World Wide Vegan

In spite of the latest threat of earthquakes, Northern Japan is a breathtaking beauty this time of year. Northern Japan is largely farmland and small towns and villages. I was struck with how even the most mundane view was beautified in some way. Even the gray, sewer water running into a ditch is flanked by beautifully carved rock and elegant bridges that cross the otherwise unsavory ditch.

The landscape is endless shades of green, like a life-sized terrarium packed with countless varieties of foliage and tumbling little streams that gently slide off into fabulous waterfalls. Few people from around the world ever get the opportunity to see the "real" Japan. The unsurpassed beauty of it's countryside and the warmth and gracious people who supply the country with it's food.

However while staying in Northern Japan we stayed with a family in their home and eating out was a near impossibility. The vegetarians were able to let the host know that we didn't eat meat or fish, but asking them to also omit dairy and eggs would have thrown the chef into a tizzy. In Japan, all guests are treated like Gods. They even have a traditional saying that says that it is most important to treat any guest as if they were a god. So they desperately want to please you.

On the other hand, it is very difficult for the guest to ask for anything in particular because in an effort to please you, your host will mortgage their home in order to meat your request. for instance, In one home my youngest son was amazed at seeing a priceless, antique, samurai sword hanging in a place of honor in the living room. He told our host how awesome he thought it was, and before we could retract his statement our host took it off the wall and gave it to him. He tried to refuse, but doing so would have been a huge insult. He took the sword.

Tip:If you are planning a trip to visit japan I suggest that you first learn a few key phrases to help you in the grocery stores. Bring some of your own recipes that require Japanese type ingredients. Anything close to American foods is extremely expensive in Japan. Because Fruits take up so much room for so little gain fruits like watermelon and apples are rare and way too expensive to purchase. If you have a Japanese friend, have them write down a few phrases in Japanese that will come in handy in restaurants such as "I'm a vegan, I can't eat meat, seafood dairy or egg products. Can you prepare meals without these foods?"

In the country there are few places to go out to eat so plan to cook in your condo. However in Tokyo and some of the larger cities there are many places to eat vegan.

Tip:In Tokyo don't be intimidated by walking down alleys in order to get to your tiny second story eatery. This is common in large cities where eateries are shimmied into any available space.Tokyo is a very populated and tourist safe destination. If you are alone ask someone to walk with you to your destination.

One of the highest rated vegan eateries in Tokyo is It's Vegetable
It's Vegetable is about a one minute walk from the J at 4-1-9 Kinshi, Sumida-Ku (at Yotsumeitori)
Phone number: 03-36251245
They prepare vegan friendly and Taiwanese cusine for a moderate price
The really nice thing about It's Vegetable is that they offer over 100 menu items to choose from. They are ranked as having 3 out of 5 start for the overall restaurant experience but the vast choice makes it a for-sure, go-to place to eat. They open at 11:30 am but take a long break between lunch and dinner afterwards they stay open until 10pm.
To get there from the train, take the Sobu line train from Akihabara toward Chiba, Get off at Kinshicho whic is the third station, go out using the North exit, turn right following the railway tracks, cross the main road and continue to walk for another minute. The restaurant is on the right-hand-side under the tracks. It sounds difficult but it is really easy to get there and the experience will be worth it.

This photo shows one of four plates that were brought for breakfast each morning. Each plate has 2 servings of meats, one serving of something American and other Japanese traditional morning foods and soup - always soup. The have a deep seated belief that Americans eat gross amounts of food so they provide enormous meals. If you ask for no meat or eggs it will help you to better trust what you are eating.

Eating in Japan is a very different experience than in the US. There are very strict rules that I suggest you learn before you embarrass yourself in a crowded restaurant. In Fact, in a few days I'll post some of the most important etiquette standards that you should understand before leaving for your glorious trip.

Labels: how to, Japan, restaurants, Tokyo, traditions, Vegan, Vegetarian

Great news for Vegans! Taco Bell is willing to "veganize" almost anything on their menu.

Perhaps I'm the last vegan on the planet to know this since I live in the country and until a few weeks ago the closest Taco Bell was over an hour away. But this month a new Taco Bell opened up just 6 miles away from my home. At first I was less than thrilled because the only thing on the menu I thought I could eat was their 7 layer burrito, minus the dairy products.

But last Saturday I decided to go inside to talk with an employee and to my surprise I was told that they now have a new "fresco" menu. The fresco menu basically takes all dairy products off of any menu item and adds a tasty fiesta salsa. If the item has meat on it, you can ask for extra beans in place of the meat. So I ordered a Fresco Salad Bowl without chicken, with extra beans and extra lettuce. It was great!

I went back the next day and ordered a regular taco, fresco style, with beans instead of beef. The taco was stuffed full of beans, lettuce and fiesta salsa. It was delicious. The following day I treated my teen clients to breakfast and I ordered their new fiesta potatoes - fresco style - adding guacamole and fiesta salsa in place of the cheese and sour cream. Mmmmm. The veganized side dish was so good that I couldn't imagine why anyone would order it with cheese and sour cream in the first place.

So I am now a Taco Bell fan. Maybe for my next visit I'll bring some soy cheese and ask them to make me a vegan Mexican Pizza. It can't hurt to ask.

Labels: restaurants, Taco Bell, Vegan, Vegetarian

Birch Bay, Washington is a wonderful, relaxing place to stroll along the beach in the morning and to go for a country drive in the afternoon, but there aren't many places to eat out. We stayed in a 2 bedroom condominium with a full kitchen so we ate in most of the time. British Columbia, however, is just a few miles away and so are the vegan eateries.

Twice while staying in Birch Bay we drove over the border to eat out and to enjoy the sights and tastes of Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver is a large city with many restaurant choices. But if you don't want to go all the way to Vancouver there is a vegan restaurant just a few miles over the border in Surry, Canada called Mahek. Mahek is an Indian restaurant serving South Indian cuisine and Indian fast food including dosa, idlis, uttapam, chaat papri, golgape. The owner is friendly and willing to create your meal the way you like.

Here are my favorite Vancouver, Vegan-Friendly eateries:

Bo Kong. There are two Bo Kong restaurants in Vancouver and both are worth a visit. One is located at: 8100 Ackroyd Rd, Richmond British Columbia & the other is at: 3068 Main St, Vancouver British Columbia. They feature very tasty Chinese and Buddhist cuisine (photo above is of vegan dim Sum).

Dharma Kitchen at: 3667 West Broadway, Vancouver also serving Chinese and Buddhist Cuisine.

For a great burrito try Budgie's Burritos at 44 Kingsway. All menu items are vegan and very satisfying.

There is also a great raw food vegan restaurant called Gorilla Foods. Everything on the menu is raw including raw pizza, lasagna, chocolate fudge, fresh juices, and more.

Your choices aren't limited to these but these are the one's I recommend. If you have a favorite Vancouver vegan eatery leave a comment and let me know.

Labels: Canada, restaurants, Vancouver, Vegan

Capri is a charming and captivating island off the coast of Italy near Naples. In my opinion no trip to southern Italy is complete without making the 45 minute journey to this upbeat cross between old world traditions and modern extravagance. Capri is an endless photo-op of clinging hillside towns, groves of fragrant lemons, and the breathtaking views of white limestone cliffs rising from the azure Mediterranean Sea.

As for Vegan dining opportunities Capri is much like the rest of the Mediterranean in that it pays to plan ahead and bring directions to the eateries you wish to patronize. There are a few eateries that offer vegetarian entrees that you can personalize to your vegan requirements, but remember that in Italy it is sometimes frowned upon to ask for changes from the menu.

Caffe Augusto is walking distance from the boat drop-off at the marina. It isn't 100% vegetarian but they do offer several options that would suit a vegan diet including pastries, one flavor of soia (soy) gelato, and general snack bar items. Direction: From the boat drop-off at Marina Grande, follow the pier until it dead-ends, then make a left. Caffe Augusto is on the right at Via Cristoforo Colombo 20 Capri. Type of Food: Lacto - very inexpensive.

Tip: Before leaving Capri I recommend going into one of the many candy shoppes to buy their world famous lemon candies. The lemon drops are the best I have ever tasted. Each candy store is owned by a different family who makes their own candy. The families are very competitive and guard their secret recipes with pride. Choose your own favorite by buying something from all of them. You will pucker with delight.

If you are planning to spend more than a day in Capri do your research and find a hotel with a restaurant that will cater to your dietary needs. Capri has many such hotels which if given advance requests will gladly cater to your vegan desires. You may need to make a list of lesser known forbidden foods such as honey and butter.

When in southern Italy I like to spend the day on Capri and plan to eat dinner in Sorrento which has larger vegan friendly eateries. The views of Capri from your table is a nice way to reflect on your day trip to Capri while eating a healthy, vegan meal.

Bio Forneria e Gastronomia is a 15 minute walk from centre of Sorrento at Via degli Aranci, 146. They serve Ovo, Lacto, Vegan-friendly, Organic cuisine in a moderate price range. They also sell vegan foods in their adjoining shop. They are open only during the day so plan your main meal for the afternoon.

Labels: Italy, restaurants, Vegan, Vegetarian

We spend a good amount of time in Las Vegas, Nevada, not to party and gamble, but to visit our kids and grandchildren. Consequently we eat in a lot. Because I am the only vegan in the family, when we do eat out it is always an adventure to find items on the menu that will satisfy my dietary requirements. Being a "low-fat" vegan makes that a little harder, but when we are traveling I am willing to eat a little extra fat just to make eating out less stressful.

Vegas isn't exactly synonymous with balanced eating, but there are some Las Vegas vegetarian/vegan restaurants that offer healthier menu items for vegetarians and vegans which I will list later. But first I wanted to mention the Whole Foods Store in Vegas. It is huge, and has an endless variety of prepared vegan and vegetarian items in the deli and in the self-serve food bars. On New Years Eve my family wanted a traditional meat meal so I went to Whole Foods and bought myself a feast including grilled, teriyaki tofu (so delicious), sweet potatoes, fresh gingered beats, curried wheat berry salad and blackened asparagus. I was in vegan heaven.

Vegas has 2 Trader Joe's stores as well but they don't offer many prepared deli foods. However, I definitely recommend them for groceries as they are inexpensive and they have healthy, fabulous tasting foods.

Review of Las Vegas, vegan eateries:

1. Veggie Delight
3504 Wynn Rd, Las Vegas NV 89102
(702) 310-6565
Hours: Daily 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Accepts credit cards
Promotes vegan menu items but there's dairy in quite a few of the foods so look over the ingredients carefully or ask for assistance. If you're vegetarian or just want a change of pace, this small restaurant is worth a visit.

2-a. Go Raw
Lakes Center
2910 Lake East Dr, Las Vegas NV 89117
(702) 254-5382
Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., closed Sunday

2-b. Go Raw
Smiths Shopping Center
2381 Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 450-9007
Hours: Mon.- Sat 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
accepts credit cards
Offers organic and raw dishes including a pay-by-weight house salad, hot vegan soups, soft tortilla enchilada, a very delicious "yummus hummus" on sprouted bread, and a juice bar.

3. Komol Thai
953 E Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104 (at Commercial Center)
(702) 731-6542
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sun: Noon - 10 p.m.
Accepts credit cards
Some fair vegetarian selections, but don't expect particularly healthy foods (lots of fried food). The vegetarian chow fun is good as is the tofu satay appetizer. Also offers meat dishes for those non-vegans in your party.

4. Long Life Vege
4130 Sandhill Rd., Ste A4, Las Vegas, NV 89110 (at Flamingo)
(702) 436-4488
Hours: Mon - Sat 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Accepts credit cards.
Chinese-style menu with large portions. Has vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes. The service is hit or miss – usually friendly, but tends to be slow. A popular dish to try is the tofu with garlic sauce. Gets good reviews from most visitors.

5. Capriotti's Sandwich Shop
Numerous Vegas location Capriotti's Sandwich Shop has several vegetarian faux-meat sandwich options with fresh veggies.

6. Canyon Ranch Cafe
The Venetian, 4th Floor
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-3600
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Accepts credit cards.
Mainly offers healthy and organic fare in its spa cafe. There are also veggie options and a juice bar. Good for a healthy lunch.

Labels: Las Vegas, restaurants, Trader Joe's, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods