Tag: vegan diet

A taste of global vegan delicacies, restaurants & eateries [Blog # 24]

Sometimes we get into this rut by making the same recipes we love weekly, and there is nothing wrong with that! With busy lives, we tend to go with our go-to’s because there is just less thinking involved after a long day. To keep things interesting, however, it is worth knowing that we can benefit from the knowledge of cuisines from around the world. This can be especially true with a vegan lifestyle as the more variety we have, the better. Let’s take a look at the famous recipes from around the world by various regions.

  • India:
    • Masala Dosa: A thin, crispy crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter, stuffed with a spicy potato and onion mixture.
    • Misal Pav: A spicy curry made with moth beans, topped with various garnishes, and served with bread rolls.
    • Aloo Gobi: A dish combining potatoes and cauliflower with a blend of Indian spices.
    • Sarson Da Saag: A stew made from mustard greens, often eaten with Makke Di Roti (cornbread).
  • Middle East:
    • Falafel: Deep-fried balls or patties made from chickpeas or fava beans, often served in pita bread with salads.
    • Hummus: A dip or spread made from chickpeas, blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
    • Tabbouleh: A salad made primarily of parsley, tomatoes, mint, onions, and bulgur wheat.
  • East Asia:
    • Yudofu: A Japanese dish of tofu cooked in a kombu broth, often served with vegetables.
    • Aburaage: Japanese thin fried tofu, which can be used in various dishes.
  • Southeast Asia:
    • Nasi Lemak: A Malaysian dish of coconut rice, typically served with tofu or tempeh for a vegan version.
    • Mushroom Rendang: A vegan twist on the traditional beef rendang from Indonesia or Malaysia, using mushrooms for meatiness.
  • Mediterranean:
    • Muhammara: A Syrian red pepper and walnut dip, often vegan when made with breadcrumbs instead of bulgur.
    • Caponata: A Sicilian dish of eggplant, olives, capers, and tomatoes, sweet and tangy.
  • North America:
    • Guacamole: A Mexican avocado-based dip, often vegan when served without cheese or sour cream.
    • Vegan Tacos: Using ingredients like jackfruit or seasoned beans instead of meat.
  • Europe:
    • Pappa al Pomodoro: An Italian bread and tomato soup, naturally vegan if made without cheese.
    • Pimentón de Padrón: Spanish fried peppers, sometimes served with a sprinkle of sea salt.
  • Africa:
    • Diri ak Pwa: Haitian rice with beans, which can be flavored with various spices for a vegan version.
  • Global Favorites:
    • Vegan Ramen: Ramen with a plant-based broth, often topped with tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables.
    • Vegan Sushi: Rolls filled with avocado, cucumber, and other veggies, or mango and spicy vegan mayo for a sweet and spicy kick.

These dishes not only offer a taste of their respective cuisines but also showcase how vegan diets can embrace diverse flavors and ingredients from around the world. Each dish represents a fusion of cultural cooking techniques with vegan adaptation, proving that veganism can be both accessible and delicious worldwide.

If you don’t like playing chef and would rather maintain your vegan lifestyle by having professionals make your meals, then read on. Let’s look at a comprehensive list of notable vegan restaurant chains and eateries known for their vegan options around the globe.

  1. Loving Hut – A globally recognized chain with over 200 locations in 35 countries. Each restaurant operates independently, offering a variety of vegan dishes inspired by local and international cuisines, often with a fast food model to cater to flexitarians and meat-eaters transitioning to veganism.
  2. Veganz – While primarily known for its grocery line, Veganz in Germany has expanded into various food services, including cafes and restaurants, focusing entirely on vegan products.
  3. By Chloe – An American vegan fast-casual chain known for its trendy, modern takes on classic dishes like burgers, salads, and bowls, with locations expanding outside of the U.S.
  4. Moocho – A vegan burrito bar originating in the UK, known for its fresh, plant-based Mexican food.
  5. Veggie Grill – A popular U.S. chain offering fast-casual vegan comfort food, with a menu that includes everything from burgers to mac ‘n’ cheese.
  6. Planta – With locations across Canada and the U.S., Planta is recognized for its upscale vegan dining experience, blending gourmet with plant-based cuisine.
  7. Purezza – Known for vegan pizza, Purezza has multiple locations in the UK and offers a vegan gourmet pizza experience.
  8. Green Common – Located in multiple cities across the U.S., Green Common focuses on fresh, organic, and locally sourced vegan fare.
  9. Blossom – With restaurants in New York, Blossom is celebrated for its fine dining vegan menus, offering both casual and upscale dining options.
  10. Cafe Gratitude – A California-based chain that has expanded its presence, known for its positive affirmations menu and holistic vegan food.
  11. Veggie House – A vegan restaurant chain in Los Angeles, offering traditional comfort foods with a vegan twist.
  12. Gracias Madre – Another California gem, this eatery provides a vegan take on Mexican cuisine, emphasizing organic ingredients.
  13. Greens Restaurant – Located in San Francisco, it’s renowned for its high-quality vegan cuisine, often noted in guides and by food critics.
  14. Mana Fast Food – Based in London, this chain offers quick, affordable vegan meals, focusing on quality and taste.
  15. The Real Junk Food Project Cafes – While not strictly vegan, many locations offer predominantly vegan menus, utilizing surplus food to reduce waste, and are worth mentioning for their vegan-friendly approach.
  16. Genesis Plant-Based Alchemy (Eat Genesis) – Known for its Instagrammable setting in London, offering entirely plant-based food with a focus on aesthetics and taste.
  17. Eleven Madison Park – Located in New York, this restaurant transformed into a fully vegan establishment. While specifics on their current menu items aren’t detailed in the prompts, historically, they’ve offered innovative dishes that could be adapted or presented in vegan forms, reflecting high culinary artistry.
  18. Nice Burger – 100% Vegan – Based in Long Beach, praised for its vegan burgers, suggesting a focus on plant-based patties that mimic the taste and texture of traditional burgers.
  19. Mangosteen – Known for its gourmet vegan offerings, its Vegan Truffle Burger combines rich truffle flavors with plant-based ingredients.
  20. Taco Party – A vegan spin-off of Taco Bell in Los Angeles, known for its Vegan Crunchy Tacos.
  21. VeganBurg – Though not directly mentioned in your provided information, VeganBurg in various locations globally offers a variety of vegan burgers and fast food options.
  22. Plenty Cafe – Offers a range of vegan dishes, though specifics like dish names weren’t provided in your information.

Those of you lucky enough to be living in or visiting such places mentioned above can take advantage of such authentic vegan choices offered. I have personally been to Los Angeles and was pleasantly shocked by the variety of vegan restaurants and the choices of dishes offered in that city. My native country of India of course is full of options as well. Can’t wait for the world to catch on and bring these delicacies to all of us wherever we are!

By the way, if I missed a restaurant chain in this list that you enjoy locally, then please be sure to submit that name and city in the comments for everyone’s benefit.



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The Pros and Cons of Adopting a Vegan Diet: Our Experience [Blog #4]

Becoming a vegan came with tradeoffs. It was to be expected. When you undertake a decision not aligned with common social norms and expectations, you can expect some pain.

Going out to eat is never easy. The dishes on the menu can be limited and may involve a discussion with the server. It is either ordering the sole vegan option or taking an existing vegetarian dish and modifying it by holding the cheese. Occasionally, when there was no option, we made exceptions by ordering the vegetarian dish or just some sides. This was rare but very unpleasant.

The rest of my family would choose a vegetarian meal or a fish dish when they went out and didn’t find suitable options. I remained more disciplined unless the tradeoff meant starvation. I learned to bring an apple or an orange as insurance or eat a little before going out when I knew I was up against limited or impossible choices.

Being invited as a guest for meals was not easy either. Our choices were always limited and we would pick items from the various dishes to sustain ourselves. Not to mention, it also created angst for the hosts for having to ensure that we were not left unsatisfied.

Fortunately, we rarely went to restaurants and figured out which ones offered us options when on the go. We also always brought a main dish to house parties so we knew we wouldn’t go hungry. We also brought dessert so we didn’t feel left out after the meal.

I may have painted a fairly grim picture but don’t be discouraged if you are contemplating going vegan. There is also an upside to being vegan. Remember, if you cook most of your meals at home, you are not only in control of what you eat but tend to eat healthier. If you let the host know of your food choices in advance, sometimes you will be surprised by their ingenuity. We have had situations, where the hosts relished in making special tasty, vegetable-rich dishes to help us feel welcome. In our experience, working with the restaurant chef or party host to create a simple but nutritionally rich dish for the occasion is almost always helpful. The chefs are always eager to show their talents and rarely disappoint us. We end up feeling very special on such occasions.

Grocery stores and restaurants have started to increasingly cater to the number of people seeking plant-based options. There is a variety of alternate fortified milk options now available. We tend to get soy and oat milk for breakfast and cooking purposes. There are vegan substitutes available for anything you love to eat regularly. If you cannot give up the texture and taste of the meat, there are numerous tasty meat substitutes. Whether it be eggs, mayonnaise, burgers, fish, or beef, the plant-based industry has offered an increasing number of alternatives each year.

We make homemade burgers using plant-based alternatives such as hearts of palm, beets, and lentils. Additionally, there are plenty of brands that offer meat and egg substitutes. We also enjoy lentil lasagna! I make cheeseless pizza. Did you know that the classic authentic Italian pizza is a margherita pizza which has no cheese? We make cakes with applesauce, oat milk, and egg substitutes. We enjoy coconut ice cream with various flavors. Our vegan recipe repertoire has grown incredibly with ideas from different cultures. Note that the internet is full of wonderful ideas for recipes, new and old.

I have been vegan now for 6 years along with my family. One of the first things I have noticed is that we do not get sick as often as we used to. Common colds and winter-related ailments have all but disappeared. If we do get sick, recovery is quite fast.

I also recover from physical stress on my muscles in a shorter time. I no longer am soar for days after playing soccer. I usually recuperate within a day and that was not the case for me before my metamorphosis.

I have also lost some weight permanently. That was never my goal as I was never overweight but it is nice to be 15 pounds lighter than I always was. With a vegan diet, I get plenty of fiber which keeps me very regular, something not to be taken lightly. I have plenty of energy. I have noticed that my skin tone has also materially improved. Again, I wasn’t interested in cosmetic changes but these benefits came as a bonus.

The long-term health benefits, the reason I decided to go vegan of course, cannot not be measured at this time. I will have to wait until my golden years to be the judge of that. However, having seen others who have gone through this journey and are living a healthy, disease-free life well into their senior years, I am very optimistic. I continue to stay active, energetic, and healthy in the present. I am proud of my lifestyle. I am also proud that my family came along on this journey with me.



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B12 Supplements for vegans:

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