Native Foods Blog

The Etsy Vegan Bag Round-up

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

We all know that Etsy is an excellent place to find really cool stuff.... like all kinds of stuff... art, jewelry, clothes, shark laundry baskets, thumb tacks, weird al dinosaur portraits and much more.  And it is an especially great place to find unique vegan handbags.... so let's round em' up!  This week's Etsy Vegan Bag Round-up:

 

Agnes' Large Tote in Vegan Gray Suede

 

The Boss Lady Tote

The Flop Handle Bag in Mustard

The Oversize Gold Clutch

 

Hmong Gypsy Boho Bag

 

 

Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan bags, vegan fashion, etsy

New Vegan Handbags & Shoes from Krze Studio

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

I am supremely stoked on the new vegan line of bags and shoes from Italy called Krze Studio.  Right now you can purchase some of the bags, but the shoes should be available very soon!  Krze is the brainchild of Leila Kerze who hails from LA and has worked for BCBGMaxAzria and Donald J Pliner.  She knows style, and the importance of a well-crafted shoe.  

That is why she is sourcing high quailty vegan leather from suppliers in Italy.  "It was through attending material tradeshows and working with different suppliers where Leila gained a deep understanding of the tremendous advancements that have developed in materials over recent years; most notably, the availability of synthetic leathers superior in quality to their dated animal based counterparts. Through her awareness and enthusiasm of innovative materials, and her experience and relationships built through working with amazing people across the globe, Leila recognizes that right now is the time and place for Krže Studio ."  (Taken from the Krze Studio website)

Check out these bags for sale now... I love the Sharon....

 

The Sharon

The Naomi

The Clair

 

 

Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan fashion, vegan handbag

3 Little (Vegan) Bags

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

While it isn't quite Spring in Chicago.... it sure doesn't feel like full-blown Winter, and I hear February is supposed to be the worst of the Winter months.  I am totally fine with a mild Winter... and some of these warmer than usual days have me thinking about Spring and even warmer days ahead.  And what really has me thinking Spring is seeing all the new Spring fashion in the annoying pop-ups on my screen, and in my email... here are three of my favorite vegan bags for Spring I've seen so far:

 

1.  The Cork it Over Multi Cork Tote from Lulu's

2.  The Fariview Hobo from Free People

 

3.  Colorblock Sweater Tote from Anthropologie

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Vegan Product of the Week: Living Intentions Salad Booster

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

Living Intentions Salad Booster is insanely delicious.  It is a vegan seasoning mix (which is also raw) that you can sprinkle on salads, popcorn, guacamole.... and I like to mix it into hummus too.  It comes in two different flavors: Zesty Original and Vegan Cheesy. Everybody should be sprinkling this on practically everything.

We have affectionately nicknamed it "crack" here at Native Foods due to its highly addictive qualitites. And thanks to Angela for getting us all hooked on this green powdered wonderful stuff.

The ingredients are simple:

Sprouted Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Sprouted Organic Sunflower Seeds, White Chia Seeds, Spirulina, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Chlorella, Organic Dulse, Organic Kelp, Organic Herbs and Spices (including garlic, onion and chilies), and Organic Lemon Peel.  (the Vegan Cheesy also has Nutritional Yeast)

 

This a typical salad I will douse with Living Intentions... eat lots of colors!

Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan products, Living Intentions Salad Booster

Vegan Handbag of the Week

by Native Foods Cafe

 

We are in love with this super soft and slouchy Charcoal Grey Vegan Handbag on Etsy from ACAmour. And it is only $45.00!  Get on this now....  they are made to order, so you can probably request your favorite color too.

 

Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan handbag, vegan restaurant, vegan fashion

New Vegan Handbags from Matt & Nat

by Native Foods Cafe

 

Matt & Nat has long been known for their stylish vegan handbags, so it is no surprise that their latest goods are absolutely... well... awesome, and their Outlet always has amazing deals!  

Our favorites right now are the Devo in Gray:

The Damon in Cognac:

And the Motown in Stone:

 

 

 

 

 

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5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

1.  The Cheese Man! Punk Rawk Labs is now hawking a line of nut milk cheeses made from cashews, macadamias and a blend of the two.  Pass the Malbec puh-lease, along with the cheese.

Native Foods Cafe, vegan cheese, vegan food, vegan restaurant

  
 

2.  Peanut Butter Cups!  Vegan and amazing from Go Max Go Foods…. Cleo’s are my new favorite midnight… or day snack.

Native Foods Cafe, vegan candy, vegan food, vegan restaurant

 

3. The Black Cat Bag!  Large and in charge… for all you cat lovers out there… and fashionistas too.  Cuz cats are in, didn’t ya know?  And black cats and dogs are the least adopted… so lets make em’ really cool.

  Native Foods Cafe, vegan tote bag, vegan food, vegan restaurant

4.  Vegan Jewelry by Michelle Rubin!  Michelle sells her full line at her very cool boutique Love & Pieces in Wicker Park. 

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5.  The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake Ever!  I swear.  Well, one of the top three at least.  Recipe coming atcha on Wednesday.... so be sure to check back.

Native Foods Cafe, vegan chocolate cake, vegan food, vegan restaurant

 

 

 

5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Holladay Allen

Native Foods Cafe

 

1. Booda Balm!  For your lips, your face, your elbows, your gnarly knuckles, your nether regions or wherever you'd like... this stuff is like heaven... it just glides on and moisturizes to the maximum.  I imagine just how Siddhartha would have liked, errrr, loved.

vegan lip balm, vegan body butter, native foods cafe

 

2.  Vaute Couture Coats!  This Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart knows her shiz.  Ever since I migrated to the Windy City from Lala Land, winter coats seem like a somewhat legit purchase.  My sorta-houndstooth-coat that I purchased in Denver at Buffalo Exchange 10 years ago is starting to really fall apart.  And whoa, the Alicia in Bittersweet is sooooo fine.  I have a major coat crush.  This all-vegan designer line boasts the following: 

 Ethics: Vegan, Eco-conscious, Constructed locally in NYC. Weather Prepared: Windproof, Heat Retaining, Snow Resistant. Fabrics: Recyclable Made in the USA 100% Vegan Shell lined with 100% Closed Loop Zero Waste Recycled Satin Ripstop

 

Be still my heart.  I'll take one in every color.

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3.  The Jasmine Bag by Amy Kathryn!  Says it’s a diaper bag.... but if you aren't toting diapers, I say it's a snack bag.  Love all the snack-storing pockets.  Cause vegan snacks are the best.  And this bag is pretty dang attractive.  This is the Olive color, which is my fave color, and available HERE and HERE.  The Camel color is still available on their website HERE!

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4.  Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels from Whole Foods!  Cuz you need some chocolately snacks to shove in that handsome handbag pictured above.  And these are absolutely the right snack to pair with the Jasmine bag.  Chocolatey, salty, crunchy... oh yes.  

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5. Vegan Buffalo Tofu Wings, FTW!  In case you missed the recipe last week, CLICK HERE.

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5 Reasons to Vegan this Week!

by Chef Tanya Petrovna

Native Foods Cafe

 

1) The Radical Cheerleaders of Portland  We met a couple of these gals at the Bridegeport Village opening and they definitely brought some cheer telling us how the Radical Cheerleaders helped close down a local furrier by protesting for an entire year straight.  That is rad.

2) Chrome Bags  Built to last... forever!  They are vegan and waterproof, and come in cool colors and patterns.... or you can design your own.  We love that the Chicago location is right across the street from the Wicker Park Native Foods Cafe.  Shout out to Gabe and the rest of the crew!

3) Parsley Plus Cleaner from Earth Friendly Products. Keeps your crib spic and span and smells wonderful.  And it is 100% biodegradable!  Oh, and did you know that parsley is a great breath freshener... it helps to neutralize the odor from stomach acids and other fluids.  Right on parsley.

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4)  VegSource is an amazing resource for all things vegan!  Topics include food, health, lifestyle, animals and much more.  To top it off, it is run by the Nelson family: Jeff, Sabrina, Nina, Randa and Willie... and they are the best.  

5) Celery Root and Leek Soup  We came across these beauties at the Portland Farmer's Market last weekend and I got inspired!  Now here is some inspiration for you :)  Pass it along....

Native Foods Cafe, vegan food, vegan restaurant

Celery Root and Leek Soup 

Serves 6 

3 Tbs. olive oil 

2 ea. leek, white and green parts 

1 ea onion, ¼” dice 

1 tsp. salt 

2 lb. celery root 

5-6 cups water 

¼ cup coconut milk 

½ cup veganaise 

1. Trim leek and wash well and cut into ½ slices. 

2. Trim celery root, removing hard outer part. Yes you end up losing quite a bit of the  outside. Slice into 1/2 “ pices and then cut into ½” cubes. 

3. Heat olive oil in soup pot and add leek, onion, and salt and sauté until transparent and lightly browned. 

4. Add celery root and water, bring to boil and then let simmer for 20-25 minutes until celery root is tender. 

5. Add coconut milk and veganaise and then puree in batches in blender or with immersion blender. Adjust salt if necessary.

 

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! 

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