Vegan Score: exposing Seattle's vegan goodies

Vegan Cooking Maven Sara Beth

2012-01-16T18:11:00.000-08:00

Much of Seattle still has yet to discover the vegan wonder that is Sara Beth. She cooks. She teaches. She caters. She bakes. She even consults. Not to mention she creates vegan donut recipes that win 1st place, even against some of the nation's best bakers, even at high altitudes (harder than you think)*. She has started her own vegan cooking company and now her skills can be yours. Check out all she offers:

Public Vegan Cooking Classes: Some of you may know her from her series of sold-out classes at Wholefoods at Roosevelt Square. If you haven't taken one yet, don't worry, she has something special planned for this month. Sat. Jan 21 and Tues. Jan 2 4 she will be doing entirely raw dessert classes, focused on simple recipes that don't require a ton of special equipment. Sign up by calling Wholefoods. More info.

Photo (c) Rebecca Bolte

Private Seattle Cooking Classes: You can get private in-home vegan cooking classes for you, your family, or for a fun party. Sara can design a class around your interests. All pies all the time? Raw banana split party? Healthy vegan cooking? Comfort food? 1-time class, or a series of 6 as you transition to a vegan diet. She can also teach about raw prep. What ever your interest, Sara's private classes are very cool and VERY affordable. If you sign up in the month of the January, she is offering 25% off!

In-house and Small Catering: This is my favorite thing that Sara offers our town: in-house dinner party catering that won't break the bank. I like to entertain, but I am not a stellar cook, so this is right up my alley. If you call a local catering house to host a dinner party for you and 6 of your friends, they'll tell you they can't do it for under $70/person. Sara will help you save money and design a vegan party that you've always wanted. Spend time with your guests instead of over a hot messy stove. I'd use this service if I was having people from work over - I want them to know how great vegan food can be. And just like her private classes, Sara is offering 25% off in January (2012)!

Team Building: Your work looking for something fun, healthy, and educational for your team building outings in Seattle? How about a private cooking lesson with Sara at the Wholefoods in Roosevelt? You can have 12-15 people at only $25/person for 3 recipes. She'll let you pick any style or focus and you get to taste and sample everything that is made. Contact Sara with ideas or questions.

*Food Network Donut Challenge: they make Sara seem tough, but she is really a sweetie.

Cook Book : If that wasn't enough, Sara is working on her first cookbook. Recipes are done, tested, and ready for print. Just a few more photographs and this little local vegan chef's recipes can be yours. Keep your eyes peeled as I am sure we'll have some celebrating to do when it finally is on the shelf at our local book stores.

Restaurant Consulting: Sara will soon be offering restaurant consulting to help popular places offer easy vegan, gluten-free, and other related items on their general menus, without changing too much of their back end processes. She'll help kitchen managers and head chefs work with the space, money, and time that they have, but still offer options that will temp everyone's palette. News on that soon.

Follow Sara Beth on Facebook to stay up to date on classes, offers, and amazing recipes. If you prefer twitter, follow Sara Beth at @sarabethxvx. Or just add your email to her email list so you can get her 2x mo. update on classes. What ever way, now you have a resource for your vegan catering, learning, and in-home dinner parties! Weee!

Vegan Song Bird Coreena Brown

2012-01-16T15:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another installment of the local Vegan Artist Profile! (I should come up with a better name for this series, I realize. Soon, I swear.)

I am honored to have gotten the chance to interview Pacific Northwest native, Coreena Brown, a rising vocalist living right here in our little city. Brought up on soul, rock, and pop, Coreena spent some time singing smooth jazz and R&B, but has since discovered her true love of electronica. She is also an environmentalist, a big fan of Bill Maher, and is playing a show later this month. I asked her a few questions so we could all know her a bit better!

Vegan Score: First, an easy one - when did you become vegan and why?
Coreena Brown: I became a vegan about 4 years ago. In my personal life I was going through so many tough changes because of this I gained weight, was diagnosed with adult eczema a couple years before, I felt my body, my energy, and over all outside appearance did not reflect the best me. So I began this silly "carb" diet and lost about 30 pounds, but did not feel healthy, thin does not mean healthy! I also still continued to struggle with eczema and mysterious rashes. I started to do research about health and diet in medical journals, books, and other studies and ignored all the rhetoric I was hearing on television, in media, etc. I also began to read books about religion and spirituality. My perception not only began to change about food and what that has to do with our health (diabetes, heart diseases, and other degenerative diseases) but my perception changed about my relationship with food and animals. So here I am, and I never looked back and never will.

VS: Does being vegan impact your artistry or expression? Do you ever discuss animal exploitation or compassion in your lyrics?
Coreena: Yes, yes! There are many layers to the song "The 5th Element" one of them being that if we listen to our minds and hearts closely, it speaks to each and everyone one of us about compassion for animals and what that really means. I try to stay away from lyrically being preachy about what I believe, I more so try to get the listener to question their way of thinking and the decisions they make.

VS: Why did you decide to settle back in Seattle and kick off your electronica here?
Coreena: Part of me was ready to leave California, I have so much history there that I couldn't really start a new residing in the same old place. I also thought Seattle, my hometown had a sense of community support for the arts and electronic music.

Listen now: TheFifthElement-DarkElementRemix

VS: What made you decide to pursue electronica instead of soul and smooth jazz?
Coreena: My first music project was a jazzy soul type project and it was great, however I was not the primary writer or producer. Now I write, produce, and do everything myself. I've been singing soul since I can remember so I don't have to think about it, just comes to me, it’s all feeling, so I decided to do music that I felt made me think about the next note out my mouth instead of feeling the next note. Does that make sense? In addition to this, I wanted to reflect my metamorphosis and who I am today. I still perform live straight ahead jazz and soul standards to try to keep the chops up.

VS: Where do you normally perform and with what other local artists?
Coreena: Normally a venue called Lakeside Bistro which is a great place, but I don't do my songs. I haven’t really performed with other artists but I look forward to it! I am also looking forward to having some of my songs spun at a couple electronic events and hot spots!

VS: In what neighborhood do you live and what is your favorite place to get vegan goodness there?
Coreena: I live in the Shoreline area and there is not much up this way, I eat in quite a bit, however I love the U District because there is so much to choose from! I can't just choose one spot all the place are so good Chaco Canyon, Thrive, Hillside Quickie, Highline, it’s ALL FABULOUS!

VS: What is next for you in 2012?
Coreena: New website, new photos, I will have an EP release in May (my birthday month!), a party for the EP release, music for sale online, more performances, and a mini tour and travel overseas.

_____

Thanks Coreena! I am especially grateful that this lil' blog helps me meet so many artists that I otherwise would have no idea about! Coreena is the 2nd vegan Seattle jazz artist that I've profiled, and I have one more in the hopper at least. If you don’t want to wait until her EP release this spring , go hear Coreena croon January, 21, 2011 at Lakeside Bistro from 7:30-9:00 (reservations are recommended).

Check out Coreena's web site: http://www.coreenamusic.com/
Become a fan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coreenamusic
Follow her on Twitter: @CoreenaMusic

ChuMihn Deli in your Belly!

2012-01-03T19:35:00.001-08:00

I've been meaning to write about ChuMihn for months. Ever since it opened and my friend Derrick Hachey went there every day for two weeks (no joke). Sorry if I deprived any Seattleites of this amazing traditional Asian vegetarian fare!

Photos by Michelle of Addicted to Cookbooks

If you are not a regular diner in the CD or the neighborhood around 12th and Jackson, ChuMihn Tofu Veggie Deli may be a bit intimidating at first. It is a legit neighborhood deli and you won't find all that much English rolling. ChuMihn Tofo has been making tofu, soy milk, and veggie meats for other restaurants and deli's and now just this past fall, finally opened their own store front.

You can get just about any traditional Vietnamese Buddhist cuisine* - from vegan ginger fish, to curry, to amazing spicy soups, and even fake lobster - ready to eat. You'll find tofu more ways than you knew existed, plus thick house-made soy milk perfect for making rich cream sauces at home. You can also get pho, bahn mi, sesame balls, and more! The best thing I brought home from my first trip was the spicy sauce they sell in a beverage cup for $5 (top right photo on right). I also bought soup and huge containers of mixed items for only $5 each. Everything I tried was amazing.

Photos by Michelle of Addicted to Cookbooks

Nothing was priced and they only take cash, so come prepared to chat. The owner, Thanh Nga Nyugen is extremely welcoming and will let you try anything you are unsure of - plus she'll demand that you come back soon and tell your friends. Let me say this, if you love ginger, don't leave without the "fish." Take it home throw it in a pan for a few minutes each side, and mange. Because everything is house made and not bought processed, it is easy to confirm what you are buying is vegan by just asking! But for sure ask. There is a little table if you need to eat in the deli, but it is mostly designed for take-out.

What are you waiting for? Let 2012 be the year of adventurous Vietnamese vegan eating!

ChuMinh Tofu Veggie Deli
1043 South Jackson (SW corner of 12th and Jackson) Seattle, WA 98104
Hours: 8 am to 8 pm most days
Bus # 7, 9, 14, 265, 60, 309, 36, 984

A huge shout out to the talented and generous Michelle over at Addicted to Cookbooks who took these photos and was willing to share. Both times I've been to ChuMinh, I left my camera at home. Ooops! Michelle's blog is awesome.

*Buddhist cooking has one of the longest histories of vegetarian and meat analog cooking and Buddhist monk recipes for "fake" meat go back hundreds of years. It may seem newfangled, here, but they are masters of seitan, tofu, tempeh, agar (seaweed), and more.

Speak out for Ferrets, Students, and Modern Medicine

2011-12-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

Most folks have no idea that our own typically progressive, historic, iconic, and critically important University of Washington is still behind the times when it comes to animal experimentation and medical teaching. The UW uses many types of animals for research and teaching - even when more accurate and less cruel human simulations are available.

Current case in point: UW Medical School is still using real ferrets for endotracheal intubation training even tho 94% of US pediatrics residency programs now use non-animal methods. The UW also uses rabbits to teach about chest tube placement even when medical simulators are available. Most students and community members have no idea it is happening and if they do, they have no idea that there are viable, smart, affordable, non-animal alternatives.

"There are 186 pediatric residencies in the nation and the UW is one of only 11 that still use live animals." - Alex Payan, Seattle Animal Defense League (SADL)

Local animal champion groups, NARN, and SADL are helping to educate students about these practices and making sure that the decision makers at the University know that people do not support unnecessary animal experimentation. But these animals need broader support and more people to speak out on their behalf before the UW will modernize its policies. This is where NARN and SADL could use your voice.

"We have been on campus at least once a week since October handing out fliers and gathering signatures and are having some pretty good responses." - Alex Payan, SADL

Join them and many other local citizens to educate the student body, gather signatures, and speak out against needless cruelty on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 12 pm to 1:30. This is a very smart and kind way to use your lunch break, I'll say. Whenever I think about how difficult being a demonstrator can be, I am inspired by my hero who said:

"The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that's the essence of inhumanity."- George Bernard Shaw

To learn more about this campaign to end animal experimentation at the UW visit WashingtonDeservesBetter.org or get in touch with SADL at seattleadl@riseup.net. If you can't make it to the public demonstration, you can send an email via this form to let the school know that you'd like them to switch to more humane education methods.

All the details:
Facebook Event Page
Date: January 3, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM
Where: University of Washington
Contact: seattleadl@riseup.net

New to veganism and just learning about the cruel and erroneous use of animals in research, education, and product testing? Here are few resources you should check out:

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: http://pcrm.org/research/
In Defense of Animals: http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/
Vegan Peace: http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_cruelty/animal_testing.htm
PETA: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/default2.aspx

And let me end this little post with a link to the most adorable ferret picture that ever existed. You are welcome. :)

Give Vegan. Give Local. Give Love.

2011-12-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

Oh Christmas, what a mixed blessing you are. On the one hand, I want to poke my eyes out every time I see an ad for a black Friday sale or a commercial with car with a bow on it (a car?!?! really?!?). Poke. I'm also atheist, so maybe it is offensive when I secularize the birth of Christ or the Winter Solstice? On the other hand, I like fancy parties, sparkling lights, decorations made from trees, spending time with people I love, cookies, and any excuse to show the people close to me how special they are by making or finding something special for them.

Of course you can give people gifts anytime, but like many things, it is the ritual of the celebration that gets me off my couch, hunting, crafting, wrapping. I am steadfast in my refusal to shop at places like Walmart or to give generic plastic gift cards purchased at the drugstore. If you are too, I made this little list of interesting prezzies you will find locally for the people that you love, vegan or not. Key: $ = less than $30; $$ = less than $100; $$$ = pricey but worth it.

Art and Artists - My favorite gift to give and receive is real, original, one-of-a-kind art or artist designed wares. If you know someone who loves illustrations, maybe buy an original comic from local artist Maré Odomo. Or art from EGO, Parskid, Phil Scroggs, Vegan Me, Arianne Whited, etc. Or if you know a guy who likes girls and pizza, get him this rad poster. Check it. $-$$$

Aromas not Therapy- Do you have someone in your life who just swoons for sweet smelling oils and perfumes? The adorable gift set selections from Sweet Anthem, an all vegan perfumery in West Seattle, would be ideal. 100% vegan. Handmade. Local. Check it. $-$$

Books and Marks - Have you seen the bookshelf at Sidecar lately? More than 100 books on vegan politics, animals, vegan cooking, health, and more for you to get for the reader in your life. And even more fun, you can pick up a handmade bookmark with a vintage cartoon about Animals looking to people for mercy. Check it. $

Cookie Carton - If you can't bake (I know you are out there), but love someone with a serious sweet tooth who would appreciate a box of delicate, light, and delectable cookies, get thee to Bouteloua Bakery and order a dozen. All Vegan. Organic. Fresh. Check it. $

Face it Vegan - The lovely and talented Kandice Kelley offers a 100% vegan facial using handcrafted, cruelty-free Uspa products which are made with pure ingredients, no animal byproducts, and no animal testing. Check it. $$

Feed Your Friends - Its true that people like to eat out, but can't always afford it or won't make room for it in their lives and budgets. Gift certificates can be a way of helping the people you love get out and relax, celebrate, or spend time with someone important. Pick one of the 20+ vegan restaurants in Seattle and give the gift of grub. Wayward! Highline! Pizza Pi! Sage! Plum! Loving Hut! Bamboo Garden! Teapot! On and on! Check it. $-$$

Independent Button Maker - you have a vegan in your life who is crazy about causes? Helping out where ever they can? Maybe one with a band? Rather than them paying for custom buttons for the rest of their lives, just get them their very own button making machine. Go visit vegan-owned and operated, Button Makers.net in Georgetown. Your loved one can even sell buttons and make some dough or raise money. That is a gift that keeps on giving. Check it. $$$

Needle Art - Chip in some scratch to help your mom, brother, or friend get a tattoo that says, vegan, with vegan inks, from a vegan artist. That sounds rad. They can write that on the gift certificate, right? You have a few to choose from in Seattle. I recommend EGO at Under the Needle (downtown) and Heidi at Lucky Devil (capitol hill). $-$$$

Organic Art Vegan T-Shirt - There are still a few left of the 1st series of Lion's Share Vegan T-shirts. Each one designed by a vegan artist, screen printed here in Seattle, the company is local and you can buy them online or at Sidecar. Made in the US, organic or recycled materials, radical designs. Why don't you have all 5 yet? $

Polished to a Shine - On the outside and inside, the gift box of 4 different nail polishes from 100% vegan polish company, SPAritual is beautiful. Glitter on the box, and no toluene, formaldehyde or DBP in the bottles. Get it at Sidecar. $

Members Only - Maybe the vegan you love would be pleased as punch if you got them a membership to a local animal rights or vegan organization. This way you are donating money, supporting community, and giving a gift. Isn't that called a Hat Trick? Try NARN, Seattle ADL, Vegetarians of WA, Green Vegans, etc. $

Shake Your Money Maker - Bollywood, belly, Zumba, tahitan - these dances can be enjoyed and mastered by you and the ones you love. For only $25 you can get someone a 3-class trial gift certificate to vegan-owned Skin Deep Dance. Beacon Hill and Crown Hill. Shake it. Check it. $

Song Sung Blue - Support local vegan musicians while giving the gift of song to the music lovers in your life. I suggest you take them to a show and pick up the CD or download if you can. Hip-hop (check out the new mix, Thief!, from Derelict), electronic (go see a Coreena performance), jazz (pick up the Nick Drake tribute from the Jason Parker Quartet or Zubatto Syndicate from Andrew Boscardin, punk and hardcore (take them to a an Olde Ghost or Sane Reaction show), and more. Maybe you ought to make a mix tape? $

Stompin Boots - OK, so Doc Martens is not a local company, but they finally came out with a vegan line and if you know someone dying for a pair of real Docs, don't pass up the opportunity. When I went in to the Seattle flag ship store on 2nd (between Pike and Pine), they said they had had the vegan boots and shoes for 3 months and nobody noticed. Eeek. They are also very, very radical. Check it. $$$

Quilt it out - This gift is only for people who have been saving for a while and want to give something that is true art and true function merged. Get your vegan a custom quilt from Quiltsrÿche, headed by master quilter and vegan, Boo Davis. If you know someone who likes to quilt themselves, you can also pick up Boo's book, Dare to Be Square. $$$

Wallets are Practical Fashion - Wallets are just the type of things that folks don't buy for themselves until the one they have is broken, falling apart, grungy, and ineffective. Chocolate Shoe Box and Sidecar have great styles for both men and women and both stores are 100% vegan. Check it. $

I'll try and keep adding to this list until Dec 22, and we can do it all again next year too. Tell me what ideas you have that are local, where you are finding really special things (Urban Craft Uprising anyone?), or what types of things are you making. This isn't a craft blog, but I'm into embroidery, pickling, glass etching, mosaic work, stamping, soap making, and more. Are you making something others can buy? Let me know!

Read me: Vegan Blogs in the Great Seattle Area

2011-11-22T20:40:00.000-08:00

Oh, you thought that Seattle Vegan Score was the ONLY vegan blog in all of Seattle? Or the only one that matters? Pshaw. Falsities! Here is the good news, I don't demand loyalty (tho' that would be funny, huh?) and if you don't know about them already, I hope you have time to check out the many vegan bloggers in our fine vegan-friendly land! Just keep a special spot in your heart for ol' Vegan Score.

I've done my best to list all that I know about in the NW (20!), but there is SO much I don't know in this world. If you know of any other vegan blogs around here, please comment so I can add it to the list. Thanks!

Blog: A Bit Addicted t o Cookbo oks
What it’s about: So Michelle is seriously addicted to cookbooks and has more than 200 of them! And this blog documents her journey through cookbook wonderland. You’ll also find side-trips of eating-out, some traveling, collecting of kitchen gadgets, and photos of her dog Ringo. Follow on Twitter
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes; Vegan Dining; Vegan Lifestyle
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Adventures of a Vegaphiliac
What it's about: You'll find a whole bunch of easy to make but healthy vegan recipes on on this newer vegan's blog. She doesn't pack her food full of bad oils and refined sugar to make the dishes taste good. And it's written in a casual, humble tone, so it is fun to read.
Categories: Vegan Recipes & Cooking
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Andrea’s E asy Vegan Cooking
What it’s about: Amazing and easy vegan cooking, of course! Andrea has been vegan for 27 years and knows her way around the kitchen. Most of the recipes on her award-winning blog are from scratch using organic foods and whole grains too.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Braisen Wo man
What it’s about: This is a brand new blog, just a few posts in. Joy loves food and wants to share vegan cooking with a wider audience. Thankfully there are plenty of folks looking to share and learn from each other via blogs, so I'm sure she'll find a thankful audience. We’ll have to check back again later to see more.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Dandelion Vega n Blog
What it's about: This blog is mostly about food because Rose loves to cook, which she learned to do at home from an early age from her mom. You’ll also learn about “veganic” gardening and see pictures of their adorable kitties.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Seattle - Phinney Ridge

Blog: Don’t Fear the Vegan
What it’s about: A newer blog coming up on its 1 year anniversary, Don’t Fear the Vegan features cooking, cooking, and more delicious vegan cooking. Plus a fun section of answers from a weekly question about veganism. Follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: For the Love of Food
What it's about: Vegan recipes, sustainable living, and living a healthy and active lifestyle. Sonnet is a top health blogger for Wellspher’s Healthy Cooking Community too. Follow on Facebook and Twitter
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, Raw, Vegan Health and/or Nutrition, Vegan Athleticism
Headquarters: Seattle - Fremont

Blog: Hobby and More
What's it about: You find lots of veganized recipes, Indian food, vegan baking, and other food adventures because vegan food can by a hobby! Richa's blog also has a recipe index, which I love. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Hot Piece of Class
What it's about: Just the most adorable fashion you can find around the NW or online. Taylor knows about thrift shopping as well as all of the top vegan brands. She'll also be guest blogging on this little blog - so more cruelty-free fashion is on its way!
Categories: Vegan Fashion
Headquarters: Tacoma

Blog: More than Tofu & Sprouts
What it's about: The "Fairly Odd Tofu Mom" shares vegan recipes that are kid-friendly, budget conscious and will blow those picky omni types away! Follow on Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining
Headquarters: Puyallup

Blog: Northwest Herbivore
What it's about: A Seattle-based vegan cooks, dines, bakes, and reads her way around the Pacific Northwest. She share reviews of restaurants, deals to help you save money while enjoying the many offerings, recipes from her own kitchen, and news items of interest to local vegans. Follow on Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, NW Deals
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Novel Eats
What it’s about: This BEAUTIFUL vegan food blog by Samantha shares vegan recipes, advice, and a pinch of entertainment. My favorite thing about this blog is that you can browse the recipes by ingredient! Follow on Twitter and Facebook.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Activism / Animal Rights, Vegan How-To
Headquarters: Seattle

Blog: Please Pass the Tofu
What it's about: Easy vegan recipes modified, easy, and friendly. Teresa gets right to the recipes and has a new post every week and she often shares them on the Vegan Score Facebook page too! (Usually on meatless Mondays.) Follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Bellevue

Blog: Pink Glitte r
What it's about: Follow a brilliant and tenacious vegan nurse, Lisa, as she battles Thyroid Cancer, which she was diagnosed with just this past March (2011). Seeing behind the scenes of the medical system is fascinating and terrifying, and you’ll be so grateful that Lisa is vegan and a nurse. Follow on Twitter.
Categories: vegan cancer survival
Headquarters: Seattle - Madison Park

Blog: Pursuit of Vegginess
What it's about: There are a lot of busy working moms out there like Susan who want to feed their picky non-vegan family healthy meals without spending a fortune or hours in the kitchen. You’ll find vegan resources, reviews, and relate to parental dinner time frustrations. Follow on Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, Vegan Musings, Vegan Health and/or Nutrition
Headquarters: Issaquah, WA

Blog: Princess an d the Peace
What it's about: This blog shares discoveries of chic, cruelty-free fashion, vegan food, and all sorts of other fun things. It has a slightly different style aesthetic than some of the other vegan fashion blogs. Plus, there is something new almost every day.
Categories: Vegan Fashion, Vegan Musings
Headquarters: Seattle - Mt. Baker

Blog: Seattle Veg Coach
What it's about: This is blog is a sister resource to the Veg Coach radio show and includes general vegan musings, recipes, interviews, and more. Follow on Facebook.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Musings, Vegan gratitude
Headquarters: Bothell

Blog: Soundly Vegan
What it's about: Soundly vegan is about the love of bright, beautiful, healthful, and nourishing food. Recipes abound with interesting, colorful, and unique ingredients. Great photography too.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes
Headquarters: Federal Way

Blog: Spotted De vil Cat and his vegan assistant
What it's about: This blog, one of the longest running in the NW, has product reviews, event information, lots of cooking, and best of all, photos of their furry family.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, Vegan Activism / Animal Rights, cats & dogs
Headquarters: Woodinville, WA

Blog: Vegan Mo xie
What it's about: Vegan Moxie chronicles Dawn’s adventures and shenanigans at home, on the town and on the road. There are only a small handful of Tacoma vegan food blogs in existence. She wanted to chronicle the ways and eats of a 20-something living in the South Sound who gets out pretty often and does her best to spread the good (vegan) word. Follow on Twitter and Facebook.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, Vegan Musings, Vegan Culture, Vegan lifestyle
Headquarters: Tacoma

Blog: The Vegan R D
What it’s about: Ginny’s blog is national, but she is located on the Olympic Peninsula. She is vegan and animal liberation activist and her goals are to share solid information on how to be healthy as a vegan, as well as practical ideas and recipes that make ethical eating easy and realistic for everyone. Follow on Facebook and Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Health
Headquarters: Olympic Peninsula

Blog: Veganspired
What it's about: Abbie tries different vegan recipes (from cook books or blogs), then rates and review them. She keeps things down-to-earth and talks about her dumb mistakes, swears a lot, and takes silly pictures during the whole recipe adventure. Follow on Facebook.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Advice / Mentoring
Headquarters: Seattle - Pioneer Square.

Blog: Vegtastic
What it’s about: Oh, you’ll love this vegan food and lifestyle blog by Helen. You’ll find posts on everything from fashion to hosting non-vegans, gifts, opinions, and vegan sightings in pop culture. But watch out, she doesn’t like bananas. Which is just bananas. Follow on Twitter.
Categories: Vegan Cooking & Recipes, Vegan Dining, Vegan Musings, Vegan Culture, Vegan lifestyle
Headquarters: Seattle

Ethiopian Fix: Lalibela Restaurant

2011-11-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

This guest post was written by Dawn, and originally appeared on the Vegan Moxie blog, a South Sound-based vegan food/lifestyle blog.

- - - - -

While I love and constantly sing my praises of Tacoma, there are a few things that I wish existed there, (food-wise) that currently do not. Exhibit 1: a vegan fine dining establishment. If someone built it, I believe we'd most assuredly come. Exhibit 2: a single Ethiopian restaurant.

We Tacomans venture to Seattle for our vegan Ethiopian, because as to my knowledge, Olympia doesn't have one either. This just makes it an every once in a while treat for us, and thankfully Seattle is teeming with Ethiopian restaurants of varying levels of hole-in-the-wall-ness. I haven't been to all, (there are approximately one zillion, you Seattleites are so lucky!) but our favorites, Queen Sheba and Kokeb, are both lovely in ambiance, service and delectable vegan options.

As we frequent both of those locations primarily for our Ethiopian fix, we wanted to try a new place while visiting this past weekend. Yelp is kind of hard to wade through for a suggestion on this, because almost all restaurants have the same ratings and all have veggie platter options. So I took a shot in the dark and picked a restaurant at random in Columbia City [editors note: Central District]: Lalibela Restaurant.

Lalibela has a whole page dedicated to pure vegetarian/vegan dishes, and they should be pretty familiar to you if you've ever tried the cuisine. If not, Ethiopian food is mostly composed of staple ingredients such as potatoes, onions, greens and lentils that all different spicy flavors. Gomen, Foskua, Misir Wot, Fosolia and aptly named Cabbage all don the menu, and my favorite way to eat Ethiopian food at any restaurant, (the veggie combo platter) gives you a little bit of everything on the menu, save for a few dishes. When you share with a friend, you really get a lot of bang for your buck.

The boy and I split this monster veggie combo, complete with warm, soft, sour and delightfully spongy injera. His favorite was hands down the Fosolia, and I was the biggest fan of the Gomen, (collard greens), cooked down with onion, ginger, garlic and other spices. I don't even want to tell you how fast we ate all of this, plus our injera, plus the injera that the food comes on. It's that good, and/or we were just that hungry.

If you're in the mood for Ethiopian and are near the Central District, I think you should definitely check out Lalibela. Though we did pass about five other Ethiopian restaurants on the way up, you can be assured that the food is tasty and vegan at this cozy spot.

Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant (Central District)
2800 E. Cherry St.
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 322-8565

Still not tired of vegan Thai: Peanut Sauce in Tacoma

2011-11-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

I know this blog is called Seattle Vegan Score, but Tacoma is our littler sister city and it's vegan-friendly dining scene is growing wildly these days. We should really hang out more often. With that spirit in mind, let me introduce you a very unassuming joint for Thai-loving vegans in Tacoma: Peanut Sauce Thai Cuisine.

"Don't judge a restaurant by its strip mall," has always been my motto - and it came in handy on this recent trip. You'll find this popular and packed Thai restaurant with a huge vegetarian menu hidden near the Tacoma Mall off of exit 130.

Not everything on the vegetarian menu is automatically vegan, but it is all made without fish sauce, oyster sauce, or shrimp paste. The staff at Peanut Sauce is pretty veg-knowledgeable, super friendly, attentive, and happy to answer any questions about ingredients.

The menu is enormous, with separate sections for vegetarian curries, noodle dishes, general entrees, soups, salads, appetizers, and house specialties. And you won't find just standard Thai fare here, you'll get options like avocado curry, fried basil leaves, and all different types of lime, peanut, onion, garlic, and bean sauces.

I devoured a green papaya salad - where they replace the fish sauce with a fragrant tangy concoction of tamarind and soy sauce. Then I stuffed myself full of one of the house specialties, garlic tofu with crispy fried basil leaves. It really is a dish better shared, but who is complaining?

So friends, when you find yourself further south, or *gasp* shopping at the Tacoma Mall, find yourself at Peanut Sauce Thai Cuisine and you won't be disappointed.

Want more vegan stuff in Tacoma? Read the Vegan Moxie blog for restaurant reviews, cooking adventures, and more.

Peanut Sauce Thai
5003 Tacoma Mall Blvd
# 105
Tacoma, WA 98409-7120
(253) 475-4889

Lecture and Letter Writing to End Primate Experimentation

2011-10-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Seriously friends, what is wrong with us that we willfully, purposefully, and painfully experiment on our primate cousins? A few argue that it is our similar DNA that makes primate experimentation so necessary - but of course, it is exactly our similarities - suffering in response to physical, mental, and emotional abuse - that demands that we reject this scientific route on ethical grounds.

Sadly, the United States is the world's largest user of chimpanzees for biomedical research, where as other scientific leaders such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have all banned primate research.

photo courtesy of Wikicommons and Lepidlizard

But don't despair! The US could be close to passing Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act of 2011 and you can learn more and communicate that you support this band to law makers in one incredible evening!

Mark you calendars! This Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - join dozens of other Seattle smarties with hearties (I just made that up) at the Seattle Chimpanzee Lecture and Letter-Writing Party. Hear from local Chimpanzee Sanctuary NW Director, Diana Goodrich as well as renowned peace activist and Director of public and government affairs for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Elizabeth Kucinich.

Our own Sen. Patty Murray is the co-chair of the committee to reduce the deficit and could be extremely influential in banning invasive primate experiments because it could also save the federal gov. $300 million over 10 years. After the lecture we'll all write Sen. Murray letters asking for her support in banning the cruel practice.

In summary: a night of learning and activism and getting to hang at the Seattle library. Oh, does this cost a bunch of money? How about none. Just RSVP here.

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., Level 4, Room 2, Seattle, WA
What: bring a big brain and a big heart (PCRM will bring the letter materials)
RSVP: with PCRM her e and with Seattle Animal Defense League here

Pursuit of a Green Plantet Starts Now

2011-10-25T19:42:00.001-07:00

Hip-hop is radical. Veganism is radical. Indie movie making is radical. Check. Check. Check. Seattle is pushing the envelope of artistic, educational, and moral progress with a new documentary film in the works by local hip-hip radio host, Keith Tucker. Go Seattle!

Imagine the honest and transforming conversations of "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" blended with the all out hard-hitting and culturally relevant message of "Hip-hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes" and you've got a glimpse of Mr. Tucker's vision for this documentary, Pursuit of a Green Planet (POAGP). Tommy Edison said, "Discontent is the first necessity of progress," and Keith is not content with the state of health and environmental awareness in hip-hop culture. And we shouldn't be either.

Keith has assembled a forward-thinking and industry-renowned team of documentary film makers and will be making this flick grass-roots style. And POAGP isn't just a movie - it is part of a larger effort to bring awareness of veganism, nutrition, and environmentalism to youth, an effort that includes Green Dinners hosted around the country, an effort that integrates road shows, tweet-ups, radio shows, broadcasts of potlucks and dinners.

The Pursuit of a Green Planet movie will include interviews with hip-hop vegan, vegetarian, environmental, and health insiders - providing role models and an example of how things can be within the hip-hop community. Think Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Common, Saul Williams, Andre 3000, Willie Austin, and more. Tucker's goal is to blend entertainment and education to reach his much deserving audience. And he'll be speaking from the heart and personal experience as he transitions to a vegan diet.

Here is where the rubber meets the road: it is time for all of us to get involved. First we must help fund this important documentary, then we must spread the word to anyone who cares enough to get this message out there. The Pursuit of a Green Planet team is making it fun and easy. All you have to do is host a vegan potluck or dinner party. Invite your vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore friends and talk about the topics brought up by the making of this documentary. If you can do it on Saturday Nov 5, there will be a corresponding live Tweet-Up, so you can tweet and post photos from your event, talk to Keith Tucker via twitter, and connect with others having a vegan potluck all around the country (using #HipHopisGreen). But if you can't do it Nov 5, don't let that stop you. Invite people over. Show them Keith's video. Talk about how and why the hip-hop community deserves to hear Keith's message of health and connection with food.

OK. Here is how to do it:

Twitter

Connect with Pursuit of a Green Planet at http://twitter.com/hiphopisgreen. Please tag @HipHopisGreen in your Tweets or use the #HipHopisGreen Hashtag.
Please Share this Tweet with your followers from now until then: Let's Make a Movement! Worldwide Vegan Potluck Tweetup Nov. 5 http://on.fb.me/oq3d4S #vegan #HipHopisGreen
Hip Hop Goes Green in New Film Project. Show Your Support: http://bit.ly/ouIdgv #indiegogo #vegan #health #film #hiphopisgreen

Facebook

Connect with Pursuit of a Green Planet at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Pursuit-of-a-Green-Planet/137274523025332.
Invite your friends to the Worldwide Vegan Potluck Tweetup Nov. 5 https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=177253215693811

Or just have a party and go to www.hiphopisgreen.com to check things out. RSVP and get more links on the Tweet Up Event Page. Chat about the connection between taking care of our planet, staying healthy, and how we treat living creatures in this world. Compassion, health, and environmental progress can be part of all cultures.

Vegan Himalayan Escape Down Low

2011-10-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

The real Himalayas may be high in the sky, but local Nepali Himalayan restaurant, Annapurna Cafe, is down low underground. But don't let the fact that daylight doesn't enter this restaurant deter you from exploring its sweet Hindu and Buddhist inspired food.

Although far from vegetarian, this cozy aromatic establishment has almost two dozen totally vegan items on its menu, all clearly labeled and easy to order. You'll find food that is a strange blend of Chinese (tofu, broccoli, etc) and Indian (potatoes, spinach, curry) flavors with a special Nepalese touch. From traditional Chat-Pata Papadum, to Sambar Soup, to Tibetan style Momo, to Monk Stir-Fry, and Palak Tofu - you will not come up short on new things to try. Also, somehow their sesame salad dressing is made of spicy horseradish magic.

These photos do not do the food justice, but I didn't want to keep this secret just because I have terrible snaps. Annapurna Cafe is warmly lit, jewel toned, and inviting - really an ideal place for a date. They even have saffron infused vodka and Mustang Beer, a Napali lager supposedly brewed from the "Himalaya's purest water."

So grab someone sweet and take them to this special spot below street level on Broadway on Capitol Hill.

Annapurna Cafe
1833 Broadway
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 320-7770
Busses: 9, 43, 8, 60, 49

Let's go on a hunt! For Animals!

2011-09-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

On a scavenger hunt, of course! Grab your favorite friend, cousin, or crush and get your fun-lovin feet to the Seattle Center on Saturday October 1, 2011 for the 2nd annual Seattle Scavenger Hunt for Animal Rights.

Last year's event raised some bucks for the legal defense of the SHAC7 and was done all on bicycle - this year, you can just use your legs and a camera to get in the game. The cost is only $10/person ($20/team) and there will be some RADICAL prizes to win - plus your money will be going to support Seattle Animal Defense League (ADL) campaigns.

Seattle Animal Defense League is a local animal rights group that works to end cruelty towards nonhuman animals by advocating a vegan diet and engaging in campaigns to alleviate their suffering - particularly around ending animal experimentation, vivisection, and the fur industry. They do what they can to raise their voices and speak for those who can't speak for themselves, which I appreciate a lot.

photo from www.vintageseattle.org

If you are one of those people who are always like, "I don't know very many other vegans" or "I'd like to get more involved" or "I like to have fun" then this event is practically designed with you in mind. Other than for medical reasons, I can't really see how you could not attend. Right?

Glad we are in agreement. See you there!

Scavenger Hunt for Animal Rights
October 1, 2011
Saturday
3pm - 6 pm
Meet at: base of the Space Needle
2 People Per Team - don't forget your camera!
Facebook RSVP (or to find a team mate)
More info: seattleadl@riseup.net

Freak Beat Revolution: DJ Pelvis in the House

2011-09-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

OK you party vegans, some of you may not know that Highline Bar has the best DJ nights in town. They do! The newest addition to the line up is DJ Pelvis, who will get your booty shakin' and your mind bending every LAST Sunday of the month with FREAK OUT. And yes! This means this Sunday, Sept. 25! The fun starts at 9 pm and there is no cover.

Now, I am not a church going girl, but the rare garage-punk, mod, psyche, 60s beat, funk and fuzz that DJ pelvis spins is a religious experience. His vinyl collection is like nothing I've ever heard. If you were brave enough to attend the Vegan Chili Cook-Off this past spring, the you have already benefited from his smooth transitions and ability to read a room. Also, DJ Pelvis is no wimpy homebody vegan -- he is a get-out-there-and-do-stuff, card carrying board member of the Northwest Animal Rights Network, stand up and speak out for the voiceless -- type of vegan.

So don't stay home and pout about summer being over. It happens every year. Move on. Get out and support your mega rad vegan business, artists, and entertainers. Bring your friends and start a dance party. No regrets.

Here is some of the stuff you might hear: garage/psyche/freakbeat of The Standells, The Status Quo, The Balloon Farm, The Litter, The Blue Rondos, The Knickerbockers, and local favorites like The Sonics and the Wailers, to mod/Northern Soul like Small Faces, Amen Corner, Timebox, to funk like Wee Willie Walker, Allen Toussaint, The Presidents, to girl groups like The Orchids, The Tomboys, The Pussycats, to beat music from all corners of the globe like Iran, Turkey, Peru, Japan, Nigeria, and Thailand, to electric sitar headswirlers, teenbeat freakouts, and pre-punk amped-up angst. WOOOOO.

PS: Oh yeah, your eyes don't deceive you - that is a copy of the 1987 Animal Liberation vinyl release that the foreground of that photo. Yep.

Other ideas:

Go listen to some 60s garage proto punk or other fun stuff on YouTube
RSVP for FREAK OUT this Sunday, Sept 25, so you don't forget. You don't want to have to wait an entire month.
Get updates on future DJ Pelvis nights by following on Facebook.
Become a Highline Bar fan on Facebook to get other DJ night updates from them.
Do some internet research on the influence of NW bands on the 60s music scene. fun!

See you there!

Today: Someday Farm Vegan B&B

2011-08-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

I am not sure why it took me almost a year to finally visit Someday Farm Vegan Bed & Breakfast up on Whidbey Island. (Well, actually, it's because B&Bs makes me think of dirty lace curtains, flowery old rooms, and bullshitting with strangers in the parlor.)

I had no idea Someday Farm has so many animal friends to get to know, no BS, dirty lace, or dusty rooms in sight, and is run by incredible, dedicated, and genuinely cool vegan proprietors. Had I known what I know now, I would not have delayed one minute in going. So let me tell you about this slice of heaven (if you want more pictures, check these out).

home grown teas in the kitchen; my new friend Geppetto (the poppa donkey)

First, meet Jill and Dave: vegan for ~11 years, they run Island Recycling in Freeland and collect some of the coolest old metal Americana you've ever seen. Fences practically made of vintage cars and (by my estimation) the worlds largest collection of aluminum coffee pots greet you around every corner. They work hard during the day at the recycling center, own a towing company, and aren't what you might imagine the typical B&B hosts to be. Kind of two of my role models now.

view of the bedroom, wood stove, and kitchen; shelf in bedroom

Next, meet the animal friends that fill the farm. Near the entrance you'll find miniature horses living happily with a full sized donkey. Then closer to the house you'll discover a family of miniature donkeys living with goats and sheep, two ducks, and a very noisy gaggle of geese. The donkeys and goats want nothing more in this world than to be pet and loved. The second you go into their yard, they come right up to nuzzle and will poke you if you stop! Then next to that you'll find a hen house full of happy red and white chickens just doing their chicken thing. On the other side of the house you'll see that there is a large rescued bird aviary inside a beautiful, bountiful vegetable garden with three bunnies living below the birds. And if you hear barking, that would be the two adopted chihuahua sized pooches that live with Jill and Dave and their three cats in their house.

Mama and baby Donkey with two chickens; goats like to climb

With that many animals around, who has time to think about going inside? Well, once you do, the B&B is more of a private apartment, completely separate from Jill and Dave's house. The room has a huge kitchen stocked with vintage dishes, spices, home made teas, and vegan goodies in the fridge. You'll also find a giant bed and comfy living room, with a TV for watching movies, and wi-fi for computing (who doesn't love to compute)? The whole place is carefully designed - from custom wood carvings, to a retro phone for calling Jill and Dave up at their house, to the beautiful windows that open up on one side to view the garden and the other side to view the animals. I spent an hour just looking over Jill's collections on the shelves and the amazing library of used (almost recycled) books. There are slippers for wearing around the house (so you don't bring animal poo in on your shoes) and binoculars hanging in the mud room so you can view the farm from above.

the breakfast feast; beautiful chicken

Once you leave the apartment again, there is a trail walk around the whole farm that goes between the natural wetlands and the forest, with another walking trail that will take you to a swimming lake beach. And if you decide to leave the farm, there is plenty to do in Langley just 20 minutes away, including wicked rad record shopping at Good Cheer Thrift store and super yummy vegan wraps and bowls at Living Green Natural Food and Apothecary. There is a great market in Langley with tons of vegan, natural, and organic food - and Jill let us pick extra green beans she had growing in the garden to cook up dinner.

vintage cars; snuggling miniature horses

Oh wait! I almost forgot about the 'breakfast' part of the Vegan Bed and Breakfast. Jill made us a FEAST of goodness. Two kinds of muffins, fresh cut mango with lime, roasted root veggies, and an entire mushroom and broccoli quiche. We made a hot pot of coffee and stuffed ourselves before heading out to spend a few more hours with the animals. (Check out isn't until noon!)

If all of this hasn't convinced you to make your reservations yet, then hopefully this next deal will: if you book for a stay during December, January, or February, you'll get $25 off per night if you tell Jill that you heard about Someday Farm Vegan Bed & Breakfast on Vegan Score. Since there is a minimum 2-night stay (and I would VERY much recommend 3 nights to really relax and enjoy the farm and the surrounding towns), that is $50 - $75 savings. And then you could spend the money you save on records like we did! Their rates are comparable to other B&Bs on the island but you get SO MUCH more.

geese honking; goats and sheep

And also, the drive there is pretty and you get to take the Mukilteo Ferry. Only takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes total.

Someday Farm Vegan B&B
http://somedayfarmveganbedandbreakfast.com/
360-331-2864
info@somedayfarmveganbedandbreakfast.com
Whidbey Island
Freeland, WA 98249
$150/night ($125/night Dec-Feb if you mention Vegan Score)
More Photos

Next up I'll write about the vegan food in Langley and how Someday Farm is also a venue, great for bike groups (bus sleeps a bunch of folks and you can camp) and other vegan parties. I hope that KC decides to have his birthday there next summer.

Comedy Improv for Animals

2011-08-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

Just when you think Seattle couldn't bring anymore goodness into the world, enter stage left, Closet Monsters Improv.

Saturday, August 20, this lil' improv troupe will bring us LAUGH TO SAVE ANIMALS, a performance to raise awareness about animal cruelty. Ashley Almon, Cory Blankenship, Cody Bernius, and Kevin Dailey will entertain for over an hour AND there will be vegan treats for sale with proceeds going to the African Wildlife Association. Spend the day at a vegan BBQ, go home and clean up (maybe nap?), then spend the night laughing your arse off - all for the good of our animals friends in Africa.

LAUGH TO SAVE ANIMALS starts at 10:30 this Saturday, August 20th at the Odd Duck Studio (run by Rik Deskin). If you haven't been to Odd Duck for a show yet, you have been missing out. This sweet cozy theater offers vegan concessions, including vegan beer and wine. It is just the right size for local plays and other performances, and close to lots of great dinner joints.

I'll be rushing from a show at Studio 7 (where my little brother is playing - yay!) but will see you there. Comedy Improv + Good Animals Cause + Vegan Treats = best idea ever. Thank you Ashely for putting this together!

LAUGH TO SAVE ANIMALS
Facebook RSVP
Saturday, August 20, 2011
10: 30 PM
Bring: $10
Odd Duck Studio
1214 10th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
206-679-3271

Vegan BBQ to End Poaching

2011-08-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

Another casual, cool, and worthwhile event for you to check out this weekend: Vegan BBQ this Saturday at Green Lake. All proceeds will go to African Wildlife Foundation to help end poaching. (What, you thought vegans only cared about farm animals? Pshaw). And of course, absolutely EVERYONE is welcome.

Where: Greenlake (in the field next to the Community Center basketball courts)
When: Saturday August 20, 2011
Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
What: Eat vegan hotdogs and sausages
Donate: Suggested $5-10
Why: meet nice folks, help a critical cause
RSVP: here (so they know how much food to bring.)
Tip: Bring your own plate and utensils. This is a no/low-garbage event!

Poaching horrors continue as other methods of income become scarce due to famine, war, and desertification. The Black Rhino, Leopard, African Elephant, and Mountain Gorilla need continual protection while education and other long-term projects progress. The African Wildlife Foundation works to end poaching, protect land, and empower the people to continue social and economic reform that get to the root of poaching.

A black rhino and her calf. Photo by Art Wolfe

This is a family-friendly BBQ party and you can drag along anyone and everyone who cares about stopping the terrible slaughter and maiming of wild creatures for profit. Bring anyone who likes hotdogs and a BBQ. You could just stop by and drop your change off with Kitty Jones, the amazing young adult who is organizing this fundraiser.

Once again our town steps up to the plate to bring folks together while helping an incredible organization face difficult odds half way around the world. I love you Seattle. See you there!

Reminder: bring your own plate, utensils, cups, etc. Hot Dogs and other BBQ stuff will be provided.

Bumbershoot Brings the Vegan

2011-08-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hip-Hop! Black Metal! Indie Dance Punk! Hardcore! Momentous occasion! Our world-famous, 3-day music and art festival is getting it's vegan on this year. And I'm kind of losing my mind over this!

Bumbershoot 2011 producers are giving vegans and music lovers a reason to learn about and from each other with a music scene vegan panel, "Veganism: From Black Metal to Hip-Hop and Everything in Between" moderated by one of my favorite people on the planet, Greg Bennick.

Mr. Manowitz. Mr. Tillman.

Part of the Words & Ideas series, the Veganism panel will feature: Vegan Black Metal Chef (WHAT?!?! YES!), Kevin Tillman (founder of the Vegan Hip-Hop Movement blog), The Redwood Plan bassist Larry Brady, and be moderated by Greg Bennick (activist, film producer, and singer of sXe hardcore band Trial and Between Earth & Sky). All this, and they'll be chatting about veganism within music communities. I feel a little faint.

Seriously, I would give my left arm to hang out with these four people under any circumstances, but now I don't have to! And neither do you! And we get to chat about music and veganism. Pinch me, I am clearly dreaming. Want to know more about these gentle men?

Mr. Brady. Mr. Bennick.

Kevin Tillman is the founder of the Vegan Hip-Hop Movement blog. He’s been practicing holistic activism for nearly 10 years. His focus is to achieve decolonization, confronting all forms of oppression, which include and are not limited to abelism, sexism, racism, anthropocentrism, queer-phobia, and classism. Kevin is the founder of the Vegan Hip Hop Movement blog, which was created to promote veganism through hip hop and build a bridge between your “average” vegan and other social justice movements inherent in the hip hop culture.

Vegan Black Metal Chef, Brian Manowitz, combines his passions for vegan cooking, making metal music, and spirituality to create an awesomely unlikely combination that is informative, hilarious, and enlightening. As a vegan for 11 years, a musician for 9 years, and a mystic for 14 years, his quest to make amazing food and music has culminated into a modern sensation. His website and a a series of YouTube videos seek to answer the question, “What do vegans eat?” set to a self-made soundtrack of Black Metal music with a dash of comedy thrown in. The website also seeks to introduce people to bringing consciousness to their lives and all of their actions.

As a roadie, DIY musician, sound engineer, and booker in the 90s, through playing bass for Seattle dance punk standouts/Bumbershoot 2010 alumni The Redwood Plan, Larry Brady has just about seen it all in his decades in the music industry. After years of being a vegetarian and a lifetime of not squishing spiders, he made the jump into veganism five years ago. Several Midwest tours later, Larry has become something of an expert on how to eat ethically even while in a tour van in the middle of Kansas.

Greg Bennick is a keynote speaker, humanitarian activist, and award-winning film producer & writer. He has been vegan for over twenty years. He spends his time singing for hardcore bands, helping the people of Haiti with his charity One Hundred For Haiti, and speaking nationwide. He thinks eating animals is weird, and is honored to be moderating this panel. Greg's been a friend of mine for more than 15 years, and once you meet him, you'll likely consider him a friend too.

So this incredible vegan music conversation in happening on Monday. If you need another excuse to shell out the $35 for a day ticket, or you aren't sure which day to attend, let me just give you 7 other reasons to show up on Monday:

12:00 - The Horde and the Harem
1:30 - Quadron
5:00 - MASH HALL
6:30 - Laff Hole
7:00 - Writing Battlestar Galactica
7:45 - Doug Benson movie chat
9:15 - Hall & Oates

Plus, your 3-day weekend will seem much longer if you do something rad when you would normally be at work. Also, if you can muster, bring a bunch of other people too, vegans and veg-interested, or even veg-opposed. All ideas and opinions are welcomed.

Veganism: From Black Metal to Hip-Hop and Everything in Between"
September 5, 2011
3:30 PM
Words & Idea Stage (Leo K Theater) See Map
Bumbershoot
Buy a Ticket Now
RSVP on Facebook

Plants + Hard Work = Vegan Muscles

2011-07-23T11:14:00.001-07:00

Scientists, gorillas, bulls, rhinos, brontosaurs, Robert Cheeke, and all manor of extremely muscular vegan animals all know that plants are full of protein, but sometimes folks need proof. For those of you with friends and family asking where you are getting your protein, might I suggest you take them to a little body building show with vegans competing in Seattle!

Let me introduce you to one of the vegans who will be competing in this Saturday's Washington Natural Body Building and Fitness competition, Ed Bauer. Ed has been vegan since 1996 after reading "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins*. Although he is as healthy as horse, he came to veganism for his compassion for animals. Supporting torture and murder for food just didn't make sense to him. I hope tons of vegan athletes in Seattle can come out and support Ed and Derek (another vegan bodybuilder competing) - would be so cool to see a pack of other strong and healthy vegans in the crowd.

Vegan Score (VS): When did you decide to become a body builder?
Ed Bauer (EB): I started lifting weights with my dad when I was 15, I went vegan at 16, and I found a way to mesh the two. I had lifted weights for 15 years when I met Robert Cheeke. He worked out at the gym I was a trainer at in Portland, OR. We became friends and he inspired me to step on stage and take the challenge of a bodybuilding competition. I competed at the NPC Bill Pearl High Desert Classic in Bend, OR on May 8th, 2010. I took 1st Place as the Novice Middleweight Champion.

VS: How many hours per week do you work out?
EB: As a personal trainer, I am at the gym already, so it is convenient for me to work out a few times each day. Preparing for this competition on July 30th, I work out 7 days a week. I do 30 to 40 minutes of cardio before breakfast. I lift weights for about an hour mid day. Then in the evening, I do another 30 to 40 minute cardio session, or I practice my posing routine.

"The average meat eater in the gym gets protein from meat, eggs, whey protein, and maybe peanut butter. My protein sources include rice protein, pea protein, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, spirulina, lentils, black beans, hummus, almond butter, tofu, tempeh, seitan, peanuts, oats, quinoa, soy milk, and all green vegetables." - Ed Bauer

VS: What do you love about being a vegan body builder?
EB: The thing I love about being a vegan bodybuilder is breaking stereotypes and expectations. When the average person in our culture thinks of a vegan, the out of shape image still comes up. Most people still associate strength and size with the consumption of meat and animal products. I enjoy the surprise people get when I tell them I am vegan.

VS: What is the silliest thing a non-vegan has said or asked you about where you get your protein?
EB: "You must eat a lot of soy!" Though soy foods are still in my diet, my protein sources are way more diverse than theirs typically. The average meat eater in the gym gets protein from meat, eggs, whey protein, and maybe peanut butter. My protein sources include rice protein, pea protein, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, spirulina, lentils, black beans, hummus, almond butter, tofu, tempeh, seitan, peanuts, oats, quinoa, soy milk, and all green vegetables.

VS: I am sure working out takes a lot of time, but what else are you into?
EB: Lately, with the time commitment of multiple workouts and training clients, I haven't been volunteering as much as I'd like. I have volunteered a few times at Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary in Scio, OR and I am looking forward to my next time out there. I miss the goats! I also work with www.TryVeganPDX.com on occasion and host seminars on fitness and nutrition. I am scheduled for a seminar at Portland's Vegan Mini Mall behind Foodfight Grocery on Saturday, August 6th.

VS: What advice do you have for anyone looking to get involved in this type of athletics?
EB: Learn from those who have succeeded in putting on muscle on a 100% plant based diet. There seems to be more successful bodybuilders and fitness experts promoting a vegan diet. myself, Robert Cheeke, Derek Tresize, Jimi Sitko, Giacomo Marchese, Mike Mahler, Brendan Brazier, Jon Hinds, the list goes on and on. [editors note: lots of vegan women too!]

Thanks for the info Ed! Well there you have it vegan friends. Maybe bodybuilding competitively isn't for you (trust me, I get it), but building muscle in general will make you much healthier, so don't be afraid to pump a little iron. For more info on vegan bodybuilding, Ed Bauer, and vegan fitness visit: www.veganbodybuilding.com, www.edbauerfit.com, www.veganmuscleandfitness.com.

Come out and support Ed and Derek. Definitely wear a t-shirt that says VEGAN loud and clear.

Date: July 30th, 2011
Time: Evening Finals start at 5pm. Derek and Ed may not be on stage until 6pm.
Cost: $25
Location: Moore Theater 1932 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Side note: Does anyone else think it is odd that the after party is at the Cheesecake Factory? Why not Thrive, Healeo, Chaco Canyon or any place with healthy food for healthy athletes?

*"Diet for New America" is also one of the major reasons I went vegan in the early 90s. The book came out in the late 1980s but was very influential and important. If you haven't read it, I consider it a "must read" for animals, the environment, and info on health.

Goodbye Hunger. Hello Healeo.

2011-07-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

Heck yes. One of my favorite spots on Capitol Hill just got a lot better for breakfast and beyond! Justin and other friends up at HEALEO now have an oven and are making and baking up some amazing vegan goodness for us all.

The new vegan (and gluten-free) pizza is one of the richest I've known, and the sunflower "cheese" is the mega bomb goodness. It sounds boring and healthy. But trust me. Have I ever steered you wrong (or too wrong?). They are also baking up house made berry muffins.

If you are hungry for a hearty but appropriately sized breakfast, the new breakfast panini super duper yum times. The tofu innards are like a quiche, but way tastier, and the bread is flaky and warm. Their breakfast is so good, even their granola bowl is the best in the city - you get to choose from so many toppings and it is HUGE (un-finishable by most).

They are also now serving a raw lasagna and are trying a new salad bar. You've heard me fantasizing of having a salad bar on every corner, (I know, how "vegan" of me), but now there is at least one! So I guess I'll see you on the corner of 15th and Madison for mad vegan grub and free wifi. Oh, did I mention they have some truly scrumptious juices too?

HEALEO
1520 15th Ave
Seattle, WA
206.453.5066

Loretta's Housemade Vegan Pub Grub

2011-07-08T15:03:00.001-07:00

Hi friends. It's the South Side Vegan here with a little score from South Park!

Let me break it down to you like this: You're vegan, you're hungry and you find yourself stuck in South Park because your GPS told you to take the 16th ave bridge and the jokes on you because that shit is GONE! Not just closed temporarily, it is completely and totally class-discriminatingly-would-never-happen-in-Queen-Anne-GONE. But I digress. You could also be vegan, hungry, and in South Park because it's AWESOME. At any rate you might not know about a nifty little gem known as Loretta's Northwesterner.

This place is seriously like your dad's old cabin in the woods, complete with old wood fixtures, a record player, and a crazy-ass airstream trailer that you can hang out in on the back patio.

The food is your typical pub grub with one delightful vegan option: a housemade vegan patty with fixins including vegenaise and fries! The bun is vegan, I checked. The patty is not really burger-like. It's kind of a grain based concoction. Perhaps made of quinoa?

Scott, the owner of Lorettas, is pretty vegan-friendly. He owns 9lb hammer in Georgetown too and whenever he has a veg option it's pretty much always vegan. (btw, the veg tamales at 9lb are vegan too!!)

Loretta's is a bar. So, no kiddies allowed. I don't drink but if I did, I would belly up to Loretta's creeky old bar and order a Manny's on tap from the cute girl with glasses and knappy quasi-dreads and laugh the night away. (Manny's beer from Georgetown Brewing Co. is in fact vegan, despite what you may have heard. I asked Manny himself. So there.)

Loretta's Northwesterner
8617 14th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98108

(206) 327-9649

Portland Loves Seattle!

2011-07-07T11:37:00.001-07:00

OK Seattle. You know how much we love Portland - the bridges, the vegan tattoo shops, Portland Animal Defense League, the ever evolving vegan food cart scene, the vegan "mini mall" - what isn't to love. And Portland loves us too, really. In fact, the wondrously generous folks behind of the sold-out 2011 Vegan Iron Chef, want at least 4 Seattlites to attend for FREE.

That is right, this is probably the best contest I have ever done: I am giving away 2 sets of tickets to Portland's 2011 Vegan Iron Chef event this weekend! This 2nd annual event has been sold out for more than a month, and guessing by the request for ticket sales on their Facebook page, people are going bonkers to get in to see Piper Dixon of Kitchen Dances, Morgan Grundstein-Helvey of Dovetail Bakery, and Jeff Ridabock of Homegrown Smoker compete for the coveted title of Vegan Iron Chef.

Been meeting to take a little train trip down to see your friends and lovers in PDX, this is a great excuse. The Vegan Iron Chef competition starts at 5:00 (doors at 4:30) Sunday, July 10 at Refuge PDX (116 SE Yamhill St.). There will be super interesting exhibitors (photos above), fun people, and best of all, you'll be in Portland where you can eat vegan food until you explode.

The judges are none other than Grant Butler, Writer for The Oregonian’s FOODday, Aaron Adams, Head chef and owner of Portobello Vegan Trattoria, Julie Hasson, host of Everyday Dish TV, and John Janulis, Co-owner of The Bye & Bye! They know their vegan food. Reals.

How to enter: this is a completely subjective contest, but really easy to enter. Just leave a comment by 7/8 at midnight on: why Portland and Seattle should be Best Friends Forever. Or why and how our two cities complement each other. Or a dream you have of cross-city collaborations. Or just why Portland and Seattle are the two best vegan towns in the world. Yes, I said it, THE WORLD. Anything along these lines, and the best two answers win the 2 tickets each! (Make sure to include some way for me to get a hold of you).

Do it. Just do it by midnight Friday July 8, 2011. And I'll see you there for sure!

Vegan Freedom for All

2011-07-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

Don't have big plans for the 4th yet? Are you staying within the Seattle city limits for our country's fine birthday party? Then you might want to get yourself over to the annual Hillside Quickies Vegan BBQ on capitol hill.

For only $10 you will get all you can eat of amazing vegan BBQ in the style of Sage Organic Bakery & Cafe and Hillside Quickies cookin. We all fantasize about their food, so thinking of it prepared fresh at a BBQ for Independence Day is a food dream come true. Food dream come true.

I heard from a recent Vegan of the Week that this BBQ is really, really good - a 'must-attend' celebration so to speak. For the first time in many years I'll be in town and am planning to go experience it first hand!

You can RSVP to info@sagebaeryandcafe.com or 206-325-6429. Then show up anytime after 2 pm and before 5 pm for the patriotic meal of a lifetime.

Get on your bikes and ride! Prove that you love America by eating food that doesn't hurt her ecology, people, or animals!

Hillside Quickies Annual Vegan BBQ
July 4, 2011
2 pm - 5 pm
Sage Bakery & Cafe
325 15th Ave E.
Seattle, Washington
info@sagebaeryandcafe.com

Thank you Sage for making this 4th of July one filled with kindness and magically good food.

Bring it on vegan bakers!

2011-06-18T13:51:00.000-07:00

I know I’ve profiled a lot of incredible vegan bakers and bakeries in Seattle. I’m up to 5 or 6 and I haven’t even covered them all yet! But don’t let the fact fool you –– it is still likely a 7:950 ratio between vegan and traditional bakeries – so I say BRING IT ON BAKERS!

What that short prelude, I am happy to announce the recent opening of Vegan Cakes by JennyMac, a small custom vegan cake and cupcake shop run by Jennifer MacPherson. She uses her experience as an artist and a painter to bring color and creative decorations to her cake creations! (Aw, look at that rhyme!)

“Having an unfrosted cake in front of me, is like having a blank canvas and it is fun to try to envision what it could look like in the end and make it happen.” - JennyMac

Although Jenny did work in a bakery, she really learned most of her baking skills from her mother and even as a young kid she would create her own recipes. So far the hits have been her Ginger Spice Cake and her Lemon Cake with Raspberry Preserves. Her favorite is the German Chocolate cake and she is now working on creating a Mojito cake (lime and rum cake with mint frosting). And TA-DAH, now introducing her newest cake creation for Independence Day: Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Preserves, Vanilla buttercream, topped with Strawberries and Blueberries, and a homemade American Flag! If this doesn’t turn you into a stand-up patriot, I don’t know what will.

She loves being part of a celebration such as a birthday or wedding and making people feel special, but it’s not all about the party for her. Although Jenny is a recent vegan convert, she is passionate about the health and earth-friendly benefits of going vegan, and links to Action for Animals on her website. She truly cares about her cake ingredients and uses vegan sugar that has not been processed with animal bone char like many refined white sugars, 100% whole wheat flour, which has more protein, fiber and nutrients than refined white flour, aluminum-free baking powder, and Vegan "butter" that is made from all-natural non hydrogenated oil which and is a good source of ALA omega-3's. She can also do soy-free, gluten-free, or low sugar by request.

OK, not only all of this, but her prices are reasonable! And if you need her to she can deliver for $1/mile. She can do parties, weddings, catering, delivery, or just pick up for every day. We buy a few vegan cakes a year at my work for birthday parties, and it is always hard for someone to leave work and get the cake, so delivery is super cool in that situation. I hope it means more vegan cake all around!

Cakes by JennyMac
www.vegancakesbyjennymac.com
vegan.cakes@yahoo.com
253-495-2149

Vegan Ice Cream in Seattle

2011-06-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming! Summer is coming! (I think)

To be prepared I've made a list of the places that I know of in Seattle where you can get vegan ice cream!*

Bluebird Home Made Ice Cream & Tea Room
This non-corporate, community supported mega awesome shop is totally what a Seattle ice cream parlor should be. Their vegan options include horchata (rice milk and cinnamon), coconut caramel, and green tea. They also have community events and support local farms and the DIY community. Plus they server beer! They are also open until 11 pm on summer weekends.
{Capitol Hill: 1205 E Pike St. Suite 1A, Seattle}

Full Tilt Ice Cream
By far one of the coolest companies in Seattle, and the ice cream parlor with the widest variety of vegan options, Full Tilt is the place to go if you are in the U-District, Columbia City, or south end. They always have at least 4 flavors of coconut milk based ice cream that are as unique as they are yummy. I love the Almond Joy (yes, coconut, almonds, and chocolate), but every flavor I've ever had has been delicious. No waffle cone tho - it isn't vegan. They are open until 10 or 11 on Friday and Saturday nights. And they have pinball! Update: you can also get Full Tilt vegan flavors at St. Dames and Loving Hut. Follow on Twitter @FTicecream. (See full post on this shop)
{White Center: 9629 16th Ave S. Seattle}
{Columbia City:5041 Rainier Avenue S, Seattle}
{U-District: 4759 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle}

Hillside Quickie
Thanks to Zee and Justin for pointing out that the much beloved Hillside Quickie sandwich shop has vegan ice cream and vegan milk shakes! I've never had one before, but I hope to fix that situation by the end of the weekend!
{U-District: 4106 Brooklyn Ave, Seattle}
{Tacoma: 1324 So MLK Way, Tacoma}

Healeo
Known for their alternating vanilla or chocolate hemp soft serve with decadent healthy toppings, Healeo is a must for folks in south capitol hill. I recommend the chocolate with strawberry and coco nibs - get it in a bowl if you want toppings! But watch out, they are only open until 8 pm. Follow on Twitter @heale o.
{Capitol Hill: 1520 15th Avenue, Seattle}

Pizza Pi
Tho' not handmade in shop, Pizza Pi offers a dazzling array of vegan ice cream based treats such as root beer floats, ice cream sundaes, and even vegan banana splits! Whipped vegan cream and cherry included! You don't have to eat Pizza first, but it is a good idea.
{U-District: 5500 University Way NE, Seattle}

Jhanjay Vegetarian Thai Cuisine and Teapot Vegetarian House also offer a vegan ice cream for desert, but probably not really "to go" like the shops above. You can also get Full Tilt vegan flavors at St. Dames and Loving Hut.

Where else? Did I miss some place? Something new? Share! Tell!

*I didn't include sorbet on this list yet, since you can get it at almost all ice cream shops and lots of restaurants. Let me know if you'd want this.

Summer of Vegan Fun Times

2011-06-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to Tasha Kaye, Philip Burston, and everyone who has ventured forth to get more involved in our vegan community. Thank you!

And let me tell you, the vegan community has got it GOING ON friends. Reals! And it is time I wrote a little list on how anyone and everyone can get involved.

David Agranoff book reading. Community board at Sidecar.

Talk it out.
These are the types of community gatherings and activities for folks into chatting, listening, and learning:

Join the Seattle Animal Rights book club: a newer group meeting every 4-6 weeks at Atonomia social club in the central district. Join the Facebook page to learn about which books they are reading now and join! If you are farther south, Tacoma also has as super rad Animal Rights book club.
Attend Vegan Meet Up Group outing: each month this group meets at a local Seattle restaurant or other outing. Recently they even went on an edible plant scouting adventure. Get more info on their Meet Up Page.
Subscribe to the Vegan Threat Podcast: this hour long podcast is threatening to make the world a nicer place! And they have ideas and inspiration for getting involved. Listen to episodes and subscribe at www.veganthreat.com/
Into eatin' raw? Join the Raw Network of Washington meet-up group to discuss raw vegan diets, health issues, and share food! If you live up north, there is a raw Everett group and if you live in the Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland area, join the Eastside raw group.

Highline all vegan bar. Melisser Elliot book signing.

Woop it up.
These folks know how to have a good time, whether that includes liquor or not.

Attend a monthly NARN Social Veg Happy Hour: each month this group meets at a local Seattle restaurant or bar to discuss a variety of vegan-related topics. It is open to vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Get more info on their Meet Up Page.
Meet up with the Seattle Veg Activity and Adventure Group: past activities have included art walks, seminars, potlucks, bowling, snow tubing, and more. Get more info on their Meet Up Page.
Go out for Seattle Vegan Drinks: all around the nation, vegans get together for a cocktail or two. Casual or political, all are invited. Become a fan of the Seattle chapter on Facebook to get the invites.
Volunteer with Live Stock Festival for the Animals: a new event is coming to town this fall and if you love music and want to help out, they need more volunteers. Check out the Facebook page for more info or fill out the volunteer application.
Hook up with the Seattle Veg Music Goers: any member can suggest an outing to a show and get others to come out and meet. Join the Meet Up group for more info.

Seattle Vegan Chili Cook-Off. "Why Vegan" outreach at PAWS walk.

Lend a hand.
These are the types of events to get you up out of your chair and away from your computer and lending a hand, a voice, or a back or what ever you have to share:

Volunteer at Sidecar for Pig's Peace: Seattle's only all vegan store is also run by volunteers! Shifts are 3-4 hours long once per week and include stocking the shelves, running the cash register, and meeting awesome people. Application can be found here.
Help at a Seattle ADL monthly work party at Precious Life, Chimp Sanctuary NW, or other local animal group in need of hard working hands. Become an ADL fan on Facebook to get updates on these outings.
Volunteer with NARN: doing vegan outreach at local festivals and markets. They are always looking for friendly faces to be ambassadors to folks who haven't considered veganism (yet), vegan mentors, office help, etc. There are even volunteer things you can do from your computer.
Use your voice and your 1st Amendment right to speak out against corporations that make money from the abuse and exploitation of animals by joining in protests, demonstrations, letter writing campaigns, etc. The NARN calendar is a great starting place.

Sidecar All Vegan Store. Volunteering at Pig's Peace.

Join in.
Become members of these great local vegan friendly organizations:

Action for Animals ($20) --> Sign-Up
Green Vegans ($30) --> Sign-Up
Northwest Animal Rights Network ($25) --> Sign-Up
Vegetarians of Washington ($22) --> Sign-Up

I am sure there are a TON of other groups, outings, and ways of getting involved in our vegan community. Please share what you know below and I'll add it to the list! And of course, follow Vegan Score on Facebook and Twitter to find out about future vegan events like vegan cook-offs, book readings, vegan artist showings, cooking classes, fund raising events, and more.

Art opening at Flatcolor Gallery. I Love It Raw button at Sidecar.

Don't see what you are looking for? Time to start building your community! I think it would be awesome to see a vegan fashion and clothing swap, a vegan kids play group, a vegan running group, a vegan small business network, a vegan hiking crew, a vegan artist collective, maybe even a vegan soup club. What do you say?