The Vegetarian Resource Group Blog

MD Vegan Restaurant Month is August 2nd-31st!

Posted on August 29, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Restaurants throughout Maryland will be participating in MD Vegan Restaurant Month August 2nd-31st, 2024. Some of the restaurants participating in Baltimore City include Land of Kush, Ammora Restaurant, Miss Shirley’s, Golden West Café, Harmony Bakery, and Oleum. For a complete list of participating restaurants in Maryland plus more information, see:

https://www.mdveganeats.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mdveganeats/?hl=en

Book Review: Vegan Vietnamese

Posted on August 29, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

In the latest issue of Vegan Journal, we review Vegan Vietnamese. This cookbook serves up a variety of dishes, including Vegan Fish Sauce, Pickled Carrots and Daikon, Green Fresh Spring Rolls, Sweet-and-Sour Seitan, Lemongrass Chili Tofu, Grilled Eggplant, Pho, Banh Mi, Sticky Rice Dumplings with Coconut Filling, Spicy Cassava Fritters, and Grilled Banana Wrapped in Sticky Rice. Read the review here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue3/2024_issue3_book_reviews.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit www.vrg.org/member

Vegetarian Resource Group Vegan Networking Dinner During The Annual Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE)

Posted on August 28, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Summer Pad Thai photo from Sawatdee Thai Restaurant

Where: Sawatdee Thai Restaurant, Minneapolis, Minnesota

When: Sunday, October 6, 2024, 6 PM

Come meet dietitians from the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group as well as VRG members. The public is invited. You must preregister. You can pay at www.vrg.org/donate and write in the names of attendees and that this is for the Networking dinner.

BUFFET

Appetizers: Vegetarian Spring Rolls and Fried Tofu

Main Dishes:

Red Curry with Tofu

Summer Pad Thai

Combination Vegetable Dish with broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, napa, water chestnuts, tomatoes, and mock duck.

Plus: Brown Rice and White Rice and Coffee or tea and water

Dessert: Mango and Sticky Rice

Cost: $30 for VRG and Vegetarian Nutrition Practice Group members before September 15, 2024. $35 for others. $20 for two to ten year olds. Other drinks can be purchased from the restaurant separately.

PLEASE PAY at www.vrg.org/donate and write in the Comments: Networking Dinner with the Attendee names.  Or call (410) 366-8343. Or mail payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. We look forward to seeing you there.

Review of Wildfare Beetroot Fettucine

Posted on August 28, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

photo from Wildfare

Basic pasta with marinara sauce is an easy weeknight meal that always satisfies, but for special occasions, it’s worth splurging on a more gourmet noodle. Wildfare creates vibrant, crimson-hued pasta using only organic wheat flour, organic beet powder, and water, matching the luxurious taste and texture of artisan options typically enriched with eggs. Read our review of this product in Vegan Journal: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue3/2024_issue3_veggie_bits.php

For more information on this product, visit www.wildfare.com

Vegan Restaurants Added to The Vegetarian Resource Group’s Guide to Veggie Restaurants in the USA and Canada

Posted on August 27, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

photo from CHLOE

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: www.vrg.org/restaurant

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:

CHLOE, 185 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012

Chloe aims to incorporate “thoughtfully sourced ingredients.” There are some gluten-free options. A couple of the Appetizers are Butternut Nachos with butternut-cashew cheese, spicy maple seitan, mango salsa, avocado, and coconut lime drizzle and seasonal Summer Corn Mac made with corn-cashew cream, pine nut ricotta, and jalapeño pesto. To get to the “meat” of the matter, you might try Chloe’s house-made Classic Burger featuring butternut-cashew cheddar and charred Trumpet mushroom on a brioche, or Avocado Burger with corn and Calabrian chili aioli. Feeling spicy? How about the Hot Italian meatballs with cashew mozzarella, basil pesto, and almond parmesan, amped up with Arrabbiata sauce and hot cherry tomato jam? The “meat” in all three is a blend of mushrooms, walnut, and soy. One Salad option is seasonal Farmers Market with greens, cucumber, watermelon radish, minted pearl couscous, white balsamic vinaigrette, oven dried tomatoes, tofu feta, edamame hummus and grilled bread. One of their Sides is Spicy Cashew Kelp Noodles crafted with chili cashew sauce, scallions, black sesame, and crushed peanuts. Raw, organic Cold Pressed Juices are among the many Beverage options. For Dessert, a myriad of Cookie choices includes Cinnamon Espresso, Rocky Road, and Vanilla Caramel Chocolate Chunk to name a few. There are also Cupcakes and Cakes, Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Bread, Matcha Soft serve served in a coconut, Tiramisu, and more.

Coffee and Plants, 12334 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604

Their mission is “to help the planet one cup at a time!” Enjoy a wide variety of coffee and tea, as well as muffins, croissant, danish, cookies, pie, and more. They also offer an avocado sandwich and JustEgg coconut bacon sandwich during breakfast and lunch.

Providence Vegan Deli, 783 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906

An old-school deli offering a variety of innovative, high-quality seitan, carefully made classic deli sandwiches, a tasty assortment of salads, and more. Their variety of types of seitan are created in-house on a daily basis. Sandwiches are flavorful, fresh, and consistent with the spirit of traditional deli versions, featuring fresh bread from a nearby bakery and huge portions. However, it’s all vegan! A few menu items seem to have a cult-like following among devoted customers (the “Frank” Italian grinder sub, the Cannonball sub, and Potato Salad come to mind). Some other customer favorites include the Firestorm spicy grinder sub, the Big Toona grinder sub, Olive Medley, Dropdead Kale Salad, and Artichoke Salad. There are a few gluten-free options on the rotating menu. Orders can be placed online or in person, and there are a few tables available on site for diners. The shop is located on the east side of Like No Udder (with which they share a space), only four miles from the Massachusetts border.  In addition, the location is wheelchair accessible, with no steps or stairs on site. As for parking, please note that there is a small lot in front of the building, as well as street parking available.

The Modern Vegan, 304 N. Main St., Royal Oak, MI 48067

Enjoy a wide variety of items including Popcorn Chick’n, Breakfast Potato Skins, Cauliflower Wings, Breakfast Burrito, various skillet dishes, waffles galore, pasta dishes, wraps and sandwiches, and so much more. They also offer floats and shakes.

The Vegan Cupcake Factory, 115 Wholesale Ave. NE, Huntsville, AL 35811

A great place to get vegan cupcakes, smoothies, and meals. Perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth! Desserts include The Banana Cream cupcake, The Strawberry cupcake, The Creamy Walnut cupcake, cupcake parfaits, and more! Breakfast items include pancakes and vegan sausage and for lunch enjoy a veggie burger with fries.

Veganica, 124 Church St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Veganica strives to serve flavorful, organic meals from scratch. They have some gluten-free options. They describe their colorful ambiance as “wildly artistic.” Stained glass fixtures add an Art Nouveau vibe.  Appetizers include two grilled Oyster Mushroom choices–either BBQ or Grillin in an herb vegetable marinade. Pizza choices abound. Select either the 10” Personal Pie or a slice. There’s Mackin’ Out—their popular Mackin’ Cheeze on homemade pizza crust with pasta shells, sweet potato truffle cashew cream, smoked shiitakes, and roasted broccoli, Philly Pizza with cashew cheese, peppers, onions, sherry garlic cremini mushrooms, and arugula; Roma Pizza with cashew cheese, slow roasted Roma tomatoes, caper Kalamata tapenade, pesto, and arugula to note a few. Sandwiches Forget the BLT, Veganica has recreated it with a vegan twist. S-P-L-A-T Sandwich showcases smoked Shiitake mushrooms, Pickles, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato, and Caesar spread on a fresh baguette. There’s also Angelica Sandwich with lemon rosemary tofu, lemon pesto, roasted carrots, and roasted onions on a fresh baguette, or Banh Mi of smoked tofu, house mayo, kimchi, avocado, fresh cilantro, and lettuce on a fresh baguette. There are a couple of Salads too. If you’re hoping to make some sweet memories, Pastry possibilities include Chocolate Brownie, Double Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie with a chocolate base, chocolate chips, hazelnuts, and orange zest; Chocolate White Chocolate Cherry Cookie featuring a chocolate cookie, white chocolate chips and dried cherries; Coffee Cake and more.

Wish Tree, 437 W. Main St., North Adams, MA 01247

Based on what they feel is in their employees best interest, Wish Tree has chosen to be tip free, so their menu prices reflect the included gratuity. “Vegetable forward,” they aim to source most of their ingredients locally.  As such, the menu may constantly vary. They offer gluten-free options and are working to expand them. If you email or phone them in advance, they’re open to discussing dietary allergies. The following are current menu examples of their cuisine. Small Plates include two peach based salads—one with greens, cultured cashew blue cheese, and elderflower vinaigrette, šaltibarščiai (Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup) with dill and deviled potato, and Mini Tacos featuring Royal Corona bean purée, mozzarella, sweet potato, arugula, sunflower, and aioli in corn tortillas and more. Large Plate options are garlicky Polenta “Pizza” topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil, served with blistered shishitos and cashew-hemp ranch, Pierogi crafted with roasted beet, potato, dill–butter, caramelized onion, grated fresh horseradish, cashew sour cream, and cardamom applesauce, as well as Spicy Green Curry with pepper, bamboo shoots, fava beans, basil and jasmine rice, and more. Dessert is Lemon olive oil cake with cashew mascarpone, blueberry coulis, and a mint leaf.

QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS (QCD)

Posted on August 27, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

The Internal Revenue Service states that individual retirement arrangement (IRA) owners age 70½ or over can transfer up to $100,000 to charity (such as The Vegetarian Resource Group) tax-free each year. These transfers, known as qualified charitable distributions or QCDs, offer eligible older Americans a way to give to charity. For those who are at least 73 years old, QCDs count toward the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. You need to have your IRA trustee send the money to the charity directly, and not to you first. You do not need to itemize your taxes for this benefit. For more information, see https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/qualified-charitable-distributions-allow-eligible-ira-owners-up-to-100000-in-tax-free-gifts-to-charity

This is not legal or tax advice, for which you should speak to your financial and legal advisors.

To make direct donations to VRG and support vegan education and research, donate at www.vrg.org/donate

Volunteer and Promotional Opportunity for Registered Dietitians

Posted on August 26, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Twin Cities VegFest is looking for registered dietitians to volunteer a couple hours at their “Ask a Dietitian” booth on September 22 at Harriet Island Park. This is an opportunity to share information with people interested in plant-based eating, and to share information about your personal consulting practice if you have one.

Interested? Contact Laura Matanah, festival organizer, at [email protected]

Are You Searching for Vegan Lunch Ideas? – Watch this Video!

Posted on August 26, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

What can you pack for a vegan lunch? Whether you’re going to school, work, a picnic, or on a road trip, you need options for lunch. Check out 50 ideas to fill your lunch bag!

See this Vegetarian Resource Group Video at https://youtu.be/kqoFDjQO2fs

More videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSyCToa_i9fA4D5CLCAFWw
https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php

Is there any connection between diet and hearing loss?

Posted on August 26, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Image by Racool_studio on Freepik

In the latest Nutrition Hotline column of Vegan Journal, Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, covers the topic of diet and hearing loss. Read the column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue3/2024_issue3_nutrition_hotline.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit www.vrg.org/member

Economical Meals

Posted on August 23, 2024 by The VRG Blog Editor

Carrot Dogs photo by Hannah Kaminsky

In the latest issue of Vegan Journal, Lauren Bernick shares recipes that won’t break your budget. Enjoy Incredible Carrot Dogs; Portobello Mushroom Fajitas with Mango Salsa; Pumpkin Seed Sauce; Meaty Texas Chili; and Old-Fashioned Biscuits. Find the entire article here https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2024issue3/2024_issue3_economical_vegan_meals.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit www.vrg.org/member

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