Vegan Cooking Maven Sara Beth

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 24 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

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!

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

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.

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

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 to Cookbooks
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 Easy 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 Woman
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 Vegan 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 Glitter
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 and 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 Devil 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 Moxie
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 RD
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

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