Native Foods Cafe has a monthly newsletter written by Chef Tanya....please stop by any location to pick one up and learn about Lorri Houston (a cool lady) who started Animal Acres. She rocks. Join Chef Tanya Petrovna and Lorri as they host Compassionate Cuisine on Friday, October 1 at Cal State Long Beach in the Japanese Gardens...It's truly a party for the palate!
The 1st Tuesday of each month we have volunteers from Animal Shelters at each Native Foods Café location so you can learn more, volunteer or adopt a pet! And, anyone who adopts a pet will receive a hand painted (by Chef Tanya) dog/cat bowl, a Native T-shirt & a Native Tote Bag. Come join the fun!
Our featured Guest Blogger today is Jacqueline Clemens, Rescue Coordinator of The Southern California Pomeranian Rescue.
1. Tell us a little about your Organization and why you’re involved - As members of an AKC national breed club and local breed club, being involved with the sport of showing dogs, we have a fundamental belief that all dogs are entitled to loving homes regardless of if they are not they are show dogs or purebred. Being that we are particularly involved with Pomeranians this is where we chose to focus.
2. Give us a few facts about your animals (origin, why good pets, etc)
A Look Back
The breed’s name originally came from the historical region of Pomerania (now present day Germany and Poland). Originally weighing nearly 30 pounds, the dog served as an able herder of sheep in its larger form. They were not well known until 1870, when the Kennel Club (England) recognized the so-called Spitz dog. In 1888, Queen Victoria fell in love with a Pomeranian in Florence, Italy, and brought the specimen back to England, influencing its popularity dramatically.
Right Breed For You?
Pomeranians are very intelligent dogs that love to please. Because of their outgoing temperaments, they can be very good family dogs with the right training. Due to their small size they don’t require much exercise, but are an energetic breed that needs attention from their people frequently. They possess a thick double coat, which needs to be brushed on a regular basis.
3. Tell us 1-2 Rescue stories (littles and IA rescue)
Little Lulu - A 10-12yr old 3 lbs pommie that was found wandering the streets of San Diego in a princess costume. This poor girl had liver problems, an ulcerated cataract, a heart murmur, a thyroid problem, and burned paw pads. Sheinstantly stole our hearts and made her way into a loving permanent foster home. Little Lulu now known as "Littles" is a sweet but tiny little life who has recently had to have the eye with the cataract removed. She lives comfortably now in ahome with a yard and doggy door as well as 3 other pommie children. She has her own bed and goes for frequent car rides with her daddy and mommy who host christian puppet shows. She will remain in the care of SCPR for the remainder of her years even though she was adopted by her family.
IA Rescue - On July 3rd, 2010 SCPR recieved 11 Pomeranians from a puppy mill in IA. These poor things had lived thier entire lives in Chicken coops. Some were young only 3-4 yrs, others were 11 yrs old. Many have trachea coughs, dental problems, or digestive struggles. After much care and patience most of these dogs (primarily females) are overcoming fears and not being house trained. All but 1 were determined ok to be spayed. That 1 left is pregnant, she will have her last litter of puppies and will be spayed once they are weaned. For a more detailed account and photographs of these cuddle angels you can visit, www.VetRescue.Blogspot.com. This is the Blog of the veterinary team inIA that chose to save their lives by contacting us rather than allowing the puppy mill to euthanize them.
4. Give us a Wish List of 5 items you are badly in need of so we can let our guests know
Crates, Harnesses (size sm-med), 5lb bags of Natural Balance Duck and Potato Small Breed Kibble, Blankets/Beds, Petsmart/Petco/Gas Gift Cards
5. What sort of volunteers do you need and what would they do? How do they contact you?
Foster Homes, Transports, Adoption Event Assitants, Grooming Assistants For Post Shelter Grooming Prior To Fostering, Fundraising Assistants
Want to help? See you Tuesday September 7 at Native Foods Café in Tustin from 5-7 pm!!!
Jacqueline Clemens
Rescue Coordinator
So Cal Pom Rescue
www.southerncaliforniapomeranianrescue.com
jacquelinerclemens@gmail.com
aka What Came First, The Chicken or the Salmonella?
380 Million is not what the new lotto is worth. It's the number of eggs you'll find in the 32 million cartons of eggs have been recalled. That's a big number! What a waste, but that's what the risks are living in the age of factory farming. 99% of the animal products in the U.S. consumes are from factory farms. That's a big number too.
Salmonella lives in the intestinal tract of animals and birds and either the fecal material gets on the eggshell (think of where the egg is coming out of) or in the case of Salmonella enteritidis it's already inside before the shell forms as it some hens ovaries are infected with it.
Remember over 325 million egg laying hens in the U.S. are living in battery cages and living the life on a factory farm. Bare minimum feed is given which is just needed to yield maximum egg production, not an ounce more. The lights on 23 hours/day and 4 chickens are packed in a 16 inch cage where they can't put their feet on the cage bottom. How mean can you get?
Never seeing sunlight, fresh dirt or fresh air...the smell inside these camps are horrendous, how can you expect any living being to have a healthy immune system? Then if they are fed fat with antibiotics at some point they become resistant (as well as the person eating the eggs). Learn more about this at www.farmsanctuary.org. In the meantime here are some symptoms of samonella:
Lower abdominal pain, nausea vomiting, really bad discomfort like you think you are going to die, diarrhea, cramps as the body tries to rid itself quickly of the toxins, fever no more than 102, chills, headache induced by fever. Especially harmful to the very young and very old as leads to dehydration. If anyone you love is experiencing these symptoms have them drink a ton of water until you get them to the doctor.
I have an idea!!! Everyone should immediately begin consuming Tofu Scrambler with Pesto. I'll be showing it at my upcoming cooking demos. It's completely free range and you'll never want an egg again if you replace it with something more delicious, fabulousa and completely cruelty free.
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Eat Peace,
Tanya Petrovna
Executive Chef/Founder
Native Foods Cafe
Conserve Natural Resources..
Eat at Native Foods Cafes!
It was an event like no other, desserts flying in every direction. Discussion was raging in the cue, "peanut butter parfait or strawberry shortcake parfait...or?"
A few minutes later dogs came out o fnowhere and a handsome young man questioningly stated (at the same time one woman was talking about her horse), "Did someone lose a cat?"
Sweet Pomeranians need homes! They are so sweet and just came from a puppy mill in Iowa. Great with kids. http://www.southerncaliforniapomeranianrescue.com/
Lola, a German Shepherd needs a home! http://www.gsroc.org/
Within moments another discussion erupted over who was going to cook the Jamaican Jerk Stew for the yoga party on Saturday and one of our favorite customers, Tamara, was heard quoting Gandhi.
I mean it was wild! The Native Days have begun!
Native Days was created in my attempt to not just have Earth Day one day a year but to do a fun reminder every month, SO.......The first Tuesday and Wednesday of each and every month we offer Free Desserts*, promote local animal adoptions, give away DVD's,
DVD's FREE...recipes and fun stuff.
cook booklets chock full of recipes, trips to visit elephants, my fave Paws Sanctuary www.pawweb.org, recipe tastings/previews with me, promote local environmental group activities, and the list goes on! At every Native Foods location!
Hey it's going on today (Wednesday) too, some come eat and greet!
*With purchase of entree, Native signature drink and side. While supplies last (and we made a ton extra!)
Eat Peace,
Chef Tanya Petrovna
Founder, Native Foods Cafe
Oh Chelsea! We can just imagine it! It is going to be so perfect! For the first course, we will start with Cauliflower Crudite with Sesame Curry Whip to dip and Tempeh Pate on crostini. These will be accompanied by farmer’s market tomatoes dusted with sea salt and fresh dill as well as Egyptian Dukkah (a delicious toasted nut and seed dust) with hot crusty bread and imported Grecian olive oil.
Oh, and of course, in honor of your father’s notorious love of fast food, we will do Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders you can pop in your mouth with homemade seitan and cornmeal battered dill pickles.
The second course will feature a Zucchini Roasted Heirloom tomato soup with homemade Cashew Parmasean and a California Caesar salad with Tanya’s blackened tempeh and sliced avocados from the farmer’s market (either reed or bacon, whatever is in season). Next, we will spotlight a Tempeh Scallopini with a savory mushroom shallot sauce and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. This will be accompanied by swiss chard sautee with cippolini onions. For dessert, mini Cardamom Rose cupcakes and blueberry cheesecake tartlettes.
Well, sometimes we let our imaginations run wild here at Native Foods. And it sure would have been wild to cater such a grand affair for such a sophisticated young lady. Nevertheless, we are completely ecstatic that she chose a vegan menu for the most important day in her life.
You've got to come check out the action at Native Foods today...Chef Tanya and the Tribe have put together two days of excitement for all. Read on and hope to see you!
Wow, I was lucky as I scored front row seats at Chef Tanya’s Cooking Demo on Saturday in Aliso Viejo. All because of that little red Rewards Card I signed up for at Native Foods Café….one day, about a month ago, I go in for my usual Ensalada Azteca and Strawberry Parfait (hey, it’s a salad so why not a little dessert at the end) and LO and Behold, my receipt says “You won front row seats for 2 at the next Cooking demo”. HURRAY!
Rad, totally. Then I find out it’s Paula Deen’s recipes that Chef Tanya is making the native (vegan way). So cool. My mom loves Paula Deen so I took her….and there is Chef Tanya in a Paula Deen wig and cracking me up with the Southern Belle’s accent. And yummy peach cobbler. Meaty spaghetti. Oh my.
But here’s what I jotted down from Chef Tanya’s talk….
1. Buy a Silpat---they are environmentally safe and great way to make vegan cheese! NOTHING sticks to them. Buy them at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Chef’s Catalog, Sur La Table and Macy’s.
2. Use a red bell pepper…they are just a ripe green pepper with better flavor for spaghetti
3. When in doubt, use olive oil as a substitute for butter
4. When making spaghetti sauce, add SALT early on while sautéing your onions as it brings the flavor out and a sweetness.
5. Where to get Quinoa Noodles for spaghetti (quinoa is the perfect protein!): Whole Foods, Mother’s and Albertsons
6. Tomato Paste: Buy the canned paste that is organic from Italy…Fire roasted the best.
7. Paula Deen calls for “Italian Spice Blend” in her recipes . Well, super easy to make at home: Just blend equal parts (dried) thyme, tarragon, oregano and salt. Save money and don’t buy them pre-blended!
8. To reduce the acid in your tomatoes in the sauce…add a quirt of Agave!
9. Cheesecloth…should be a household staple! Available at supermarkets and very cheap. Great for cheese making, straining etc. My 5 year old does not like onions and celery when I make veggie soup at home so I just wrap the celery and onions in cheesecloth and tie them with a string….still get all the nutritional and flavor benefits and my picky eater never knows!
Ok and I took a lot of pics! Thanks Chef Tanya…..
WINNERs...hey I won a mug!
Yum...getting the samples ready
I won a tote Bag....thanks Native Foods
Paula Deen...oh, Chef Tanya ooops
The big winners....Native Wellingtons
Peach Cobbler
by Chef Tanya Petrovna
Native Foods Cafe
Last night was opening night for Ringling Bros. Circus in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. That wasn't quite why it was their best night. As you may know here has been questions on how they treat their elephants. My thought is that since they are non domesticated wild animals and if they can't walk 25 miles a day and swim (things they do commonplace and naturally in the wild) they should not be dragged around the country in trucks tied with chains and made to do tricks that quite frankly aren't that interesting. They are forced into positions they never would do in the wild. Up on the back legs is not good for their bodies so why make them do it? Could it be the price of admission?
Well here's why it was their best night. Over 300 people gathered to let Ringling and others know that elephants in the circus might not be the best idea. One little girl and her family bought tickets and upon learning some facts decided not to go
. She's my little hero of the day!
Actress Olivia Munn came and the helped the press coverage.It was a madhouse of press coverage. I heard that those that were interviewed didn't get to all the press that wanted to interview them! It was a huge PR night to help the elephants. I hope that PAWS Sanctuary is making more room because Ringling will need a place to send those great beings to live out the rest of their lives in peace, just being elephants.
