Native Foods Blog

Ellen, Portia and Me!

   

The 23^rd Genesis Awards (a quick yet stimulating synopsis) by Holladay Allen, Tanya's right hand at Native Foods Westwood Village

My second go round at the Genesis Awards was a delight indeed.  I arrived at the Beverly Hills Hilton and met up with my lovely dates for the evening, Kelly and Wiletta. After creeping past the red carpet, we proceeded immediately to the silent auction where we sipped champagne and browsed through the wide array of prizes.  There were beauty products of both the animal and human variety, luxury trips, designer duds and even a wild ride in a patrol car (with real policemen!).  After a little mingling, we were ushered into the ballroom for a delicious three-course dinner followed by the presentation of the awards.  The very talented Tal Ronnen, amazing vegan chef and friend of Tanya’s, created the dinner menu.  The actual show reminds me of a highlight (and lowlight) reel covering the ups and downs the animal rights community throughout the year. 

 

 This year’s hot (yet hard, if not impossible, to swallow) topics were the continuing Canadian seal hunt, the underground horsemeat market, and the never-ending dog fighting circles.  The nominated news reports showed graphic and disturbing images from around the globe, the kind that that get your blood pumping and the tears flowing.  But just when you think your fingernails are going to tear through your angrily clenched palms as your cruelty-free mascara is streaking down your tear soaked face like war paint, they hit you with a victory.  Though never enough, the victories were abundant in 2008.  From the passing of Proposition 2 in California to the ban of ivory on Ebay, the Humane Society has shown that a small (but growing exponentially everyday) group of people really can change the direction of the world. 

 

Two of the key players in the passing of Proposition 2, Ellen Degeneres and Portia DeRossi received the prestigious Gretchen Wyler award (named after the founder of the Genesis Awards).  They gratefully accepted the award commenting on their personal decisions to embrace veganism.  Like so many converts, Skinny Bitch opened their eyes.  After the show, the herd migrated to the after party.  The guests nibbled on after dinner hors d’oeuvres and petite pastries while gambling (for the cause man) and cuttin’ a rug.  Heather Mills was one of the first on the dance floor with Wiletta right on her heels.  I think Wiletta danced for two hours straight!  Happy and exhausted, we collected our swag bags, checked out the winners of the silent auction, and (deheeled and barefoot) made our ways home.

 

Oh, the swag bag!  One of the 1st questions I get:  a DVD of the doc Saving Luna, a plush white seal, a book called African Critters and facial serum by Prai to mention a few!

GMO's? oh, please NO!

Wow, I get asked quite often, what's the deal with GMO's?   Well, "Genetically Modified Organisms" are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. (you've probably heard of GE---genetic engineering)

The most popular vegetables that are GMO's are corn, tomatoes and potatoes.   It's pretty controversial about the effect long term on our health, the environment and our food chain.

At Native Foods, we stay away from buying GMO's by staying with organic and sustainable farming systems when possible.  But I am an advocate that we as consumers have the right to know what we are buying!  Currently the US government has no plans to label for consumer packaging at stores.

Leading me right into:  Shop your weekly Farmer's Markets!  Ask them about their farming systems!  My experience has been very positive and they care about what they grow.

Killer burger....but no animals harmed!

 

Well, my carnivore friends are totally shocked when they take their first bite of our Veggie-Mighty-Vita burger (AKA, my first invention, the Bali Burger).   And I do get a bit of thrill when I see them again (and NOT dragged in by one of their vegan buddies) and so I seem to get the same questions....so here goes a quickie...

Yes indeed, no cholesterol.

What the heck is tempeh???  Well, I make it myself and it's pronounced TEM-Pay.  I first made this recipe in college when I learned it's an amazingly healthful Indonesian main staple.  It's an artisan process of culturing soybeans.  Awesome is a great way to describe it! 

High in iron and protein

So, ask away!  Oh, it does take at least 24 hours to make and some ways to prepare it are  in my cookbook.  But feel free to save some time and buy it in my deli cases.

Cooking Class was a huge success!

Well, we cooked away last Saturday morning in Costa Mesa.  The Nopales and Mixed Bean Soup was a hit.  Nopales are cactus pads....yep, the kind you see growing all over Ca.   The best part was shaving (yes, a face razor would work!) the prickleys off the cactus.  Ok, a Y shaped potato peeler works the best.

Next to me are Kathy and Katie...first timers at Native Foods!  Thanks for coming, girls!