Fans of fine food, especially of the vegan variety, went into a tizzy when word came last monththat the chefs behind Philadelphia's acclaimed plant-based Vedge restaurant were opening a concept in Washington. Their street-food-themed V Street won't arrive until late fall, so be patient.

[The chefs behind the best vegan food in the country are opening a restaurant in D.C.]

In the meantime, if you're looking to get your fix of satisfying food free of meat, eggs or dairy, you've got plenty of options. Here's a sampling of local spots that are exclusively vegan:

Elizabeth's Gone Raw: Once a week, this downtown venue offers a tasting menu of minimally cooked vegan fare, with such creations as a cauliflower terrine with kelp caviar and yellow pepper-turmeric sorbet.1341 L St. NW.

HipCityVeg: This Philadelphia import puts a vegan twist on fast-food staples. Its signatureCrispy HipCity Ranch is a pretty good riff on a fried chicken sandwich.712 Seventh St. NW.

[Tastes like chicken? We tried HipCityVeg's Crispy HipCity Ranch.]

NuVegan Cafe: Formerly Woodland's Vegan Bistro (and before that, Everlasting Life Cafe), the menu here features an array of comfort and soul food-inspired options, from fried chick'n and lasagna to mac and cheese and collard greens.2928 Georgia Ave.;8150 Baltimore Ave., College Park.

Postmodern Foods:In addition to a line of juices, this organic operation has a repertoire that includes sushi, collard wraps and desserts.762B Walker Rd., Great Falls.

Shouk:A pita-based shop with Middle Eastern flair that doesn't use the word vegan. The veggie burger may be the best in Washington. 655 K St. NW.

[Shouk is serving our new favorite veggie burger in Washington]

Soupergirl: You'll find filling, interesting soups, plus salads and sandwiches, at this pair of shops. Some of the best offerings are in the summer, when there's a variety of refreshing gazpachos.314 Carroll St. NW;1829 M St. NW.

Sticky Fingers: A longtime staple on the vegan scene, this bakery offers a large menu of sweets (cakes, cookies, muffins, etc.) and casual savory fare. (There's a sister diner, Fare Well, on H Street NE.)1370 Park Rd. NW.

Read more:

The next frontier for vegan restaurants? Not calling yourself a vegan restaurant.

What D.C. restaurants have finally changed about the way they treat vegetables

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7 vegan restaurants where you can eat so much more than salad - Washington Post

Bride goes to great length to ensure a menu free of animal cruelty; uses reusable flower decorations, too

Nowadays, more and more brides and grooms are adopting the nomeat diet, and their reception menus are reflecting this popular trend. Following suit, earlier this month, a city-based couple decided to serve only vegan dishes during their wedding function.

Mudra Shirvaikar, a graphic designer, who turned into a vegan five years ago, wanted the satyashodhak wedding to be free of animal cruelty. She shared, Growing up in a Goan family, meat and fish were regular fixtures. Even as a child, I had thoughts about the cruelty while eating nonvegetarian dishes, but was too young to take a stand. At 18, I turned vegan, and I wanted this belief to be reflected during the wedding function that we were hosting.

However, family members were initially apprehensive about serving vegan dishes, as they didnt want the guests to complain about the food. Family members were sceptical, but wanted us to do whatever made us happy. It was easy to please vegan diners, but even relatives with conventional ideas, who arent very accepting to changes, appreciated the dishes served, Mudra added.

Ameya Jagtap, an advertising professional, is on the verge of turning vegetarian and subsequently vegan is following the footsteps of his wife. He said, We wanted to do away with any of the rituals based on gender discrimination associated with weddings. But, the biggest task was preparing the vegan menu on a large scale as we had up to 350 guests. Mudra has sacrificed her favourite strawberry cream for the cause of animal cruelty, and we wanted to maintain the ideals that she follows.

Ameya continued, A maternal uncle exclaimed he enjoyed the paneer starter a lot; we had to tell him that it was made of tofu. Even the aamras made without milk was appreciated by the guests.

The challenge primarily lay in the dessert, as the family members were of the opinion that ice cream be kept as an option, while Mudra suggested shrikhand. However, the idea was shot down as it would clash with aamras. After much research online, we decided to use hung curd instead of custard and cream that is used to make fresh fruit trifle, she said.

Ameyas sister Rucha, who is a travel consultant, said the family was confident about the couples plans, after overcoming the initial hesitation. Both of them work for the cause of animals and the environment, and bringing their beliefs into the wedding was wonderful. The number of wedding cards was limited and the flower decorations were of plastic so that they could be reused, Rucha added.

Read this article:

Couple gives Indian wedding a vegan twist, wins hearts - Pune Mirror

Non-dairy and meat-free foods sales such as tofu are rising fast, supermarkets report. Photograph: Felicity Cloake for the Guardian

How about slapping an avocado and peanut burger on the barbecue this weekend?

If youre sticking with steaks, you are missing a trend in which rising numbers of Brits are joining famous names such as Jeremy Corbyn, former president Bill Clinton and Brad Pitt and choosing to go meat-free.

Tesco says demand for vegetarian and vegan readymeals and snacks has soared 40% in the past year, prompting the UKs biggest supermarket to introduce new labelling to flag up all its vegan products.

The Tesco move comes a few months after rival grocer Asda became the first UK supermarket to use the Vegan Society trademark on its products, starting with vegan vodka.

With growing awareness of the environmental impact of meat eating and the trend for plant-based clean eating, the market research firm Mintel says 11% of Brits say they have at least tried to follow a vegan diet cutting out all animal products from their diet, including meat, fish, milk, cheese, eggs and honey.

Even those who cant cut out the burgers or bolognese do appear to be trying to cut down on meat consumption.

The number of light meat-eaters, consuming animal flesh only about three times a week, is up 8% in the last two years. Meanwhile the number of serious carnivores those who put part of an animal on their plate about 10 times a week is down 14%..

While once vegans were viewed as largely Guardian-reading sandal-wearers, they have now gone almost mainstream. A decade ago there were just 150,000 UK vegans, but the Vegan Society says there are more than half a million.

There are also plenty of glossy celebrities shunning all animal products, from Pamela Anderson and Miley Cyrus to Spiderman star Tobey Maguire and boxer David Haye.Tennis star Novak Djokovic has his own vegan restaurant.

Nearly 5% of the UK population now consider themselves vegetarian up from around 4% three years ago. And many more people are choosing to be flexitarians opting for veggie or vegan options a few times a week .

Tesco has teamed up with a tech company, called Spoon Guru, to help vegetarians and vegans find suitable foods on its website and the grocers development director Kate Ewart said it was developing new products for customers to impress their vegetarian and vegan guests at parties and barbecues.

Retailers and food producers are racing to meet demand: vegan foods accounted for 9% of all new food products launched in the UKlast year, up from 3% in 2012, according to Mintel.

According to Sainsburys the trend is clear: sales of frozen meat-free products are up almost a quarter year-on-year, lentils are up by 18%, chickpeas by 14% and canned beans such as kidney beans and black beans are flying off the shelves the latter has risen 39% in the last 12 months. Sales of plant-based milk are up 29% over the past two years. Susi Richards, Sainsburys head of product development, said: Plant-based eating is taking the health-world by storm and theres a fundamental shift in how people are looking at their plates.

Pret a Manger, the London-based coffee shop chain, has just opened its second veggie-only outlet after double-digit percentage rises in sales of vegetarian food. Clive Schlee, chief executive, said the chain had introduced 20 new products including a vegan macaroni cheese and a vegan brownie in response to customer demand.

Schlee, who admitted he is also trying to eat less meat, said: Of course there are good reasons to eat less meat. Aside from the animal welfare arguments, the UN says that the single most important step an individual can take to reduce global warming is to adopt a meat and dairy-free diet.

Emma Clifford, senior food and drink analyst at Mintel, said committed vegans still made up a tiny proportion of the population. But she added: The appeal of vegan products has extended far beyond the limited pool of steadfast vegans. They have carved a place within overall healthy and varied diets. The powerful plant-based message makes these products increasingly attractive to health-oriented consumers, with benefits linked to animal ethics and the environment enabling consumers to feel holistically virtuous in their choice.

The influence of trendy clean-eating proponents such as Ella Woodward, of the Deliciously Ella blog, and actor Gwyneth Paltrow is partly behind that trend, and particularly prevalent among young people. Nearly a third of under-35s say they want to try a vegan diet .

The pressure on meat-eaters is likely to be raised later this year when The Game Changers documentary is released. The movie, co-produced by Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron and mixed martial arts fighter James Wilks both vegans is understood to focus on athletes, soldiers, scientists and cultural figures who want to change the way the world lives and eats.

Well-promoted efforts such as Veganuary and the Vegan Societys Vegan Pledge, in which people attempt not to eat animal products for 30 days have also helped raise interest. In 2014, just 3,656 signed the pledge; in 2016 it rose to 17,411, with even more expected this year.

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More tofu? Supermarkets flesh out their vegan credentials as clean eating grows - The Guardian

Includes unlimited pours of beer, wine, and cider

May 26, 2017 Steffi Victorioso Drinking, Food

The seventh annual Eat Drink Vegan is the beer and food fest that we can all get excited for, both vegans and non-vegans alike. This Saturday May 27 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena more than 100 food vendors will be serving up vegan food good enough to flip a non-vegan. To wash it down, there will be unlimited pours of beer, wine, cider, kombucha, cold brew, craft sodas, and tea.

You can purchase tickets here. General admission is $60, and entry is at 2 p.m. VIP tickets are $120 and will get you early entrance at noon and access to a shaded VIP lounge area, which has some exclusive pours and food vendors. Last pour is 7:30 p.m.

RELATED: This Sandwich Will Completely Change How You Feel About Vegan Food

Tags: vegan

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Eat Drink Vegan Is Saturday, Because Big Meat Has Dominated Memorial Day Weekend for Far Too Long - LA Magazine (blog)

Vegetarians sometimes called ahead at certain restaurants to ensure there would be something for them to eat. Otherwise, the chef might sautee some veggies in oil and call it good. Vegans were doubly S.O.L. Many chefs just didnt take vegetarian eating all that seriously.

Now we all take vegetarian eating for granted in restaurants and elsewhere, but vegans still have reason to be wary. Pro kitchens very often make all of that food so tasty with ladles of cream and finishing knobs of butter.

When I interviewed Tamara Brown of Sassy Spoon, the Twin Cities only all gluten-free restaurant, she told me that parents of children who suffer from Celiac disease sometimes weep tears of joy when they realize nothing in her restaurant is off limits. Judging by the lines at J. Selbys all plant-based restaurant, a few tears of joy have likely been shed here as well.

You may recall that the restaurants initial grand opening was quickly followed by a swift shuttering. J. Selbys was unable to keep up with initial crowds, which they reported were about four to five times larger than they were prepared to serve. And theyre still shuttering between daytime service and night to regroup, not all that unusual for popular spots.

J. Selbys isnt long on comfort. The layout feels a lot like a workaday cafeteria, not as glamorous as one in an art museum, and not as stark as one in a hospital, but something in between. The school lunchroom comes to mind.

Order at the counter, and take delivery of your lunch a few minutes later in the crowded dining room. If you dont happen to be vegan but are eating at J. Selbys anyway, it can be an amusing experience.

For instance, when a stack of pancakes hits the table with a pat of melting butter, its easy to forget where you are. When my dining companion mentioned offhandedly that he prefers a fluffier pancake, I reminded him that no eggs or milk were used in the making of these.

Theyre vegan, remember?

Well, whered that butter come from, then?

The butter substitute was a bit more bitter than unctuous old-fashioned butter, but I was on the lookout. Any way you butter it, these are very good pancakes.

Mecca Bos

When my spicy breakfast hash arrived, I remembered it would be sans the eggs Im so emotionally attached to on my breakfast plate. But I didnt wind up missing them at all, thanks to the Herbivorous Butchers excellent breakfast sausage and a generous portion of garlic tahini sauce. This latter genius move adds a rich creaminess where eggs left off. Add in breakfast potatoes, onions, and green peppers, and I was pleasantly satiated by the time I reached a final bite, with none of the familiar meat and dairy-induced post-brunch brain drain. (J. Selbys does not serve Bloody Marys, which could also have had something to do with it, but they do offer mimosas.)

Mecca Bos

My meat-eating boyfriend relished the biscuits and gravy, swimming in a vegan bchamel sauce that had a light, fruity, spice cabinet note to it. With Herbivorous Butcher breakfast sausage and a side of breakfast potatoes, it was a meal fit for a big guy, who had no complaints and said he would happily do it all again.

Instead of the trip home for a nose dive back into bed, we bounced around town feeling light, lively, and well brunched.

The staff at J. Selbys is still suffering from a bit of deer-in-headlights opening jitters, and I suppose several hundred customers a day might do that to a person. Still, theyre making valiant efforts and in spite of crowds, things went relatively swiftly.

The restaurants somewhat decadent point of view -- allowing animal product eschewers to have buttery pancakes, gravied-up biscuits, quesadillas, and buffalo wings -- will likely get them far in this world. Vegan eating shouldnt have to mean only quinoa and brown rice. (Theyve got those too, if youre of that mindset.)

Kids can even have chicken nuggets and corn dogs, the way all kids everywhere must, a surefire meal for drying up any wayward tears.

169 N. Victoria St., St. Paul 651-222-3263 jselbys.com

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Meatless mornings at J. Selby's weekend vegan brunch - City Pages

The next generation of vegan burgers, which promises to bleed and sizzle like real ground beef, is taking another step toward the mainstream.

Beyond Meat, whose investors include billionaire Bill Gates and food giants General Mills Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc., will begin distributing its plant-based vegan burgers in more than 280 Safeway supermarkets in California, Hawaii and Nevada, according to the company.

Source: Beyond Meat

The Beyond Burger, as the product is known, hit the market last year, but to this point its only been available at Whole Foods locations and a handful of restaurants. At Safeway, the burgers will appear in the meat case, an attempt to go directly after traditional beef eaters.

Beyond Meat and competitor Impossible Foods have created buzz in foodie circles with vegan burgers that they argue will help wean average Americans off meat. Vegan eating -- once the province of strict dieters and animals-rights activists -- has been gaining broader acceptance in recent years, helped by endorsements from celebrities such as Bill Clinton and Beyonce. A growing number of consumers are now seeking out plant-based products for both health and environmental reasons.

While the Beyond Burger has sold well at Whole Foods over the last several months, getting into a conventional grocery chain marks a turning point, said Ethan Brown, the chief executive officer of Beyond Meat.

Its a really important step in terms of reframing how we think about meat, the 45-year-old said in an interview. We assume that an animal has to be used for meat, and thats just false.

Beyond Meat patties sit at a Safeway supermarket.

Photographer: Craig Giammona/Bloomberg

Beyond Meat, based in El Segundo, California, was founded in 2009 and initially focused on a frozen-chicken substitute. The business drew the attention of both Gates and 301 Inc., the venture arm of General Mills. After its new vegan burger was released last year, Tyson Foods, the largest U.S. meat producer, announced it had purchased a 5 percent stake in the company. Beyond Meat also is backed by Don Thompson, the former CEO of McDonalds Corp.

The Beyond Burger, which is made from pea protein, isnt the only game in town when it comes to vegan burgers with culinary distinction. Impossible Foods, founded by Stanford biochemist Pat Brown, is touting its own plant-based patties as an alternative to meat. But the company has focused more on distribution at high-end restaurants.

In addition to pushing into conventional grocery stores, Beyond Meat is also available at roughly 30 restaurants on the West Coast. And the product was recently introduced in the dining halls at Yale University.

In stores, the burger is sold in packs of two patties for $5.99. And while Brown thinks the taste and sizzle of the vegan burgers stand up against traditional beef, he acknowledges that price could be an issue for mainstream shoppers. He thinks hell be able to undercut beef within the next five years, as Beyond Meat increases its scale and pays less for ingredients.

Thats when things will really get interesting, he said.

More here:

Bill Gates-Backed Vegan Burgers Hit Mainstream With Safeway ... - Bloomberg

As the joke goes, how do you know someone is vegan? Don't worry, they'll never stop telling you. Vegans often get knocked with the stereotype that their diet makes them act holier-than-thou, more righteous and pure than anyone who eats animal proteins or products. Now, a few vegan bloggers and influencers are telling their followers that a vegan diet will make their periods lighter or even eliminate them altogether, and it's understandably causing an uproar.

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It appears the madness began with a vlogger named Freelee the Banana Girl, who posted a video in 2013 explaining that starting a raw, vegan diet allowed her to stop getting her period. "When I took out the meat and dairy and the junk food, my body finally had the energy, the vitality, to start cleaning house," she explained. Then Miliany Bonet, the blogger behind RawVeganLiving, told Broadly that she believes "a non-menstruating body indicates the body is clean."

Typically, a non-menstruating woman's body indicates the woman is pregnant, or past menopause, or ill. In fact, the disappearance of a woman's period is called amenorrhea, which is a symptom of some eating disorders.

"Amenorrhea related to an extreme dietary restriction is an example of how terrifyingly influential non-credentialed "vloggers" can be and nothing more than that," says Jaclyn London, RD, CDN, the nutrition director of the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Any drastic reduction in daily calorie intake can stop your period, and since a raw, vegan diet is inherently restrictive, it's no surprise that this was the end result."

"But what concerns me the most is that teens who are still growing are losing their period due to malnutrition, and have a platform by which to glorify this completely backwards perspective on the matter. Not only is amenorrhea due to inadequate calorie and protein intake an immediate concern for teens (with devastating effects on academic and athletic performance, to name a few), but it can lead to severe complications down the line, including metabolic complications and osteoporosis," London says.

If you're a woman who does suffer during her period, London does have some dietary suggestions. "I'm keen on drinking an adequate amount of caffeine about least 300-400mg/day which can help with alertness and that 'fog' we often feel during this time of the month," she says. "Eating lots of leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, eggs, and 100% whole-grains can also help you meet iron needs, which are extra important during this time of the month."

Some other advice? Maybe don't listen to people who call themselves Freelee the Banana Girl.

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Vegan Bloggers Think Women's Periods Are Due to Eating Animals - Delish.com

Investopedia

Bill Gates Bullish on 'Bleeding' Vegan Burgers as They Hit ... Investopedia Beyond Meats' next-gen meatless burger is soon to appear in the meat case at Safeway stores. Vegan Burgers Are Taking Over the Meat Case in 280 New Grocery ...One Green Planet Beyond Burger Expands to 280 Safeway Stores - VegNews MagazineVegNews all 11 news articles »

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Bill Gates Bullish on 'Bleeding' Vegan Burgers as They Hit ... - Investopedia

VICE	How to Make a Vegan Meal That'll Get You Blazed VICE On a new episode of VICELAND's BONG APPTIT, James Beard Awardwinning chef Bryant Terry joins Abdullah Saeed to whip up the show's first completely vegan dinner. Bryant's a pioneer of the Afro-vegan movementcooking traditional dishes of the ...

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How to Make a Vegan Meal That'll Get You Blazed - VICE

Are you currently looking for a good excuse to be vegan? Before you go any further, we want to say something very important, and we want you to take this to heart: You dont need a reason to make a positive change for your body and your well-being.

The only person you need to answer to in that regard is you so please, really, keep that in mind and take a look at these 10 purely selfish reasons to be vegan. Sometimes there is more than enough reason to be selfish.

Vegetarian men lived up to 83 years while non-vegetarians lived to about 73.

1.) Reduce your risks.You hear this on television all the time: Reduce your risk of and its always followed by a laundry list of conditions. Today isnt going to be too much different, as were going to say that going vegan can, in fact, reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and even help to lower your chances of migraines and allergies. There are so many reasons to start the vegan lifestyle, but once again, its all up to you. If you need even more reasons, however, were going to give them to you right now.

2.) Lose the constipation or bloating.Heres a fun fact that you probably didnt know: Many of us actually lack the enzyme needed to digest cows milk. If you have digestive issues, such as constipation or bloating, then it could be traced right back to something as simple as milk consumption. You might not be lactose-intolerant, but that doesnt mean you can handle it.

3.) Clear up your skin.Who doesnt want clear skin? Dairy productshave been linked to acne (and digestive problems, as we mentioned before), and at the end of the day it does a fantastic job of stimulating the hormones linked with acne. Cut out the dairy, and you might just find yourself with clear skin.

Related: The Stress Fighters That Can Save Your Life

4.) Be less resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics are often our last ditch effort to feel better, but you probably know that your body builds up a resistance to them after a while. If you want to slow down your bodys unfortunate but inevitable adaptation, you might want to cut out the meat, because most factory farms breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria not to mention the horrific conditions that the animals are kept in just before they die.

5.) Lower your risk of food poisoning. The USDA has definitively stated that 70 percent of food poisoning is the direct result of contaminated animal flesh, responsible for 76 million illnesses every single year. If you dont want to be among them, going vegan might just be the best decision youve ever made.

6.) Prolong your life. No one lives forever, but you dont have to die anytime soon. A study performed with more than 70,000 people once showed that vegetarians were 12 percent less likely to have died during the following six years than meat eaters.

Related: The Health Bar Youre Better Off Without

Vegetarian men lived up to 83 years, while non-vegetarians lived about 73. It doesnt seem like a long time or a big difference, but thats up to a decade more you can spend with your friends and family, and that makes it worthwhile.

7.) Improve your PMS. A low-fat, vegan diet can actually reduce pain and PMS for women. It doesnt work for everyone, but its definitely worth a try, as your monthly will remind you.

8.) Improve you relationship with food. Do you ever feel guilty after you visit the kitchen? I know I used to, but after going vegan, I dont think of food as something thats going to make me fat anymore. Instead I think of it as something thats going to make me healthy, and quite frankly, I enjoy knowing Im eating something that wasnt spawned from cruelty.

9.) Know youre going to be happier. By eating natural foods, youre going to find that you can avoid illness, obesity, and a pile of chronic health issues that plague manyAmericans.

Related: Why Happier People Life Longer

10.) Connect with like-minded individuals. Becoming vegan is about more than just feeling good; its about connecting with other, like-minded individuals who have tons in common with you. Youre going to meet some great people, and youre going to feel great overall.

You dont need anyones permission to become vegan. Its a liberating feeling, and honestly, if youre going to do it do it for you.

This article originally appeared in VivaGlam Magazine.

Originally posted here:

10 Seriously Selfish Reasons to Be Vegan - LifeZette