Beyond Greens and Millennium: Where the Beets Are

January 6, 2007

There are more vegan, veggie, raw, organic, slow food restaurants in the Bay Area than you think! Yet, given the eating habits here, why aren’t there more? By Laura Browne Perhaps you’re a vegan in need of a break from steaming your own kale. Or you’re heading out on the town with friends that include one or two who don’t eat meat. Or more likely, statistically, you’re an open-minded omnivore on the prowl for a veggie, or vegan (even more cleansing — minus the dairy) dinner out. Where to go. Greens? Millennium? Whoops, it’s too late to get reservations at either. Hmmmm... Who’s been there?In the land of some of the most adventurous, politically aware, health-minded diners in the world, why can we only think of a couple of vegetarian restaurants to choose from? One would think there would be an abundance of such spots. Oddly, there isn’t. But there are also a lot more vegetable-based specialty restaurants here than you think

& hellip; just a little under the radar compared to the more upscale top-billers.Friendsofanimals.org publishes a vegan restaurant guide for the Bay Area that lists 18 purely vegan/vegetarian restaurants in SF alone, with six more in Berkeley and five in Oakland. Their SF list includes fantastic places you may not know existed, such as New Ganges Restaurant (amazing Indian) in Cole Valley-Inner Sunset, Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (Chinese) in Chinatown, and Bok Choy Garden (Chinese) on Clement in the Richmond.Demographics Might Not Be What You ThinkYes, there are probably more vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco than Dallas-Fort Worth. But isn’t there room for even more? Surely there’s a huge unmet demand for these types of places in this area of all areas.According to a 2006 poll of American adults by the Vegetarian Resource Group, only 2.3 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 18 is

vegetarian, or about 5 million people nationwide. Who would be shocked to learn that those 5 million vegetarians skew slightly higher to the West Coast in terms of distribution across the country? Yet the San Francisco restaurant scene offers fewer veggie restaurants in ratio to the national average of vegetarians as a whole. According to Citysearch, the Bay Area has 13,297 restaurants. With only 65 listed as being vegetarian (and “specializing in vegetarian” [some meat]) that’s just one-half of one percent (0.5%) of our restaurants that are niche vegetarian. By this logic, the Bay Area could support 240 brand new vegetarian restaurants, assuming our area is only average in its population of vegetarians.So, why aren’t more restaurateurs and activists opening up shop? Competition Tough, Veggie Trend TemperedThe reality is that many café-style vegetarian places have failed in the last five years, including restaurants such

as Parawdise, Roxanne’s, Roxannes-to-go, and Urban Forage’s three locations. According to industry convention, one-in-five new restaurants fail. Who knows why this is. Some open a restaurant because they love cooking and entertaining friends, which is not, alone, the best business plan. Some places expand too quickly, or simply get mismanaged. Well, veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants share these challenges, and also have a set uniquely their own. The restaurant industry is competitive, and if your restaurant has a narrower menu than the next guy, it can make it difficult to draw customers. Five years ago, there was a huge demand for “exotic” vegan and vegetarian places, because people had more money and were more adventurous. “Veggie/vegan places were popular then because they were new, different, but interest waned,” says Erica Culp, manager of Millennium. In the post-boom era, she says, the average Bay Area resident is more careful about where to

spend their dollars. In addition, niche vegetarian restaurants compete not only against each other, but against mainstream restaurants. That’s because those of us “with food issues” (as we say in California) know that restaurants serving meat dishes are also serving better, more imaginative veggie-based alternatives. Meanwhile, a dyed-in-the-wool steak guy wouldn’t be caught dead in a “tie-dyed” vegetarian restaurant.In urban settings like San Francisco and more enlightened areas like Marin and Berkeley, this phenomenon is not always the case, however. In fact, 50 percent of Millennium’s clientele are meat-eaters. The local vegan raw food Mecca, Café Gratitude, also serves as many non-vegetarians as vegetarians. Unfortunately, this does not suggest that half of all meat-eaters (the other 97.7 percent of Americans) seek out veggie restaurants. Another hurdle for the niche is that although we are health conscious here in the Bay Area, in

general, we are also sensualists who want to feel treated when we dine out. It’s an image problem. “Vegan food has the challenge of overcoming the image that it’s whole wheat unflavorful hippie food,” says Matthew Engelhart, co-founder of Café Gratitude.And today’s market requires restaurants to have more than just great food. “Serving the highest, freshest, purest food on the planet alone is not enough,” says Engelhart. Attention has to be paid to amenities, ambience, etc. “We offer an experience, an atmosphere of sacred gratitude.” Gratitude is a haven of positivity — from the kind wait staff, large tables for communal dining, warm paintings on the walls, to the cards at each table filled with Zen wisdom. Even the names of the dishes are part of the experience, like “I am Bountiful” and “I am Lusciously Awake.”Not A Lot Of GreenAnother hurdle: selecting the freshest, best organic produce is more expensive than buying in bulk

from a mainstream supplier. So the ingredients are better, but pricier. And making things worse, revenue doesn’t exactly pour in from high-margin alcohol sales the way it does at the steakhouse with the single malt whiskeys. Most restaurants survive on alcohol sales, while the clientele of vegan/vegetarian restaurants tend to be a health-conscious group that doesn’t drink large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol sales represent less than four percent of Café Gratitude’s revenue. “We just don’t have a drinking crowd,” says Engelhart. “We include beer and wine on the menu as an invitation for everybody to come, but don’t sell a lot of it.” Millennium’s alcohol sales are also low.Vegan/veggie eaters tend have socially conscious jobs such as teachers and activists, so their economic status is not conducive to fine dining. “In general they are a sensitive group of people that don’t go spending their money easily. Their dollars are going to other places. Maybe great causes,”

says Culp.“Beeting” The OddsMillennium, however, is enjoying its best year yet. Their recipe for success? Besides having the same head chef since day one (back in 1994), they have a loyal following, and an aggressive marketing plan that includes a strong email list. Their special events keep their clientele’s interest alive, from private winemaker events, to an annual heirloom dinner and chili and beer dinner, with hand-picked tomatoes and chilies straight from the farm. Every weekend, an insert menu highlights a special ingredient such as mushrooms, or root veggies. Perhaps most seductive of all, are the monthly “Aphrodisiac Sundays,” held on the Sunday closest to the full moon, where aphrodisiac foods are offered in a four-course prix fixe package in conjunction with The Hotel California with a hotel room. A true urban getaway that attracts mostly local San Franciscans as guests. Future Of Veggie

RestaurantsDespite challenges, Bay Area veggie restaurants’ numbers are growing. On the whole, there are more veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants in the Bay Area today than there were five years ago. That said, the jury is still out as to whether the market is saturated. While some restaurants like Greens and Millennium don’t see a higher demand for vegetarian fine dining, there are clearly plenty of others that see opportunity.The Medicine team picked San Francisco as the optimal city in 2005 to serve New Shojin style refined cuisine from Kyoto, the only one of its kind in the country. Located downtown, they’re enjoying especially great success with the lunch crowd.Ken Kuet, General Manager of Bok Choy Garden in San Francisco’s Richmond District, is convinced that the demand for vegetarian restaurants will continue to rise. Just two months ago, he and his family bought the 10-year-old restaurant, and business, he says, is booming.

He’s updated the menu to include more organic, fresh vegetables he gets from the market every morning, shifting the menu away from mock-meat to dishes with fresh veggies like crisp asparagus, pea pods, water chestnuts in mushroom sauce sprinkled with honey walnuts. A born carnivore and Marines veteran, he’s eating vegetarian more and more simply by eating the restaurant’s food. Feeling a notable change in his energy and overall health, Kuet says he’s committed to serving food that shows people that vegetarian fare can taste delicious. And he’s not alone in his optimism.Already successful niche restaurants are also expanding. Cha-Ya opened a San Francisco location on Valencia Street six months ago. Herbivore’s Berkeley location opens this month, and Café Gratitude will open its fourth location, this one in San Rafael, next month. New On The SceneAt brand-new Asian organic/slow food destination Umami, you won’t be

pressured by your server to move for the next dinner seating. The traditional Asian restaurant, serving traditional dishes from numerous countries, opened last month in San Francisco’s Marina District, and takes “slow food” almost literally. “Rather than rushing off, diners tend to hang out with friends, make an evening of it. That’s at the heart of izakaya (sake pub) dining,” says Chef Sam Josi. Josi’s step-grandmother’s Oak Hill Farm in Sonoma provides produce to the restaurant. The 45-acre farm produces more than 200 varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers grown using practices that far exceed national organic protocols. Umami — meaning “savory” or “rich”— is the fifth flavor our taste buds register, according to Japanese researchers. And it’s the latest place that’s showing Bay Area diners how flavorful vegetables can be.Laura Browne is a San Francisco freelance writer with a passion for food. While living in Paris five years ago, a breathtaking

farmer’s market materialized at her doorstep twice a week. She experienced how melons and tomatoes are capable of tasting, and has been scouting out fresh produce ever since. Niche Vegetarian/Slow Food Near YouSAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina)Ananda Fuara (meatless with vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center)Bok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond)Café Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission)Daily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset)Enjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415) 682-0826 (Sunset)Feel

Real Organic Vegan Café (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset)Golden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 O’Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin)Greens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina)Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition)Judahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset)Juicey Lucy’s (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach)Lettus Organic (full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina)Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415) 989-0818

(Chinatown)Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown)Millennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square)New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley)Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset)Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina)BERKELEY Café Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652 Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825.Raw Energy Organic Juice Café (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510) 665-9464Udupi Palace

(meatless with vegan options; South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600Vegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244OAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825Manzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386 New World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891Supreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132 This list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle. Peter H

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

January 6, 2007

Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England? I do belong to the SFBay Area Veg Society, so I do get these lists, but I don't wanna have to go all the way to Oakland or Berkeley or San Francisco. Are there NO places down in southern Alameda County? I am doing my internship in San Mateo, and walking around downtown San Mateo is an exercise in gastronomic excitation. There are so many restaurants there I don't know how people pick where to eat. I am positive that a good number of those restaurants offer vegetarian options, but no veggie restaurants?

Actually, I have been pretty pleased to see the vegetarian options offered at restaurants. One thing I have found to be almost common these days is the portobella burger! Yummmmmmy. I loooooove my fungus.

blessings,

sharon

On 1/6/07, peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

There are more vegan, veggie, raw, organic, slow food restaurants in the Bay Area than you think! Yet, given the eating habits here, why aren't there more?

By Laura Browne

Perhaps you're a vegan in need of a break from steaming your own kale. Or you're heading out on the town with friends that include one or two who don't eat meat. Or more likely, statistically, you're an open-minded omnivore on the prowl for a veggie, or vegan (even more cleansing — minus the dairy) dinner out. Where to go. Greens? Millennium? Whoops, it's too late to get reservations at either. Hmmmm... Who's been there?In the land of some of the most adventurous, politically aware, health-minded diners in the world, why can we only think of a couple of vegetarian restaurants to choose from? One would think there would be an abundance of such spots. Oddly, there isn't. But there are also a lot more vegetable-based specialty restaurants here than you think & hellip; just a little under the radar compared to the more upscale top-billers.

Friendsofanimals.org publishes a vegan restaurant guide for the Bay Area that lists 18 purely vegan/vegetarian restaurants in SF alone, with six more in Berkeley and five in Oakland. Their SF list includes fantastic places you may not know existed, such as New Ganges Restaurant (amazing Indian) in Cole Valley-Inner Sunset, Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (Chinese) in Chinatown, and Bok Choy Garden (Chinese) on Clement in the Richmond.

Demographics Might Not Be What You ThinkYes, there are probably more vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco than Dallas-Fort Worth. But isn't there room for even more? Surely there's a huge unmet demand for these types of places in this area of all areas.

According to a 2006 poll of American adults by the Vegetarian Resource Group, only 2.3 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 18 is vegetarian, or about 5 million people nationwide. Who would be shocked to learn that those 5 million vegetarians skew slightly higher to the West Coast in terms of distribution across the country? Yet the San Francisco restaurant scene offers fewer veggie restaurants in ratio to the national average of vegetarians as a whole. According to Citysearch, the Bay Area has 13,297 restaurants. With only 65 listed as being vegetarian (and "specializing in vegetarian" [some meat]) that's just one-half of one percent (

0.5%) of our restaurants that are niche vegetarian. By this logic, the Bay Area could support 240 brand new vegetarian restaurants, assuming our area is only average in its population of vegetarians.So, why aren't more restaurateurs and activists opening up shop? Competition Tough, Veggie Trend TemperedThe reality is that many café-style vegetarian places have failed in the last five years, including restaurants such as Parawdise, Roxanne's, Roxannes-to-go, and Urban Forage's three locations. According to industry convention, one-in-five new restaurants fail. Who knows why this is. Some open a restaurant because they love cooking and entertaining friends, which is not, alone, the best business plan. Some places expand too quickly, or simply get mismanaged. Well, veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants share these challenges, and also have a set uniquely their own. The restaurant industry is competitive, and if your restaurant has a narrower menu than the next guy, it can make it difficult to draw customers. Five years ago, there was a huge demand for "exotic" vegan and vegetarian places, because people had more money and were more adventurous. "Veggie/vegan places were popular then because they were new, different, but interest waned," says Erica Culp, manager of Millennium. In the post-boom era, she says, the average Bay Area resident is more careful about where to spend their dollars. In addition, niche vegetarian restaurants compete not only against each other, but against mainstream restaurants. That's because those of us "with food issues" (as we say in California) know that restaurants serving meat dishes are also serving better, more imaginative veggie-based alternatives. Meanwhile, a dyed-in-the-wool steak guy wouldn't be caught dead in a "tie-dyed" vegetarian restaurant.

In urban settings like San Francisco and more enlightened areas like Marin and Berkeley, this phenomenon is not always the case, however. In fact, 50 percent of Millennium's clientele are meat-eaters. The local vegan raw food Mecca, Café Gratitude, also serves as many non-vegetarians as vegetarians. Unfortunately, this does not suggest that half of all meat-eaters (the other 97.7 percent of Americans) seek out veggie restaurants. Another hurdle for the niche is that although we are health conscious here in the Bay Area, in general, we are also sensualists who want to feel treated when we dine out. It's an image problem. "Vegan food has the challenge of overcoming the image that it's whole wheat unflavorful hippie food," says Matthew Engelhart, co-founder of Café Gratitude.

And today's market requires restaurants to have more than just great food. "Serving the highest, freshest, purest food on the planet alone is not enough," says Engelhart. Attention has to be paid to amenities, ambience, etc. "We offer an experience, an atmosphere of sacred gratitude." Gratitude is a haven of positivity — from the kind wait staff, large tables for communal dining, warm paintings on the walls, to the cards at each table filled with Zen wisdom. Even the names of the dishes are part of the experience, like "I am Bountiful" and "I am Lusciously Awake."

Not A Lot Of GreenAnother hurdle: selecting the freshest, best organic produce is more expensive than buying in bulk from a mainstream supplier. So the ingredients are better, but pricier. And making things worse, revenue doesn't exactly pour in from high-margin alcohol sales the way it does at the steakhouse with the single malt whiskeys. Most restaurants survive on alcohol sales, while the clientele of vegan/vegetarian restaurants tend to be a health-conscious group that doesn't drink large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol sales represent less than four percent of Café Gratitude's revenue. "We just don't have a drinking crowd," says Engelhart. "We include beer and wine on the menu as an invitation for everybody to come, but don't sell a lot of it." Millennium's alcohol sales are also low.

Vegan/veggie eaters tend have socially conscious jobs such as teachers and activists, so their economic status is not conducive to fine dining. "In general they are a sensitive group of people that don't go spending their money easily. Their dollars are going to other places. Maybe great causes," says Culp.

"Beeting" The OddsMillennium, however, is enjoying its best year yet. Their recipe for success? Besides having the same head chef since day one (back in 1994), they have a loyal following, and an aggressive marketing plan that includes a strong email list. Their special events keep their clientele's interest alive, from private winemaker events, to an annual heirloom dinner and chili and beer dinner, with hand-picked tomatoes and chilies straight from the farm. Every weekend, an insert menu highlights a special ingredient such as mushrooms, or root veggies. Perhaps most seductive of all, are the monthly "Aphrodisiac Sundays," held on the Sunday closest to the full moon, where aphrodisiac foods are offered in a four-course prix fixe package in conjunction with The Hotel California with a hotel room. A true urban getaway that attracts mostly local San Franciscans as guests. Future Of Veggie RestaurantsDespite challenges, Bay Area veggie restaurants' numbers are growing. On the whole, there are more veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants in the Bay Area today than there were five years ago. That said, the jury is still out as to whether the market is saturated. While some restaurants like Greens and Millennium don't see a higher demand for vegetarian fine dining, there are clearly plenty of others that see opportunity.

The Medicine team picked San Francisco as the optimal city in 2005 to serve New Shojin style refined cuisine from Kyoto, the only one of its kind in the country. Located downtown, they're enjoying especially great success with the lunch crowd.

Ken Kuet, General Manager of Bok Choy Garden in San Francisco's Richmond District, is convinced that the demand for vegetarian restaurants will continue to rise. Just two months ago, he and his family bought the 10-year-old restaurant, and business, he says, is booming. He's updated the menu to include more organic, fresh vegetables he gets from the market every morning, shifting the menu away from mock-meat to dishes with fresh veggies like crisp asparagus, pea pods, water chestnuts in mushroom sauce sprinkled with honey walnuts. A born carnivore and Marines veteran, he's eating vegetarian more and more simply by eating the restaurant's food. Feeling a notable change in his energy and overall health, Kuet says he's committed to serving food that shows people that vegetarian fare can taste delicious. And he's not alone in his optimism.

Already successful niche restaurants are also expanding. Cha-Ya opened a San Francisco location on Valencia Street six months ago. Herbivore's Berkeley location opens this month, and Café Gratitude will open its fourth location, this one in San Rafael, next month. New On The SceneAt brand-new Asian organic/slow food destination Umami, you won't be pressured by your server to move for the next dinner seating. The traditional Asian restaurant, serving traditional dishes from numerous countries, opened last month in San Francisco's Marina District, and takes "slow food" almost literally. "Rather than rushing off, diners tend to hang out with friends, make an evening of it. That's at the heart of izakaya (sake pub) dining," says Chef Sam Josi. Josi's step-grandmother's Oak Hill Farm in Sonoma provides produce to the restaurant. The 45-acre farm produces more than 200 varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers grown using practices that far exceed national organic protocols. Umami — meaning "savory" or "rich"— is the fifth flavor our taste buds register, according to Japanese researchers. And it's the latest place that's showing Bay Area diners how flavorful vegetables can be.

Laura Browne is a San Francisco freelance writer with a passion for food. While living in Paris five years ago, a breathtaking farmer's market materialized at her doorstep twice a week. She experienced how melons and tomatoes are capable of tasting, and has been scouting out fresh produce ever since.

Niche Vegetarian/Slow Food Near YouSAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina)Ananda Fuara (meatless with vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center)

Bok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond)Café Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission)

Daily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset)Enjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415) 682-0826 (Sunset)Feel Real Organic Vegan Café (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset)

Golden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 O'Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin)Greens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina)

Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition)Judahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset)

Juicey Lucy's (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach)Lettus Organic (full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina)

Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415) 989-0818 (Chinatown)Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown)Millennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square)

New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley)Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset)

Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina)BERKELEY Café Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652 Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825.

Raw Energy Organic Juice Café (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510) 665-9464Udupi Palace (meatless with vegan options; South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600Vegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244

OAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825Manzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386 New World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891Supreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132 This list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle.

Peter H

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

January 6, 2007

Hi Sharon, I am in Wales. I try and post as much as I can for everyone on this list from wherever. I hope that some of them are useful to someone! The Valley Vegan...........Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu wrote: Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England? I do belong to the SFBay Area Veg Society, so I do get these lists, but I don't wanna have to go all the way to Oakland or Berkeley or San Francisco. Are there NO places down in southern Alameda

County? I am doing my internship in San Mateo, and walking around downtown San Mateo is an exercise in gastronomic excitation. There are so many restaurants there I don't know how people pick where to eat. I am positive that a good number of those restaurants offer vegetarian options, but no veggie restaurants? Actually, I have been pretty pleased to see the vegetarian options offered at restaurants. One thing I have found to be almost common these days is the portobella burger! Yummmmmmy. I loooooove my fungus. blessings, sharon On 1/6/07, peter VV <swpgh01 (AT) talk21 (DOT) com> wrote: There are more vegan, veggie, raw, organic, slow food restaurants in the Bay Area than you think! Yet, given the eating habits here, why aren't there more? By Laura Browne Perhaps you're a vegan in need of a break from steaming your own kale. Or you're heading out on the town with friends that include one or two who don't eat meat. Or more likely, statistically, you're an open-minded omnivore on the prowl for a veggie, or vegan (even more cleansing — minus the dairy) dinner out. Where to go. Greens? Millennium? Whoops, it's too late to get reservations at either. Hmmmm... Who's been there?In the land of some of the most adventurous, politically aware, health-minded diners in the world, why can we only think of a couple of vegetarian restaurants to choose from? One would think there would be an abundance of such spots. Oddly, there isn't. But there are also a lot more vegetable-based specialty restaurants here than you think

& hellip; just a little under the radar compared to the more upscale top-billers. Friendsofanimals.org publishes a vegan restaurant guide for the Bay Area that lists 18 purely vegan/vegetarian restaurants in SF alone, with six more in Berkeley and five in Oakland. Their SF list includes fantastic places you may not know existed, such as New Ganges Restaurant (amazing Indian) in Cole Valley-Inner Sunset, Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (Chinese) in Chinatown, and Bok Choy Garden (Chinese) on Clement in the Richmond. Demographics Might Not Be What You ThinkYes, there are probably more vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco than Dallas-Fort Worth. But isn't there room for even more? Surely there's a huge unmet demand for these types of places in this area of all areas. According to a 2006 poll of American adults by the Vegetarian Resource Group, only 2.3 percent of the U.S.

population over the age of 18 is vegetarian, or about 5 million people nationwide. Who would be shocked to learn that those 5 million vegetarians skew slightly higher to the West Coast in terms of distribution across the country? Yet the San Francisco restaurant scene offers fewer veggie restaurants in ratio to the national average of vegetarians as a whole. According to Citysearch, the Bay Area has 13,297 restaurants. With only 65 listed as being vegetarian (and "specializing in vegetarian" [some meat]) that's just one-half of one percent ( 0.5%) of our restaurants that are niche vegetarian. By this logic, the Bay Area could support 240 brand new vegetarian restaurants, assuming our area is only average in its population of vegetarians.So, why aren't more restaurateurs and activists opening up shop? Competition Tough, Veggie Trend TemperedThe reality is that many café-style vegetarian places have failed in the last five years,

including restaurants such as Parawdise, Roxanne's, Roxannes-to-go, and Urban Forage's three locations. According to industry convention, one-in-five new restaurants fail. Who knows why this is. Some open a restaurant because they love cooking and entertaining friends, which is not, alone, the best business plan. Some places expand too quickly, or simply get mismanaged. Well, veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants share these challenges, and also have a set uniquely their own. The restaurant industry is competitive, and if your restaurant has a narrower menu than the next guy, it can make it difficult to draw customers. Five years ago, there was a huge demand for "exotic" vegan and vegetarian places, because people had more money and were more adventurous. "Veggie/vegan places were popular then because they were new, different, but interest waned," says Erica Culp, manager of Millennium. In the post-boom era, she says, the average Bay Area

resident is more careful about where to spend their dollars. In addition, niche vegetarian restaurants compete not only against each other, but against mainstream restaurants. That's because those of us "with food issues" (as we say in California) know that restaurants serving meat dishes are also serving better, more imaginative veggie-based alternatives. Meanwhile, a dyed-in-the-wool steak guy wouldn't be caught dead in a "tie-dyed" vegetarian restaurant. In urban settings like San Francisco and more enlightened areas like Marin and Berkeley, this phenomenon is not always the case, however. In fact, 50 percent of Millennium's clientele are meat-eaters. The local vegan raw food Mecca, Café Gratitude, also serves as many non-vegetarians as vegetarians. Unfortunately, this does not suggest that half of all meat-eaters (the other 97.7 percent of Americans) seek out veggie restaurants. Another hurdle for the niche is that although we are

health conscious here in the Bay Area, in general, we are also sensualists who want to feel treated when we dine out. It's an image problem. "Vegan food has the challenge of overcoming the image that it's whole wheat unflavorful hippie food," says Matthew Engelhart, co-founder of Café Gratitude. And today's market requires restaurants to have more than just great food. "Serving the highest, freshest, purest food on the planet alone is not enough," says Engelhart. Attention has to be paid to amenities, ambience, etc. "We offer an experience, an atmosphere of sacred gratitude." Gratitude is a haven of positivity — from the kind wait staff, large tables for communal dining, warm paintings on the walls, to the cards at each table filled with Zen wisdom. Even the names of the dishes are part of the experience, like "I am Bountiful" and "I am Lusciously Awake." Not A Lot Of GreenAnother hurdle: selecting the freshest, best organic produce is

more expensive than buying in bulk from a mainstream supplier. So the ingredients are better, but pricier. And making things worse, revenue doesn't exactly pour in from high-margin alcohol sales the way it does at the steakhouse with the single malt whiskeys. Most restaurants survive on alcohol sales, while the clientele of vegan/vegetarian restaurants tend to be a health-conscious group that doesn't drink large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol sales represent less than four percent of Café Gratitude's revenue. "We just don't have a drinking crowd," says Engelhart. "We include beer and wine on the menu as an invitation for everybody to come, but don't sell a lot of it." Millennium's alcohol sales are also low. Vegan/veggie eaters tend have socially conscious jobs such as teachers and activists, so their economic status is not conducive to fine dining. "In general they are a sensitive group of people that don't go spending their money easily. Their dollars are going

to other places. Maybe great causes," says Culp. "Beeting" The OddsMillennium, however, is enjoying its best year yet. Their recipe for success? Besides having the same head chef since day one (back in 1994), they have a loyal following, and an aggressive marketing plan that includes a strong email list. Their special events keep their clientele's interest alive, from private winemaker events, to an annual heirloom dinner and chili and beer dinner, with hand-picked tomatoes and chilies straight from the farm. Every weekend, an insert menu highlights a special ingredient such as mushrooms, or root veggies. Perhaps most seductive of all, are the monthly "Aphrodisiac Sundays," held on the Sunday closest to the full moon, where aphrodisiac foods are offered in a four-course prix fixe package in conjunction with The Hotel California with a hotel room. A true urban getaway that attracts mostly local San Franciscans as guests.

Future Of Veggie RestaurantsDespite challenges, Bay Area veggie restaurants' numbers are growing. On the whole, there are more veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants in the Bay Area today than there were five years ago. That said, the jury is still out as to whether the market is saturated. While some restaurants like Greens and Millennium don't see a higher demand for vegetarian fine dining, there are clearly plenty of others that see opportunity. The Medicine team picked San Francisco as the optimal city in 2005 to serve New Shojin style refined cuisine from Kyoto, the only one of its kind in the country. Located downtown, they're enjoying especially great success with the lunch crowd. Ken Kuet, General Manager of Bok Choy Garden in San Francisco's Richmond District, is convinced that the demand for vegetarian restaurants will continue to rise. Just two months ago, he and his family bought the 10-year-old

restaurant, and business, he says, is booming. He's updated the menu to include more organic, fresh vegetables he gets from the market every morning, shifting the menu away from mock-meat to dishes with fresh veggies like crisp asparagus, pea pods, water chestnuts in mushroom sauce sprinkled with honey walnuts. A born carnivore and Marines veteran, he's eating vegetarian more and more simply by eating the restaurant's food. Feeling a notable change in his energy and overall health, Kuet says he's committed to serving food that shows people that vegetarian fare can taste delicious. And he's not alone in his optimism. Already successful niche restaurants are also expanding. Cha-Ya opened a San Francisco location on Valencia Street six months ago. Herbivore's Berkeley location opens this month, and Café Gratitude will open its fourth location, this one in San Rafael, next month. New On The SceneAt brand-new Asian organic/slow food

destination Umami, you won't be pressured by your server to move for the next dinner seating. The traditional Asian restaurant, serving traditional dishes from numerous countries, opened last month in San Francisco's Marina District, and takes "slow food" almost literally. "Rather than rushing off, diners tend to hang out with friends, make an evening of it. That's at the heart of izakaya (sake pub) dining," says Chef Sam Josi. Josi's step-grandmother's Oak Hill Farm in Sonoma provides produce to the restaurant. The 45-acre farm produces more than 200 varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers grown using practices that far exceed national organic protocols. Umami — meaning "savory" or "rich"— is the fifth flavor our taste buds register, according to Japanese researchers. And it's the latest place that's showing Bay Area diners how flavorful vegetables can be. Laura Browne is a San Francisco freelance writer with a passion for food. While living in

Paris five years ago, a breathtaking farmer's market materialized at her doorstep twice a week. She experienced how melons and tomatoes are capable of tasting, and has been scouting out fresh produce ever since. Niche Vegetarian/Slow Food Near YouSAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina)Ananda Fuara (meatless with vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center) Bok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond)Café Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission) Daily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset)Enjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415)

682-0826 (Sunset)Feel Real Organic Vegan Café (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset) Golden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 O'Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin)Greens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina) Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition)Judahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset) Juicey Lucy's (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach)Lettus Organic (full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina) Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415)

989-0818 (Chinatown)Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown)Millennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square) New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley)Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset) Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina)BERKELEY Café Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652 Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825. Raw Energy Organic Juice Café (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510)

665-9464Udupi Palace (meatless with vegan options; South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600Vegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244 OAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825Manzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386 New World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891Supreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132 This list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle. Peter H Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Peter H

All new Mail "The new Interface is stunning in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine

January 6, 2007

Hi Sharon

>Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England?

Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

*ducking to avoid cross-fire*

BB

(The other) Peter

January 6, 2007

Maybe I should just say, " the other side of the pond. "

Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland, but what is Wales?

Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?

peace,

sharon

On 1/6/07, Peter <metalscarab wrote:

Hi Sharon

>Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England?

Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

*ducking to avoid cross-fire*

BB

(The other) Peter

January 6, 2007

I was having a chuckle too -)

BBJo

-

Peter

Saturday, January 06, 2007 6:19 PM

Re: Beyond Greens and Millennium: Where the Beets Are

Hi Sharon

>Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England?

Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

*ducking to avoid cross-fire*

BB

(The other) Peter

January 6, 2007

Now theres no need to insult the land of my fathers, gods own country now is there? http://www.visitwales.co.uk/53351/ADAPTABLE.html/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMzMxNzYzNTQ6TE9OX1dUQjIyMzQxNDYwOkVOR0xJU0g6R0I6MTE2ODExNjMzNzoxMTY4MTE2MzQwOjo6 Cwmru Am Byth The Valley Vegan..........Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu wrote: Maybe I should just say, "the other side of the pond." Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland, but what is Wales? Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh? peace, sharon On 1/6/07, Peter <metalscarab > wrote: Hi Sharon >Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England? Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

*ducking to avoid cross-fire* BB (The other) Peter Peter H

The all-new Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider.

January 6, 2007

Hi Sharon

>Maybe I should just say, "the other side of the pond."

>Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland, but what is Wales?

>Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?

Actually, I'd recommend changing your name and going into hiding... but at least you can be safe in the knowledge that the official European Union map-maker had the same problem ;-)

BB

Peter

January 6, 2007

Well, it does look beautiful. But I thought California was God's Own Country!

peace,

sharon

On 1/6/07, peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

Now theres no need to insult the land of my fathers, gods own country now is there?

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/53351/ADAPTABLE.html/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMzMxNzYzNTQ6TE9OX1dUQjIyMzQxNDYwOkVOR0xJU0g6R0I6MTE2ODExNjMzNzoxMTY4MTE2MzQwOjo6

Cwmru Am Byth

The Valley Vegan..........Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu > wrote:

Maybe I should just say, " the other side of the pond. "

Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland, but what is Wales?

Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?

peace,

sharon

On 1/6/07, Peter <metalscarab wrote:

Hi Sharon

>Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England?

Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

*ducking to avoid cross-fire*

BB

(The other) Peter

Peter H

The

all-new Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider.

January 6, 2007

Nah, Wales was it first! http://www.thereddragonhood.com/pages/stereotypical.html The Valley Vegan............Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu wrote: Well, it does look beautiful. But I thought California was God's Own Country! peace, sharon On 1/6/07, peter VV <swpgh01 (AT) talk21 (DOT) com> wrote: Now theres no need to insult the land of my fathers, gods own country now is there? http://www.visitwales.co.uk/53351/ADAPTABLE.html/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMzMxNzYzNTQ6TE9OX1dUQjIyMzQxNDYwOkVOR0xJU0g6R0I6MTE2ODExNjMzNzoxMTY4MTE2MzQwOjo6 Cwmru Am Byth The Valley Vegan..........Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu >

wrote: Maybe I should just say, "the other side of the pond." Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland, but what is Wales? Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh? peace, sharon On 1/6/07, Peter <metalscarab > wrote: Hi Sharon >Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England? Uh,

oh.... you've done it now.... *ducking to avoid cross-fire* BB (The other) Peter Peter H The all-new Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider. Peter H

The all-new Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider.

January 8, 2007

Wales is really beuatiful, you are very lucky to live there.

I don't see much to complain about (except maybe the cold weather)

It is good that no one knows about it, it would be better to keep it a

secret. unspoilt.

-anouk

, peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

>

> Now theres no need to insult the land of my fathers, gods own

country now is there?

>

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/53351/ADAPTABLE.html/?profile=NDpMT05fV1RCMzMxNzYzNT\

Q6TE9OX1dUQjIyMzQxNDYwOkVOR0xJU0g6R0I6MTE2ODExNjMzNzoxMTY4MTE2MzQwOjo6

>

> Cwmru Am Byth

>

> The Valley Vegan..........

>

> Sharon Murch <sharon.nemu wrote:

> Maybe I should just say, " the other side of the pond. "

>

> Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland,

but what is Wales?

>

> Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?

>

> peace,

> sharon

>

> On 1/6/07, Peter <metalscarab wrote: Hi Sharon

>

> >Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England?

>

> Uh, oh.... you've done it now....

>

> *ducking to avoid cross-fire*

>

> BB

> (The other) Peter

>

Peter H

>

> The all-new Mail goes wherever you go - free your email

address from your Internet provider.

>

January 8, 2007

Hi Sharon,

I didn't know either and I use to think that it was a region of England

but, I started to know more about Wales

when I read that, that is where donald watson was from

the founder of the Vegan movement, also I learned more through

" chatting " with peter vv.

There is also a language, a mixture of some welsh words with spanish

it is a Welsh town in Argentina..isolated where no one goes.down in

the south part,

far away from the big city.

I can't remember the name right now but it is an entire population of

Welsh immigrants from centuries ago who have kept their welsh culture

but are now argentinians.

-anouk

, " Peter " <metalscarab wrote:

>

> Hi Sharon

>

> >Maybe I should just say, " the other side of the pond. "

> >Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland,

but what is Wales?

> >Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?

>

> Actually, I'd recommend changing your name and going into hiding...

but at least you can be safe in the knowledge that the official

European Union map-maker had the same problem ;-)

>

> BB

> Peter

>

January 8, 2007

that God is shedding a tear at the state of things today..

I do sometimes have hope,

but after coming back from ny, and seeing loads and loads

of people practising selfish behaviour

I sometimes lose hope.

will things have to get worse in order for people to care?

There are a few of us that are trying really hard to minimize the

impact that we have, our footprints, no one is perfect.

but I feel that those that are trying are the minority and

the rest of the people just go on as though

the resources of the earth

come from a bottomless pit.

The main thing that I am thinking about lately is that I don't matter

because I will die eventually

but what about my children? all the children that are born now

have no fault and don't deserve the kind of earth that we are

leaving them.

, " Sharon Murch " <sharon.nemu wrote:

>

> Well, it does look beautiful. But I thought California was God's Own

> Country!

>

> peace,

> sharon

>

January 8, 2007

Hi Anouk

> but, I started to know more about Wales

> when I read that, that is where donald watson was from

> the founder of the Vegan movement, also I learned more through

> " chatting " with peter vv.

I think your UK geography is a bit off - Donald Watson was from Yorkshire

where he lived until his 20s, then he moved to Leicester for 40 years, and

finally the Lake District.... none of those are in Wales.

BB

Pete

January 8, 2007

Hey snap out of this introspective, maudlin mood will yer? All you can do , is all you can do. Just keep on doing what you can, and hope it makes a difference. Lead by example, and hope others will follow. We are all doing the best we can, but no-one can be 100% vegan, or perfect in any way. Nice to have you back from the big apple, it was quiet while you were away. Ho-pe you had a good holidays/new year. I`m sending you some positive thoughts, hope you get them! The Valley Vegan............flower child <zurumato wrote: that God is shedding a tear at the state of things today..I do sometimes have hope, but after coming back from ny, and seeing loads and loadsof people practising selfish behaviourI sometimes lose hope. will things have to get worse in order for people to care?There are a few of us that are trying really hard to minimize the impact that we have, our footprints, no one is perfect. but I feel that those that are trying are the minority and the rest of the people just go on as thoughthe resources of the earth come from a bottomless pit. The main thing that I am thinking about lately is that I don't matterbecause I will die eventually but what about my children? all the children that are born nowhave no fault and don't deserve the kind

of earth that we are leaving them. , "Sharon Murch" <sharon.nemu wrote:>> Well, it does look beautiful. But I thought California was God's Own> Country!> > peace,> sharon> Peter H

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

January 8, 2007

Patagonia? The Valley Vegan.........flower child <zurumato wrote: Hi Sharon, I didn't know either and I use to think that it was a region of Englandbut, I started to know more about Wales when I read that, that is where donald watson was fromthe founder of the Vegan movement, also I learned more through"chatting" with peter vv. There is also a language, a mixture of some welsh words with spanishit is a Welsh town in

Argentina..isolated where no one goes.down inthe south part, far away from the big city. I can't remember the name right now but it is an entire population ofWelsh immigrants from centuries ago who have kept their welsh culturebut are now argentinians. -anouk , "Peter" <metalscarab wrote:>> Hi Sharon> > >Maybe I should just say, "the other side of the pond." > >Where the heck is Wales? I know England, Scotland, and Ireland,but what is Wales?> >Now I guess I'd better duck, too, huh?> > Actually, I'd recommend changing your name and going into hiding...but at least you can be safe in the knowledge that the officialEuropean Union map-maker had the same problem ;-)> > BB>

Peter>Peter H

Try the all-new Mail . "The New Version is radically easier to use" – The Wall Street Journal

January 8, 2007

I agree, though he did marry a welsh woman. Interview with Donald Watson founder and patron of The Vegan Society Q: Where and when were you born? A: I was born on 2nd September 1910 at Mexborough in South Yorkshire, into a meat-eating family. Q: Tell me about your childhood. A: One of my earliest recollections is of holidays on my Uncle George's farm where I was surrounded by interesting animals. They all "gave" something: the farm horse pulled the plough, the lighter horse pulled the trap, the cows "gave" milk, the hens "gave" eggs and the cockerel was a useful "alarm clock" - I didn't realise at that time that he had another function too. The sheep "gave" wool. I could never understand what the pigs "gave", but they seemed such friendly

creatures - always glad to see me. Then the day came when one of the pigs was killed: I still have vivid recollections of the whole process - including the screams, of course. One thing that shocked me was that my Uncle George, of whom I thought very highly, was part of the crew. I decided that farms - and uncles - had to be reassessed: the idyllic scene was nothing more than Death Row, where every creature's days were numbered by the point at which it was no longer of service to human beings. I lived at home for 21 years and in the whole of that time I never heard a word from my parents, my grandparents, my 22 uncles and aunts, my 16 cousins, my teachers or my vicar on anything remotely associated with any duties we might have to "God's Creation". On leaving school, I went to be an apprentice woodworker with another uncle. When I was 21, and due to become a craftsman, we found ourselves in the economic slump of the early 1930s and I discovered that craftsmen could become

woodwork teachers by qualifying through the City and Guilds. With a bit of trouble I managed it and liked the job so much that I never tried to get any kind of promotion. Q: You are 92 years and 104 days old as of today. To what do you attribute your long life? A: I married a Welsh girl, who taught me a Welsh saying, "When everyone runs, stand still", and I seem to have been doing that ever since. That must be part of the answer, because so many people are running towards what I see as suicide, performing habits that everyone knows are dangerous. I've always accepted that Man's greatest mistake is trying to turn himself into a carnivore, contrary to natural law. Inevitably, I suppose, within the next ten years one morning I won't wake up. What then? There'll be a funeral, there'll be a smattering of people at it and, as Shaw forecast for his own funeral, there'll be the spirits of all the

animals I've never eaten. In that case, it will be a big funeral! Q: When did you first become a vegetarian? A: It was a New Year Resolution in 1924, so I haven't eaten any meat or fish for 78 years. Q: Tell me about the early days of the Vegan Society. A: In the two years before we formed a democratic Society, I literally ran the show. From the response that I had - thousands of letters - I feel that if I hadn't formed the Society someone else would have done so, though it might have had a different name. The word "vegan" was immediately accepted and became part of our language and is now in almost every world dictionary, I suppose. I can't help comparing our attractive quarterly magazine with my humble "Vegan News" which I produced at great labour.

Normally I spent a whole night assembling the various pages and stapling them together. I'd limited the number of rs to five hundred because I couldn't cope with a bigger number. Compared with democracy, dictatorship has obvious advantages. In the early days of "Vegan News" I could do everything my own way. I don't think I could have survived if I had had to write to the few people concerned and ask for their opinion. I had no telephone and no motor car - I could only hope that they would see my point, until I handed over the work to a committee. Q: How does your veganism relate to any religious beliefs you may have? A: I never had very deep ones. I've never been clever enough to be an atheist - an agnostic, yes. Some theologians think that Christ was an Essene. If he was, he was a vegan. If he were alive today, he'd be an itinerant vegan propagandist instead of an itinerant

preacher of those days, spreading the message of compassion. I understand that there are now more vegans sitting down to Sunday lunch than there are Anglicans attending Sunday morning service. I think that Anglicans should rejoice at the good news that somebody at least is practising the essential element in the Christian religion - compassion. Q: What do you find most difficult about being vegan? A: Well, I suppose it is the social aspect - excommunicating myself from that part of life where people meet to eat. The only way this problem can be eased is by veganism becoming more and more acceptable in guest houses, hotels, wherever one goes, until one hopes one day it will become the norm. Q: And the other side of the coin: what do you find easiest about being vegan? A: The great advantage of having a clear conscience and believing that scientists must now accept conscience as part of the scientific equation. Q: How important has gardening been in your life? A: When I lived in Leicester a friend let me use an allotment. When the crops matured, I had to wheel them back four miles to the other side of the city. When I was lucky enough to get a job in Keswick, I got a house with an acre of garden, which was a dream come true. My compost bins are filled with all the weeds, grass mowings, vegetable waste from the garden, dead leaves - no animal manure. By the way, all my digging is done with a fork - not a spade - to preserve earthworms. Q: What are your views on genetically modified organisms? A: As the old saying has it, if a thing seems too good to be

true, it probably is too good to be true, and I'm sure this is a classic example, quite apart from the irreversible genetic nature of what is our basic food supply in the future. Q: What are your views on blood sports? A: I think it's the bottom of the barrel. However necessary we may feel that, having got into this mess, we have to kill some creatures for their own good, to kill creatures for fun must be the very dregs. Q: What are your views on animal experiments? A: I said that cruel sports were the bottom of the barrel, but I think I'll have to move even them up one and put vivisection at the bottom. One thing we should always ask when we think that cruelty is largely delegated to the people who perform it is the simple question, if these butchers and vivisectors weren't there, could we perform the acts

that they are doing? If we couldn't, we have no right to expect them to do those things on our behalf. Most orthodox medicines are tested on animals, and this perhaps is the greatest inconsistency in vegetarians and vegans who take orthodox medicines - a more serious inconsistency even than wearing leather or wool because these are by-products of industries that are primarily there to provide meat. Q: What are your views on direct action? A: I've never become involved in it. I respect the people enormously who do it, believing that it's the most direct and quick way to achieve their ends. If I were an animal in a vivisection cage, I would thank the person who broke in and let me out but, having said that, we must always remember: is it just possible that our act could be counterproductive? I'd rather not say "yes" or "no" because I don't know the answer to that. Q: What do you consider the greatest achievement in your life? A: Achieving what I set out to do: to feel that I was instrumental in starting a great new movement which could not only change the course of things for Humanity and the rest of Creation but alter Man's expectation of surviving for much longer on this planet. Q: Do you have any message for the millions of people who are now vegan? A: Take the broad view of what veganism stands for - something beyond finding a new alternative to scrambled eggs on toast or a new recipe for Christmas cake. Realise that you're on to something really big, something that hadn't been tried until sixty years ago, and something which is meeting every reasonable criticism that anyone can level against it. And this doesn't involve weeks or months of studying diet charts or reading books by socalled

experts - it means grasping a few simple facts and applying them. Q: Do you have any message for vegetarians? A: Accept that vegetarianism is only a stepping stone between meat eating and veganism. There may be vegans who made the change all in one leap, but I'm sure that for most people vegetarianism is a necessary staging post. I'm still a member of the Vegetarian Society to keep in touch with the movement. I was delighted to learn that at the World Vegetarian Conference in Edinburgh the diet was a vegan diet and the delegates had no choice. This little seed that I planted 60 years ago is making its presence felt. Q: What do you think of the way the Vegan Society has developed since you were running it? A: Better than expected, certainly. The genie is now out of the bottle and no one can ever put it back to

the ignorant days before 1944, when this seed was planted by people full of hope. Now wherever Man lives he can have a vegan diet. All the early work was done by volunteers. In a way, everyone the Society has ever paid to do the office work have all been volunteers. Even our Chief Executive is on a wage at the very bottom of anything that is paid in the commercial sector. Because we can afford nothing more. So the Vegan Society has always, in that sense, been supported by voluntary labour. And we're enormously grateful to these people because heaven knows what would happen if they all packed in. Q: In what direction do you think the Vegan Society should go in the future? A: I hesitate to suggest anything to a movement which seems to be going well and spreading world wide. The edifice that survived all attacks before we started our work is now crumbling because of the inherent weakness of

its own structure. We don't know the spiritual advancements that long-term veganism - over generations - would have for human life. It would be certainly a different civilisation, and the first one in the whole of our history that would truly deserve the title of being a civilisation. Peter <metalscarab wrote: Hi Anouk> but, I started to know more about Wales> when I read that, that is where donald watson was from> the founder of the Vegan movement, also I learned more through> "chatting" with peter vv.I think your UK geography is a bit off - Donald Watson was from Yorkshirewhere he lived until his 20s, then he moved to Leicester for 40 years, andfinally the Lake District.... none of those are in Wales.BBPetePeter H

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January 8, 2007

i think i need to expand my list of mplaces i've been

SAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina)

yes, been...ok...Ananda Fuara (meatless with vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center)

yes..not thrilled with it..too much dairy and eggsBok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond)

nopeCafÃ© Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)only one in berkeley

Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission)

only one in berkeleyDaily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset)

nopeEnjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415) 682-0826 (Sunset)

nopeFeel Real Organic Vegan CafÃ© (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset)

nopeGolden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 OÂ’Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin)

yeah...same owners as golden lotus..lotsa "red" decorationsGreens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina)

yup..dang expensive

Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition)

yup, to bothJudahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset)

nopeJuicey LucyÂ’s (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach)

nopeLettus Organic (full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina)

nopeLucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415) 989-0818 (Chinatown)

yeah..only one left in chinatown....

rebecca liked it more then i did

i thought it rather greasy...Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown)

yes..highly recommendedMillennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square)yup...great, but very very chi-chi, expensive

tho, i like it more then greens

New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley)

once, don't remember it very well

Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset)yup

Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina)

nope..gonna have to!BERKELEY CafÃ© Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652

yup...are you grateful?Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213

yup..rebecca's fave

Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825.

horrible hours..no...Raw Energy Organic Juice CafÃ© (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510) 665-9464

nopeUdupi Palace (meatless with vegan options; South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600

yup..tho someone recently told rebecca that they use dairy in things they say they don't

gonna have to check thatVegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244

yupOAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383

yup

sadly, their quality is going downhillItal Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825

nope..horrible hoursManzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386

no..tried once...but, nope...personal reasons kept me away for a long timeNew World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891

yeah..not thrilled, tho everyone else in the bay seems to love emSupreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132

nopeThis list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so.

- Mark Twain

January 8, 2007

At least you have the choice eh?, you have more choice there than we have in Wales! The Valley Vegan...........fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: i think i need to expand my list of mplaces i've been SAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina) yes, been...ok...Ananda Fuara (meatless with

vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center) yes..not thrilled with it..too much dairy and eggsBok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond) nopeCafé Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)only one in berkeley Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission) only one in berkeleyDaily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset) nopeEnjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415) 682-0826 (Sunset) nopeFeel Real Organic Vegan Café (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset) nopeGolden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 O’Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin) yeah...same owners as golden lotus..lotsa "red" decorationsGreens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina) yup..dang expensive Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition) yup, to bothJudahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset) nopeJuicey Lucy’s (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach) nopeLettus Organic

(full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina) nopeLucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415) 989-0818 (Chinatown) yeah..only one left in chinatown.... rebecca liked it more then i did i thought it rather greasy...Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown) yes..highly recommendedMillennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square)yup...great, but very very chi-chi, expensive tho, i like it more then greens New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley) once, don't remember it very well Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset)yup Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina) nope..gonna have to!BERKELEY Café Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652 yup...are you grateful?Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213 yup..rebecca's fave Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825. horrible hours..no...Raw Energy Organic Juice Café (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510) 665-9464 nopeUdupi Palace (meatless with vegan options;

South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600 yup..tho someone recently told rebecca that they use dairy in things they say they don't gonna have to check thatVegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244 yupOAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383 yup sadly, their quality is going downhillItal Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825 nope..horrible hoursManzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386 no..tried once...but, nope...personal reasons kept me away for a long timeNew World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891 yeah..not

thrilled, tho everyone else in the bay seems to love emSupreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132 nopeThis list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so. - Mark Twain Peter H

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January 8, 2007

poor peter...

anyways...sharon...there's a farmer's market at the Bay Fair mall isn't there?

might be a good place t o search out other local veggies!!

Sharon Murch Jan 6, 2007 9:51 AM Re: Beyond Greens and Millennium: Where the Beets Are

Thank you, Peter ... aren't you in England? I do belong to the SFBay Area Veg Society, so I do get these lists, but I don't wanna have to go all the way to Oakland or Berkeley or San Francisco. Are there NO places down in southern Alameda County? I am doing my internship in San Mateo, and walking around downtown San Mateo is an exercise in gastronomic excitation. There are so many restaurants there I don't know how people pick where to eat. I am positive that a good number of those restaurants offer vegetarian options, but no veggie restaurants?

Actually, I have been pretty pleased to see the vegetarian options offered at restaurants. One thing I have found to be almost common these days is the portobella burger! Yummmmmmy. I loooooove my fungus.

blessings,

sharon

On 1/6/07, peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

There are more vegan, veggie, raw, organic, slow food restaurants in the Bay Area than you think! Yet, given the eating habits here, why aren't there more?

By Laura Browne

Perhaps you're a vegan in need of a break from steaming your own kale. Or you're heading out on the town with friends that include one or two who don't eat meat. Or more likely, statistically, you're an open-minded omnivore on the prowl for a veggie, or vegan (even more cleansing â€” minus the dairy) dinner out. Where to go. Greens? Millennium? Whoops, it's too late to get reservations at either. Hmmmm... Who's been there?In the land of some of the most adventurous, politically aware, health-minded diners in the world, why can we only think of a couple of vegetarian restaurants to choose from? One would think there would be an abundance of such spots. Oddly, there isn't. But there are also a lot more vegetable-based specialty restaurants here than you think & hellip; just a little under the radar compared to the more upscale top-billers. Friendsofanimals.org publishes a vegan restaurant guide for the Bay Area that lists 18 purely vegan/vegetarian restaurants in SF alone, with six more in Berkeley and five in Oakland. Their SF list includes fantastic places you may not know existed, such as New Ganges Restaurant (amazing Indian) in Cole Valley-Inner Sunset, Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (Chinese) in Chinatown, and Bok Choy Garden (Chinese) on Clement in the Richmond. Demographics Might Not Be What You ThinkYes, there are probably more vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco than Dallas-Fort Worth. But isn't there room for even more? Surely there's a huge unmet demand for these types of places in this area of all areas. According to a 2006 poll of American adults by the Vegetarian Resource Group, only 2.3 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 18 is vegetarian, or about 5 million people nationwide. Who would be shocked to learn that those 5 million vegetarians skew slightly higher to the West Coast in terms of distribution across the country? Yet the San Francisco restaurant scene offers fewer veggie restaurants in ratio to the national average of vegetarians as a whole. According to Citysearch, the Bay Area has 13,297 restaurants. With only 65 listed as being vegetarian (and "specializing in vegetarian" [some meat]) that's just one-half of one percent ( 0.5%) of our restaurants that are niche vegetarian. By this logic, the Bay Area could support 240 brand new vegetarian restaurants, assuming our area is only average in its population of vegetarians.So, why aren't more restaurateurs and activists opening up shop? Competition Tough, Veggie Trend TemperedThe reality is that many cafÃ©-style vegetarian places have failed in the last five years, including restaurants such as Parawdise, Roxanne's, Roxannes-to-go, and Urban Forage's three locations. According to industry convention, one-in-five new restaurants fail. Who knows why this is. Some open a restaurant because they love cooking and entertaining friends, which is not, alone, the best business plan. Some places expand too quickly, or simply get mismanaged. Well, veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants share these challenges, and also have a set uniquely their own. The restaurant industry is competitive, and if your restaurant has a narrower menu than the next guy, it can make it difficult to draw customers. Five years ago, there was a huge demand for "exotic" vegan and vegetarian places, because people had more money and were more adventurous. "Veggie/vegan places were popular then because they were new, different, but interest waned," says Erica Culp, manager of Millennium. In the post-boom era, she says, the average Bay Area resident is more careful about where to spend their dollars. In addition, niche vegetarian restaurants compete not only against each other, but against mainstream restaurants. That's because those of us "with food issues" (as we say in California) know that restaurants serving meat dishes are also serving better, more imaginative veggie-based alternatives. Meanwhile, a dyed-in-the-wool steak guy wouldn't be caught dead in a "tie-dyed" vegetarian restaurant. In urban settings like San Francisco and more enlightened areas like Marin and Berkeley, this phenomenon is not always the case, however. In fact, 50 percent of Millennium's clientele are meat-eaters. The local vegan raw food Mecca, CafÃ© Gratitude, also serves as many non-vegetarians as vegetarians. Unfortunately, this does not suggest that half of all meat-eaters (the other 97.7 percent of Americans) seek out veggie restaurants. Another hurdle for the niche is that although we are health conscious here in the Bay Area, in general, we are also sensualists who want to feel treated when we dine out. It's an image problem. "Vegan food has the challenge of overcoming the image that it's whole wheat unflavorful hippie food," says Matthew Engelhart, co-founder of CafÃ© Gratitude. And today's market requires restaurants to have more than just great food. "Serving the highest, freshest, purest food on the planet alone is not enough," says Engelhart. Attention has to be paid to amenities, ambience, etc. "We offer an experience, an atmosphere of sacred gratitude." Gratitude is a haven of positivity â€” from the kind wait staff, large tables for communal dining, warm paintings on the walls, to the cards at each table filled with Zen wisdom. Even the names of the dishes are part of the experience, like "I am Bountiful" and "I am Lusciously Awake." Not A Lot Of GreenAnother hurdle: selecting the freshest, best organic produce is more expensive than buying in bulk from a mainstream supplier. So the ingredients are better, but pricier. And making things worse, revenue doesn't exactly pour in from high-margin alcohol sales the way it does at the steakhouse with the single malt whiskeys. Most restaurants survive on alcohol sales, while the clientele of vegan/vegetarian restaurants tend to be a health-conscious group that doesn't drink large quantities of alcohol. Alcohol sales represent less than four percent of CafÃ© Gratitude's revenue. "We just don't have a drinking crowd," says Engelhart. "We include beer and wine on the menu as an invitation for everybody to come, but don't sell a lot of it." Millennium's alcohol sales are also low. Vegan/veggie eaters tend have socially conscious jobs such as teachers and activists, so their economic status is not conducive to fine dining.. "In general they are a sensitive group of people that don't go spending their money easily. Their dollars are going to other places. Maybe great causes," says Culp. "Beeting" The OddsMillennium, however, is enjoying its best year yet. Their recipe for success? Besides having the same head chef since day one (back in 1994), they have a loyal following, and an aggressive marketing plan that includes a strong email list. Their special events keep their clientele's interest alive, from private winemaker events, to an annual heirloom dinner and chili and beer dinner, with hand-picked tomatoes and chilies straight from the farm. Every weekend, an insert menu highlights a special ingredient such as mushrooms, or root veggies. Perhaps most seductive of all, are the monthly "Aphrodisiac Sundays," held on the Sunday closest to the full moon, where aphrodisiac foods are offered in a four-course prix fixe package in conjunction with The Hotel California with a hotel room. A true urban getaway that attracts mostly local San Franciscans as guests. Future Of Veggie RestaurantsDespite challenges, Bay Area veggie restaurants' numbers are growing. On the whole, there are more veggie/vegan/slow/raw food restaurants in the Bay Area today than there were five years ago. That said, the jury is still out as to whether the market is saturated. While some restaurants like Greens and Millennium don't see a higher demand for vegetarian fine dining, there are clearly plenty of others that see opportunity. The Medicine team picked San Francisco as the optimal city in 2005 to serve New Shojin style refined cuisine from Kyoto, the only one of its kind in the country. Located downtown, they're enjoying especially great success with the lunch crowd. Ken Kuet, General Manager of Bok Choy Garden in San Francisco's Richmond District, is convinced that the demand for vegetarian restaurants will continue to rise. Just two months ago, he and his family bought the 10-year-old restaurant, and business, he says, is booming. He's updated the menu to include more organic, fresh vegetables he gets from the market every morning, shifting the menu away from mock-meat to dishes with fresh veggies like crisp asparagus, pea pods, water chestnuts in mushroom sauce sprinkled with honey walnuts. A born carnivore and Marines veteran, he's eating vegetarian more and more simply by eating the restaurant's food. Feeling a notable change in his energy and overall health, Kuet says he's committed to serving food that shows people that vegetarian fare can taste delicious. And he's not alone in his optimism. Already successful niche restaurants are also expanding. Cha-Ya opened a San Francisco location on Valencia Street six months ago. Herbivore's Berkeley location opens this month, and CafÃ© Gratitude will open its fourth location, this one in San Rafael, next month. New On The SceneAt brand-new Asian organic/slow food destination Umami, you won't be pressured by your server to move for the next dinner seating. The traditional Asian restaurant, serving traditional dishes from numerous countries, opened last month in San Francisco's Marina District, and takes "slow food" almost literally. "Rather than rushing off, diners tend to hang out with friends, make an evening of it. That's at the heart of izakaya (sake pub) dining," says Chef Sam Josi. Josi's step-grandmother's Oak Hill Farm in Sonoma provides produce to the restaurant. The 45-acre farm produces more than 200 varieties of vegetables, fruits and flowers grown using practices that far exceed national organic protocols. Umami â€” meaning "savory" or "rich"â€” is the fifth flavor our taste buds register, according to Japanese researchers. And it's the latest place that's showing Bay Area diners how flavorful vegetables can be. Laura Browne is a San Francisco freelance writer with a passion for food. While living in Paris five years ago, a breathtaking farmer's market materialized at her doorstep twice a week. She experienced how melons and tomatoes are capable of tasting, and has been scouting out fresh produce ever since. Niche Vegetarian/Slow Food Near YouSAN FRANCISCO Alive! Restaurant (vegan, raw, organic) 1972 Lombard Street (415) 923-1052 (Marina)Ananda Fuara (meatless with vegan options; International) 1298 Market St. (415) 621-1994 (Civic Center) Bok Choy Garden (vegan) 1820 Clement St. (415) 387-8111 (Richmond)CafÃ© Gratitude (raw vegan organic) 2400 Harrison St. (415) 824-4652 (Mission); 1336 9th Ave. (415) 824-4652 (Inner Sunset)Cha-Ya (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 762 Valencia St. (415) 252-7825 (Mission) Daily Health (vegan; Natural food store with deli and eat-in section) 1235 9th Ave. (415) 681-7675 (Sunset)Enjoy (meatless with vegan options; Chinese) 754 Kirkham St. (415) 682-0826 (Sunset)Feel Real Organic Vegan CafÃ© (Vegetarian) 4001 Judah Street (415) 504-7325 (Outer Sunset) Golden Era (meatless with vegan options; Vietnamese) 572 O'Farrell St. (415) 673-3136 (Tenderloin)Greens Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Upscale California cuisine) Fort Mason Building A (415) 771-6222 (Marina) Herbivore (vegan; patio seating and daily brunch) 983 Valencia St. (415) 826-5657 (Mission); 531 Divisadero St. (415) 885-7133 (Western Addition)Judahlicious (meatless with vegan options; Juice and snack bar with a selection of soy ice cream) 3906 Judah St. (415) 665-8423 (Sunset) Juicey Lucy's (vegan; organic, macrobiotic, raw, Buddhist Vital Food and Gourmet Juice) 703 Columbus Ave. (415) 786-1285 (North Beach)Lettus Organic (full organic menu, a few select meat dishes) 3352 Steiner at Chestnut. (415) 931-2777 (Marina) Lucky Creation Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 854 Washington St. (415) 989-0818 (Chinatown)Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation (vegan; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 161 Sutter St. (415) 677-4405 (Downtown)Millennium (haute vegetarian) 580 Geary St. (415) 345-3900 (Union Square) New Ganges Restaurant (meatless with vegan options; Indian) 775 Frederick Street (415) 681-4355 (Cole Valley)Shangri-La (meatless with vegan options; Chinese Buddhist) 2026 Irving St. (415) 731-2548 (Inner Sunset) Umami (organic, slow food; Japanese Sake Pub) 2909 Webster Street (415) 346- 3431 (Marina)BERKELEY CafÃ© Gratitude (meatless with vegan options; Raw, organic) 1730 Shattuck Ave. (415) 824-4652 Cha-Ya (vegan sushi; Japanese Zen Buddhist) 1686 Shattuck Ave. (510) 981-1213Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options; Ethiopian, West African, Jamaican, Organic soul food, juice bar) 3031 Adeline St. (510) 836-4825. Raw Energy Organic Juice CafÃ© (vegan) 2050 Addison St. (510) 665-9464Udupi Palace (meatless with vegan options; South Indian) 1901 University Ave. (510) 843-6600Vegi Food Restaurant (vegan; Chinese) 2083 Vine St. (510) 548-5244 OAKLAND Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (vegan) 1301 Franklin St. (510) 893-0383Ital Calabash (meatless with vegan options) 1405 Franklin St. (510) 836-4825Manzanita Restaurant & Bakery (vegan; Macrobiotic) 1050 40th St (510) 985-8386 New World Vegetarian (vegan; International Cuisine) 464 8th St. (510) 444-2891Supreme Vegan (vegan; California cuisine) 906 Stanford Ave (510) 655-0132 This list (amended here by Common Ground) is available at friendsofanimals.org, which also publishes vegan restaurant guides for New York, D.C., SoCal, Portland, Ore., and Seattle.

Peter H

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so.

- Mark Twain

January 8, 2007

oops!

I had remember him mentioning swansea in an interview.

In the near future,

I am require to take british literature

from 1500's to the present.

this is divided into three separate classes. I should

hope to become

more familiar with UK literature/history/geography.

I will look forward to that.

, " Peter " <metalscarab wrote:

January 8, 2007

Thanks!

and I do see some positive changes. In a recent issue a popular

magazine called US News, The magazine has asked

for people to make a New Years Resolution of

not eating meat once a week.

in order to reduce emmissions for the planet.

among other green advice.

This is a magazine which mainstream will read. and other magazines

too. the same.

-- In , peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

>

> Hey snap out of this introspective, maudlin mood will yer?

> All you can do , is all you can do. Just keep on doing what you

can, and hope it makes a difference. Lead by example, and hope others

will follow.

>

January 8, 2007

like i said, time fer you to open a cafe

oh..and the supreme vegan place closed awhile ago..finally figured out what it was

rebecca went a couple times, but, they had weird hours, and i never made, even tho i lived like 4 blocks away at one point...

peter VV Jan 8, 2007 12:29 PM Re: Beyond Greens and Millennium: Where the Beets Are

At least you have the choice eh?, you have more choice there than we have in Wales!

The Valley Vegan...........fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: