Native Foods Blog

5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Chef Tanya Petrovna

Native Foods Cafe

1. Gulf Seafood Isn’t Safe-and if you are eating seafood from the Gulf, it isn’t safe either!  The Natural Resources Defense Council found that what the FDA said is safe to eat is actually 10,000 times the safe levels of the contaminate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which is linked to cancer, birth defects and liver disease. There were already some food safety issues with fish even before the Gulf disaster, now there’s one more!

2. Hot Knives New Cookbook Salad Daze is out! This new veg cookbook has some great and fun yums by Evan George and Alex Brown. I just got it, and the best recipes are the vegan ones hands down!  Check out their blog for up to the minute food stuffs: Hot Knives!

3. Vegucated the Movie- Three New Yorkers take on a vegan diet for six weeks and it turns into a total adventure comedy and a sociology experiment. It’ll be premiering near you shortly. Get Vegucated!

 

 

4. The Bjorn Tote Bag-Olsen Haus has come out with an amazing new tote that will carry you seamlessly from Fall to Winter and beyond.  Think the Hermes Birkin bag's sophisticated cruelty-free sister.  Check it out here!

5. Even Subway Needs To Know-The chain with a restaurant on every street corner in the country (one of my personal mentors in the biz) is asking for feedback on their Veggie Delite vegan sandwich from their twitter followers. COK (Compassion OverKilling) has started a campaign with a website petition asking them to expand it’s veg options. JOIN IN the commentary! 

native foods cafe, native foods cafe portland, native foods cafe encinitas, vegan food

5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Chef Tanya Petrovna

Native Foods Cafe

 1. Americans eating daily calorie average is 2700  calories! Mostly dairy and cheese and tons of other things that aren’t so healthy that could be replaced with a better amount of flavor and FUN vegan food choices! Thanks @KathyFreston for tweeting THIS.

2. Cornelia Guest designing vegan handbags. As you can see at the Valentino luncheon the other day she’s no stranger to fine couture! She said she’d trade me one for some apple cobbler as soon as they are in. Deal. 

3. Everyone’s doing it! Even Chef Jamie Oliver as he cooked a vegan extravaganza for the Sea Shepherd Crew. Nice. 

4. Alicia Silverstone-Cause she’s cool and wants you to be too. Check her website to keep you motivated. www.thekindlife.com 

5. You can have your cake and Sunday brunch too! When in Portland, check out Sweet Pea Bakery, fab whoopee pies that I remember plus tasty savory treats as well. See what Quarry Girl, the most famous vegan blogger in the world, has to say about it.

 

Fall Shoe Impulse Buy

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

Fall is right around the corner... Are you ready?  Golly... I cannot freakin' wait!  It is blistering hot and rather moist here in the Windy City.  Perpetual fall sounds absolutely lovely... as I am pretty sure I will enjoy winter for a full 20 days before I am ready to pack my three boxes, my two cats, and the weird voodoo doll thing my bff Ali just sent me and head back home... to Los Angeles.  Anyways....  Here is your impulse fall boot buy of the moment.... At first I thought "uh-uh."  Those are some sort of some weird cross-fashion nonsense.  But now I just love em!  So get on it... Cause they are only 40 dolla at Lulu's!  Vegan shoes are good for the soul.... tee hee hee... sole that is.

5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Chef Tanya Petrovna Native Foods Cafe 1. Ellen DeGeneres makes it cool to learn about being vegan with a new vegan blog.    2. Ask Dr. Hu! One of the researchers on the new Harvard study that says replacing meat proteins (like hot dogs!) with plant proteins reduce the risk of Type II diabetes. You won't find any hot dogs at Native Foods Cafe in Chicago!  But try our amazing Chicago Dip Au Jus! 3.Gucci makes a slick vegan moccasin for men now, thanks for sharing Joshua from the Discerning Brute blog!  4.A delicious vegan graham cracker thanks to Sweet and Sara. Don't forget the vegan marshmallows they make to go with them and I know you have chocolate at home. Mash all 3 up in some vegan vanilla ice cream and see if you are missing anything eating a vegan dessert. 5.Rawtella! My fave part of growing up and eating in Europe was slathering the Nutella. Hazelnuts express feeling and flavor like no other nut. If you can't find at your local natural market you can always shop www.veganstore.com for some.

 

Hello Mr. Campbell, We've Been Waiting for You

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

Holy mother of shoes!  Jeffrey Campbell has finally announced a vegan line.  It is about time my friends.  I, along with oodles of other vegan gals, have been dreaming about this day for way too long.  Mr. Campbell makes insanely attractive pieces of art for your grubby little feet at amazingly affordable prices (those of you who refuse to pay more than $50 on shoes based on principle need not pay any attention to these materialistic ramblings).  I have already drafted a proposal to incorporate these as a mandatory part of the Native Foods Cafe uniform.  As of right now, Campbell's new designs will only be available in-store at the eco-chic boutique Convert in Berkeley, CA.  So get on it!  And send me a pair while you are at it.  I wear a size 8 and I reallllllly like the Virgos (in the tribal style).  A million kisses to you Mr. Campbell... it's about time.

Da Virgo.... what a shoe, what a shoe.
Prospect.  What a great prospect indeed.
Rockin. Nuff said.

5 Reasons its Great to Be a Vegan Gal!

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

1.  Can't make it over to Native Foods Cafe to get your Watermelon Fresca fix?  Keep one of these Watermelon Punches, from Epically Epic Lip Balm, handy and your lips will be eternally grateful.  Fresh watermelon tastiness and super moisturizing pistachio, jojoba and almond oils keep lips moisturized and oh so kissable (if you wanna be kissed that is). And there is a nice bit of tint for your pout to boot!

2.  Crystalyn Kae has been designing some amazing vegan handbags for quite some time now... but she has just unveiled a new line of awesome lil' cosmetic bags (I love little bags!  My big bag is filled with little bags!  It is like a whole village of little bags in there!)  Get one for yourself... or they make a great gift filled with some delicious watermelon lip balm and ab fab MAC eyeliner... hint hint, wink wink.

3.  This amazing black vegan leather tote from Etsy.  JCrew is gonna be sooooo jealous.  And you can put a bunch of lil' bags in it...

4.  Pacifica is superb.  They make vegan candles, body butters, body wash.... and the scents are out of this world!  And now they have just introduced the Island Glow Beautiful Body Kit... (so you know... you can have a temporary glow... just when you feel like it) containing the following:

• Coconut Crushed Pearl Luminizing Body Butter 
• Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter 
• Kona Coffee and Sugar Detox Whole Body Scrub
• Coconut Pearls Luminizing Lip Quench

Or you can buy each individually.

5.  The Volcolm Line of Creedlers, which is basically their way of saying sandals I guess.  Sometimes you wanna wear sandals but not flip-flops, and not platforms... know what I mean?  These are stylish and very summer chic.... just make sure to read what they are made of, most are vegan-friendly, but not all!  My favorite is the Piece of My Mind:

Futuristic Vegan Shoes for Your Two Left Feet!

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

Legendary band DEVO and Macbeth Footwear have teamed up to create a very slick, futuristic slip-on.  Too cool for school.  Or did school just get really cool?  School is always cool kids!  And these bad boys are vegan.  

Dang!  Chef Tanya's (Native Foods Cafe) birthday just passed.  I shoulda got her a pair of these vegan shoes.

And I'm not gonna leave you without a little Whip It circa 1980....

 

 

Ahead of their time, or before their time.... no place in time?  Devo rocks.

The Vegan Bag Hag: 5 Bags to Put a Little Spring in Your Schlep

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

Shoe, bags, glasses and make-up are all you really need to fashion yourself fancy.  Seriously.  I still rock patched-up, grungy black pants from high school… I love em so I keep patchin’ em up and I can just throw a semi-decent blousy shirt on and some heels and a tre chic handbag and people are like.. Whoa!  You got all dressed up… You look nice… blah to the blah.  I mean, I like compliments as much as the next person, but if they really analyzed my outfit, they’d find they are solely speaking of my accessories.  Thank the baby Buddha for accessories!  So while I want to strongly encourage all of you fashion freaks to check out second-hand stores and vintagey trenches to discover your new favorite handbag, I also will show you some fabulous new buys to whet your palate.  Try this on for size: for every new item you purchase in the name of adorning your temple of flesh, buy a second-hand item.  We really need to cut back on the mass production of  textiles and all the other crap that is starting to choke Mother Earth out of her own lungs.  Check out local artisits and craft fairs for handmade accessories.  Etsy is a great place to start…. And if you live in Los Angeles, come check out the  Unique LA Fest http://uniquela.com/ next weekend and enjoy hundreds upon hundreds of handmade goodies from local artists.

 

From least expensive to the mac daddy:

 

The Big Black Sackcloth from Etsy for $35.00.  I love this bag for many different reasons... the most important being... it's huge!!!  And cool.  And simple.  And affordable.

 

The Hansel from Basel Bag on Beklina $44.00.  Very hip long and narrow design.  Get your stripes on for Spring.  It is also available in polka dots.  And check out Beklina on the regular... they always have something cool as they feature independent designers that use eco-friendly materials.

 

The Twenty8Twelve Sackman Bag $57.50 from The Atticus Shop.  Sadly, they are closing.  But this bag is on sale!  Perfect black canvas duffle purse bag for the nonchalant anti-designer handbagger.

The Elm from Matt and Nat in Yellow  $220.00 just may be the quintessential Spring bag.  Perfect color, nice size, partly made out of recycled bottles.  Oh I love you Matt and Nat... though I think you are actually just one person.

 

The Plush Stripes Tote from Anthropologie for $628.00.  This bag is expensive.... but it is GORGEOUS.  Handmade in Italy by some lady named Maria La Rosa.  This lady knows how to stitch up a bag, and if I had $628 dollars to spend on a bag right this second... I would be this bag's hag.... forever.... or at least until the next bag came along.

 

The Winter Grab Bag

by Holladay Allen    

Native Foods Cafe

 

Here are eight fantastic bags for Winter... something for everyone, and cruelty-free to boot.  

A great bag is the best companion.

 

Dote on this Tote in Navy… also available in Gray

http://www.lulus.com/products/dote-on-this-navy-blue-tote/30167.html

 

 

Urban Expressions Double Zip Braided Satchel

  http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=19622968&parentid=W_ACC_BAGS&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=9&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=W_ACC_BAGS&popId=WOMENS&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

 

 

Black Weekender Bag

http://www.vionnetboutique.com/product_info.php?products_id=2496&name=Deux%20Lux%20Black%20Decker%20Weekender%20Bag

 

 

Shopping At The Bit Bag

 
http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Shopping+at+the+Bit+Bag

 

 

Rugged Aviator Bag

http://www.freepeople.com/accessories-bags/rugged-aviator-bag/

 

 

 Nico Black Denim

http://www.mattandnat.com/product/nico-black-2261/

 

 

The Carrier: Brown Waxed Canvas

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62691438/the-carrier-in-waxed-canvas?ref=sr_gallery_32&ga_search_query=vegan+leather&ga_search_type=category&category=bags_and_purses&ga_page=1&order=&includes%5B0%5D=tags&includes%5B1%5D=title&filter%5B0%5D=handmade&filter%5B1%5D=bags_and_purses

 

 

Don’t Be a Jerk Tote 

http://www.foodfightgrocery.com/miscellany-1/totes/don-t-be-a-jerk-tote

 

 

 

 

 

A Shoe for Every Mood!

By Holladay Allen

Native Foods Tribe Member

Got the shoes blues?  Sick of staring at your closet trying to complement that perfect outfit with the same old shoes?  Well maybe we can be of some help!  Below are six awesome pairs of shoes, totally vegan of course, to carry you into fall.  Enjoy!

Every lady needs a solid black heel.  This is a closet staple.  Bamboo Footwear makes and beautiful version with a whole lotta lift and nice rounded design.

  This shoe can take you from the office to the Academy Awards, or the movies with your special someone and your favorite pair of skinny jeans.

http://www.lulus.com/products/bamboo-colada-01-black-faux-suede-go-gaga-platform-pump/25526.html

 

I love the ladies rockin’ the men’s shoes these days, especially the Oxfords.  Bamboo makes another great shoe with this Grey Boyfriend Oxford.  Simple and stylish with clean detailing. They go great with shorts, pantsuits, skirts, you name it!

http://www.lulus.com/products/bamboo-vabene-03-grey-boyfriend-oxford-in-vegan-leather/24821.html

 

Saucony revamps its classic design in a vegan hemp version.  Yay!  These are a great looking pair of sneakers available in several colors.  Perfect for running errands, running after the kids, or just plain running!

http://www.mooshoes.com/products2.cfm/ID/611/name/Jazz-Grey-from-Women/a/518

 

Boots are a great way to march right into fall.  Ha!  They go great with skirts, tights, denim, leggings, whatever your fancy.  These are reminiscent of those flannel shirt days when it smelled like teen spirit.  Is grunge making a comeback? 

http://www.lulus.com/products/wanted-prague-gray-girly-construction-boot-in-vegan-leather/21433.html

 

Moccasins and fall weather go hand in hand.  Manimal handcrafts each pair of moccasins per order.  They are super rad and comfortable.  I own the Vegan Ribcage flat in Sand and I have traipsed around the country in it, walking many a miles, and they are still in great shape.  Best part is, you can toss them in the wash to clean.  Oh, and Kristen, the owner, is happy to answer any questions and accommodate custom orders!

http://www.save-the-manimals.com/

 

Feeling angsty!  Ready to put it all on black and head out for a night out on the town.  Iron Fist Clothing makes a line of fantastic pumps that cater to your inner demon.  And they are all vegan too!  My personal favorite is the Wolfbeater.  Show you teeth and say AHHHHHH!!!!

http://www.shop.ironfistclothing.com/Platforms-at-Iron-Fist-CID279.aspx