A Vegan Holiday Option

OK, I'll admit it. As a former meat eater, I miss the tradition of eating turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It's not that I miss the taste, but I miss how it served as the centerpiece of the meal that tied everything together. We'd have turkey with gravy, stuffing, cranberries, vegetables and a roll.

Since I became a vegan, holiday meals seem a bit lost. Sure, I have tons of recipes, but it's hard to make them fit in with old traditions that are stuck in my head -- those traditions that bring back all those great memories.

A few years ago, before my parents and sister went vegetarian, my mother made me a Tofurky. It was pretty good, but it can be hard to find at my local grocery, even if they carry other tasty Tofurky mock meat products.

This Thanksgiving, however, mom found a delicious "Celebration Roast" from the Field Roast Grain Meat Company that fit right in with our old holiday traditions. The roast is stuffed with sausage-style stuffing made from butternut squash, apples and mushrooms. Served with mushroom gravy, cranberries, veggies and whole wheat rolls and this was just as good as any holiday dinner I can remember.

All I can say is WOW. The holidays may be over, but I'll be looking for any excuse to have this again. And I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes a hearty dish -- vegetarian or not.

The unfortunate news is that it is not available in Athens -- not at Kroger and not at the Farmacy. Next time I remember, I'll have to ask them to get it. It would make a great addition for local vegetarians.

Until then, the closest place to get these products may just be Whole Foods. I do not know if they carry it in Columbus, but the grocery chain is the only one in the midwest that currently carries it. You should give it a try.

Salaam: A Hidden Gem

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In its first incarnation, Salaam appeared to be doomed.

It had a different name back when it was a hookah bar. (I can't even remember what it was.) But when the anti-smoking referendum passed last November, some observers might have thought that spelled its end.

But take away the hookahs, and the place still had three things going for it: great food, great people and just plain charm. So, not only did it survive the smoking referendum, it thrived.

Salaam's menu has a great variety of dishes that everyone will enjoy. For vegetarians or vegans, you will find options in every category: appetizers, salads, main dishes, sandwiches and deserts. Once a week, the special usually works, too.

My favorite dish at Salaam is the vegan harira, which is a hearty Moroccan stew made from lentils. At a very reasonable $4.50, it is served with a healthy accompaniment of pita bread. For an extra $2.75, I usually add a side salad of curried cous cous, a very tasty mix of grains, vegetables, raisins and spices. If I'm going all out, I top it off with some stuffed dates.

The best part is that you get a fabulous meal at a price that is not much higher than a fast food restaurant these days. Compare it to other sit-down restaurants in Athens, and its is a downright bargain.

But Salaam is not just good food, it is a pleasant experience. You'll usually find the owners -- Mark, Hilary and Ry Burhans -- working hard to make sure everyone is satisfied, whether on the floor or in the kitchen. Their servers are just as friendly and will make suggestions if you're not sure what to order. I've never met a grumpy employee there.

Combine that with a unique atmosphere and we have a winner in Athens.

The restaurant is tucked away down an alley behind World's Best Bagels on Court Street (between Washington and State). Look for the colorful mural painted on the building's bricks leading to Salaam.

Once inside, the Middle Eastern decor brings color to a former storage space. There are not a lot of tables, but they always seem to be able to accomodate everyone.

Come during the evening and you might see a bellydancer, a Bulgarian guitarist or Mark Burhans' band, the Coolville Hot Club, which plays a unique brand of "gypsy jazz."

I just can't say enough about this place. If you haven't been there yet, it's worth the search.

Athens Farmers' Market

If you really want to get an authentic feel for Athens, stop by its famous farmers' market.

Located in the University Mall parking lot near the new Bennigan's Restaurant, it is THE place to be on a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to the farmers and their families, you'll see undergraduate and graduate students, professors, town notables and assorted Athens families. (During warmer months, it is also open on Wednesdays.)

For those who like to people watch, this is the place. However, let's remember why we're here -- the food!

What can you find? Well, it depends on the time of year. All the fruits and vegetables are seasonal. Right now, that means lots of apples, squash and pumpkins. You can also find peppers, garlic, onions, potatoes -- you name it.

For those who love salsa, there are two to three great stands. My personal favorite is Bungtown Salsa, which is made locally by a Hocking College student. The Jose Madrid stand has several great varieties to try. Occasionally there are others.

I always stop to visit the stand run by the owners of the Ali Baba food truck. You can get homemade hummus, fattoush and baba ganoush. You'll also find cous cous or taboulleh. On occasion, they have AMAZING potato candies. Stock up because these are soooo good.

Sometimes, I also pick up some whole wheat bread or rolls from Crumbs Bakery. They have a couple vegan options -- the whole wheat or herb varieties. My only problem with them is that they go bad fast. If you're not going to eat it right away, put it in the refrigerator. The peanut butter cookies are good, too. You can buy them in an eight-pack.

Over time, everyone finds their favorite stands. When you know what you like, it will save you time.

However, when all is said and done, you will still have to stop at Kroger. Most of the stuff is not cheap. However, at least you will know you helped support the local economy -- and got some tasty fresh food, too.

Quick Bites In Athens

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College towns are a vegetarian or vegan's best friend, and Athens is no exception. For whatever reasons, universities tend to have larger vegetarian and vegan populations. Perhaps they are just more socially conscious. Perhaps they pay more attention to healthy eating. Either way, local restaurants respond to the demand.

Today, I intend to look at local restaurants that offer quick vegetarian and vegan eating. (I'll save the sit-down joints for later). In other locales. this might be difficult, but the choices are many in this socially conscious town.

Yes, you can get a bean burrito at Taco Bell or even a Veggie Delight at Subway, but why?

BURRITO BUGGY
Before moving to Athens, I did some advance scouting. I couldn't believe when I read that VegOhio.com cited a little food truck as being among Athens' best. Now I know why. With everything made to order at the Burrito Buggy, vegetarians can leave off the meat, while vegans can subtract the sour cream and cheese. You can even add tofu if you would like. Fresh ingredients make for great flavor.
My favorite:The black bean, tofu and rice burrito. Yum.

O'BETTYS RED HOTS
When people hear that I love this place, they're surprised. How can a vegan eat hot dogs? However, O'Bettys answers with "shy" dogs, their brand of tofu dogs. Not rubbery or tasteless like some supermarket varieties, they provide this former hot dog lover with his fix. Add some french fries if you would like. The cream sodas and root beers are huge.
My favorite: The Salome "Shy." This is essentially a Chicago-style tofu hotdog with tomatoes, onions, pickle relish, sport peppers and celery salt.(I prefer to leave off the mustard.)

BAGEL STREET DELI
The atmosphere, good music and friendly staff are not the only great things about this place. Choose from a variety of bagels, add whatever vegetables or toppings you want, and you have a great meal. Check out the long list of vegetarian bagel combinations on BSD's chalkboards. Vegans can omit the cheese. Baked tofu adds more variety. If you like salads, BSD has adds freshly sliced tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. The dressings are amazing.
My favorite: The Kung Fu on a six grain bagel. It features baked tofu, sprouts, peppers and teriyaki. If that doesn't fill you up, add a side salad with sesame ginger vinegrette.

ALI BABA'S
Ali Baba's food truck has become a fixture next to the Burrito Buggy over the last year. Although it may feature gyros for carnivores, it has vegetarian options, too. Choices ranges from falafel, hummus or baba ganoush to couscous or taboulleh salads. Vegans beware: the pitas come with yogurt sauce, so remember to ask for one without.
My favorite: A falafel pita with fattoush. Don't ask me what's in fattoush (I don't remember, but it's vegan). Thow on some veggie and some hot sauce, and it's a winner.

PITA PIT
Pita Pit is just like a Subway, but with made-to-order pitas. For vegetarians/vegans, try a falafel, hummus or baba ganoush pita with all the vegetable fixins and your favorite sauce. If you can get there soon after it opens, get the falafel grilled; but any later and the grill has already been used for several rounds of meat. Most people scrape the grill well, but watch out for the long-haired skinny guy who does not understand why you don't want your falafel grilled next to the bacon!!
My favorite: A falafel bagel with hummus. It's twice as nice and more filling if you have just a bit more hunger. I add nearly every veggie and top it off with teriyaki sauce to bring it all together.

Why I Am A Vegan

When I first tell someone that I am vegan, they are are often confused by the term or make the assumption that I am a militant animal rights activitist. So to clear up any misunderstandings about my lifestyle choice, here is why I made the switch.


MY STORY
CHIP
ANIMAL PRODUCTS
TODAY
BEING VEGAN
THIS BLOG

MY STORY

Almost five years ago, my friend Brian, who was just 30 years old, suffered a heart attack. On my way to visit him in the hospital, I started to feel sympathy pains.

Although I had recognized that this was indeed what they were -- and that Brian's heart attack was mainly the result of his cigarette smoking -- I also realized that I probably needed to change my lifestyle so I didn't wind up in the same place.

CHIP

After Brian recovered, both of us enrolled in a program at a local hospital called CHIP, the Coronary Health Improvement Program, taught by California epidemiologist named Dr. Hans Diehl, who had worked with the famed Nathan Pritikin. Over the next month, we met four nights a week to learn about how our body works and the role nutrition plays.

Dr. Diehl didn't just tell us what to do; he showed us why. Through medical studies, we learned to avoid animal products and processed foods, and eat "foods as grown."

Eliminating animal products (meat, fish, eggs, dairy) would bring the most benefit, he told us. Not everyone in the program went that far, but I did.

At the start of the study, the medical staff drew blood samples and weighed us in. By the end of CHIP, I had lost over 20 pounds and improved my levels in all important areas.

Some people with medical conditions improved so much that they no longer needed the medication upon which they had once depended. I looked and felt great.

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Because I stopped eating animal products for health reasons, I am not as militant as other vegans, who go so far as not not own any leather products and won't eat sugar unless they know that it is not ground with bone.

The fact that being vegan is more humane to animals is surely an added benefit, although that is not why I do it. When I switched, I had recently bought brand new leather couches, so I was not going to just throw them away.

TODAY

After about six months of being on a vegan diet, I had lost 75 pounds and was in my best shape since college. However, due to a medical condition that required me to take heavy medication for over six months, I fell back into some bad habits.

Because of the appetite suppressants in the medication that artificially kept my weight down, I started eating more processed food, salt and sugars, and -- once the medication ran out -- gained much of the weight back. However, I still feel good and the thought of eating animal products again turns my stomach.

BEING VEGAN

Being vegan is a choice that I made. My parents and one of my sisters also went vegetarian shortly after I made the switch, but they could not give up the dairy.

Although I love eating vegan, I have many carnivorous friends. I like talking about what I eat, but I don't push it on others -- and I hate when they try to tell me that eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes is wrong (Steve Siff!)

THIS BLOG

If you're a vegetarian or vegan, I hope this blog provides a useful forum for information. If you're not, perhaps this blog will give you a glimpse into another lifestyle that you never knew much about.

If you need more information, check out this video: