All worked out for the refreshment part of the Power of Art exhibition.  .  Kit Dai, Dean of the Chinatown/NorthBeach CCSF campus where the retirees' art was exhibited,  had wisely chosen Caravansary for the savory, and I provided cookies without eggs or dairy and some gluten-free balls.  I wound up not eating anything at all, but I was glad it was all there.  
 

Yesterday I tried to find the dark chocolate + cherries bag at Target but didn't have this picture.  I don't really want it for myself, but I want to be able to give it to people who aren't vegans to show them the possibilities!  I did find some other plant-based chocolate.  (Notice that they don't have VEGAN in big letters.)

 

 

Here's what I just filled out for Enjoy Vegetarian to make for the Power of Art exhibition at the  Chinatown/NorthBeach Campus.

I'd like to order a variety of savory food that's vegan--no eggs or dairy and of course no meat--for a big event at CCSF's Chinatown/NorthBeach campus, which is diagonally across the street from Enjoy at 839 Kearny Street!  I'd like the platter to look beautiful so people with prejudices against plant-based will enjoy it.  Could you deliver a platter to room 402 of the Chinatown/NorthBeach campus a little before 6:00?  The event is from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  I'm making cookies, but you could still include some delicious sesame seed balls.  I'm asking for enough to serve 8 people, but of course there will be more.  This is my offering for animal welfare and the environment.  I called you but got no answer, so I can arrange the payment when you respond.  Many thanks!  This will also make all those attendees aware of what's just across the street from the campus if they don't already know!

 

I'm really excited about this event, which will showcase the talents of CCSF retirees.  But I don't want it to be a repeat of the nothing plant-based buffet offered at the Community Living Campaign's even honoring Glenda Hope, who's advocated for plant-based eating for decades.  Here's the message I sent this morning to the person in charge of the food:

Dear Kit,

A week or so ago, I offered to bring cookies for Thursday's event, and Leslie Smith told me that you have contracted with the Downtown Center Pastry Program to provide dessert.  Thank you for doing that!  

So often people who try to help animals and the environment through a plant-based diet are forgotten when food is provided.  So I wanted to be sure there were cookies without eggs and milk--especially in remembering Jane Goodall!    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/04/why-jane-goodall-adopted-a-plant-based-diet-back-in-the-1960s.html

Leslie told me she agreed with me and asked that I contact you.

I recently attended a ceremony for a community activist (Glenda Hope), who's advocated for a plant-based diet, and there was NOTHING plant-based provided.  I have a friend who follows a plant-based diet and took a cooking class/course at CCSF and there was NOTHING  plant-based in all the recipes they tried.  She didn't speak up because she didn't want to "rock the boat."  But CCSF is an educational institution, and it seems that it should be informed and up-to-date in matters involving the environment, animal welfare, and health.  Kaiser recommends a plant-based diet. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/content/dam/kporg/final/documents/health-education-materials/instructions/plant-based-diet-hi-en.pdf

I know you have a lot to attend to, and I don't want to create problems for you, but I really do think that it's important to provide for those supporting a plant-based diet.  Could I help out by providing cookies and/or providing funds for something savory?  I would be happy to make a donation towards plant-based food. 

Again, thank you for taking charge of this.  I hope I can help rather than hinder!

Tina

 

At a recent luncheon, a good friend said, "I really like to share dishes," but her order of a dish with a dead animal was the reason we didn't.  The other three of us ordered plant-based dishes.  (Yes, I know that "Dead animal" sounds gross, but what caged animals go through is worse than gross.)  

Then a carnivore friend asked me to forward a message suggesting a lunch with the three of  us and saying that he'd let me choose a place that fit carnivore-him as well as my "dietary needs."  

I decided not to let this slip by, and when I forwarded his email message inviting her, I wrote, "Notice that in spite of his intelligence (which we all find remarkable), he refers to my cause for the environment and animal welfare as my "dietary needs."   

 

Glenda Hope, who was honored by The Community Living Campaign for her decades of activism, once told me that of all the messages she gave as a minister, there was more push-back on the message that we needed to cut out animals and animal products from our diets.

At the event honoring her last night--lovely in every other way--there was nothing plant-based.  Nothing.  

I just looked up the chef, Joanna Karlisnky,  and see that she does a LOT of good.

https://48hills.org/2021/01/chef-joanna-karlinsky-best-of-the-bay-2020-editors-pick/

Obviously, Joanna Karlinsky is doing a lot of good, but it always disappoints me when one progressive focus sabotaging another.  

Robert suggested Zazie, and I enthusiastically agreed because when Mark Miller and I ate there in May 2019, all of their omelets could be made with Just Eggs.  Alas, that wasn't the case now, but fortunately they had one vegan dish--a Mediterranean platter--and it was delicious!  They also had an oat milk mocha, which was a good dessert!  I gave my "compliments to the chef."  The server approached me as I was leaving and said that they had verified that I wasn't confusing restaurants.  They had once offered omelets made with Just Eggs.