Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently presented a report on CNN called, “The Last Heart Attack”. Dr. Gupta spoke with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn who wrote the book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease”. This book explains, with irrefutable scientific evidence, how we can end the heart disease epidemic in this country forever by changing what we eat. Dr. Esselstyn says we should eat whole grains, beans, yellow, red and green veggies and fruit. The Dr. convincingly argues that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects. This book is based on a 20 year study. As part of his research Dr. Esselstyn studied different cultures. He found that people on Central Africa, Papau New Guinea Highlands and the Tara-humari Indians in Mexico who eat plant based diets have no heart disease. None! Dr. Esselstyn believes that if you change your diet, you can become heart attack proof. He claims that heart disease is a food born illness. He says, “we won’t end this epidemic with surgery, stents and medication because we’re not treating the illness.” Dr. Terry Mason, Chief Medical officer at Cook County Hospital agrees. He says, “We have eaten ourselves into a problem and we can eat ourselves out of it.” Pier review journals reporting on the results of a handful of Dr. Esselsyn’s patients who were on his diet and cholesterol lowering medication show that after five years they had no heart attacks and no coronary events of any kind. Three quarters of his patients saw blockages grow smaller. Attached is a photograph of the same artery before and after changing the patients’ diet. A plant based diet actually reverses heart disease!
Keep your blood clean by eating vegan food at Native Foods Cafe! It's all about balance though... have some greens with those fries.
The blood of people who eat high meat, high cholesterol diet actually looks different from someone on a plant based diet. The first photo shows healthy blood. The bottom half of the vial contains blood cells. The top half is plasma which contains water and electrolytes.
The second photo shows unhealthy blood. The plasma is cloudy because it is laden with heart clogging fat and cholesterol. These photographs are quite shocking and should convince anyone to change their diet!
Dr. Dean Ornish of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute believes that the more people change their diet and lifestyle the more they improve in direct proportion. He told Dr. Gupta, “Once people begin making these changes most people find they feel so much better so quickly it reframes the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living and joy is what is sustainable.” Amen!
Diane won our "Blogging with Chef Tanya" Facebook contest with this blog! Congrats Diane.... and thanks!
Native Foods Café has just received top secret information, obtained by Agent Allen, our unassuming (yet heavily tatted) specialist! Having infiltrated a secret government installation, she has obtained disturbing information: it appears a corporation has developed a means of self-repair for the human brain! However, as usual, the scientific research involved has mad heavy use of animal testing; specifically, chimps. Originally tipped-off by insider information, Agent Allen courageously sought to end the scheme and free all those poor chimps. In this way, she came across a master plan that blew her non-wool socks off!
To say we deplore animal testing is a severe understatement here at Native Foods Cafe. We are working for the liberation of all beings primarily through to changing the way people view food.
It seems one chimp in particular, named Caesar by the scientists, has developed dramatically increased intelligence due to the brain-repair substance. In fact, his aptitude has far exceeded that of a human counterpart. After deciding he could no longer stand a life in captivity, he cleverly managed to steal more of the experimental substance and use it to boost the brain power of his fellow chimps in the captivity. Soon, a veritable army of super-smart apes was born! They were mad and fed-up from being forcibly confined and subjected to heinous testing—and who could blame them? Certainly not Agent Allen. After the initial shock of meeting the mutated chimps, Agent Allen convinced them she came in peace. She was easily able to do this with her Native Foods Café credentials; for surely, anyone who partakes of the fresh, flavorful, and cruelty-free fare at Native Foods could mean no harm. After managing to convince the apes of her good intentions, her new friends showed Agent Allen another government secret at the installation: the X7- 390 Ultra Pre-Cognitive Viewfinder! What the heck is this you ask? Well, it is a top secret machine that can look into the future! It is cleverly disguised as a red plastic viewfinder from the 80’s, but Agent Allen easily pierced the façade with her powers of perception. After looking into the viewfinder, what she saw astounded her!
The Native Foods Cafe View Finder shows images of Scorpion Burgers, Native Nachos, and Classic Deli Reubens.... Ha!
The highly intelligent chimps, now joined by other species of apes, were launching a full-scale revolution on human society! They had had enough, and the time was right to seize the freedoms that had continuously been taken from them. And they fought not just for themselves, but all animals on the planet that had ever suffered injustice at human hands. In time, the clever and skilled apes took over the U.S., and in the years following, the whole world (of humans) was overcome!
Caesar is going to be real hungry after leading this super-intelligent crew... think he needs a Chicago Dip Au Jus form Native Foods Cafe.
While sympathetic to their plight, Agent Allen was naturally apprehensive. So this was the future? Like many other people, she had compassion for all animals; but would she and her loved ones have a place in this new simian society? But as Agent Allen continued to look in the viewfinder, her fears were put to rest. As the great wave of ape-fuelled freedom for animals spread across the globe, they realized not all humans were guilty. Vegans were perceived to be the apex of human evolution, and were thus given a special place in the new world order. Initially, PETA was established as the governing body of the world; but after enjoying lunch at Native Foods Café (the Chimpanzee Pizza was a big hit!) after a morning of rocket-propelled destruction of local animal testing facilities, they had a change of heart. Who knew the way to a chimp’s brain was through his stomach? As such, Chef Tanya was proclaimed ruler of the world, for only one so dedicated to freedom, equality, and flavor could usher in a new era of peace. All hail Chef Tanya!...
Chef Tanya feeds hungry humans at her Native Foods Cafe cooking demos every month.... and they're free!
As Agent Allen lowered the viewfinder from her eyes, she found they had misted over. So there really was hope for the world, after all. But it wasn’t a reality, yet. There was so much work to be done! She would report back to Native Foods Café right away and get started, taking us back to the beginning of our tale. So what is next for our healthful heroine and her new friends? Check out the next installment of the Adventures of Agent Allen to find out!
1. Ach de Liebe! It’s Octoberfest Time! Munich is one of my fave cities (Chicago you are in there too!) and they know how to party (must have learned from you Chicago)! Did you know all the beer in Germany is vegan! Hop on a plane today! Munchener freund Reiner Goetz just took this great photo!
Native Foods Cafe Munich? You never know!
2. Ever wonder what happens to all the little boy chicks that hatch in the egg industry? It suffices to say they don’t make it past the first few days. Do the organic free range egg sources do this too? Hmmmmm…
3. Seed Bistro-Eric Lechasseur of Seed restaurant has now opened up Seed Bistro in Brentwood. Vegan a little upscale for your dining pleasure. Meet me there!
It's great to see Eric whenever he stops in Native Foods Cafe too!
4.Vegetarian Butcher- It’s gotten easier to get meaty alternatives in the Netherlands. The Vegetarian Butcher opened last year and now there are 30 stores. Apparently 75% of people in Netherlands have stopped eating meat on a daily basis. Take a side trip after the Octoberfest!
This is one butcher we can get behind at Native Foods Cafe! Vegan food rules.
5. Chimichurri!- Makes it easy to veganize anything. Just pour it on! Salads and raw veggies, sautéed veggies, tofu, grilled veggie meats. Find my super easy recipe in the Native Foods Blog archives. Hurry!
There is a new Chimichurri dish on the Fall Menu at Native Foods Cafe.... Woo hoo!
In The Spotlight with Torrey Summer (also known as Summer and Torrey Joyner) the very talented sister duo who won our “Win a Trip to Chicago” Contest on Facebook!
Where are you from?
San Diego, but currently residing in LA
What’s your sign?
Summer: Libra
Torrey: Gemini baby!
What inspired you to become musicians?
Summer: My brother received an acoustic guitar for christmas one year, and didn't want it. I had never seen something so cool and can't believe he returned it. The very next day I remember begging if we could go back and get the same guitar for me! I was 13 at the time and I taught myself simple chords and started writing simple songs. As my life experiences started becoming more interesting, so did my writing! Our songs are like confessionals of all our secrets and innermost thoughts and feelings. It's a great release.
Torrey: We both have different stories as to our individual influences but the moment we started singing together we knew we had something special and felt a calling to pursue it as a sister duo. We have experienced so much joy getting to share our music with other people as a result. There is nothing more filling than bringing warmth and light into other peoples lives, and for us that is what it is all about.
Who is your favorite musician or musical act?
Summer: My favorite band is Augustana. They have a way of speaking directly to my soul. It's like I get them, and they get me.
Torrey: Augustana and Switchfoot. Switchfoot’s music is so inspiring, and there is something about Augustana that just soothes the soul.
If aliens landed in your backyard, what is the first song you would play for them to welcome them to planet earth?
Summer: If aliens landed in my backyard, I would play "Aliens Exist" by Blink 182
Torrey: What she said!
What inspired you to become vegan or vegetarian?
Summer: My sister and I decided to become vegan together 5 years ago because we love animals and we love pure, fresh, organic, delicious food! Once we made the switch our parents soon followed (although our dad had already gone vegetarian at the age of 15). The transition was effortless and amazing. So much good food to be eaten, so little time!!
Torrey: We grew up with vegetarian and organic influences, but the more we became informed about the hidden truths of the dairy and food industry we made the choice to cut all animal products out of our diets completely. Since then we have learned how much more delicious and nourishing vegan food is and would never go back!
What is your favorite food?
Summer: My favorite indulgence food would have to be vegan pizza! Or vegan Mac’n’Cheese. My favorite everyday staple is a salad that my sister and I prepare together with lettuce, carrots, heirloom tomatoes, avocado, and braggs! It is the best salad in the world.
Torrey: I love mangos and avocado, but to be honest I'll eat about anything. Sometimes I catch my self talking in 3rd person saying "Torrey loves to eat" ;)
Do you like to cook? If so, do you have a “signature dish” that you make?
Summer: I love to cook. My signature dish is my fettucini alfredo. I make a killer cashew cream sauce that will have you licking the plate. I also love to bake gluten-free vegan donuts, cupcakes, and cookies.
Torrey: We love to cook! A lot of the food we prepare at home is raw, like our signature salad Summer mentioned but when we go to visit our parents down in San Diego we are always in the kitchen with our mamma making vegan pizzas, deserts, etc.
When did you first discover Native Foods Café?
Our dad discovered Native Foods Café years ago, shortly after becoming vegan and quickly introduced us. We fell in love instantly. Although we didn't live close, we would stop by every time on our drives from SD-LA. Our dad works mostly from home but his offices are in Aliso Viejo. Once or twice a week he says he's going to take a trip up to pop in the office, but really it means "I gotta get my Scorpion Burger fix."
What is your favorite current menu item at Native Foods Café?
Summer: I enjoy the Twister Wrap and a new favorite, Sweet Potato Taquitos!!!!
Torrey: I loveee the twister wrap but to be honest there's so much amazing food to chose from I can never decide!
What is your favorite dessert at Native Foods Café?
Summer: My favorite dessert has always been, and will always be Peanut butter Parfait.
Torrey: My favorite dessert at Native Foods has always been peanut butter parfait until our trip out to Chicago when I tried the strawberry short cake
What do you like to do in your free time?
Summer: In my free time, I love to write music, take photos, hike, dance in grocery store isles, go on roadtrips, and eat. Vegans love to eat.
Torrey: In my free time I do a lot of reading, writing, hiking, crafts, thrift store shopping & I love to play my piano whenever I get the chance.
What is your favorite animal and why?
Summer: My favorite animal has always been dolphins. I think they are beautiful and spunky and free-spirited, just like me!
Torrey: I think all animals are so beautiful (I love pandas, koalas and penguins) but I especially love farm animals, cows most of all. Farm animals always get a bad rap but what's the difference between eating a cow and a panda bear?! It's all about societies message of what's acceptable and It hurts me so much that cows get abused and used as food because they are such sweet, gentle, loving, smart creatures.
Who do you think has been the most influential person in the last 100 years and why?
Summer: What Torrey said... Or Jimmy Buffet, because he influences people to relax and go with the flow and enjoy life. That's all that matters. ;)
Torrey: Mother Teresa - she was an incredible example of Gods love and the legacy she left is one of so much truth, grace and beauty. I love her!
What was your favorite part of your visit to Chicago?
Everything! It was so much fun to experience a new city, but on the last day our flight was cancelled which turned out to be a blessing in disguise! We went to dinner with The Nelson family (of VegSource) and Chef Tanya, then took a boat ride out on Lake Michigan for a breathtaking view of the entire city, and then to a little diner at 1am where we all indulged on vegan cakes, pies, and Grilled 'Teese'.
What was your favorite musical experience at Lollapalooza?
Summer: My favorite part of Lollapalooza was the vegan ice cream cones (from Chicago Soy Dairy)!! We had such an amazing time dancing and seeing all of the huge crowds, definitely inspired us and we can't wait to someday perform for that many people. Also watching Foster the People and Two Door Cinema Club was pretty rad.
Torrey: Getting to see everyone perform and the massive crowds was so inspiring. I stood there envisioning my self on stage singing my heart out to the hundreds of thousands of people that were there. I can't wait to share our music with that many people one day soon. Finding vegan food at the festival was amazing too! Such a treat.
What gave you the idea to cover the Jason Mraz song for the Native Foods Contest?Summer: When I heard about the contest I knew instantly I had to write a song. When I told Torrey about it, the first thing she sang was "Native Foods" to the tune of "I'm Yours" and that was it! Thirty minutes later I had written down everything I love about native foods and it easily fit with the melody. Plus, Jason Mraz is vegan, so what better way to do it?!
A friend of mine recently brought to my attention to an NPR story from the end of July that I just had to bring up because it deals with a fruit near and dear to my heart: bananas! It seems the Cavendish, which is the most widely eaten type of banana, is currently threatened by a fungus that could wipe out U.S. supplies if it spreads to Latin America. No bananas? No!!! It’s just not a breakfast worth having (or afternoon snack! …or evening snack!)! Read on my friends for the full scoop (er, slice?).
Billions and billions of pounds of bananas are eaten each year (crazy!), but it turns out we’re only eating one kind: the Cavendish. Unlike apples and other fruits, only one type of banana is readily consumed (I’ve seen those little pink ones at the store occasionally, but never bothered with them—I’ll have to ask my South American mom about those). Currently, a lethal fungus is spreading through Cavendish plantations in Asia and Australia. If the fungus makes it to our hemispherical neighbors downs south, say good-bye to smoothies and banana splits (and Boogie Bars at Native Foods Cafe)!
Holy nuts! This banana split looks so good! Sadly, it is not from Native Foods Cafe (but it is vegan!)... we borrowed the pic from Hot For Food.
The fungus currently imperiling our beloved fruit (the banana is actually the most popular fruit in the world) is known as Panama disease, which was responsible for the eradication of the bananas Americans were originally used to, the Gros Michel banana. Apparently, this was a better tasting banana, but the Cavendish was more disease resistant, so voila! The trouble now is that a new strain of Panama disease has developed (oh, that pesky evolution), and the poor Cavendish can’t cope.
Symptoms of Panama disease on a banana plant... Where are the banana doctors?!
So why do eat only one kind of banana? According to science writer Dan Koeppel who spoke on the broadcast, it comes down to simple matter of cost. There may be over a thousand kinds of bananas in the world, but an infrastructure exists for the Cavendish that makes it one of the cheapest fruits around, despite the high maintenance it requires in growing and shipping. However, there are plenty of other varieties available, it’s just that the major suppliers like Chiquita are so heavily invested in the Cavendish, they couldn’t easily switch to cultivation of another variety.
From left to right, these are: Seda (Silk Plantain, Cavendish type), Limon (we think this is Red Iholene), Maqueño (Gros Michel improved type), and Orito (Sucrier type). Photo credit: I Speak for the Trees
Interestingly enough, Koeppel tells that the Cavendish is a “pretty lousy banana” compared to the myriad of varieties out in the world, yet we’re just so accustomed to it. India is the current largest grower of Cavendish, where it has earned the critical moniker, “hotel banana.” Apparently Cavendish isn’t so great when you have options. But like most Americans, I’m so used to the Cavendish, I’ve never even considered another banana! Well, now, I guess I have to. I feel like I’m cheating…
And of course, in this age of biotechnology and companies like Monsanto, the inevitable question was asked during the broadcast: Could GMO technology save the Cavendish from this disease? Apparently there has been progress in this in Australia, but it’s unsure if this bionic banana (sorry—couldn’t help myself, hehe) will flourish outside its currently controlled environment. However, Chiquita and Dole and other companies have promised never to sell a GMO banana, and Europe won’t allow it. So there goes that solution.
In sum, it seems it is only a matter of time before Panama disease infects banana plantations in Latin America. So let us hope that the big growers of this beloved fruit have a contingency plan in place, preserving breakfast as we know it for generations to come.
Once upon a time in a great world far away there was a spirit tree called Juju. The Juju only had leaves and was lonely and a bit sad as its friend the Buddha hand tree always had some wild looking fruit each year and Juju only had leaves and the leaves would disappear in the winter only to look like a stick tree.
The Majestic Buddha Hand... They smell and look beautiful (Native foods Cafe)
One day a bee was flying around in a busy way, as bees do, and stumbled upon the JuJu tree without flowers. A conversation ensued and the bee and the Juju tree soon became special friends. This special friendship made the Juju tree feel comfortable enough to share his obsession with wanting to have a special kind of fruit as did the Buddha hand tree. Bees, being the magicians of the insect world, are able to grant wishes to plants (but sting humans because they take their honey), and granted the Juju a special fruit.
The Magical Bee that giveth the Jujube thy fruit (Native Foods Cafe).
The bee thought if he made a nice sweet fruit for the Juju tree it would keep the humans from taking all the bees food as well. So together they came up with something small enough for a human to carry around in their pocket, hearty enough to not be perishable and travel well, and tasting like the humans favorite foods, of apple, pear and date.
The jujube straight outta Chef Tanya's backyard (Native Foods Cafe, vegan food).
This was the day the Juju tree became the Jujube Tree and it was a good day.
Chef Tanya's Jujube Tree (Native Foods Cafe Palm Springs)
Get some at the local Farmers’ Markets or Asian markets. These trees are drought tolerant, and are Asian in origins and boy are they good!
We've been getting lots of requests for the Chimi recipe... so low and behold! You can put this on pretty much anything for a flavor punch.... goes really well on seitan. Try it out, take some pictures, and share with us on the Native Foods Facebook Wall how you chimi'ed the churri.
Monsanto, the high-profile and controversial biotechnology corporation that currently dominates the U.S. market for genetically engineered seeds, is currently seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for it’s new GMO soybean. It seems ever since demands by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005 for labels listing levels of trans fats, demand for soybean oil really took a hit. As many people know, vegetable oil does not naturally contain trans fats, but hydrogen is added to make it suitable for the food industry (by increasing shelf life and refrigeration requirements), thus creating trans fats. Monsanto’s solution to this decline in demand is a GMO soybean that apparently is free of trans fat, yet will still meet requirements by manufacturer’s for baking and shelf life. Doesn’t sound so bad, too far (but Monsanto does have an undeniably long and sordid legal past, which a quick Internet search will pull-up).
Well, the FDA has already approved Monsanto’s soybean (named Vistive Gold) earlier this year. The next step in the process before mass marketing is the US Department of Agriculture. And it’s not just Monsanto putting on the pressure, but several state and national soybean groups, as well. Iowa, which grows the most soybeans of any state, was hardest hit by the FDA labeling requirements in 2005. Interestingly, a lot of the soybean oil not used in the food industry in the years following 2005 was sold as biodiesel. Unfortunately, farmers got less money than if they had sold the oil to the food industry. Wouldn’t it be nice if our government took more of an interest in sustainable fuel sources and actually subsidized the manufacture of biodiesel? One can only dream.
Biodiesel cars are awesome! Besides a bike, or your two feet, the perfect transport to delicious vegan food at Native Foods Cafe.
So let’s see about both sides of the issue. In a Huffington Post article, one Iowa soybean farmer stated that he hopes the new GMO soybean will help dispel consumer fears by providing a direct health benefit to them, as opposed to benefitting farmers like most other GMO crops (resistance to disease, higher yield, etc.). According to Monsanto, the new oil will not only be lower in saturated fat, but higher in levels of the healthy monounsaturated fat. However, Bill Freese, a science policy analyst with the Center for Food Safety, has not undergone proper testing. Namely, that no animal testing was done (yikes!). Pardon my ignorance, but can’t scientists predict any harmful results by examining the soybean prior to consumption? Of course, there will be some degree of unknowable results, but is it too such a degree that this food could be considered dangerous? I mean, supposedly it was just the fat content of the soybean that was modified. How bad could that be? Freese goes on to say that the oddly enough, the FDA approved the Monsanto soybean based on reviews of another similar soybean from another company. So the FDA did not actually approve this particular GMO soybean? That is cause for concern, in my opinion. Isn’t it worth the testing?
No Vistive Gold Soy Beans in Native Foods Cafe's kitchen!
Well, if you feel like staying out of the thick of the controversy for now, Native Foods Café does not use any GMO products in any of our food. But who knows? Maybe one day there will be a product that is indisputably safe that health food devotees and vegans will readily embrace. When scientific innovation is handled in a responsible and ethical manner, the results can be truly life-changing. Only time will tell on which side of the fence the GMO issue will land.
The noble organic soybean in its true unadulterated form: we honor it in our homemade tempeh at Native Foods Cafe.
2. Vegan cartoon characters! Did you know that Shaggy from Scooby Doo, who is known for his insatiable appetite, is also an on-again off-again veg-head? Check this interesting tidbit from Scoobypedia:
Casey Kasem played Shaggy for a time where Shaggy was portrayed as a vegetarian, by request of Kasem, who is a vegan. In the past, Shaggy had a tendency to overeat and eat anything he could. Kasem disagreed with this portrayal, and in 1995 he walked out on the role when Shaggy and Scooby-Doo were to be portrayed in a Burger King commercial. He also did this because the producers of Scooby Doo would not turn Shaggy into a vegan, which Kasem is. Therefore he quit, later to rejoin the crew when they allowed Shaggy to be a vegan, only ten years later, in the series What's New, Scooby-Doo?.
3. Eating consciously is way cool! Reading labels, buying organic and local if possible, and knowing exactly where your food comes from are just a few ways to directly impact the foodchain... and your health! The Organic Industry Stucture is a great diagram showing who's who in the world of oganic food production.
4. Live in middle of nowhere? I bet it's beautiful out there... but it sure would be nice to be able to order some Dr. Cow vegan cheese for that dinner party next week! Check out Vegan Essentials for all your vegan product needs... delivered right to your front door:
5. Vegan Crepes! The perfect, easy to whip-up breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can fill them with fresh fruit, or savory innards like roasted asparagus in a cashew shallot cream sauce. Leave the sugar and maple syrup out for a savory version. The batter does need to sit at least two hours, so I like to make them the night before, wake and make whilst drinking my morning cappucino.
The Best Vegan Crepes in the Whole Entire World
Ingredients:
1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I like almond)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup melted non-dairy butter or margarine
2-3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:
In a largish bowl, blend milk, water, melted butter, sugar, syrup, flour, and salt. Cover and chill the mixture for 2 hours or overnight.
Lightly grease skillet with some butter. Heat the skillet until hot. Pour approximately 3-4 tablespoons batter into the skillet. Swirl to make the batter cover the skillet's bottom. Cook until golden, flip and cook on opposite side.
Fill with deliciousness and enjoy! I like them all by themselves as well.
Native Foods Cafe The Native Foods website...yes, where you sign up for the FREE cooking demos with Chef Tanya!
PAWS The Performing Animal Welfare Society rocks and Native Foods celebrates this fabulous group the first Wednesday of each month and by donating 100% of the profits from the Native Tote Bags.
