Phil Ting's Community Forum was held this morning at the east wing of the California Academy of Sciences, and it was really good.  At one point Phil Ting said, "We're our own worst enemy" in terms of wanting roads but not the gas tax, housing but not in our neighborhoods.  He also gave as an example "We know we should eat less meat and more vegetables, but we go on eating meat and not many vegetables."  

What about the breakfast offered, catered I guess by Constellation Culinary, which shows slices of meat to form its C.

Here's what I found online about the California Academy of Sciences:  

The Academy Café and Terrace Restaurant serve local, organic, and seasonal cuisine, while minimizing the environmental impact with reusable and compostable packaging and an eco-minded recycling program.

What about minimizing the environmental impact by offering plant-based?  

They did offer a generous serving of fruit.  But what about having a plant-based bun with some plant-based protein?  

I sent this message online on Monday, October 2, 2023:

...The breakfast town hall at the California Academy of Sciences was wonderful--really informative with everyone on the team working together. At one point Phil Ting said "We are our own worst enemies" in the context of wanting services but not taxes,  housing but not in our neighborhood.   Another example he gave was "We know we should eat less meat and more vegetables, but we eat more meat and fewer vegetables."  Since we know a plant-based diet is healthier, and plant-based is also better for the environment, could there be a plant-based option along with the sausage, egg, and cheese?   The California Academy of Sciences even had a display showing food and the carbon footprint of each.  I'm sure there are very few vegans at these town halls, but you'd be doing something good for the planet as well as the palate if  you offered a vegan sandwich with protein.  

PS  The beautiful fruit salad was appreciated even though it didn't substitute for a warm plant-based sandwich.

I really believe in supporting labor, but it's a shame when one good cause sabotages another, and when people who are so aware of the importance of advocating for jobs, pensions, and health benefits appear to be unaware of how they're contributing to animal abuse and environmental degradation through their diets.  People are aware of vegetarians now.  The lunch provided for us participants in a rally urging Governor Newsom to sign AB 316 were turkey, beef, and vegetarian.  There was no vegan offering even though it's now an established fact that having a vegan diet is one of the four most effective ways to lower our carbon footprint.  Not even the Doritos that came with our lunch were vegan; they had nacho cheese.

When I first got on the bus, someone was passing out pork buns.  Then a favorite supervisor, Connie Chan, came aboard to greet us and provide Mochi donuts--not yet vegan.  

I wish people understood that vegan lunches aren't for the tiny number of vegans that might be present but for animal welfare (and that continues human animals working in terrible conditions in factory farms) and the environment.

 

I went to the Bizerkeley Food Fest--all vegan food--this morning. We all got OVER 21 bracelets if we were of drinking age.  But I just ate.  I'd already begged the owner of a nail salon to let me use their bathroom because some of my early-morning kale-banana-tahini-almond milk smoothie was still with me.  I gave her a $5 tip even though she tried to dismiss it.  

I'll be back tomorrow with photos of the food!

 

 My friend Tom chose Sky Cafe, a vegan restaurant, for his birthday celebration even though he's not vegan. I made the cake in the forefront, and Sky Cafe made the lemon meringue pie. 

A few months ago we'd gone there after we saw something in the Food Section of the SF Chronicle on a vegan Eggs Benedicte!

We found them delicious and "convincing."  We tried some new dishes today: