Finally my interview with Shaun Monson, which was taped at World Fest 2009, is uploaded!
For more information, check out the Earthlings website.
Eco-Vegan Gal Videos
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Interview with Shaun Monson, director of Earthlings & Unity
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Vegan Tuna Ceviche: Whole Foods, Venice
Last night, Julio at Whole Foods Venice convinced me to try their new Vegan Tuna Ceviche. I took it home and decided to give it a try for lunch today. I wasn't expecting much - especially since it's a day old and became kind of runny and soggy (the corn tortilla) - but I gave it a shot. I am so glad I did. It is DELICIOUS! I don't know if I ever had ceviche in my non-vegan years, but I definitely have never had a vegan version. Whole Foods did it right - it is packed with flavor and has a texture almost too similar to tuna. I can't imagine how good it would taste if it were completely fresh. This meal is quite a treat because it's a new flavor for me, it's filling, and I don't feel weighed down. I give it too thumbs up.
*Note: the meal is a little spicy, so watch out if you're sensitive to that.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Cru: My new favorite vegan restaurant!
A few weeks ago I went to Cru for the first time and had an incredible feast there, thus deciding it's my new favorite vegan restaurant! This is a bold statement to make, since I love a lot of places. I can at least say Cru is my favorite on the east side of Los Angeles (so I can still say Seed Kitchen is my favorite on the Westside). Of course I love Real Food Daily and Golden Mean and Flore and Madeleine's Bistro...so many choices! Well, let's just saw Cru is #1 on my top 5 (or 10) list. ; )
Here's my review:
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tempt vegan non-dairy frozen dessert
Tonight I tried Tempt non-dairy frozen dessert made with hempmilk, and I have to say I wasn't that impressed. My vegan friend, who loves Coconut Bliss, was raving about it, but it didn't meet up to my expectations. Most ice cream alternatives fall flat in comparison to Coconut Bliss. I tried the Coffee Biscotti flavor - the coffee has a good taste but the biscotti is kinda bland and has a weird texture.
I like that Tempt is soy, tree-nut, and gluten free, and it has Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, so it's definitely on the healthy side. However, it has a long ingredient list and only some of them are organic.
I'm glad there's another alternative out there, but once I finish this I'm going back to Coconut Bliss. Sorry Living Harvest, they're just a hard act to follow.
UPDATE: since I wrote this Tempt has grown on me. I enjoy their mint chocolate chip flavor.
Vegan tour of Ann Arbor: video reviews
During a visit to Ann Arbor in June I went to the follow restaurants (a few more to come):
Seva - had lots of food: hazelnut italian soda, nachos, curried eggplant, a "TLT", and a blueberry tart.
Earthen Jar - pilled on a bunch of delicious looking vegan items from their buffet, and have no idea what most of them are called!
Cupcake Station - mini chocolate cupcakes - yum!
Arbor Brewing Company - garlic fries, black bean dip, tempeh burger
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
No Impact Man: review
Last night I was invited to a screening of "No Impact Man", a documentary I was really excited to see. I really enjoyed the movie and was quite inspired by it.
The documentary follows a somewhat average family of 2.5 (father, mother, & young daughter) as they spend a year "living deliberately" with "no impact" in New York City to understand their dependence on consumption and waste. They cut out automated transportation, electricity, non-local food, and new material purchases. Conflict arrises in 2 ways: first with Colin's wife Michelle resistance and later with public scrutiny (the latter I was quite shocked by).
Although the family isn't vegan, they are vegetarians. Can't say that I didn't shudder when Colin swatted and killed a few flies, and ate dairy, but at least he gave up meat and were nice to the compost worms.
They film made some great points. It brings up America's obsession with want: how our culture supports the mindsets, "why shouldn't I have it?" and "I don't need it but I want it". No wonder we have such a hard time giving things up - most of us have been raised to use things even if they're unnecessary. The movie has a great name for this: "consumption coma". How much of what we think we need and want is really that imperative? Are these decisions really worth the effect on the earth? This reminds me of how often I'm told by non-vegetarians that they don't want to stop eating meat (or, with non-vegans, cheese) because they'll miss the taste too much - is the taste really worth the impact? It would make a difference if people started focusing on how to get what they need in a sustainable way, and finding ways to be satisfied. That's the message of "No Impact Man": Colin and his family found how to be happy with the limits they placed on themselves and realized they didn't need as much as they thought.
Colin explores the realities of what happens to the things we throw away, and brings up the important fact that recycling isn't all it's made out to be. While putting something in the recycling bin is definitely better than putting it in the trash, most people don't realize what they're usually doing is "down cycling": many products are not recycled to the full extent we imagine. In fact, most waste is shipped out of the country to be "recycled" and many facilities have no idea what happens next. This is exactly why "No Impact Man" is so important - most people think it's ok to buy products that are highly packaged if they recycle them, while Colin shows that it's better to avoid packaging all together.
This movie left me wondering how much of our impact on the environment is due to people being selfish and lazy, or due to ignorance. Unfortunately I'm not sure that the film will reach a large audience due to it's independent style, but I hope people will pass it on and recommend it. Colin and Michelle show that every-day people can make a change in their lives and adapt to it, and demonstrate that their choices make a big impact on the world. For that reason, this movie should be on everyone's must-see list.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Rose Cafe: Santa Monica, CA - not very vegan
Rose Cafe doesn't have many vegan options, but their lentil salad and modified Caprese sandwich are good if you end up going there.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Product Spotlight: Sea’s Gift Authentic Korean Seaweed
My latest addiction is to Sea’s Gift Authentic Korean Seaweed. I'm not a fan of seaweed in general, because it reminds me of fish, but this stuff is awesome. It comes in very thin sheets of seaweed, which literally melt in your mouth. It's kinda like cotton candy - you never feel like you're eating anything because it's gone within seconds on hitting your saliva.
The seaweed is roasted and salted, so it has a great flavor, but does not have a strong seaweed taste. It has no MSG, sugar, or artificial colors, so it's pretty healthy. Only drawback is that it comes in very small packaging so if you want more you have to buy a lot, which is not eco-friendly or economically-friendly. I saw some bigger packages online though...
You can find Sea’s Gift Authentic Korean Seaweed in Whole Foods. Here's a list of where it's sold.
San Diego: Star of India Restaurant
On a business trip to San Diego the documentary crew and I were looking for some good food nearby the hotel. A quick search on my iPhone lead us to Star of India - knowing everyone with their own eating preferences could eat there. I checked their menu and they had a great vegetarian section.
Everyone agreed that the food was delicious (although I'm still partial of Basu's of course). I had the Channa Masala and it was very good - only complaint was that the medium heat was very mild, and the portion was very small for the price. But this is definitely worth a visit - service and atmosphere were excellent.
3860 Valley Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 792-1111
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Pizza Fusion in Santa Monica now has Daiya cheese!
The vegan pizza with Daiya at Pizza Fusion is so good I'm pretty sure I could trick a non-vegan into thinking it was regular cheese!
When I say "gluten-free" in the video I'm referring to Daiya. Daiya is soy & gluten free but the pizza was made with a wheat crust. HOWEVER - Pizza Fusion does have a gluten-free crust (but it's not vegan). They have a few gluten-free options, including their Vegan brownie.
I've written about Pizza Fusion many times, since I'm a huge fan - click here for more posts.
Eco Spa party at Bambu Thai Spa
Eco Spa party at Bambu Thai Spa in Studio City, CA:
- Vegan facial!
- Acupuncture from Iyashi Wellness,
- Belly Bliss catering,
- Sun Power Natural Cafe,
- Tibetan Tea,
- Your Daily Thread,
- Chill Out LA
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Vegan desserts from Whole Foods, Santa Monica
Fork in the Road cookies
Taste the Dream dark chocolate with almonds
Monday, August 10, 2009
Vegan Road Trip
Join me as I follow my friend Bill's Vegan Road Trip via YouTube. Here are his 1st 2 videos. Wish I was with him for the journey!
Basu's Homestyle Indian Cuisine: post-dinner report
I had an amazing dinner at the home of Basu and he gave me a ton of left-overs to take home and enjoy. Among the many delicious entrées he served and hopes to have in Whole Foods:
- Indian Panini
- Spicy Pineapple Chutney
- Moosoor Dal
- Sabji
- Matal Dal
- Khichuri
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Food, Inc. review
I finally saw Food, Inc. last week in Santa Monica. I was crying within the first 20 minutes - not Earthlings sobs, but a few tears for the sake of the animal abuse (especially the chickens).
The movie was really well done. I was really impressed with it cinematically - loved the opening titles, the cinematography and editing were great, and the pace was just right. I liked how it was split into sections, sort of like Earthlings, but it had a very different tone. Though it was serious, it had a few humorous moments. Though there were some tough scenes in slaughterhouses, the film is overall easy to swallow (at least from a vegan's perspective!). A few parts reminded me of Super Size Me's style.
This is a very important movie for everyone to see, even if you're a health nut or think you know a lot about the food industry. Paul McCartney famously said, "if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian", and this film proves it.
I felt so thankful to be a vegetarian while watching the film, as it focused mostly on the meat industry. However, there was a lot of discussion on corn and soy, which are in a lot of food I eat. Though I check almost every food label (unless it says "vegan"), I mainly look to make sure there are no animal products. I don't check nutrition facts, sugar content, or corn and soy amounts, and now I think I should. Most vegetarians eat a lot of soy, because it's a great replacement for meat and full of protein. I have been warned to eat it in moderation, but I've never really known why. Now I feel that it's important to find out the cons to eating soy. Food Inc. has a big section discussing soy farming and how corrupt it is.
I also found it interesting to learn that the reason vegetables become contaminated with E Coli is because of run off from cow farms. E Coli is also linked to corn, and farm factory cows are fed a lot of corn.
One of the most disturbing points the film makes, if not the main point, is that food is now all about science and technology. Food is rarely in it's natural form - most of it has been genetically modified. People have found out how to manipulate food so that you get more bang for your buck and it stays fresher longer. Food is rarely about health any more, it's about feeling full and satisfied. And with the economy in bad shape right now, many people buy food based on price, not nutrition. Another sad section of the movie follows around a family in search of food, and they choose to buy McDonalds because it's less expensive then broccoli and pears. Then they wonder why the father has diabetes, and has to spend hundreds of dollars a month on pills - doesn't that defeat the purpose of saving money on food in the first place? What's sad is that most people are unaware of how fast food effects their body - it may be cheap to buy, but in the long run they may spend even more on the medical aftermath of eating that way.
Like Michael Moore's films, Food, Inc. is depressing because it shows the bad side of the government. I had a feeling of helplessness and anger - how sad that these companies are getting away with practices that are effecting our health, and the government is turning a blind eye. Another sad scene in the movie is about a mother who's child died of E Coli and has been unable to pass Kevin's Law to enforce food safety and sanitation standards. Barbara Kowalcyk's struggle to pass the law is devastating and depressing, and shows a very ugly side of the government. After this seeing this movie, I can no longer trust a product just because the USDA or FDA, and that is very sad.
I could go on and on, but I recommend you see Food, Inc. yourself. And if you feel like you already know the information, bring your friends and family. America needs to wake up and realize how their food is made, where it comes from, and the consequences of convenience. Even vegans have a lot to learn because what we consume isn't just about animal cruelty, but health and it's effect on farmers.
The biggest lesson you should take away from this movie is to not only change your eating habits, but VOTE WITH YOU DOLLAR. Everytime you buy a product you are supporting it, you are telling the store that you enjoy it and they should continue selling it. If we stop buying cheap, unhealthy food from corrupt and/or long distance factories we're telling the world that we want a change.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
My favorite Vegan and/or Eco-Friendly iPhone Apps
- 3rd Whale is great because it encompasses all places eco in the area, which often are vegan too. I use it mainly to find restaurants, but you can look up other things like eco-friendly taxis, gas station, and fitness. Only downside is that 3rd Whale doesn't list every eco or vegan joint around, so sometimes I'll know more than it does, but you can submit your favorite places.
- Vegan Xpress is my favorite vegan app because it's something I've needed for a while. It lists vegan options at chain restaurants, general vegan food at grocery stores, and vegan beer & wine. Like 3rd Whale, Vegan Xpress doesn't have everything, but it is really impressive and useful.
- Vegan Steven is a neat app that will tell you what vegan restaurants are around you (based on your iPhone location). Like all of the above, it doesn't have everything, but once again it's better than nothing and you just might find some new places to check out.
- Urban Spoon is a well-known app that gives you restaurant ideas based on your location, and it includes vegetarian places
- I don't use these often, but I do like: Go Green, Good Guide, Green Tips, and Local Reuse.
UPDATE:
- You must check out QuarryGirl's Vegan Soundboard app - so fun!
Basu's Homestyle Indian Cuisine
Last night I cooked with a new product line called Basu's Homestyle Indian Cuisine. Their food is really delicious and easy to make. You can be creative with the sauces - just add veggies like mushrooms, peas, carrots, or corn, or tofu if you prefer.
I cooked with the Vindaloo Sauce w/ Basil, adding beech mushrooms, sweet peas, and corn. This was fantastic on-top of their Saffron Rice, and with a dollop of Chutney.
Can't wait to cook with the other products Basu's gave me to try: Chana Dal, Masala Sauce, Peanut Masala Sauce. What will be on the menu tonight...?
Basu's will soon be in the hot prepared food section of many Whole Foods. They hope to get their products on shelves too, so support them if you like what they do! They are currently at the Whole Foods in WeHo (Santa Monica & Fairfax) - check out QuarryGirl's post on her experience.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Mail removal links
Here are the companies I've had to contact recently to get removed from their mailing lists, and I thought I'd share the contact links with you.
Most companies do not have mail removal systems. So simply write "Please remove from mailing list" in Subject and Body of message, including exactly how your address is spelled on the piece of mail you received.
The scary thing is that some of these companies claim I'm not on their mailing list but they keep sending me mail, so another company is sending it and I don't know how to contact them!
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