SuperVegan: Vegan Blog and New York City Restaurant Guide

Pine Box Rock Shop Has Your Vegan Super Bowl Eats

sam@supervegan.com (Samantha Cohen) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:36:37 EST

And, oh, right -- the game! Sunday's Super Bowl will be on four screens at Pine Box Rock Shop, but who can focus on a game when there's vegan chili to be eaten? Pine Box will be serving complimentary chili all night, which you can enjoy with beer from the home states of both teams: "Brooklyn Blast, Blue Point Oatmeal Stout, Southern Tier Oak-Aged Pumking and Sixpoint Sweet Action go head-to-head with Massachusetts-based Clown Shoes Lubrication, Cisco Whale's Tale, Fisherman's Brew and Pretty Things Jack D'or," according to the bar's Facebook event.

Pine Box Rock Shop Super Bowl Party
12 Grattan Street, Brooklyn
Sunday, February 5, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.

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Our Calendar Is Stacked with Vegan Events in NYC this February

sam@supervegan.com (Samantha Cohen) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:43:49 EST

This month the SuperVegan New York City events calendar spilleth over with delightful vegan-related outings, particularly for those with strong feelings, romantic or rancorous, affectionate or acidic, about that little mid-month holiday of looove. In addition to the familiar ongoing events -- Vegan Drinks on February 23 at Angels & Kings, and vegan Thursdays every week at Halyards -- check out these highlights:

Vegan Singles Night III: Pre Valentine's Day Edition
Thursday, February 9 at 6:30 p.m. at ReVision Lounge & Gallery, 219 Avenue B between 13th and 14th Streets
Snack and speed-date with the NYC Goes Vegan meet-up group, play in a dating game show with only potential mates to judge you, and find someone to have a second date with on Valentine's. Mmmm, second dates.

Vegan Valentine's Shop-Up at Pine Box Rock Shop
Sunday, February 12 at 12 to 6 p.m., Pine Box Rock Shop, 12 Grattan St., Brooklyn

Whalentine's Day Bake Sale: A Benefit for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Sunday, February 12, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Mooshoes, 78 Orchard St.
SAVE THE WHALES: EAT CAKE! Grab some Tupperware and head over to Mooshoes for homemade sweets. Proceeds will benefit Sea Shepherd's eighth Antarctic defense campaign. They also need bakers -- check the calendar for details.

Solo Diner's Week at Dirt Candy
Tuesday, February 21 to Saturday, February 25 at Dirt Candy, 430 E. 9th St.
Single people deserve to eat, too. Or Amanda Cohen thinks so:

For the week of Tuesday, February 21, if you're a diner flying solo I want you to know that not only are you welcome at Dirt Candy, you're appreciated. The bummer about dining alone is that you don't get to try enough of the menu. I love going out to eat in groups so I can try everyone's food, allowing me to taste a little bit of everything on the menu, but when you're eating by yourself you don't get that advantage. Now you can. Between Tuesday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 25 I'll do a prix fixe meal for solo diners only:

$47 gets you
- a mini-order of hush puppies
- a choice of any of the four appetizers
- a choice of any two entrees (each entree will be a mini-version of itself)
- a choice of desserts
- coffee and tea
- a half-glass of wine
-Dirt Candy blog

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Mercy for Animals Is Hiring a Director of Education

sam@supervegan.com (Samantha Cohen) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST

A real, live, full-time job with one of the most effective organizations in exposing cruelty to farmed animals? And the job is to tell people how great it is to be vegan and how animals are really super (in a far more educated-sounding way)? How wonderful. My favorite highlights about the job, swiped from MFA's site, below. Check out the full job description and application instructions on MFA's site.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties:

Develop and implement innovative regional and national outreach strategies to more effectively raise awareness about farmed animal welfare issues and veganism in the United States

Manage and train regional coordinators to conduct local grassroots outreach, including leafleting events, restaurant outreach, tabling events, film screenings and more

Develop MFA's humane education presentations, maintain MFA's humane education program, and train and assist staff in implementing the organization's humane education program

Manage and assist MFA's national campaign coordinator in planning and conducting events across the country geared toward attracting mainstream media attention to important farmed animal welfare issues and elevating MFA's status as a national animal advocacy organization.

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Valentine's Vegan Shop-Up Is Sunday, Feb. 12

sam@supervegan.com (Samantha Cohen) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:00:00 EST

Image credit: Vegan Shop-Up

If you haven't been before (I haven't! Maybe my Valentine will go with me!), this first-birthday/Valentine's edition of Vegan Shop-Up may be the most vendor-packed, shop-up yet, with more than 30 sellers. The market's bloggers promise birthday surprises to be revealed at the event (Oooh, mystery! Intrigue! You've got me, Vegan Shop-Up.), a Valentine's theme, and the reliable libations of vegan bar Pine Box Rock Shop.

Vegan Shop-Up
February 12, 12 to 6 p.m.
Pine Box Rock Shop
12 Grattan St., Brooklyn

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VIP Tickets to NYC Vegetarian Food Festival on Sale Now

sam@supervegan.com (Samantha Cohen) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:00:00 EST

[Photo via NYCVFF]

VIP tickets to last year's New York City Vegetarian Food Festival sold out days--maybe weeks?--before the one-day fest. This year the fest is two days, Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and VIP tickets are on sale now for individual days ($20) and the full weekend ($30).

On my way to last year's festival I waltzed right past the line that wrapped around 18th Street and up Seventh Avenue, flashed my VIP ticket at the door, and floated on in to this vegan food sampling mecca. I felt like a freaking queen. And then I felt like a douche who really should have bought tickets for her boyfriend and his brother, who waited outside in the hours-long line. (Live and learn, right?)

Yes, you can buy $5 tickets at the door. But if, like me, you want to get a solid brunch down before strutting in at the crack of noon, and be admitted before the place shuts down at 5, shell out for the $20 VIP ticket. In addition to the privilege of skipping the line, you get priority entrance for the speakers series and five raffle tickets, whatever those are good for. I can't vouch for the speakers because I was busy shoving Goodie Girl cookies in my mouth. I really hope those girls are at this festival again. Also, the Beyond Sushi people! So many delicious memories.

NYC Vegetarian Food Festival
March 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W. 18th St., NYC

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Vegan Drinks XLV, The Recap: A Packed Room for the Civil Liberties Defense Center

info@vegandrinks.org (Deborah Diamant) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:45:53 EST

[Vegan Drinks = A Safe Space for Vegan Straightedge Lawyers (and their vegan, non-straightedge, non-lawyer friends)!]

Thank YOU for supporting the Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) with us at Vegan Drinks NYC on January 26th. Extra big hug and thanks to our DJ for the evening, the inimitable DJ Grand Format. He'll definitely be back!

Special thanks to those organizations and individuals who made Shout Outs:

Mercy For Animals
Sea Shepherd - Whalentines Day Bake Sale at Moo Shoes on Feb. 12th
The Humane League
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
Intermix: Please Stop Selling Fur Campaign
Animal Freedom International
Goose Watch
Vegan Outreach
Clementine Bakery - opening March 2012
Vegan Shop-Up - Feb. 12th at Pine Box Rock Shop
Baked Better
Blossom Bakery - opening soon
NYC Vegetarian Food Festival - March 3rd and 4th
Melisser and Jac need a home! Rent them an apartment, rent them rooms, donate a couch! If you only have room for one of them, no problem! Contact info at vegandrinks dot org and we'll get you in touch with our awesome vegan friends.

The next Vegan Drinks NYC at Angels & Kings Bar is February 23, 2012.

Get on our mailing list!

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Vegan Drinks XLV: It's the First Vegan Drinks of 2012 and Your Opportunity to Make Bank for the Civil Liberties Defense Center on Thursday, January 26

info@vegandrinks.org (Deborah Diamant) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:25:21 EST

Join us THIS Thursday, January 26, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm for Vegan Drinks NYC!

Real live DJ alert! DJ Grand Format will be playing some punk rock, some shoegaze and some hip hop for your ears.

Drink specials will include $1 off draft beers and well drinks all night!

The kitchen will be turning out good vegan snacks like a vegan burger deluxe platter (with or without vegan cheese + fries and coleslaw), crispy vegan chikkin’ tenders, Pittsburgh-style coleslaw, fries and good ol’ chips & salsa.

This month we're supporting the not-for-profit Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) and its ongoing work to protect the rights of animal rights activists throughout the U.S. The CLDC’s mission focuses on defending and upholding civil liberties through education, outreach, litigation, and legal support and assistance. The CLDC strives to preserve the strength and vitality of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. and state constitutions, as well as to protect freedom of expression. The CLDC has provided education to activists on their rights to protest, as well as post-9/11 free-speech-chilling legislation like the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). The CLDC has been instrumental in supporting activists targeted by the Green Scare through its public education campaigns and defense of activists. In addition, the CLDC is working with organizations like the Center for Constitutional Rights to dismantle Communications Management Units (CMUs), experimental federal prison units designed to isolate certain prisoners (e.g., Muslim men, animal rights and environmental activists) from the rest of the prison population and the outside world because they have been labeled "terrorists" by the government. Support the CLDC!

Have you read the new and improved Vegan Drinks FAQ? Please read it, even if you're a regular at our event. (Really, please read it. All of it.)

We'll turn down the music around 8:30pm and encourage people to promote themselves, their groups and/or causes for 30 seconds. If you represent a veg*n or animal rights group, come prepared with your (very short!) spiel and literature.

If you're not already following our every move, connect with Vegan Drinks on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@vegandrinks), and join our e-mail list.

Vegan Drinks NYC is usually held the last Thursday of the month from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at Angels & Kings, 500 East 11th Street (btw Ave A & Ave B), New York, NY 10009.

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Vegan Drinks XLIV, The Recap: An Evening with NJ's For the Animals Sanctuary

info@vegandrinks.org (Deborah Diamant) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:32:03 EST

[Basket winners, Jamie and Brett! (Thanks, Vegan Bodega!)]

Thank YOU for supporting For the Animals Sanctuary with us at Vegan Drinks NYC on December 29th. Big thanks to Vegan Bodega for donating a basket of its fancy vegan goods to our raffle so we could raise even more funds for For the Animals! And, congrats to Karl and Rachel, who got hitched before coming to Vegan Drinks!

Special thanks to those organizations and individuals who made Shout Outs:

The next Vegan Drinks NYC at Angels & Kings Bar is January 26, 2012.

Get on our mailing list!

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Vegan Drinks XLIV: Drink Spiked Nog, Raise $ for NJ's For the Animals Sanctuary on Thursday, December 29

info@vegandrinks.org (Deborah Diamant) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:09:51 EST

Join us THIS Thursday, December 29, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm for Vegan Drinks NYC!

This month, Vegan Drinks benefits local animal sanctuary, For the Animals Sanctuary of Blairstown, NJ. A portion of the bar proceeds and any money you throw in the donation jar will go to For the Animals, which is "dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and life-long care of victims of the food farming trade."

Enter our raffle for a chance to win a basket of some tasty and hard to find vegan eats, donated by Vegan Bodega. All money raised from the raffle will go to For the Animals, too!

Drink specials will include VEGAN NOG and $1 off draft beers and well drinks all night!

The kitchen will be turning out good vegan snacks like a (now improved!) vegan burger deluxe platter (with or without vegan cheese + fries and coleslaw), crispy vegan chikkin’ tenders, Pittsburgh-style coleslaw, fries and good ol’ chips & salsa.

Have you read the new and improved Vegan Drinks FAQ? Please read it, even if you're a regular at our event. (Really, please read it. All of it.)

We'll turn down the music around 8:30pm and encourage people to promote themselves, their groups and/or causes for 30 seconds. If you represent a veg*n or animal rights group, come prepared with your (very short!) spiel and literature.

If you're not already following our every move, connect with Vegan Drinks on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@vegandrinks), and join our e-mail list.

Vegan Drinks NYC is usually held the last Thursday of the month from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at Angels & Kings, 500 East 11th Street (btw Ave A & Ave B), New York, NY 10009.

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Free Vegan Treats for Your Pup at a Doggie Flash Mob This Thursday!

tod@supervegan.com (Tod Emko) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST

As the human companion of a vegan dog, I'm always on the lookout for vegan-friendly dog events. This Thursday, December 22, is "National Keep Pets Safe in Winter Day." If you're a vegan dog owner, how do you celebrate? Show up with your dog outside the Fox & Friends studio in midtown that morning from 8:15am to 9am, to make history as the largest-ever "Dog Flash Mob," to be entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, and enjoy free vegan dog treats for your pup!

IMPORTANT! TIME CHANGE!

All dogs love peanut butter. It's true.

Where: South West corner of 48th Street and Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Ave)
When: Thursday, December 22, from 7:30am to 8:30am.

There will be free vegetarian Ark Naturals treats (it would be vegan except for honey), and vegan peanut butter Buddy Biscuits for your pup. Plus the first 50 dog/handler teams will receive a free winter cap and K9 vest. But your dog won't enjoy chewing the vest as much.

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Vegan Thursdays at Halyards in Gowanus is a cooler weekly event than what's happening at pretty much any other bar in NYC

jason@supervegan.com (Jason Das) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:52:11 EST

[Chef Emma Jane Gonzalez with a curry chickpea and apple salad ]

A few months back, I heard there was a newish bar in Gowanus, Brooklyn that had a vegan night. That bar is Halyards, at 3rd Avenue and 6th street. I still haven't been myself, because I am extraordinaly ~~lazy~~ busy, but I did ask host/organizer/chef Emma Jane Gonzalez a bunch of questions over e-mail. And I promise I will go soon, because it sounds totally great!

The only bad thing is that once a month it overlaps with Vegan Drinks (but not this month, thanks to holiday schedules). This Thursday (December 15) will be the last Halyards Vegan Thursday until the New Year. So go tomorrow, then go back starting January 5.

Now here's what I asked Emma:

Is every Thursday at Halyards a Vegan Thursday?

I'm there, serving vegan food almost every Thursday from 7pm, usually till midnight or a little after. This Thursday is the last one before the holidays. But it will be a good one! Holiday-themed food. And starting in January, there will be trivia every Thursday, to accompany the food. (It's totally fun and not obnoxious or fratty!)

If I show up at Halyards some time other than Vegan Night, is there vegan food to be had?

Other nights, you won't find vegan food (other than potato chips), so save your Thursdays for us.

What food do you serve? Is it the same menu every time? Is it good for a meal, or just snacks? Is there savory food and dessert?

I change the menu every week. There are always 4 items, usually 2 of which are gluten-free. Small plates, that you can totally make a meal of. Here are a few things I've made in recent weeks, to give you an idea: Cashew-based Welsh Rarebit, Smokey Grits with Black Eyed Peas and Crispy Onions, Baked Chickpea and Cauliflower Croquettes, Spicy Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate pressed sandwich, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Agave-Mustard Sauce, Corn Taco with Kale, Tofu, Roasted Sweet Potato, and BBQ Sauce...I focus on savory foods, but often include a hint of sweetness.

Side note: If you come in one week, and give me a request, I will try my darndest to incorporate it into next week's menu (as long as the request isn't something gross).

Are there any special vegan beverages (alcoholic or otherwise) to go along with the food?

You know, specialty vegan-drinks are a great idea! I will absolutely bring that up with the Halyards team.

How long have you been doing Vegan Night at Halyards? How did it start?

I started cooking at Halyards over the summer- June, I believe. I typically (and continue to) work as a personal chef, but Halyards owner Edward Colley was interested in starting a vegan night. My pal Mickey Guagno, an amazing bartender (at Halyards) recommended me for the gig, and it's been going really well!

What's the crowd and atmosphere like? Is it more rowdy or mellow? Do people come alone, with friends, with dates? Is it mostly people there specifically for the veganity, or people who'd be there regardless?

Halyards is a relaxed neighborhood-y bar. It's a big space, lots of seating, board games, nice dim lighting (the most flattering kind!). And I find the crowd to be really cool- a ton of musicians and artists have studios/ practice spaces in the area, so there are plenty of tattoos and glasses : ). Singles, couples, big groups, sports lovers, seniors- we get all kinds. People like it because it's friendly and cool, but not cramped or divey like a lot of bars. It's a nice place to bring people- both vegans and omnivores!

Do the non-vegans make fun of you?

I do occasionally overhear newcomers asking the bartender if there's any "like...non-vegan food", but I generally win them over! They have the rest of the week to order grilled cheese and pulled-pork. Thursday nights are animal-free!

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This Weekend: Swap Saturday and Shop Sunday

olivia@supervegan.com (Olivia Lane) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:18:24 EST

A generous donor has offered to match every donation made to Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary through December 31st. This is a great reason to attend the 2nd Vegan/ Animal Rights Book Swap that I'm co-hosting this Saturday. It's a fundraiser for the non-profit featuring a mini-bake sale and a raffle with prizes from Raganella, Owl & Thistle, Chavela's, Terri, and Juice Hugger. Come collect books for yourself and those on your holiday shopping list.

If you need more than just books, come to the U.S. Veg Corp's Green Holiday Festival on Sunday: "A one-day Winter holiday festival comprised of various green-minded gift vendors, non-profit information tables, live entertainment, and activities all in celebration of green living. For the first time, get all of your vegan and green gifts in one place!" Sounds fun! Also, leave the pepper spray at home people. There's a $20 entrance fee so there will probably be more elbow room than there was at the NYC Vegetarian Food Festival.

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Japan Admits Using Tsunami Disaster Relief Money to Fund Military Actions Against Unarmed Vegans

tod@supervegan.com (Tod Emko) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:24:14 EST

Some of our very best friends on earth, including my Darwin Animal Doctors nonprofit co-founder Andrea Gordon, are about to risk their lives, going on Sea Shepherd's latest whale protection campaign in Antarctica, Operation Divine Wind. The odd thing is that a few months ago, after Japan ended its 2011 whaling season early due to Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activities, Japan announced it was halting its Antarctic whaling program indefinitely. So Operation Divine Wind technically should not have needed to happen. However, Japan's Antarctic whaling program recently got an unexpected financial boost that allowed it to start up again this year. Specifically, Japan's government took tsunami victim relief funding, and spent it on military funding for the Japanese whaling fleet.

Japanese whalers fight Sea Shepherd Conservation Society volunteers. Copyright Sea Shepherd

Japan took 2.28 billion yen ($29.4 million USD) that was raised and earmarked to help victims of the Japanese tsunami disaster, and used that money to beef up military security for the Japanese Antarctic whaling fleet, in order to combat Sea Shepherd volunteers. The Sea Shepherd flag ship, the Steve Irwin, cost less than two million USD total in comparison, although it has been successful thus far in repelling the military weaponry of the Japanese fleet anyway (which has included guns, grenades, and LRADs). But this new military funding taken from disaster relief funds dwarfs previous years' military funding for the Japanese whaling fleet.

The Japanese whaling fleet left port in Japan this week, and is on its way to Antarctica now. So the Sea Shepherd fleet, currently in Australia, will depart to protect whales from the whaling fleet in the next couple weeks.

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Veganamese In The Valley

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:42:47 EST

If you happen to find yourself in The Valley (SAT style analogy-- The Valley : LA :: Jersey : NY) and your stomach is eating your brain causing Hungry Dumbness, you've got lots of great options:

There's Follow Your Heart, which, in addition to being a grocery, has a hidden restaurant in the back serving things like sandwiches the size of two sandwiches.

There's Hugo's and Hugo's Taco Stand, which are so different it's hard to imagine they're owned by the same Hugo person.

There's Garden Wok if you're in the mood for Chinese & yum.

There's some of the finest haute vegan food I've ever had at Madeline Bistro, if it happens to be one of the several minutes per week it's open.

OR, there's today's subject, Vinh Loi Tofu. This place is a mecca of Veganamese food (that's Vegan Vietnamese). I recently visited this small, fast-casual (order at the counter, table service) restaurant again with Mama Wach, who is not Vegan and had never had Vietnamese food! The menu is expansive, so with a little help, we finally settled on the Ham Sub $6.50 (a Banh Mi) and the Curry Chicken Noodle $9.00.

The sandwich, with sweet soy sauce, sliced cucumber, pickled radish & carrots, green chili and cilantro is perfect for sharing; it comes halved into two shoe-sized portions. This Banh Mi is so good it rivals the Mandoline Grill's.

The noodle dish was even better. The flavor was terrific-- the "chicken" was so well seasoned my carnivorous mother couldn't stop eating it and I forgot to get photographic documentation until the bowl was half empty. It WAS a huge bowl of rice vermicelli noodles with curry chicken, mixed greens, cucumber, pickled radish & carrots, bean sprouts, peanuts and curry sauce.

In addition to the delicious wall of food, Vinh Loi also has a little market in the back where you can buy all sorts of nifty imported Veganamese products like sauces, noodles, giant tubs of fried garlic, and homemade soymilk & tofu that are as much fun figuring out how to use as they are delicious. My only problem with VLT is that I'm always too full to try their desserts. Next time, I'm ordering a Pandan Pudding first and then maybe a Pho! If you haven't been to Vinh Loi Tofu yet, make the pilgrimage.

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Quornholio

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:41:49 EST

Heya Heya, SuperVegans!

Big News! Compassion Over Killing has successfully convinced the makers of Quorn products to ditch the eggs in a burger! Out now across the US is (supposedly, we actually haven't seen it yet) a Vegan Quorn burger! Yay us!

The burger is still made from factory fungus though, so it gives me pause, but as much as that creeps me out, it annoyed me more that all their products contain egg albumen, which with whey are the banes of my existence. I'll try it. Will/have you?

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The Subway Crusade!

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:41:15 EST

Ask and ye shall receive! That's a thing, right? Well the fine folks at Compassion Over Killing think so, and we want to help!

Wouldn't it be incredible to affect change at the world's largest restaurant chain AND have another vegan food option at the ready?

Subway (35,786 restaurants in 98 countries) has introduced a brand new vegan patty! Awesome?! Well, yes & no: it's only available at some of its restaurants in Canada. And the veggie patty currently offered in the US contains egg. Let's convince them to bring us USers the Vegan one! It will only take a few seconds of your internet play time, swear!

OPTION ONE (1) (I): go to WeLoveSubway.com and leave a comment. Here's one if you just want to copy + paste:
I would really really really like the Vegan Vegged Out Patty to be available in the US, really!

OPTION TWO (2) (II): go to The Facebook and leave a comment. Here's one for you, so easy!
Please please please bring the Vegan Vegged Out Patty to the US, please!

OPTION THREE (3) (III): Tweet a message at them. Here's one pre-typed by me on your behalf:
@subwayfreshbuzz I want the Vegan #VeggedOutPatty in the US. Canada is far and I am a hungry vegan person! @SuperVegan @TryVeg

OPTION FOUR (4) (IV): Call Subway. This sounds extreme in the digital age, but trust me, it's not. A nice human being will listen to you! Here's the number 203-877-4281

OPTION FIVE (5) (V): Send an actual e-mail.
I can't fill out the form for you, sorry. But it has pull downs. It's real easy for a whiz like you!

Do 1, 1-5 or any combo thereof and you'll be our favorite reader ever! C'mon let's do this. I want to hit up Fatburger next and get them to switch from their Veggie Boca Burger to the Vegan one!!

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Larchmont Bungalow's New Vegan Menu

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:41:58 EST

If you happen to be hungry and on tony Larchmont Street but Cafe Gratitude is too much of a scene for your special vegan needs, don't panic! There's a brand new vegan menu at Larchmont Bungalow right down the street.

The lovely people at this "Artisan Cafe Bakery & Brew" invited me to come give feedback on the new menu and it was an epic feast!

Here's a rundown of their new offerings, in order of my own personal preference (though I should say my friends had varying opinions), and my thoughts on it, in one sentence or less.

Vegan Chicken Tostada $12.95

Crispy tostada shells, vegan chicken, black bean puree, Daiya mozzarella, shredded cabbage, guacamole, pico de gallo and ranchero salsa.

This had everything you could ask for in Mexigan food: maximum flavor, crunch, and all the important food groups.

Green Vegan Enchiladas $13.95

Marinated five-grain tempeh, spinach and caramelized onions wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with Daiya mozzarella and homemade tomatillo salsa. Served with black beans.

I hate tempeh, but the spinach and tomatillo salsa are so good this is another Mexigan winner.

Vegan Cobb Salad $12.95

Smokey-maple bacon tempeh, vegan chicken, avocado, chopped tomatoes, daiya mozzarella, and creamy vegan caesar dressing.

This is a helluva salad-- I wish it was tossed instead of segregated piles of maybe one two many ingredients, but the dressing is so good it's worth its weight in printer ink.

Maple Bacon Tempeh Club $12.95

Maple bacon tempeh, tomato, lettuce, avocado and veganaise served on choice of bread with a choice of fries, salad, sweet potato fries or soup..

This club was a table pleaser, and even I, the great tempeh hater, must admit this one has an amazing maple bacon flavor and gives M Cafe's club a real run for the money.

Vegan Breakfast Burrito $12.95

Marinated tofu and five-grain tempeh, black beans, roasted peppers, caramelized onions and vegan chipotle aioli wrapped in a warm flour tortilla with a side of guacamole.

The best part of this was the side of potatoes-- they were so good they should've been inside the burrito, though by the time this came I was so painfully full my mouth couldn't handle its rich, creamy, chipotle-eyness.

Vegan Tofu Scramble

Tofu, mushrooms, caramelized onions, red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, zucchini, daiya mozzarella, and guacamole with fruit salad and toast.

This could be an amazing scramble if only it was actually scrambled and not stir fry'd-- take a big fork to that tofu, mash it up and add some turmeric to make it yellow, please! (This is a major pet peeve of mine, if you're going to try to make and sell something called a vegan scramble, go the extra step and scramble it!)

They offer other things we didn't try, too, like Vegan Chocolate Chip Pancakes and a Daily Vegan Soup! They also have an extensive tea and coffee selection and a nice cafe vibe.

Six thumbs were upped for the Bungalow. My only beef (ew, puns!) about it is that it's only open till 9 and you order at the front, right next to of a whole glass case filled with beautiful looking cakes and things and there is not one single Vegan baked good! We like cake, too!

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Where Is L.A.'s Best Veggie Burger? Pt. III

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:06:53 EST

Welcome to the third installment of the VegLympics in Los Angeles, Veggie Burger Competition!

Recap of the game thus far:
First up was Hole In The Wall Burger Joint (HITW), which received a score of 53 (out of a possible 60). Second was O! Burger, they got a 50.50. We've adopted the ISU Judging System, that's the International Skating Union scoring system, minus the 8 other judges and a comprehensive understanding of how it works. Apparently, a score on a scale of .25 to 10 is given in each of the following categories:

-Skating Skills (SS)
-Transitions/linking footwork and movement (TR)
-Performance/execution (PE)
-Choreography/composition (CH)
-Interpretation (IN)
-Timing (T)

Today's contestant is Veggie Grill. Locations are popping up all over LA by the minute, I had my burger at the Santa Monica location. If you haven't heard about or tried Veggie Grill yet, I'm sorry. It is the type of place that does Vegans proud-- it looks nice, it tastes good, and it competes with regular fast-casual restaurants. In fact, at this location, I got Veggie Grill, my lunch date had Poquito Mas next door, and we met at the seating area outside that serves both. Here's the results.

SS 9.0
I got the VG-Cheeseburger, which is the V-Burger topped with VG-Cheese. That's a marinated and grilled veggie-steak burger, pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and chipotle ranch sauce on a wheat bun. This comes with a side of red cabbage 'slaw or chili, but you definitely want to sub-in one of the upgrades. Their options for pricier sides are so good it's almost a crisis to choose (Sweetheart Fries $2.25, Daily Soup $1.95, Steamin' Kale with sesame tahini like sauce $1.50, Spring Mix Salad $1.95, or Mac-n-Cheese $2.25), but I went for the classic burger & fry combo for $1.95 more. I could have gotten this guy El Dorado style with jalapenos, caramelized onions and ketchup for free OR you can add avocado or portobello mushroom for $1.50, but this one sounded like a fairer playing field and I don't actually enjoy it when my mouth hurts while eating-- lookin' at you 'penos. There are giant menus on the wall and regular ones you can hold in your hand, if you want a more intimate experience. The quality is spot on and it's a burger-sized burger.

TR 9.0
The Meatless Technologies employed at Veggie Grill are Gardein brand. I was excited to have a mo' meaty burger, not one with a kernel of corn peeking out. Normally, I'm a big ketchup gal, but the chipotle sauce deems it redundant. I wish I could taste the melty-cheesy goodness more, but it was overpowered by all the other delicious stuff. The sweet potato fries are great. Crispy, fresh, and sprinkled with some mystery ingredient that takes them to higher levels. They are best when dipped in the dipping sauce, duh. I *almost* ate the whole thing, and twenty minutes later felt ill I was so full, so if you're a man-sized eater this might be on the small end, though it should be plenty, we are all getting fat.

PE 9.0
I wish I could make frozen supermarket Gardein products (and hey, on that note-- whatever happened to Gardein at Costco? I found them there once and then never again) taste as good at home as restaurants are able. I want to know what it's marinated in other than the hopes and dreams of Canadians. This is a good savory burger. It might not fool someone who had meat yesterday, but it was pretty convincing to the likes of me and my 20 years of meatlessness. I wish they had bun options that weren't so brown. That's the dead (pardon the expression) giveaway that it's "healthy." The only other options are to get it as a wrap or on a bed of kale.

CH 8.5
I really like the pickled finely chopped veggies that come on top of the regular crinkle-cut pickles, even though they're not listed on the menu. But if I thought O! Burger was expensive at $13, lunch at Veggie Grill came to $13.33 and that was without a drink. If there was a drive-thru version of VG, more like an In-N-Out, say, at half the price, I would eat here every other day. This place is delicious, but Vegan Lunch Is Too Damn High.

IN 9.0
Veggie Grill has taken Vegan food to the masses in a brilliant way, but I suggest they commit even further to the idea of competing with traditional fast food burger places. Maybe this is a second-level chain: VG Express; a quicker, cheaper version, without table service, and with even more convincing faux meats. The problem with VG is that while a carnivore will actually eat here and enjoy it, they will balk at it's cost compared to their other options. Even though they are paying for quality, which is leaps and bounds beyond any fast food chain, it will detract from their ability to appreciate what they're getting. Still, it was dang good.

T 9.0
Food took about what seems to be the standard amount of time to show up-- ten to fifteen minutes. Slower than Poquito Mas, but worth the wait.

Total Score = 53.5

Great job! Veggie Grill is now in first place. Let me know where I should go next!

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Queen Quarrygirl is Dead

daniellekonyaismyhero@supervegan.com (Andrea Wachner) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:15:09 EST

RIP, m'lady.

Without any ado, Quarrygirl.com, a much appreciated vegan blog out of Los Angeles, shuttered last week. Redirecting to her twitter feed, which she is tweeting from regularly, the unidentified vegan blogstress seems to have had an epiphany whilst attending a Morissey concert to the effect of, "enough is enough." After four years, her term is apparently over.

We at SuperVegan would like to thank Quarrygirl and her contributing writers for what was (and still is, in its archived form) a tremendous resource for vegan eating. Operation Pancake?! I mean, c'mon! That was ah-mazing! Blogging is hard hard work, and often goes unrecognized, so thanks thanks thanks for all of yours! We hope you enjoy your early retirement and wish you the best of luck with whatever you get yourself into next, a lifetime of delicious vegan food to feast on, and maybe a pony? I dunno, something nice.

In the meantime, gentle readers, if you'd like us at SuperVegan to pick up where QG left off, create a LA Restaurant Guide, or something else only you have thought of, please let us know! Leave a comment, it's easy, and we really like hearing from you!

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McDonald’s Sucks Eggs, PETA Goes Postal, The Clash Goes Undercover for a Cause, and More

roseann@supervegan.com (Roseann Marulli Rodriguez) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:41:00 EST

Not that you need an excuse to shop, but Mooshoes is celebrating its 10th anniversary this Saturday, Dec. 3, with a 15% discount on all in-store purchases, plus beverages and snacks from Blossom du Jour and Dun-Well Doughnuts.

Veg Blog has released the third installment of its vegan business profile series, this time featuring cookbook publisher Heritage Press.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, head over to Pianos on the Lower East Side for some Freerange Nonfiction and listen while Hannah Tinti, Alison Espach and Alison Smith read from their animal-related books. The event’s $8 cover will directly benefit Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. For more information on this and other happenings in New York City, check out our Events Calendar.

Speaking of farmed animals, Mercy for Animals has uncovered yet more abuse, this time by Sparboe Egg Farms, the supplier of McDonald’s eggs.

In other atrocities, the USDA released its 2010 Dairy Checkoff Report, and the results are, well, atrocious: In 2009, $108 million was spent promoting milk, while $283 million was used to push dairy products like cheese. Is this really how we want our tax money spent?

On a lighter note: Sending out holiday cards? Be sure to order a book of PETA’s stamps featuring veggie celebs, now through January. The stamps, which can be purchased online, are available as of today and feature famous faces such as Woody Harrelson, Chrissie Hynde, Bob Barker and Morrissey, plus historical notables including da Vinci, Tolstoy and Pythagoras. Celebs aren’t always the most consistent carrot eaters, but they do help expose the mainstream to the cause.

Maybe PETA will consider dedicating a stamp to five-year veghead Jessica Chastain. She’s not the only vegan to make people think the chicken she was chomping was "real."

For the young compassionate people in your life: The Vegetarian Resource Group is giving away two $5,000 college scholarships to vegetarian high schoolers graduating in the spring of 2012. If you know a senior who lives and promotes the veg lifestyle, make sure he or she applies by Feb. 20.

The Clash’s Paul Simonon was arrested earlier this year while working undercover as a vegetarian cook for Greenpeace. He might not have been a vegan pirate cook fighting whalers, but protesting against Artic oil offenders gets a thumbs-up too.

Jane Brody wrote about vegans' favorite vitamin in The New York Times: Vitamin B12 Deficiency Can Cause Symptoms That Mimic Aging.

Arms dealer Viktor Bout, the closest thing to a real-life James Bond villain, is demanding vegan meals in jail.

Last, I’m sad to say that Marti Kheel has died. I had the privilege of hearing the ecofeminist and the author of Nature Ethics speak a few years ago, and her message was inspiring. RIP, Marti.

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