Recording

Tonight I got to go with my Nono. He was doing some recording at the studio. He got to do his singing tonight. It was so much fun to watch him work! And he has such a beautiful voice. :)

His group is recording a new CD. And it was really neat to watch them put it together. I'm glad I got to go. They even let my Nono and I record a song together. I know it wasn't as professional as the stuff they are working on. But it was fun.

And now I have a CD of my Nono and me singing! It's really special. I'm glad the other guys were there too. Because they did all the music. I had a lot of fun! I'm so glad we got to come. I'll never forget tonight. :) C

Being Lazy

We're being really lazy around here. But we need to pack our bags. Because we're going to go visit my Nono in Florida. We leave tomorrow. My abuelitas are really excited too!

My Nono already has our entire trip planned. And we get to spend New Year's Eve at Disney World. We're going for more than 1 day. But we get to spend that day there! It's going to be a lot of fun!

Now I just need to talk my Dad into packing his bags. We've been watching movies all day. And eating lots of yummy cookies! But we've got some work to do. Because we have to be at the airport tomorrow at 4 in the morning! :) C

Hugo's Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA

Hi. My name is Lisa & I'm a Hugo's addict.

Any guesses as to how many times The Vegas Vegan has dined at Hugo's....? I think 10 times in the last 5 months. It might even be more...

The best thing about Hugo's is the fact that I can find something different to eat every time. With so many choices, I refuse to limit myself to one favorite dish. Considering the limitations of other restaurant menus, it would be irresponsible of me not to take advantage of Hugo's menu!!

• Use their handy guide to find the right dish for you:

- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free
() - Can be Vegan
() - Can be Vegetarian
() - Can be Gluten-Free

My favorite items so far have been the creative pancakes they have! In November, they featured a Sweet Potato Pancake on their specials menu - served with spiced agave nectar & bananas. I have been dreaming about those pancakes for weeks, so imagine my excitement when I saw this month's special:

Gluten-Free Energy Pancakes
Our gluten-free, vegan pancakes blended with our energy granola which features pumpkin seeds, quinoa, almonds, shredded coconut, cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, puffed rice, dried cherries & cranberries, cinnamon & maple syrup. Topped with sliced bananas and served with spiced agave syrup.

I admit, I have never eaten gluten-free pancakes before! They were delicious & if I didn't know better, I wouldn't have known they were gluten-free. They were crunchy & sweet, and now I am dreaming about these...

Indian Frankies ()

Frankies are the quintessential Mumbai (Bombay) street food. They are the Indian version of wraps. Ours contains Indian spiced roasted vegetables with leafy greens and peas blended with our Tika masala sauce and wrapped in a Ezekiel sprouted grain tortilla. Served with cilantro-mint chutney, plain yogurt and a jicama cucumber salad with orange segments and cherry tomatoes.

Avocado-Hummus Wrap

Spinach tortilla wrapped around avocado, tomato, cucumber, hemp hummus & sunflower sprouts with a drizzle of sesame-ginger dressing.

The Very Green Protein Burrito Our most nutrient rich and delicious burrito ever. Filled with green organic lentils, roasted garlic, steamed leafy greens, guacamole and green rice. Wrapped in a spinach flour tortilla and topped with an avocado-tomatillo sauce and mozarella or vegan cheese. Choice of organic mixed greens or crispy fries.

Two other dishes I've had recently were off of the Specials menu:
Portabella Mushroom stew
Moroccan Vegetable stew

And I certainly need to try the green juice at some point (though I admit to being a vegan who is deathly afraid of green liquids!)

They make a wonderful soy latte as well - although I needed to add 3 packs of Sugar in the Raw - and drew me a beautiful leaf design in the foam. Be still my heart...


GO TO HUGO's!!! (oh, and Hugo's: hire me for advertising!!)


I give Hugo's 5 Sprouts, although this place is in a class all it's own.

• Become a fan of Hugo's on facebook

TWO LOCATIONS:
12851 Riverside Drive
Studio City, CA 91607
(818) 761-8985

8401 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 654-3993

Feliz Navidad

It's Christmas Eve! I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. This is such a special time of year. Tonight I'm singing Ave Maria in the Children's Mass. I'm really excited! Last year, I got to be Mary.

Our Christmas tree is up. And all of our presents are wrapped. My Dad has been making lots of yummy food. I can't wait to eat our Christmas Eve dinner tonight!

Merry Chirstmas! I hope you get everything on your list! :) C

Yummy Comida!

Dad made some yummy green chili stew and tortillas tonight for dinner. It was so good. And it warmed us all up. It's so cold outside! I ate 2 bowls of stew and 3 tortillas. 1 of them with butter. Fresh off the placa. It was the best one!

I also made a chocolate cake. Mi abuelita helped me with the frosting. We make our own. It is so yummy! I baked 2 cakes and we stacked them. Mi abuelita make some chocolate and raspberry filling to put between them. And then we frosted the cake with chocolate icing. After dinner, we each had a big piece with a glass of milk. My belly is all full now!

Tonight, I need to work on dad's Christmas present. I only have a few days left to finish it! But it's almost done. I'm not too worried about it yet. I think I can finish it tonight. Maybe in the morning. I'm not sure. But that is what I'm working on tonight. :) C

Christmas Presents

Last year I got to make a lot of Christmas presents. My Nana helped me every week. We started when school started. I finished my presents right before Christmas. I had lots of fun!

This year I think my Nana had more classes. I know she is working more. She is studying to be a doctor. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together. She wasn't able to pick me up from school every Wednesday. Only 1 week in the month. But it is ok. I know she is trying to make kids feel better.

I have been trying to work on my projects by myself. I have a bunch of things made. 1 for my Nana, 1 for my Nono, my abuelitas, my Dad, and the girls. I have 8 little friends. I think I might get done on time. I wrapped a few of them. When I get stuck I put my project away. I wait until I can see my Nana to ask for help.

I gave my friends at school their stockings I made. Nana helped me to make those. My dad took me shopping for stuff to put inside. My friends were really happy. 1 of my friends never had a stocking before. She told me that she was going to hang hers up at her house. I'm glad she liked it! :) C

Baking Galletas

Today My Dad and I baked galletas. Cookies. :) I asked him last night. He was excited like me. Mi abuelitas helped us too! We had lots of fun! My Dad is off of work too. He doesn't have to go back until January! All week we are going to do things together.

We made biscochos and wedding cookies. Those are my favorite. My Dad wanted chocolate chip cookies too. He made some sweet bread. We have lots of good things to eat now. Mi abuelitas are excited to have some galletas with their coffee. I think they will like them.

I tried some wedding cookies. We made them small. But they are still my favorite. :) They were messy too! I was covered in powder sugar. But they are really good. My Dad couldn't find his recipes. But he remembered them. He's got a good memory. Maybe he will let me post his recipe. I just have to ask him to write it down for me. :) C

Christmas Party

Today was our last day of school until January. We had a Christmas party. It was lots of fun! Our teacher, Sister Maria brought us special gifts. She made us reflection books and rosaries. I don't know how to post pictures yet. I want to show you my gifts. But I don't know how to post a picture yet.

I made Sister Maria a tote bag for her books. She likes to read. I always see her at the library. I thought she would like a tote bag. :) That way she could carry her books. She decided to wait to open her presents until Christmas. I made my friends stockings. In their favorite colors. Then my Dad and I went shopping. I got lots of fun stuff to put inside. Candy too!

We ate lots of good food. My Dad made us some green chili chicken enchiladas. Empanaditas too! There were lots of good things to eat. I got to bring a plate of desserts home too! I'm going to miss everybody from school. I don't live near anyone I go to school with. My friends are going to try and meet once during our school break. :) C

Good People

"Let anyone who comes to you go away feeling better and happier. Every one should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile." - Mother Teresa

Today we learned about Mother Teresa at school. We were talking about giving back to people who need your help. Mother Teresa is 1 of my favorite people to learn about. I like going to Catholic school a lot. We learn about a lot of important people. I know I wouldn't learn about them in regular school. My friends from dance class don't.

I'm asking my dad for a book about Mother Teresa for Christmas. I think it is important to learn about good people like her. I want to be a good person like. Someone who can make people smile. I want to make people happy.

My Nana does that. She takes the time to make sure we are all ok. I know that she works a lot. But she is never to busy for me. I wish that I had a mom. 1 like her. I like to spend time with her. Wednesdays are my favorite days. Because she picks me up from school. We go eat lunch and go to the library. Sometimes we go shopping too. But I like to just spend time with her. Because she makes me feel good and happy. I want to be like her when I get older. C

Time with Dad

Tonight I get to go see my dad at work. I like to go to his concerts. I have lots of fun listening to the music. It is so magical. This morning before dad left, he brought me a new dress. I got it because it is our "Special" night out. My dad takes me to fun days 2 times a month.

Tonight we are going to go have dinner. Then go to my dad's concert. :) My dad let's me pick where we are going to go eat. I think I will pick a Mexican restaurant. It's my dad and I's favorite kind of food. :)

I'm just excited to get to spend time with my dad. I want to wear my new dress too. I think it will be lots of fun. I like to watch my dad play. Spending time with him is the best! C

Welcome

My Nana helped me to make a blog today. I like to read her's all the time! I wanted to be able to write posts about my crafts. Because I like to craft a lot. :) My Nana helps me with my projects. And sometimes mi abuelitas help me too!

I just started middle school this year. And I play the violin and sing. I also do Baile Folklorico. It's a lot of fun! My dad is really fun too! He helps me with all of these things. And teaches me about our culture.

That's just a little bit of stuff about me. I hope you come back to see what I'm making. I might also write posts about what I'm doing. I don't know yet. I guess I will just have to wait to see. C

Typhoon

Another trip to Los Angeles, this time found me dining with a friend at: Typhoon. Located at the Santa Monica Airport, this was the site of yet another memorable meal in LA! Labeled: "LA's Premiere Pan-Asian Restaurant" on their website. Granted this is the only Pan-Asian restaurant I've been to in LA, I have it from a reliable source that this is indeed the best!

The menu at Typhoon is varied & eclectic, very original, and with plenty of choices for any hungry vegan!

It's hard to say if the potsticker and spring roll wrappers use any egg whites, sometimes that is the case with those papers. You may want to ask your server to find out for you if you plan on ordering one of these items. I did not order an appetizer, so obviously I did not ask!

You will find plenty of vegetable dishes, noodles, rice, soups. But remember, always ask about the base of each soup and sauce, and of course keep in mind that in Thai cuisine, "basil" may include shrimp. Your more adventurous friends may be interested to hear there are all sorts of insects on the menu.

I enjoyed the deep fried tofu - crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. It is not served with veggies, but all it took was one simple question and my tofu was dressed up with some beautiful broccoli.

Grab your chopsticks and bring an empty stomach because you could sit here for hours, watching the planes take off & land, while grazing through several courses of this amazing food.

3221 Donald Douglas Loop South • 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA - 90405

Tel: 310.390.6565 - Fax: 310.390.8032

Cafe Bleu at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

Tonight we dined at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College Las Vegas. Of course, French cuisine doesn't include much in the way of vegetarian or vegan meals, but thanks to expensive education, open-minded professors and a personal sense of adventure, I came away with one of the most creative veg*n meals I have ever eaten!

Cafe Bleu, the restaurant at the college, is open to the public. Reservations are encouraged -- the window of operation is very small:
Tuesday-Friday
lunch service: 11am-12:30pm
dinner service: 6:00-7:30pm

I do not dine with fear, I dine with an open mind. But tonight, I knew that I was in good hands. Chef Carlos Fernandez was put to the challenge of making me a vegan meal in a decidedly un-vegan environment, and he succeeded! He served me a wonderful eggplant rollatini stuffed with crumbled tofu, diced zuchini, summer squash, roasted red pepper, shallots & garlic, sitting on a bed of pan seared/roasted yukon potatoes, garnished with tomato, herbs, champagne & shallot ragu, accompanied by a roasted red pepper sauce (made by creaming tofu in a food processor).

I would just like to say that Rosemary's needs to take note: veg*n dining does not equal vegetables piled on a plate. Just because I'm vegan doesn't mean that I don't appreciate good food.

If you plan on dining at Cafe Bleu, make your reservations & specify your dietary needs. Cafe Bleu is a classroom and the culinary students are there to learn. You may not be served the exact same dish that I was, but you may be pleased with the creation you'll receive if you challenge them to be creative!

• Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas
• 1451 Center Crossing Road | Las Vegas, NV 89144
• Class Information:
  1.888.551.8222
• All Other Inquiries:
  1.702.365.7690
• 
  

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Welcome to Las Vegas!

Thanks to increased advertising & search engine accessibility, The Vegas Vegan's advice has been sought out quite a bit this summer from travelers to our very warm, very exciting city!! To make things easier, I'm compiling this list of my favorite places to eat in Vegas.

Each of these restaurants have been reviewed by The Vegas Vegan - see the side bar of this blog for the articles!!


***A short taxi ride off the main strip will find you at:

Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe

2 locations:
4147 So. Maryland Parkway

8380 W. Sahara Ave Las Vegas

***Staying on the Strip with no transportation? Here's a few places I've tried with success!

The Bellagio

Sensi

Yellowtail

Mandalay Bay

RM Seafood

Border Grill

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Canaletto
Grand Luxe Cafe

MGM Grand

Rainforest Cafe

***Have more time & money to spend exploring the city? Try one of my favorites:

Mezzo Bistro Italiano

http://www.mezzobistro.com/
4275 N. Rancho Rd. Las Vegas NV 702.944.8880

Many readers have suggested these places:

Ronald's Donuts

4600 Spring Mountain Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89102

(702) 873-1032
Vegan donuts are usually located on the top shelf but you need to ASK your server exactly what you are getting!

Red Velvet Cafe
http://redvelvetcafelv.com/
7875 W. Sahara Ave. Suite 103 / 104 Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 360-1972
I have had several of their baked goods, but never actually eaten a meal there. They offer a wide variety of vegan alternatives that even I never dreamed possible.

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Rosemary's: Las Vegas

We decided to finally check out Rosemary's Restaurant on West Sahara, owned by Chefs Wendy & Michael Jordan. Chef Wendy is an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College where Matt is still currently a student.

As per our usual practice, we first checked out the online menu then called ahead to make a reservation specifically mentioning that there will be a vegan dining with the party. We were assured that "the vegan" would be taken care of.

Knowing that this restaurant would specialize in French-American cuisine, I did not have high hopes of eating from the menu, though I did have very high expectations that something creative and original would be made for me after talking to the chef. Looking over the menu, there were not any appetizers that could be made to be vegetarian, much less vegan. There are 3 vegetarian salads that could have the cheese removed, and only one vegetarian entree: Parmesan Tossed Angel Hair Pasta.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, our server assistant, Daniel, asked if there were any food allergies or specific dietary needs we wanted addressed (I'm just assuming that he had not been privy to the reservation book) so of course I told him that I was vegan. He assured me that our server, Katie, would discuss options with me when she arrived at the table. And she did! Even though she was very enthusiastic and helpful, she did not have many options to offer me.

The assistant returned with 4 rolls, placing 2 on my dish. Now, one thing you have to know about me is that I do still eat honey. I know that's not 100% vegan, but I do still eat it - this is an effect of me also following a "yogic diet" which encourages honey instead of white refined sugar. The rolls that were placed on my plate were "sweet rolls" with walnuts & drizzled with a fine layer of honey. Quite frankly, I could have been perfectly happy with the rolls and the Arugula Salad!!

The pre-appetizer, two slices of Riesling poached pear drizzled with port wine syrup - setting me up perfectly for the: Arugula, Endive & Radicchio Salad
Maytag Blue Cheese, Riesling Poached Pear, Toasted Hazelnuts & Port Wine Syrup
Wine: Dr. Loosen “Blue Slate” Riesling Beer: Pilsner Urquell

I asked that the bleu cheese be left off the plate, but I did pair the salad with the Dr. Loosen, a fine pairing! I don't normally like white wine, but this was worth it.

Katie returned from the kitchen with the news that they would make me a "vegetable platter" which to me sounded an awful lot like a bunch of unseasoned vegetables on a plate. She must have seen my apathy because she suggested that she would include a balsamic sauce on the veggies. Sure fine, but I saw that angel hair pasta was offered in the entrees, couldn't they make me that without the cheese? She assured me that they could absolutely make that for me.

It was good. A little nest of angel hair pasta with half of a red onion, 4 stalks of asparagus, red pepper & zucchini - all grilled. I had been specific in asking that none of the veggies would be prepared using butter, but I did not remember to ask what surface the veggies would be grilled on. As I ate my meal, I suddenly realized that there was a distinct possibility that my veggies were cooked on the same surface as other meats. Hm. A question I will not forget to ask again in the future. I have discovered that being a "dining-out-vegan" is a learning process - and right now, my stomach is a little uncomfortable, so I'm guessing that yes, my veggies shared a surface.

We won't talk about what Matt ordered because it was decidedly un-vegan, but he did order a Prix-Fixe and thoroughly enjoyed his 3-courses. At the end of the meal, they did give us a complimentary raspberry sorbet with chocolate piping. Unfortunately, they put a dab of créme chantilly on it, so I was only able to eat a couple bites of dairy free sorbet. That said, the sorbet was rich & creamy! A nice sweet finish to the meal.

In all... I'm giving Rosemary's 3 Sprouts for veg*options in proportion to the total price we paid for the meal ($133.58).

This "veg rating" does NOT diminish the fact that the menu is very creative and non-vegans would be completely satisfied with their menu options. I'm a bit disappointed that the kitchen was not more creative in making something that didn't involve a few vegetables thrown on to a plate, and that *I* had to be the one to suggest adding pasta.

I went into the evening with very high expectations and in the end can only say that I have had chefs at less expensive restaurants do more for me in the creativity department.

Eat at Rosemary's! It was a beautiful space, creative menu & and had kind courteous waitstaff. Maybe the more vegans who make reservations there and request better options, the more creativity we'll see from the kitchen. Just because we're vegan doesn't mean we don't LIKE food! I want to eat at all the "special" places, too.

8125 W. Sahara
Las Vegas, NV 89117

Tel:702.869.2251
Fax: 702.869.2283

Lunch (Mon-Fri): 11:30am-2:30pm

Dinner (Daily) 5:30pm - close

Reservations: Suggested though walk-ins welcome

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How "Vegan" are Vegan Restaurants in LA?

Published over at Quarrygirl.com is this recent post:

Operation Pancake: Undercover Investigation at Vegan Restaurants in LA

An independent investigation to see if the vegan food at supposedly vegan restaurants is truly vegan.

After all our diligence in reading labels at the grocery store, preparing fresh vegan food at home, our ethical choice to avoid all animal products in our food, all our efforts to be "vegan" can be wasted with just one trip to a restaurant. The point of The Vegas Vegan is to aid in your dining out experience, so please read this article to learn more.

Excerpts from the article:

...During the meeting, Mr. Wishbone outlined an ambitious plan that would enable us to test for common non-vegan ingredients (eggs, casein [a component of milk], and shellfish) in a multitude of menu items from local vegan restaurants. The plan would be a logistical, financial and time-sucking nightmare but, if done properly, and to scientific testing standards, it would be a ground-breaking and highly reliable indicator of just how “pure” food from vegan restaurants really is.

...a key requirement of this operation was that all the selected and tested restaurants should offer only an all-vegan menu, so there could be no question about cross-contamination from cooking implements (kitchen dishes, pans, knives etc.). So, we set about choosing a variety of restaurants in the LA area. Initially, we targeted 20, and were able to obtain food from 17.

...We cannot stress enough how many precautions were taken to ensure that the food was tested under the most stringent conditions. Indeed, our testing standards met or exceeded the standards of the California Retail Food Code, sections 113982, 113984 and 113986.

...The testing kits that Mr. Wishbone was to obtain could positively identify three common non-vegan allergens (hen’s egg, milk protein (casein), shell-fish), and were highly sensitive (down to parts per million, which explains our intense focus on process and hygiene), so we targeted food items that contained vegan “cheese”, vegan “fish” (including shellfish and non-shellfish), creamy sauces, breads and stuff that had an expanded, sweet, crispy or bubbly texture (often created using eggs as binders in the cooking process).

Read the full article for more specific results:

The Winners
Of the 17 restaurants, 10 had a completely negative score for shellfish, casein and egg. Vegans should note that we were unable to test for whey ingredients with these tests, and just because they passed our tests doesn’t mean they will be vegan for you.

The Suspect
One restaurant, Pure Luck, was singled out as suspect because it had a POSITIVE reading on one test for one menu item, the Baja Fish Taco. While testing a clear negative for shellfish and egg content, the taco did register as positive for casein.

The Losers
Five restaurants were in this category. These restaurants are all Vegan Thai in style, and have many common food items between their menus. In all cases, the HIGH readings were for egg content, and with two restaurants both also testing POSITIVE for casein. The Conclusion Following such consistent results, it is perhaps wise for vegans to avoid meat substitutes in vegan Thai establishments, sticking instead to tofu and seitan derived ingredients.

The Big Time Loser
The last restaurant on our list, Green Leaves Vegan, stands out as being the only one tested where a food item registered OVERLOAD.

Please read to the end of the article, which goes on to outline why "fake" or "veggie" meats may not be vegan, and why "vegan restaurants" aren't necessarily catering to actual vegans, but to people who just want to eat "vegan" food. And read the follow-up post.

It's our responsibility as vegans to protect our own choices, but this vegan is also concerned with protecting her health. Trace amounts of casein may seem harmless on the surface, but I know that even a small amount of it in my food can make me sick.

The Vegas Vegan reminds you that you should always ask your server or even ask to speak to the chef if you have any concerns about any ingredients in your food. Ask before you order, call ahead before you even arrive at the restaurant, just be sure that you know what you're eating. Personally, I avoid ordering items that I am not 100% certain about. For instance, I never order anything with aioli because, even though it's only supposed to be made with garlic & olive oil, there is a good chance it contains egg or other ingredients that could contain egg or dairy.



List of Restaurants tested in Operation Pancake:

Food, Inc.

From Ashley at Magnolia Pictures:

"On Friday, July 3rd, Food Inc. will be opening in Las Vegas. Due to the film's messages about the importance of purchasing local, sustainable foods and the dangers of the industrialization of food, we think that your site's audience would strongly identify with "Food, Inc."

One concept I support, across the board, is healthy eating. Healthy foods in our schools, healthy foods available by food stamps, healthy choices in our grocery stores and more local, sustainable, slow foods. I do not eat meat, but I do care deeply about what my family & friends eat. If I can help just one person make a more compassionate or conscious choice when it comes to their food, then my work on this earth is done.

A quick scan around The Official Food, Inc., Movie Site brings us a quick overview on the issues presented in the film. Issues that concern all of us. And don't forget to visit the blog: Hungry For Change

Read more:
vegan.com
Digging Through The Dirt

Vosges Haut Chocolate

Vosges Haut Chocolat

Nestled discreetly in the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace is a specialty chocolate shop. From the outside, it looks like a jewelry store and on the inside... little drops of heaven are displayed in glass cases as if they were indeed jewels!

No trip to Caesar's is complete without a visit to this gourmet chocolate shop. You'll be pleased to discover that many of the items are vegan! The staff behind the counter are very helpful in pointing out items that are suitable for all kinds of tastes & desires.

I don't have to remind you that all truffles contain ganache, a mixture of chocolate & cream, so vegans will have to skip these treats. I had tasted many of the truffles while still a lacto-vegetarian and can attest to the absolute deliciousness of the Aztec, Tellegio Cheese, Black Pearl, and several that I don't remember the names to: white chocolate + kalamata olive, and the violet flower.

For vegans, feel free to partake in the many chocolate bars; read the ingredient labels carefully as a few of the dark chocolate items may contain dairy.

Sit down at the drink bar and indulge in one (or all!) of the drinking chocolates: La Parisienne, Blanca & Aztec. As your barista what the non-dairy options are AND you'll discover they offer soy, almond and rice milk! Personally, I love the Blanca with almond milk, and the other two with rice milk. Each drink is served either hot or over ice depending. Though I highly recommend the Aztec hot for maximum enjoyment of the spices!

So when in Vegas, be sure to check out Vosges, located on the first floor of the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. From Las Vegas Blvd., use the main entrance of the shops - it's directly behind the curving escalators & fountains.

Las Vegas – Caesars Palace
3500 Las Vegas Blvd South (street level)
Forum Shops, Suite R04
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Ring: 702.836.9866
Hours: Sun-Thurs. 10-11, Fri-Sat. 10-midnight

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Calling All Vegan Bloggers!

Do you live in Las Vegas?

Will you or someone you know be visiting Las Vegas soon?

Have you been to Las Vegas recently?

More important, are you a Vegan or Vegetarian who ate food here???


If you answered yes to any of those questions, then please consider being a guest blogger here at The Vegas Vegan!

Indicate in the comment section that you'd like to do this and we'll get you up & running on the blog!

Spread the word: Veg*n food can be found just about anywhere in Las Vegas!!

**Specifically I am looking for people who have been to The Red Velvet Cafe and Ronald's Donuts.

The Vegas Vegan is on facebook!

Now you can join the facebook community of vegans & vegetarians who enjoy a good meal out on the town!

Swap recipes, restaurant reviews, and online resources for successful veg*n dining.

Living the life of an ethical vegan isn't difficult or scary when you're surrounded by supportive, like-minded people!!

Sushi Zen

If you Google "Sushi Zen Las Vegas" you'll read some horrifying reviews of this Sushi bar. But, like everything else in life, don't believe everything you read. Sushi Zen is some of the most fun sushi we've had in ages.

In the last 6 months, we have been to Sushi Zen on Craig Rd. at least once a month. I'll be the first to point out that sushi is a delicious and easy way to get a great vegan meal. I'd never liked "fish" sushi in the past, but I love vegetable sushi. I love the ocean flavor of the seaweed, and being the carb-eating monster that I am, I could eat sushi rice by the barrel.

One of the best features of visiting a sushi bar is the pleasure of speaking directly to the chef. The two chefs on Craig Rd. know me by sight and hardly even wait for me to open my mouth before they build my rolls! Chef personally makes me a roll with pickled potato root, avacado, zuchinni, carrot, asparagus, shitake mushroom, microgreens, daikon, cucumber and tofu. Fantastic!!

The last time I sat at the bar to eat my sushi, the man next to me commented that my vegetable roll looked more appetizing than his and that he would be trying this the next time around! I'm not looking to convert everyone to veganism, just to spread the word that veggies are not just colorful to look at. Sushi is an art, it's not "raw fish" as some people like to point out to me. ("How can you eat sushi? Isn't that raw fish?") In fact, the word "sushi" refers to the rice itself combined with the vinegar.

They are generous with their wasabi here and the pickled ginger is crisp & spicy. And nothing makes me feel tough like testing my tolerance level of wasabi!!

Sushi Zen is receiving 5 sprouts for their awesome sushi and service. As always, Sushi is one of the easiest ways to go vegan!


Sushi Zen
4210 West Craig Rd.
North Las Vegas, NV
702-893-2488

Please Note:

Sushi can have "hidden" fish, even in the vegetable rolls. When you order a veggie roll, ask the chef or server exactly what will be in it. There have been a couple of incidents where fish flakes, crab sticks or omelette is added. Word to the wise: just like any other restaurant, ask for verification of any questionable ingredients.

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Bo(k cho)y Meets Grill

Summer grilling season is upon us! Next weekend is Memorial Day which means everyone is going to be BBQ'ing. If you are going to someone's home for a picnic, then I consider this to be "going out to eat" therefore a topic for discussion here at The Vegas Vegan!!

I'd like to share some tips for summer vegan eating - whether at your place or a friend's.

Meat intolerance is a very real affliction, comparable to lactose intolerance. The symptoms are very similar - cramping, nausea, diarrhea - but can vary with each person. My mission, when eating out, sometimes isn't "spreading the word of veganism" but protecting myself from being sick. At the family BBQ, I'm not really in the mood to talk about confinement crates; I just don't want to be stuck in the bathroom or laid out in the guest room for the rest of the party!

Next weekend, you may be invited to a friend's house for a BBQ, or maybe you are going to host a BBQ of your own, but it's important to keep a few points in mind for either scenario.

1. Host Your Own BBQ.

To avoid any meat or meat-related incidents, it can be easier to host your own party. Every dish can be vegan, all questions avoided. My attitude is usually: I respect your choices, but my house is a vegetarian household, please respect our space. We purchased a grill 2 years ago, and no meat has touched my "part" of it. My husband uses two separate grilling surfaces - one for my veggies, and one for his meats - and never the twain shall meet. He also does not cook veggies & meat at the same time. We've discovered that even the "fatty" smoke & steam can infect the veggies.

2. Bring Your Own Veggies.

When invited to someone's BBQ, it's always wise to bring your own veggies. I've found that many of my friends think that grilled veggies are "too plain" and will want to marinate them "for you". Unfortunately, they don't always read labels and even the most innocent of marinades (think: Italian dressing) include cheese. Their hearts are in the right place, but label-reading isn't always high up on their agenda.

3. Bring Your Own Grill Pan.

People will tell you they have a veggie grill pan, but it's been known to happen that they have used it to grill fish. Fish ≠ vegetarian, sometimes people forget that. Bring your own grill pan and politely insist upon using it yourself. It's ok to do your own cooking, you know.

4. Bring Your Own Side Dishes.

Bring enough for everyone, but this is an easy way to slip some vegan sides (like baked beans or cole slaw) into the mix without having to tell people they're vegan! As far as they know, the only "scary vegan food" is the zucchini & eggplant you're roasting in that weird pan just like the one they have in their cupboard.

5. Remember:

No grill is clean ever enough to prevent you from getting sick. Doesn't matter how many times it's been scraped or burned, there will always be fat, grease & bits of meat clinging to the grill. If you can't use a grill pan, wrap your veggies in a tin foil pouch. This is especially important if you're going to a park or picnic area that has grills there.

6. Be Polite At All Times!

Being an ambassador for veg*nism isn't always your goal when you step out your door. Sometimes life is about sharing good times with friends & family without the burden of defending yourself. Eat before you go if you are unsure of how your host will react to your taking charge of your own food.

It's important to not make someone feel that they are ignoring your needs in their own home. Most people want to make sure their friends are happy. Food is central to most cultures - sharing food is an important act, NEVER underestimate the power of breaking bread.

Vegan Dining 101

Through the years, I have had to field many questions from friends & family who are curious about vegan dining - some of those friends are lacto-vegetarian who are anxious about dining out as a vegan. "I find it hard enough to find vegetarian foods, I can't imagine how difficult it is to find good vegan food!"

Well, you've come to the right place! I'm going to list here the tactics I use for dining out. If you have some of your own suggestions, please leave them in the comment box.

The Valley Vegan's Tips for Successful Dining

1) Do Your Research

In this exciting age of the internet, you should be able to access any restaurant's website - including downloading or viewing a menu. Scan the menu for vegetarian and vegan options. Read online reviews of specific places you want to visit; find other vegans in the area for their opinion; find out just how vegan the place you want to eat at is. Showing up to the restaurant prepared makes all the difference in the world.

2) Call Ahead

Armed with your list of menu items, you may want to call ahead depending on the restaurant. The more upscale the restaurant, the more likely you are to talk to someone like the chef or sous. Be sure you are clear with you questions and/or requirements - don't be demanding, do be gracious for any suggestions the management or chefs give you. In my personal experience, my questions are always answered. Do ask the host/manager to make a note in your reservation that there is a veg*n in the party. Many times, I have been offered a special "off-menu" dish prepared especially for me. The best way I handle this is to accept whatever they give me! The chef is the professional here, and I have been surprised more than once by creativity, I would never dare stand in their way of putting forth a creation. Food is art, and I respect that!

3) Thoroughly Read The Menu

Once at the restaurant, you will need to take a few extra minutes to read the menu (compared to the others in your party). Look for even the slightest mention of dairy or eggs, but most important, you need to ask about the base of all sauces & soups. An item may appear to be vegetarian, when in fact there may be cheese or ground beef in the tomato sauce.

*Also, be aware, that sometimes "seafood" is not on your server's radar as an animal food.

4) Be Creative!

Vegetarian/Vegan does not equal boring! Don't settle for salad or pasta w/a fewovercooked vegetables slopped on top. Scan the menu for things you may have gravitated toward anyway then ask to remove the meat and dairy. Don't see anything that is already veg*n or can be easily altered? Then start looking for items already on the menu that can be put together to make something new! Or, better yet, ask the server if thechef can suggest anything for you to eat. I have met many chefs, and they tell me any chance to get creative in the kitchen is a welcome change!

5) Be Clear With Your Server

Remember, the Chef & manager are invested in your satisfaction & eventual return to their establishment. In more cases than not, they will bend over backward for you. Unfortunately, you have to get the messages past the server first... someone who may be impatient with your special needs or your constant questions!

During the ordering process, be sure that your server is absolutely 100% crystal clear with your requests. I like to reiterate the dairy part with a polite thank you: "thanks for taking out the cheese." I'm a teacher so I'm in the habit of always turning things into compliments. It works on grown-ups just as successfully as on kids.

6) Thank Your Server

At the end of the meal, you will be faced with tipping your server. Now that I'm Vegan, I tip generously to those servers who are polite & helpful (usually 20-22%) while those that roll their eyes or add their own negative opinion get 15%. I don't withhold tips, I don't tip under 15% unless something has gone horribly wrong (which I can't say has ever happened to me). If it's a place where you plan to return, keep in mind that there is a chance the server will recognize you - and you may get a less-than-vegan item next time...

7) Follow Up

One of the most exciting parts of this blog has been the response from themanagers/chefs of the restaurants I've featured here. I'm not a professional writer or food critic, I'm just a woman trying to find good food. One vegan's word spreads fast in this town and in the blogosphere - and good words travel far & fast!

Every restaurant I visit, which receives a 4 or 5 sprout rating, I will contact within 24 hours with an email entitled: "You've Been Visited By The Valley Vegan!" I direct them to their "review" and usually include a few more personal words of praise that are not posted here on the blog. Owners, chefs & managers are so gracious and it's been a pleasure to be in contact with them.

Kindness & Compassion are at the heart of veganism & vegetarianism. You are an ambassador for veg*nism whether you like it or not. I try to remember that I'm not the first or last vegan to go to these restaurants, but if I can change attitudes and stereotypes of what we are, then my job is done!

Good luck! And Happy Dining!!

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