Vegan Entree at Farmshop Larkspur a Big Hit!

 Once again, I ordered a warm vegan entree when none was listed on the menu at Farmshop Larkspur.

The woman next to me, like a customer a few weeks ago, noticed it and said, "Wow!  What's that?!
I explained that I needed to special order it.  (I also mentioned the New York Times quiz on global warming.)

She and her friend both ordered "The Vegan Dish."

Dear Abby advises on "host" on Restricted Diet Who May Be a Vegan Dictator

Woman on Restricted Diet Leaves Little to Luck at Her Potluck Parties

Jun 05, 2017 - Letter 2 of 3

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DEAR ABBY: A close female relative hosts "parties" quite often. When she sends the menu for each of us to choose what we would like to make, she states that all the recipes must be dairy-free, cheese-free, butter-free and soy-free. She is the only one among us who is on a special diet.

I agree that a few of the dishes should cater to her needs, but all of them? It really limits what we can make and inhibits some from bringing their "specialty." Some of us feel she's behaving in a very self-centered manner and that it's wrong because she's drawing all of the attention to herself.

Isn't expecting 30 people to eat at the party based on her diet too much? She sees nothing wrong with it. When I invite her for dinner, I prepare something for her, but the rest of the meal is for the entire group. What is our answer here? -- LIMITED IN THE EAST

DEAR LIMITED: If others feel the way you do, the answer is to tell your relative the truth -- that what she's asking from her guests is too much. Her behavior does seem excessively controlling. I can see her asking a few guests to prepare something taking into consideration her dietary restrictions, but frankly, I'm surprised so many people have been willing to continue to participate in these potlucks. From where I sit, they're a lot to swallow.

Steamed Vegetables the Only Option at ALC Stop Tuesday!

Yesterday I wrote about the importance of consciousness-raising at Bradley Elementary School, where they were selling $100 burgers but none of them were vegan!

The most recent message from my tenant Tommy, who's more than half-way to LA with AIDS LifeCycle, described a hard day that he thinks was brought on by the only vegan choice he had:  steamed vegetables.

I just wrote this on Facebook:

Tommy's beyond the half-way mark now, and he says that San Francisco hills have helped him along this route. But the places serving dinner to the ALC participants are not always vegan-friendly! In one spot his only vegan option was steamed vegetables! Too bad the Alternative Baking Company wasn't in charge. They say, "No single food choice has a father-reaching and more profoundly positive impact on our health, the environment, and all of life on Earth than choosing vegan." I think he's doing both fund-raising ($10,000!) and consciousness raising on this trip when he asks for vegan.

A School in Bradley Is "Doing Good" to Do Well, but It Could Do Better

Here's part of what my tenant, who's earned 10,000 K for AIDS through his participation in the AIDS LifeCycle,  wrote yestserday:

Every year ALC rides through the town of Bradley and stops at their elementary school. Bradley is a tiny town and the school has around 70 kids, starting at kindergarten on up. Years ago they started doing fundraising for the school by selling hamburgers to the cyclists. This fundraiser has evolved significantly as they now offer charging stations and the $100 burger club, which gets you access to an air conditioned room, wait service, and a real bathroom. I spoke to one of the teachers about what the fundraising is used for and she shared that without it they wouldn't be able to fully function because they don't receive much funding. Last year, the fundraiser made $40K and paid for their music teacher, art teacher, field trips, and school therapist, to name a few. I also asked how they talk to the kids about the ride, given that school is still in session and they were all present at the fundraiser. She proudly replied that it gives them an opportunity to explain what AIDS is and to introduce the kids to LGBTQ people that they may never meet in Bradley. She empathized the opportunity to introduce them to Trans people. Hearing this made me so happy that we support them. I can't think of any other school giving that kind of life education and awareness of people that may be different or have different struggles. I was proud to support Bradley today by paying $50 for a bottle of water to sit inside with those who did the $100 burger club (there was no option) and I was even happier after getting to meet and talk with that teacher. Today at camp I found out that we raised $52K for them today. Pretty incredible.

So sweet--but what's this about "no option" to the $100 burger?  They couldn't make a vegan one?

I looked up their BBQ fundraiser, where a veggie burger is offered for $1.00.  

Surely they could offer a veggie burger to these AID LifeCyclists!

A Meat-Free Supermarket in Switzerland!

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/meat-free-supermarket-to-open-in-switzerland/?utm_source=Green+Monster+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=3bc955b246-NEWSLETTER_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbf62ddf34-3bc955b246-107079357

https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/switzerland-joins-the-vegan-revolution-with-opening-of-meat-free-supermarket

Just Looking: The Butcher's Son and Udupi in Berkeley

1941 University  The Butcher's Son Vegan Cafe

VegNews Inspires Me to Suggest (or Am I Pushing?) Vegan Restaurants in Oakland

Here's the letter I just wrote to family members:

Hi!

The latest issue of VegNews calls Oakland "The Brooklyn of San Francisco" and lists Oakland as one of the 10  most vegan-friendly cities.    (San Francisco is NOT on the list!)

I regret to say that the staff likes two restaurants that each of you did not the time you tried it.  Suzy, you didn't like Souley Vegan, and Kathy, you didn't like Millennium. 

Could it be that the dishes you tried were not the best ones for your taste? 

The reviewers at Souley Vegan liked the Sweet Potato Waffles, Seitan 'Shrimp" N Grits and bottomless mimosas.

They liked the Crusted King Trumpet Mushrooms and Pumpkin Tamales at Millennium.

I had two experiences with Millennium when it was in San Francisco.  The first time I didn't like it at all, and the second time I loved it.  Jonathan went there only once and loved it.

They mentioned Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen, where you two took me for my retirement.  They did make a delicious chocolate cake--and even felt apologetic about it.  VegNews recommends the Chocolate Chip Belgian Waffles.

For you coffee-cravers, there's a coffee shop Timeless Coffee

I'm thinking of where to eat for your birthday, Kathy, and the only one they mention that you two haven't tried is Shangri-La Vegan. 

But of course, we don't have to go to a vegan spot.  It's YOUR birthday!  There must be lots of possibilities in this "Brooklyn of San Francisco"!

Love,

                Tina