Photo from Donna Jean

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Donna Jean, 4720 Woodman Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Donna Jean is a restaurant concept created to show patrons how creative and delicious plant based cuisine can be. Their iron skillet mac n’ cheese has been named one of the best vegan macs around. They have handcrafted pizzas, decadent pastas, and plenty of gluten-free options. Donna Jean does brunch the right way with pumpkin chai pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and espresso French toast. Reservations are not required, but recommended for this popular vegan spot!

Dope Vegan, 175 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415

Located just off 98 (Southern Blvd) and 809 (N Military Trail), right opposite the corner of Palm Beach International Airport, this food truck offers handcrafted plant-based burgers which pack a punch. Options include Complete Melt Down with extra cheese, Seems Fishy with plant-based fish filets, and We’re Beefing with BBQ and Chill sauce, all of which can be supplemented with additional toppings like caramelized onions, vegan cheese, vegan bacon, jalapenos, sautéed mushrooms, and vegan mayo, and sides including sweet potato fries and corn on the cob, you can be sure to get a hearty meal bursting with flavor. They have some seating by the food truck, or you can take your food to go.

Good Intentions, 1900 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712

Good Intentions has an upscale ambiance and sophisticated menu. The mutual creation of a half-dozen seasoned restaurateurs in the Tampa Bay area, the location is meant to appeal to vegans and non-vegans alike. Housed in a unique half-round structure built in the 1940’s, Good Intentions features soaring, curved ceilings, lively acoustics, and cozy mid-century modern decor. An array of distinctive appetizers, entrees, and desserts await your taste buds. Get started with the Big Can Nachos, Devilish Crab Balls, or Whipped Ricotta. Move onward to the Skyway Melt Burger, Seasonal Gnocchi, Kimchi Fried Rice, or Blackened Tempeh and Grits. As a finishing touch, don’t miss the Tiramisu, Crème Brûlée, or Caramel Pannacotta; all of these are products of an in-house pastry chef.  There is wheelchair access available through the back door, but no access in the front.

Shoofly Vegan Bakery, Ford Building, 2505 SE 11th Ave., Ste. 101, Portland, OR 97202

Beautiful and tasty looking vegan bakery items including pastries, breakfast trays, cookies, cakes, and pies. Focuses on available organic local fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

Squatchos, 17 E. Main St., Rochester, NY 14614

Offers not only a variety of pizza pies, but also salads, burgers, wings, hot subs, soups, mac salad, fries, and sweets. Try the chicken parmesan hot sub with spinach artichoke soup and a homemade cookie.

The Boocha Bar and Taproom, 308 S. Texas Blvd., Weslaco, TX 78596

The Boocha Bar and Taproom offers plant-based pizzas, hoagies, and home-brewed kombucha. Pizzas and hoagies come with cashew-based cheese and red sauce as well as the soup-of-the-day. Favorite pizzas and hoagies include the street taco pizza made with seasoned ground walnuts, red onion, and cilantro sauce; the beetza with beets, brussels sprouts, and handmade balsamic glaze; and back to cauli with grilled cauliflower, roasted garlic, and handmade balsamic glaze. Smoothies and smoothie bowls are also available and can be made with kombucha.

Vegan Cave, 415 Abbott St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1R3 Canada

In the mood for pizza? You might get your Zen on with Pesto Prana made with sautéed Broccoli, Artichokes, Cashew ricotta cheese and Tapioca Mozzarella on a pesto sauce base, topped with Vegan Ranch. Or go wild with Freaky Greeky—a pesto based pizza topped with Cashew Feta, crushed walnuts, olives, oregano, and more, finished with olive oil and fresh basil. Whichever pizza you select, choose from Homemade Roots Crust, Nutty Almond Crust, or Real Deal Organic crust. Then, if you like, you can build on your foundation, with a plethora of sauce choices including: Blue Cheese, Avocado, Balsamic and BBQ to name a few. All pizzas are 12”. If you want to go the extra mile, vegetable toppings include: the usual options plus walnuts, artichoke, beans, greens, broccoli, mushrooms, olives, pineapple and more. “Meat” toppings are Bacon, Chicken or Sausage. You could also get a little cheesy with extra Cashew cheese. There are a few salad choices including Spicy Chorizo with salsa, cilantro and avocado sauce. There’s also a vegan chicken Tandoori Bowl and a Chili Cave Bowl that includes beets. Both are served on brown rice or quinoa and available with extra options similar to some of the pizza toppings. Both also come in Wrap versions and include Hummus. For dessert, you might taste travel to the Big Apple with Vegan New York Cheesecake. If you prefer house-made options, there’s rice pudding with cinnamon and raisins, or dates with walnuts and tahini on top. Vegan Cave is located very close to Gastown.

Each issue of Vegan Journal includes a column called Veggie Bits. In our latest issue, we review Broth Bombs available in 14 flavors from Chili to Curry, from Pot Pie to Split Pea. Each variety is handcrafted and designed to make hearty, craveable bean stew. We also take a look at Petal’s botanical beverages. Flowers and fruit add a touch of sweetness to refreshing sparkling waters in flavors such as Elderberry White Tea, Lemongrass Dandelion, Lychee Rose, Mint Rose, Original Rose, and Peach Marigold Basil.

Read the product reviews here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue4/2022_issue4_veggie_bits.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only at https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (VN DPG), a group of nutrition professionals with expertise and/or interest in vegetarian nutrition, recently introduced the first of four Culture Cuisine Plates – Latin Cuisine. This colorful handout features vegan foods that are commonly used in Latin American communities. The handout’s sections include

• Shifting to a plant-based diet
• Foods included in the Latin Culture Cuisine Plate (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, dairy substitutes).
• Regional plant foods of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean
• A sample menu
• Lists of common spices and common beverages

The Culture Cuisine Plates project was developed by VN DPG’s Diversity Team and was funded by a grant from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Additional Culture Cuisine Plates are being developed for African, East Asian, and Indian Cultures.

You can download a copy of the Latin Culture Plate here.

Each issue of Vegan Journal includes a column titled Vegan Action where we feature someone that is promoting veganism. In the latest issue, Laura McGuiness tells us about Jack Egber who is owner of Root 66 Café in Santa Fe, NM. Read the entire column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue4/2022_issue4_vegan_action.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only at https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

If you are looking for a retirement community or assisted living facility, check out the Shell Point Retirement Community in Florida. There’s even an active vegetarian group there that hosts veg events.

Shell Point Retirement Community
13921 Shell Point Plaza
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(800) 780-1131
(239) 466-1131
https://www.shellpoint.org
Independent Living, Assisted Living Apartments, Skilled Nursing Beds

Has an active vegetarian group doing activities.
Sample vegetarian dishes: Eggplant Meatballs Over Angel Hair Pasta and Eggplant Roulade.
Sample vegan dishes: Black Bean Sweet Potato Burger; Falafel Platter; and Beet Poke Bowl that contains bean sprouts, edamame beans, mango, avocado, and ponzu marinated red beets over red and white quinoa.

For more retirement communities and facilities that serve veg meals, go to
https://www.vrg.org/seniors/senior_vegan.php

Please let us know about any other veggie-friendly senior communities that we should add to the list. Send to [email protected]

Special thanks to VRG Life Member Phil Becker for staffing The Vegetarian Resource Group’s booth at World VegFest in San Francisco, CA. Phil has volunteered to do this booth for many years!

I and some other senior vegans started the Vegan Seniors Unite Facebook page – (VSU) an international group to exchange and support vegan friendly options for seniors. We also meet via Zoom the 2nd Sunday of each month and invite guest speakers from animal activist/advocates and doctors and lawyers. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/419407493581437  -Barbara P

For more senior resources, see: https://www.vrg.org/seniors/

The latest issue of Vegan Journal includes Scientific Updates – A Review of Recent Scientific Papers Related to Vegetarianism. In her latest column, Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, examines a paper on Children’s Views of Animals and another paper on The Cost of Food Waste.

Read the entire column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue4/2022_issue4_scientific_update.php

Subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only at https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

photo by Rissa Miller

Here are vegan cake recipes from past Vegetarian Journals (now Vegan Journal).

VEGAN RAVEN CAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/01/19/vegan-raven-cake/

CRANBERRY ORANGE EGGNOG POUND CAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/12/30/cranberry-orange-eggnog-pound-cake/

SHOOFLY CAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/07/02/shoofly-cake/

DECORATING VEGAN CAKES

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/07/06/an-inside-look-into-decorating-vegan-cakes/

CAKES FOR MOTHER’S DAY

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/05/08/celebrate-mothers-day-with-a-vegan-cake/

VEGAN FILLINGS, FROSTINGS, AND OTHER DECORATIVE DELIGHTS

Cream Cheese Frosting, Royal Icing, Custard Filling, Basic Buttercream, Strawberry Filling, Lemon Buttercream

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2016issue4/2016_issue4_vegan_cake.php

GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE COCONUT CAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2016/10/13/chocolate-coconut-cake-gluten-free/

GLUTEN FREE WEDDING CAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/08/08/ashleys-vegan-gluten-free-wedding-cake/

CAN A “REAL” BIRTHDAY CAKE BE VEGAN?

https://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegancakes.htm

VEGAN CAKES MADE SIMPLE

Mango Cake, Vanilla Cake, Gingerbread Cake, Wheat-Free Carrot Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip Cake, Chocolate Cake, Cherry Topping  FROSTINGS: Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Soy Cream Cheese Glaze, Whipped Banana Tofu Frosting, Maple Cocoa Frosting

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2003issue4/2003_issue4_vegan_cakes.php

LET’S PARTY

White Cake, Chocolate Cake, Easy Chocolate Glaze, White Frosting

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj98sep/1998_sep_party.php

BEVERAGE-INSPIRED HOLIDAY TREATS

Hot Cocoa Brownies, Cold Brew Coffee Cake, Poached Pear Upside Down Cake,

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_holiday_treats.php

BAKING TIPS FROM VEGAN BAKERS

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/07/01/baking-tips-from-vegan-bakers/

COOKING WITH COCONUT FLOUR

White Cake, Muffins, Coconut Cream Cheese Squares

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2010issue3/2010_issue3_coconut.php

VEGAN CHEESECAKE

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/04/03/winning-vegan-cheesecake-recipe-from-gloria-clay/

APPLE KUCHEN

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/09/23/tart-apple-kuchen/

WHAT CAN I USE IN VEGAN RECIPES TO REPLACE EGGS, MILK, AND BUTTER?

https://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/06/22/what-can-i-use-in-non-vegan-recipes-to-replace-eggs-milk-and-butter/

SOY-FREE EGG SUBSTITUTES

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2012issue1/2012_issue1_soy_free.php

A YEAR OF VEGAN BROWNIES

https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2022issue3/2022_issue3_vegan_brownies.php

Join The Vegetarian Resource Group and receive Vegan Journal and the 384-page book Vegans Know How to Party. https://www.vrg.org/member/cabdacae.php

For IRAs, you must take your first Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by April 1 of the year after you turn age 72, regardless of whether or not you are retired. (In the past, this was earlier.) Your second RMD must be taken by December 31 of that same year. And each year thereafter, you must take your RMD by December 31.

These distributions are generally included in your taxable income. Any distributions made through December 31 will be taxed in the current year. For this reason, many IRA holders choose to take their first distribution by December 31 of the year they turn age 72. Required beginning dates for RMDs from an employer plan vary depending on plan rules.

Generally, you can distribute up to $100,000 each year directly from a Traditional IRA to qualified charities, such as The Vegetarian Resource Group. This qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can count toward your RMD and won’t be included in your taxable income. You can start QCD at 70 1/2.

This is not specific or personal tax or legal advice, for which you should speak to your financial advisor. Here is IRS information: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/reminder-to-ira-owners-age-70-and-a-half-or-over-qualified-charitable-distributions-are-great-options-for-making-tax-free-gifts-to-charity