10 Best U.S. Cities for Vegans

10 Best U.S. Cities for Vegans

by | Nov 27, 2015 | IndiNews

People choose to switch to a vegan diet for a handful of reasons, which include protecting the environment and enjoying a healthier lifestyle. Whether you’ve been a vegan for 10 years or are considering a vegan-leaning diet as a future possibility…

Here are 10 of America’s most vegan-friendly cities worth visiting:

Asheville, N.C.

Asheville’s claims to fame include its lively music scene and views of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but its vegan-friendly options make it unique. The Asheville Vegan Society, hosted by Meetup, holds potlucks and dinners out, as well as encouraging sharing vegan recipes and meeting like-minded people. Plant is an all-vegan restaurant that features black pepper and herb tofu on the menu. Laughing Seed Café serves locally sourced vegan and vegetarian food.

Austin

The selection of vegan food trucks in Austin is impressive according to PETA. From vegan food at the Vegan Yacht to awe-inspiring guacamole variations at Guac N Roll, Austin has plenty of options. Find your sweet fix at Sweet Ritual, a vegan ice cream shop with varying daily flavors, shakes, and even a Glitterbeast sundae, made with salted caramel sauce, strawberry sauce, and e edible glitter.

Boulder

Boulder is home to a variety of vegan eateries, including Native Foods Café, which uses tempeh, seitan, and native chicken (made from free-range soy, wheat, and pea protein) for plant-based protein options. These are used to replace meat products in menu items like the Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger, nachos, and bacon and avocado club sandwich. Another local hotspot is Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, which has options like vegan French toast and a vegan crab cake sandwich.

Las Vegas

Sin City is home to Go Raw Café & Juice Bar, a raw cuisine restaurant that includes enchiladas, “rawburgers,” desserts, and fresh juices on its menu. Simply Pure, opened by raw food chef Stacey Dougan, offers raw and cooked vegan meals, such as zucchini pasta, Thai basil spring rolls, and vegan lasagna.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to a host of vegan restaurants, one of which is Café Gratitude, where servers ask you what you’re thankful for each time you dine there. Try ordering the “I Am Grateful” for lunch – it’s a bowl of quinoa, kale, black beans, and garlic-tahini sauce. For an upscale dinner out, check out Crossroads Kitchen – owner-chef Tal Ronnen has cooked for Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey. Still not satisfied? The city’s Vegan Oktoberfest claims the title of world’s only traditional Oktoberfest celebration with both vegan food and beer.

New York City

The Big Apple has restaurant options for almost every type of diet, and many of them, at that. Try out Angelica Kitchen, an East Village vegan mecca where Dragon Bowls (made with steamed veggies, rice, beans, and tofu) are popular. For mock meats, head to Blossom in Chelsea, the Upper West Side, and Greenwich Village, where popular choices include pan-seared cutlets of seitan.

Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in Maine, and it probably has the most vegan options. Silly’s Restaurant offers a full vegan menu including menu items like the Tempeh of Doom Dinner, as well as vegan chocolate cake and vegan milkshakes. Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro, a hotspot for vegetarians and vegans alike, specializes in pan-Asian vegetarian fare and even serves noodles with vegan duck.

Portland, Ore

Portland is legendary when it comes to vegan venues. Stay the night in the Cherokee Rose Inn, an all-vegan bed and breakfast where your morning meal might incorporate tofu scramble and vegan cheese grits or pancakes with local blueberries. According to PETA, the city is also home to America’s only all-vegan strip mall, which includes a vegan clothing company, bakery, and grocery store. Voodoo Doughnut offers vegan doughnuts, like fruit cakes topped with maple frosting or toasted coconut.

San Francisco

Vegan-friendly restaurants in San Francisco include Greens Restaurant, which has a bay view and an all-vegetarian menu including fresh spring rolls and warm cauliflower salad. Also, make sure you head over to Golden Era, a vegan restaurant featuring entrée options like sautéed basil eggplant and mushroom.

Seattle

The number of vegan restaurants in Seattle is growing, and options include the Wayward Vegan Café, where the breakfast Mexi Biscuit is made with Mexican-spiced tofu and a fried chorizo patty. Chaco Canyon Organic Café also has a variety of vegan options, like a quinoa, kale, and yam bowl.

This article first appeared on The Daily Meal

What To Eat On The Plane From Those Who Know Best

What To Eat On The Plane From Those Who Know Best

by | Mar 7, 2015 | IndiNews

Airline food can be hit or miss nowadays. And with sky high prices (pun intended), making a good choice is necessary. Here to help are the top foods on 9 major airlines chosen by the professionals that also know the airplane as their office.

United Airlines Thai tilapia fillet with shrimp

“I think the Thai-style fillet of tilapia with shrimp is the best thing we serve. It’s good for a late evening meal because it’s not too heavy. You want something light on a later flight.” – Sondra Dickens, flight attendant

Virgin America bibimbap

“With our latest menu update, it’s hard to choose a favorite dish, but our Korean vegetarian rice bibimbap is definitely high on my list with its big, bold flavors. The bibimbap is a hot bowl of fresh vegetables marinated in ginger, garlic, red chili, lemongrass, and coconut milk served on hot steamed rice and finished with a Korean red chili BBQ sauce and a soft-poached egg.” – Mariella Guadarrama, inflight team leader

JetBlue sea scallops

“When customers on the plane hear we have seafood options, they are generally leery. But in our Mint Experience we offered a hot sea scallop entree with a blackberry Sauternes sauce and foie gras mousse and it was to die for. JetBlue truly brought the freshest seafood I’ve had on a plane.” – John Stripling, inflight onboard lead

American Airlines four-cheese pasta

“My favorite food we serve, and a definite favorite of our customers, is the four-cheese pasta with a cream sauce. It’s served in the main cabin on flights to and from South America. This pasta stays moist even in the ultra-dry air of the cabins, and it’s creamy and delicious.” – Scott Bowie, international flight attendant

Southwest Airlines Ritz Cheese Crackers

“I always like it when honey-roasted peanuts are back onboard, which happens in January every few years — and this is our year. But after 19 years of flying, I’m peanutted out. On longer flights we offer free snacks such as 100-Calorie Lorna Doones, 100-Calorie Ritz Snack Mix, and Ritz Cheese Crackers. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with cheese crackers.” – Troy Ford, flight attendant

Delta Airlines chicken pot pie and quinoa wraps

“Traveling for a living presents a constant quest for comfort food and healthy food options. Chef Hopkins’ chicken pot pie and the Luvo quinoa wraps are delicious and meet both criteria when I’m flying.” – Julie Pearson, flight attendant

Hawaiian Airlines Loco Moco

“I’ve been a flight attendant with Hawaiian Airlines for nearly 17 years. My favorite dish is our famous Loco Moco, featuring a hamburger patty topped with a sunny side-up egg smothered in gravy, all over hot white rice. Everyone who has been to Hawaii has tried the Loco Moco at least once because it’s truly an island favorite and one of the most popular dishes in Hawaii. As a destination carrier, we are proud to be able to offer island-inspired meals like the Loco Moco on our planes because it’s one of many ways we entice our guests with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Hawaii from the moment they board our aircraft.” – Mapuana Faulkner, flight attendant

Air Canada falafel wrap

“I settle for a healthy option. From the Air Canada Café menu, I go for the falafel wrap — you get a whole-wheat wrap packed with falafel, red peppers, baby spinach, tzatziki, and red onions. On the side, I grab some fresh hummus and pretzels as well as some Vitamin Water. I never have that heavy-food feeling at the end.” – George Dias, onboard sales resource, service director, and inflight safety and service

Allegiant Air Wingz Kids Snack Pack

“My favorite menu item Allegiant offers is the Wingz Kids Snack Pack. I love the Oreos and Jelly Jets, plus $1 from every pack sold goes directly to Make-A-Wish!” – Kathleen W., flight attendant
This article originally appeared on thrillest.com

What’s the best airline food you’ve had? Let us know here or @gosirvo.