-realization through a path of yoga and meditation.

Ari is also a devoted father to his two boys, pictured with him, Jonah (age 4) and Deven (age 18 months). In addition to all of this, Ari is a successful, generous, and purposeful vegan businessperson, as he tells below. The Vegan Thing He Likes is his inspiring business, Nessel Development.

My favorite vegan product, if I can pitch for myself a moment, are my apartment buildings in Dallas. We are a vegan company that provides free vegan lunches to our employees and all food bought at our properties must also be free of animal products. Additionally, we make many efforts to run our complexes in an environmentally sustainable manner. First and foremost, we buy properties that frequently others would demolish and we make them beautiful (really, I mean it). Then, through numerous renovation improvements, the properties become much more water, electric and natural gas efficient. We even have available for residents dog parks and organic gardens at all of our properties. And, if a resident adopts a pet from a shelter while living at our property, we don't charge them a pet fee.

I know you were thinking of vegan food products, but maybe vegan businesses are another way of supporting this movement. Also, we donate a considerable amount to animal rights advocacy groups each year and even provide free housing and offices to Mercy for Animals here in Dallas. (Ed note: Having met MFA folks who were working and living in a Nessel Development building, I have to say that they sound pretty wonderful!)

(Second photo borrowed from www.nesselinc.com.)

Kelly Peloza likes Speculoos/Biscoff Spread

2011-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Kelly Peloza is a super cool lady who I finally met in person at this year's Milwaukee Veg Fest when she gifted me a tasty cookie on a stick. She is a super cutie and the author of a book profiling my favorite food group, The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur! So, we know she's a great baker, but she also travels and cooks other vegan food, which you can read about in her cleverly-titled blog, Seitan Beats Your Meat. She even made some tasty tacos and competed in this year's Chicago Vegan Chef Showdown to benefit Mercy for Animals. And she is a student and photographer and makes her own clothes and probably does a ton of other cool stuff that I don't even know about yet. Also, she JUST turned 21 last month! Now don't you feel like a slacker?!

In addition to all of that, Kelly also has a really cute bunny sidekick named Gnocchi who she recently dressed up as our company mascot, which amuses me to no end. I love Gnocchi Upton. You can see her styling his little bunny hair in the photo here. Isn't he a charmer?

Anyway, without further delay, here is Kelly's Vegan Thing She Likes: Speculoos/Biscoff Spread!

This stuff is all the rage on the PPK forums, but just starting to become popular amongst all vegans. Speculoos is a peanut butter-like spread made out of cookies and it tastes like spreadable cinnamon ginger cookie magic. I was skeptical at first, but after eating it on bagels, in baked goods, and by the spoonful, I'm a total convert. I've even added a few spoonfuls to buttercream frosting and completely transformed a cupcake. It can be a little difficult to find nowadays (and make it last if you do find it), but speculoos is just one of those inconceivable things you always wished existed. Speculoos 4eva!

The picture at the right is just of the cookies that are used to make the spread that Kelly is talking about. If you're still confused, watch this video!!

Dan Staackmann likes Olive Ciabatta

2011-10-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

The best way that I can think to kick off a whole month of Vegan People I Like is to feature my personal number one vegan person. He is my partner in all aspects of life, including at work (where he is technically my boss, though it never feels that way). He is my boyfriend, Dan Staackmann! Dan is the owner of Chicago-based seitan company, Upton's Naturals, where we both work and which takes us on so many vegan-centric adventures that I was inspired to start this blog. He is a natural entrepreneur, always encouraging people to take the leap into finding their own path towards meaningful work and a happy life. He's extremely humble and extremely easy to get along with. There is no one else on earth who I'd rather have as my partner or as my first Vegan People I Like entry!

The Vegan Thing Dan Likes is the olive ciabatta pillow from Fox & Obel in Chicago.

A vegan thing I like is the Fox & Obel olive ciabatta...perfectly crafted with a firm outer crust, air-bubble-filled chewy center, real olives (not sliced and from a can) and a cornmeal dusting below. Also, no ridiculous “dough conditioners” or additives... flour, water, olives, yeast, cornmeal, salt. Perfect. Like all good breads, best consumed within 8-12 hours of baking and NEVER put in a plastic bag. I challenge anyone to find a finer ciabatta in Chicago, or anywhere else.

Dan hit the nail on the head with this pick. I willingly vouch for these being some of the most amazing bread that you will ever eat. Well worth a stop. We often pick one of these up each for a snack when we're in the area.

Vegan MoFo Month!

2011-10-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

Yeah! It's Vegan MoFo month and we're all in! For the entire month of October, Vegan Things I Like will be featuring different Vegan PEOPLE I Like and the Vegan Things THEY Like! I'm aiming for one every day, assuming that the people I like don't let me down and keep me supplied in entries! That's 31 totally awesome vegan people telling you about 31 totally awesome vegan things! October is going to ROCK!

The first entry is coming very shortly. Check back every day to learn about lots of awesome vegan people and lots of new vegan things!

Fearless Chocolate

2011-09-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

I love chocolate. Even more, my partner loves chocolate! I think he exists on at least 25% chocolate, so we can really go through a lot of chocolate around here! When I saw this raw organic chocolate from Fearless was right around $6 a bar, I was pretty excited! Raw chocolate can be pricey and I'm not sure how this variation is so affordable, but it's very welcome! This chocolate is rich and delicious and a square or two will easily curb any cravings without having to devour the whole bar. I've tried both the Sweet & Hot (Hibiscus Ginger) flavor and also the Matcha Green Tea Peppermint bar. Both are highly recommended. I will be on the lookout for a local outlet for this brand, and so should you!

Ginger Candy

2011-09-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ginger candy is another one of my must-have travel items. If you find yourself getting queasy on a plane, then a ginger chew will fix you right up! They also help keep all of those buggies that your fellow travelers bring with them from settling into your system so that you stay healthy on your trip. During takeoffs and landings, you can almost always find me with a ginger chew in my mouth. Much better than gross gum or sugary candies, too!

I picked up this box of Gin-Gins (made by the Ginger People) on clearance at Food Fight several trips ago and it has served me well. The final Gins were consumed on the most-recent flight and I will have to restock before next month's trip for certain!

Dave's Killer Bread - Sin Dawg

2011-09-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

In a previous post, I included Dave's Killer Bread's Seed Bomb, but on this most recent trip to Portland I discovered another variety of DKB, the Sin Dawg! I would be remiss as a "what I like" vegan blogger to not tell you about this marvelous bit of bread engineering. What you have when you buy a Sin Dawg is a long, seedy loaf of bread that, once sliced open, is a gooey, delicious cinnamon roll inside! I can't emphasize enough how tasty this thing is and I found over the course of my most recent trip that the mere mention of the "Sin Dawg" brings up strong feelings of devotion in the locals!

The Dave's Killer Bread story is also a great one. Dave, a former drug addict and convict turned his life around and joined in the family bread-making business with his own line of ingredient-conscious breads that are undeniably delicious! The bread is made outside of Portland and some is even delivered to stores via bike courier.

If you're ever in the Pacific Northwest, I can't recommend Dave's Killer Bread enough. I am seriously considering gifting a Sin Dawg to everyone on my holiday gift list this year, they are that good!

Cherry Chia Kombucha

2011-09-14T14:44:00.000-07:00

I recently noticed GT's Cherry Chia Kombucha drink on the shelves at Whole Foods and had to give it a try. Since the huge kombucha recall last year, I have been making my own at home, but I always try out new kombucha brands when traveling and with GT's as the grand-daddy of nationally-distributed kombuchas, knew that I had to try this combo!

My partner thought this looked and tasted disgusting and the chia seeds do have this unusual slimy "skin" around each of them. When you take a sip, you can't tell if you should swallow right away or chew up the seeds (I tried both and I suppose either works). However, I think I liked it! The drink lacked the usual fermented "kick" of a good kombucha, but I suspect it was just diluted by the addition of the chia seeds. It's like drinking a thick juice or smoothie and the added health benefits of the raw chia seeds have to count for something!

Overall, I say if you like kombucha, this new addition to the Synergy line is worth a try! I'm a fan, but for the sake of my wallet, I'll still be sticking primarily with home brew unless I'm on the road.

Travel Food

2011-09-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

I always get hungry in airports. And on airplanes. I don't know what it is, but I crave food that is healthy and satisfying. Typical airport fare leaves a lot to be desired to this end, so I always try to pack my own.

In my experience, this is the ultimate travel food: grainy bread and a ripe avocado. It's simple, healthy, comforting, filling, and easily portable (and not a liquid, so you can get it through security). It also doesn't have much of an odor, so your fellow passengers aren't disturbed (sat next to a guy eating a breakfast biscuit on my most recent flight home which was unpleasant to say the least). Grab a disposable plastic knife somewhere on your travels (or ask your friendly flight attendant) and you're good to go. I cut my avocado in half and then use each half as a little bowl to chop up the contents before spreading them on a chunk of bread, but you can enjoy these two paired any which way you like!

I picked up this Dave's Killer Bread Seed Bomb at Food Fight in Portland, OR and the avocado (requesting "one that will be good to eat tomorrow, please!") at a produce stand in Pike Place Market in Seattle (the produce and flower markets there are awesome, but the stinky, gross fish markets kind of ruin the fun).

Forbidden Gardens

2011-09-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

So, this isn't a food thing, but I think it still counts as a "vegan thing" since most of my discoveries come from my travels and this is one of my favorites! One of the coolest things about traveling is when you have a free hour or two to see something local and one of the coolest "something locals" we've seen was outside of Houston at Forbidden Gardens in Katy, Texas.

I didn't know until just now when I went to look up some details about Forbidden Gardens that it is now gone, which is a tragedy. The story, as I remember it, was that Forbidden Gardens was built by a Chinese American man who wanted to encourage a love of his Chinese culture in his children. His gardens included many buildings and models constructed in the traditional way (which were, unfortunately, not capable of withstanding the Texas sun). There was a scale model of the Forbidden City and, the most impressive, a 1/3 scale model of the tomb of the first Chinese Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, guarded by 6,000 terra cotta statues of warriors.

By the time we visited last year, Forbidden Gardens had fallen into serious disrepair and was all but deserted as we walked the grounds. The neglect made it seem even more surreal, as we saw the terra cotta warriors beaten and broken, but still standing guard under the magnificently blue Texas sky. It is not surprising, based on that visit, that the museum was not sustainable and is now closed, but it is sad to think that we'll never look on this amazing sight again. Now to see if I can pick up a piece of history for of my own.

Remedy Teas

2011-09-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Upon arriving in Seattle this past week, we visited some stores and were then hungry and wanted to go out for a bite to eat. It was about 9:30pm (11:30pm "our time") when we dragged ourselves out for a meal.

The first place we stopped at was a bar and I had inadvertently forgotten my ID in the hotel room. They still couldn't serve us food, but recommended another vegan place for dinner. When we arrived there, 45 minutes before closing, the waitress was incredibly rude to us telling us that they closed early so they could go home and that "maybe we had never worked a 12 hour shift before." Seriously. The third place we tried was also closed despite their hours posted on Happy Cow. Not knowing where to go next, we wandered towards the only lighted building in the area and fortunately, it was Remedy Teas!

Remedy Teas is an amazing little tea shop in Seattle that reminds me of Teany in New York in it's hipness and expansive tea menu. Upon entering I was delighted to learn that they were still serving food (now around 10pm) and we recounted our tale of arriving there only to eventually learn that the manager was a friend of the "rude server" restaurant owner (and was shocked at our treatment). Oh, fate. Remedy can make many of their sandwiches vegan and I opted for a Cuke Classic with vegan cream cheese and chives while my partner had a warm Tomato Fresha with vegan mozzarella. We rounded out this meal with a locally brewed kombucha and a chocolate chip green tea cookie to share (part of which is pictured). We also took a "deep sleep" tea to go with us which was delicious.

I definitely recommend Remedy Teas if you're ever in Seattle, especially later at night on a Monday or if you're in the market for a light meal or (obviously) tea! They were super friendly and hospitable and don't close before their posted hours say they will (which a local later informed me was a common occurrence in the city). The staff that we met was awesome, the space was really comfortable, the tea was perfect, and the food was perfect tea shop fare.

Irazu's Costa Rican Food

2011-08-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend is the one who introduced me to Irazu, which is located in Chicago and serves Costa Rican food. Here, I'll give you his recommendations for vegan ordering while dining at Irazu.

First of all, get the oatmeal shake made with water. Don't get soy milk, just water. This is one of my favorite parts of going to eat at Irazu. The oatmeal shake (pictured) is sweet and cinnamon-flavored and pretty darn filling on its own! You should also get a Vegetarian Taco. It's $2.95 and you don't need more than one. If you're really hungry, get an order of Yucca Fries, which come with a garlic oil for dipping. Add to that a bottomless basket of chips and a squeeze bottle of salsa and you're set for a delicious meal at a low price (but remember that they only take cash!).

The one additional thing that is a great treat when they have it is the Lava Juice, which is just watermelon juice! Refreshing and tasty!

Cafe 8

2011-08-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

In March we travelled to Tokyo, Japan where we found ourselves in a slightly more chaotic situation than anticipated when a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country just after our arrival (literally, our plane had just landed - you can read about the experience a little bit here). At any rate, once we arrived at our hotel, we were beyond blessed to find a vegan cafe located just around the block in our little neighborhood of Nakameguro.

Cafe 8 was to become our "home base" outside of the hotel. We had two meals a day there, every day after we found it. Even when all businesses were closed because of the threat of nuclear rain, they opened up and let us inside to eat. At the end of our trip they worried about us getting out of the country safely as much as we worried about leaving them behind (and they sent us off to the airport with muffins for breakfast).

And let's NOT forget the food! It was great! Despite not being strictly Japanese, the flavors were still a major change from any vegan food I have eaten in the US. We tried a number of dishes while we were there from a tofu sandwich, vegetable soup, crusty fresh-made bread with tofu spread and plump raisins, curry, vegetables cooked in a staub, and more. And the desserts! They were incredible in that they were flavorful, but not as sweet as you'd find in the US. One of my favorites there was a bitter hot chocolate, though I also ate my fair share of banana bread pudding with a sweet cream on the side.

I could write a really long entry about the role that Cafe 8 and it's awesome employees played in making us feel at home in Japan, but I'll save it for another forum. Rest assured that I will be back someday under more pleasant circumstances and I can't wait!

Injera Wraps

2011-08-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

As one could probably imagine, LA has a huge variety of awesome vegan foods, including co-ops with amazing selections of grab and go items. One of my absolute favorites are these delicious injera wraps from Rahel Ethiopian Cuisine. They are perfectly spiced, perfectly wrapped, and perfectly filling! They are available at a number of co-ops and I think also some Whole Foods markets in the LA-area. Highly recommended!

Native Foods

2011-08-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we attended a complimentary pre-opening meal service at the new Native Foods location in Wicker Park (Chicago). The staff was wildly hospitable and the food was delicious. They also have a really comprehensive allergy menu which is great for those who need to avoid certain ingredients. It's easy to see why Native Foods has been so successful in California as they seem to have their business model down to a science. We were very excited also to meet Chef Tanya, the visionary behind this concept who is, as it turns out, a fan of our products. It is always wonderful to hear positive reviews from other people doing good things in the world of vegan food. If you are in Chicago (or California and haven't been yet), I strongly recommend a visit for a meal to Native Foods. Having only tried a few things, I can't give a definitive recommendation, but I really enjoyed their tempeh burger. Also, the Watermelon Fresca (watermelon, mint, and agave) was extra refreshing and is all-you-can-drink! The Wicker Park location opens today with more on the way for Chicagoians!

Food Fight! Vegan Grocery Store

2011-08-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

Despite the fact that I have absolutely no time to devote to such a project, I have dreams of opening a vegan grocery store. I love bringing new vegan products to people who maybe haven't seen them before (hello, blog!). As a customer, I love the idea of walking in and knowing that you can buy anything and that someone I can trust is assuring me that everything within those walls is vegan! Food Fight is an amazing all-vegan destination that carries a wide variety of food and other items. They have it all, right down to a well-stocked produce section. Even better, their prices are really, really reasonable. While I was there I found items that I'd read about online, but hadn't seen in person yet. They are located in Portland's "Vegan Mini Mall" which also contains Herbivore and Sweetpea vegan bakery. This is a must-visit destination in Portland! I can't wait to go back soon (we've been traveling to Portland a lot lately)!

Tableside Guacamole

2011-08-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

So, making your own guac at home is easier and probably cheaper, but it's kind of fun to be out at a restaurant and request exactly how much of each ingredient you want without having to be the one to chop it, scoop it, or mix it up. In other parts of the country, tableside guacamole can be a pricey novelty, but not in Texas! This tableside guac is from Christina's, a small non-vegan chain near Dallas, Texas where my mom and stepdad like to eat. I like my guac with cilantro, tomatoes, a little salt, and lots of lime.

Alo Drinks

2011-08-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Another vendor who we met in Portland a few months ago was a man from the Alo company. His booth was behind ours at a trade show and he generously kept us hydrated all weekend with these delicious Aloe Vera drinks. The company must have great distribution, because I see them for sale everywhere including most recently my local corner supermarket and a Piggly Wiggly in Wisconsin. They are affordable, every flavor I've tried is good, and they're very refreshing! Aloe is as good for your insides as it is for your outsides, so drink up!

Nopal Cactus Corn Chips

2011-07-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

When I saw these on the shelf at Rainbow Acres in LA, I couldn't resist. The ingredient list on these chips includes: Corn, water, vegetable oil, powder cactus, salt, and traces of lime juice making their bright green color totally natural! Their flavor is unlike any chip I've ever tried and very unique. They are a little thinner than the chips that I usually prefer, but they are definitely worth trying out if you ever see them on the shelf. In the meantime, you can read more about nopales!

Macrobiotic Meals

2011-07-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Back in April, we visited a new market for us, Southern California. It was a great trip and we didn't even get to eat a fraction of the things we wanted to try while we were out there, so I guess we'll just have to go back sometime soon!

Despite all of the vegan indulgence (and oh, there was plenty, like a tasty trip to Doomie's), one of the best meals we had was at macrobiotic restaurant, Seed in Venice Beach. It's a friendly, unpretentious space located just off the Venice Beach boardwalk with affordable, tasty, nourishing meals. They also have some killer dessert options which are almost too fancy for a beachside cafe (but don't let that stop you). I can't recommend this place enough. Definitely check it out if you are ever in the area! In the meantime, the owners Eric and Sanae have some macrobiotic cookbooks out for sale which I haven't tried, but flipped through at the restaurant and look stellar.

Spicy Ketchup

2011-07-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

I discovered Maya Kaimal Spicy Ketchup when their booth was located across from ours at a Portland, OR trade show a few months ago. I was immediately taken with this Indian-spiced ketchup. It is super flavorful and adds just the right kick to nearly anything that you're already putting ketchup on. Last night we even used it in place of BBQ sauce on some baked tofu for a delicious change of pace. You've gotta taste this stuff!

Masala Dosa

2011-07-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

Ah, Masala Dosa. Cheap, delicious, filled with potatoes and spices, and topped with dal. You are a beautiful thing.

This particular Masala Dosa is from Annapurna on Devon Ave in Chicago. I think it runs between $3-4 and is filling and tasty. You can go down the street before or afterwards and get an equally inexpensive fresh juice or a macheted-on-the-spot coconut at Fresh Farms International Market.

Perfection.

Genesis Organic Ginger Lemonade

2011-07-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Portland, I picked up a Genesis Organic Apple Ginger Juice. I was highly amused that the label referred to the drink as a "good source of ginger." It was super tasty and so the next day, I tried out the Ginger Lemonade which is probably also a good source of ginger, despite the label not saying so. Consisting of just water, lemons, ginger, and agave, you can't go wrong with this stuff. It's just sweet enough, just gingery enough, and just plain delicious. Lemonade is probably in my top 5 favorite drinks of all time and this one is a major winner. I can't wait to get back to the Pacific Northwest and try out a few more flavors.

Oh, Hey There!

2011-07-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Vegan Things I like! I'm Nicole, a 15+ year vegan from the midwest who likes a lot of Vegan Things. I am a part time yoga teacher and part time employee of an awesome vegan food manufacturer. The second job allows me the opportunity to travel the country discovering new and awesome Vegan Things. I always return home to Chicago dying to share what I've found and this blog is my opportunity to do just that! Here I'll feature people, products, businesses, and other Vegan Things I Like!

Stay tuned for more to come!