Vegan Vagabond's Blog

A veg*n refuge - Green Vegetarian Cafe in San Antonio

2010-10-30T13:20:16Z

As I travel around for work, mostly in the Central US, I have grown accustomed to expect the worst when it comes to dining options in certain areas. Springfield, MO, Fargo, ND, and anywhere in Texas outside of Houston, Austin, and Dallas. And even in these cities (Houston, Austin, Dallas), finding a good vegan meal in Texas can be a little tough at times. For example, I was in Houston last night, looking for a good vegan meal and the place I found had decided to close early that day, after I made a 20 mile drive! Nice.

Anyway, there are occasions when I stumble upon a jewel when I least expect it. I was in San Antonio this week and I was not expecting much when I found Green Vegetarian Cafe (www.greensanantonio.com) in Happy Cow, but I felt compelled to give it a try.

WOW! Was I pleasantly surprised!! Now, I don't know San Antonio very well, but this place does seem to be a little off the beaten path and maybe a little difficult to get to if you don't have a car, but I could be wrong. In any case, any difficulty in getting to Green is greatly rewarded.

Green is deceptively large. From the outside, it looks rather small, even when you first walk in, but there is a large dining area in the back and a spacious patio along the side of the building. It is clean and brightly decorated.

Because I live in Chicago, and the weather that day in Chicago was incredibly cold and rainy, I chose to sit outside and enjoy the warm sunshine. It was a Tuesday at around noon and the patio was nearly full, but not crowded.

The staff was warm and friendly and the service was exceptional. The person that waited on me took plenty of time explaining the menu to me, educating me on what was and wasn't vegan, and how I could order most anything on the menu in any way I needed in order to accommodate food allergies or food sensitivities. She also explained to me how they make their food and how many of the vegetables used are grown right there on premise. I was very impressed with how much time she spent with me, given that it was right in the middle of the lunch rush and they were filling up. I would like to think it was my incredible mojo, but I noticed that the other tables were getting an equal level of attention, so I think this is a consistent level of service.

The menu was very large. VERY large. I can honestly tell you, no matter what you are in the mood for, you will find it on this menu. Green is 100% vegetarian an

d mostly vegan. Most of what is not vegan can easily be made vegan. I had the opportunity to speak with the owner/chef, Mike Behrend. He was walking through the tables, clearing away empty plates and filling water glasses (Have I told you the service was exceptional?). We struck up a conversation and he ended up sitting down and spending about 15 minutes with me. He explained that they intentionally have a very large menu because they want to be sure that they have something for everyone. Because so many of their guests are actually not veg*n, but often just friends and family of veg*ns that coax them to come along, they want to be sure that they find something that suits their tastes. The best way to get through to a meat eater is to feed them a good vegan meal!

I wanted to eat everything. Not only was I incredibly hungry, but there were so many great options to choose from. I was almost in sensory overload! When in doubt, go the healthy route. I decided to go with the macrobiotic plate, which was steamed kale, quinoa tabouli, beans, red sauerkraut, and smothered in a miso sauce. As the menu said, 22 grams of fiber and 26 grams of protein! It was fresh, not oily, not salty, tasty, and very healthy. In fact, it was so healthy, I didn't feel the least bit guilty when I ordered dessert.

I don't know if I have said this before, but I am a vegan dessert snob. I have no patience for dry, crumbly, tasteless vegan pastries. There is absolutely no excuse for poor desserts. I can't figure out what the issue is, really, but very few places actually get it right. There are several restaurants that I frequent regularly because I love their food, but their desserts just plain suck. Really. It's embarrassing. What makes it worse is when you get non-vegans that try them and think that this is actually how all vegan pastries are, dry and tasteless. Oh, wait, I am ranting, aren't I?

Well, I am happy to say that the pastries at Green are excellent! Not just good, but excellent. I ate a chocolate cupcake with strawberry icing and, solely for research purposes, I swear, I also ate a tapioca cupcake. Both were excellent. I then got a triple chocolate cookie and took that back to the office for the meat munchers. They scarfed it down. They couldn't believe that it was vegan. As I always explain, you do not have to give up flavor and richness because you don't use critter parts and secretions.

When you go to San Antonio, make sure that you find a way to get to Green. If you do go, make sure that you save room for dessert. With all of the great food, it won't be easy, but you will miss out if you don't get the chance to sample one of their great pastries (or two!).

I have eaten at veggie places around the world, literally. I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed with the food, the service, the staff and the atmosphere at Green. I rank it right on par with Herbivore in San Francisco, The Chicago Diner, Native Foods in California, Candle Cafe in NYC, and Watercourse Foods in Denver.

Hats off to you, Mike!

BANG!! Evolution Happens!

2010-08-22T18:43:45Z

WOW! I cannot believe that it has been over 3 months since my last blog!! Time flies and it never ceases to amaze me how big of a lazy procrastinator I am. It's not that I haven't thought about blogging. It isn't that I haven't wanted to blog. The problem is that it is SUMMER!! I almost completely check out in summer.

I live in Chicago, we are covered in snow and ice for half of the year. I pack in as much as humanly possible in the few short months we have. I would love to tell you that I am out doing everything and anything under the sun, from hiking and biking, to rafting and playing volleyball on the beach, but I am largely a one track mind...GOLF. I don't know what happened. I had resisted golf all my life, not really seeing the point or really finding that much interesting in golf. My dad and oldest brother had always lived for golf. My dad golfed almost every weekend when I was a kid. I ignored it.

Then, almost 6 years ago, I switched employers and everyone I worked with at my new company was a golfer. Not only that, but all of my clients golfed, also. So, I gave in and I started to golf and I was absolutely embarrassing. The only thing worse than not golfing with a client, is golfing with a client and you are so bad, you drag the whole group down.

Me being me, I decided to be good at golf and put everything into it. I started taking lessons and practicing and focusing on the game. It is like crack. I can't describe it. You can go out and shoot the most miserable round of golf in your life, but that one shot, that one shot that made all of your friends gasp in awe, that shot that sent that tiny little ball 225 yards down the fairway and roll up onto the green close to the hole, is the shot that keeps bringing you back.

I have spent over 5 years, countless hours, and $$ on lessons and rounds of golf and I still stink to high heaven. Golf is the most frustrating sport you can imagine. It is also the most addictive. My best advice to you non-golfers is to stay completely away. Do not let yourself get dragged into it. Go to the beach, go hiking, biking, running, or whatever, but do not pick up that club.

So, in 3+ months, what has happened? Aside from golf, a lot has happened!

As I have always said, especially to the veganer-than-thou's and/or those being targeted by the veganer-than-thous's, veg*nism is an evolution. It is a path that someone must travel at their own pace and they must deal with the trips and falls, which go along with traveling this path, mostly on their own.

It is great to have great support and encouragement, such as the incredible level of support, encouragement, and information that I have enjoyed here at VegSource over the many years that I have been visiting this site, but the individual needs to evolve their level of veg*nism internally. Not externally through coercion and judgment. Not because, if they don't do it this way or that way, they can't wear the club logo or learn the secret handshake. They will get there because they have truly evolved to a more compassionate way of thinking and being.

I often come into contact with former vegetarians and vegans and I always wonder what it was that caused them to go back to meat eating and/or dairy eating. As I talk with them, I largely find that they were never really vegetarian or vegan in their mind, in their soul, but they were that way because it was the "in" thing to do when they were in college or they dated someone that was vegetarian or vegan. They succumbed to outside pressures and became veg*n, possibly badgered into it, but never really accepted it deep within themselves. They had not evolved internally.

Over the past three months, I have gone diving in the Maldives, a group of islands south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, and witnessed the true beauty of a largely unspoiled reef system, where commercial net fishing and long lining is banned. I was able to witness with my own eyes what a reef really looks like without people dropping nets on it and scooping away the inhabitants.

As I was eating my meals in the cabana, where the resort would put out a large buffet each breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I passed the many selections of seafood, beef, chicken, and dairy items, I felt a very strong sense of peace and tranquility knowing that my dietary choices were having a very minimal impact on the local ecosystem. Not a feeling of superiority and self righteousness over those whose diet was not as minimally impacting as mine, but just an internal feeling of peace. That stuck with me.

My wife got SCUBA certified in the Maldives and her very first dive was on a reef teaming with black tip reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and millions (no exaggeration) of fish! For the very first time, I believe, it sunk in to her what the true beauty of the ocean really is. It is overwhelming and something that words, pictures, or even videos cannot capture. We have not discussed it, but I can tell that the experience she had on the reefs in Maldives has moved her along the evolutionary path. If you have trouble sleeping, you are welcome to check out some short videos that I took on some of the dives: http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w128/jpglackin/Maldives%202010/

Another thing that has happened over the last three months was "An Evening with John Robbins" (http://www.mealsforhealth.org/).

Everything about this event was evolutionary for me. From getting to spend quality time with the Nelson's and getting schooled by their teenage children on being vegan, eating vegan, and living vegan, to being around people like John Robbins, Chef Tanya, Julieanna Hever, Chef AJ, Rip Esselstyn, and many others, and for the event to be held in Beverly Hills at a multi-million dollar estate, for which the gracious owner, Ellen Lavinthal, has largely dedicated to using for dog and cat rescue. I don't think it possible to be around these wonderful people and not walk away feeling changed in some positive form or another.

So, here I am, living my life, feeling fine, but with a heightened sense of consciousness towards my veg*nism and in walks a new vegan friend who starts working me over. Not pushing and prying. Not judging and coercing, but just being sneaky. I call it "vegan sneaky", a phrase I coined years ago to describe Sabrina Nelson's culinary activities.

I also consider the VS, for VegSource, to also mean Vegan Sneaky, because, I believe that VegSource has drawn in and converted more meat eaters and/or cheese eaters to veg*nism than any other resource on the net, simply by being warm, friendly, and "vegan sneaky."

Anyway, I digress. So, here I am, feeling good after my trip to Maldives, enlightened after being at the EarthSave event, and keeping in mind my last blog post and the exchange we all had afterwards, and here she comes, being vegan sneaky. I can't really point to anything significant that happened or to anything significantly clever she pulled on me, but before I knew it, I was buying vegan shoes, vegan suits, vegan ties, and vegan belts. I have gone from the excuses of "I can't wear plastic shoes" and "I can't wear polyester suits and ties in business" to a closet full of non-wool suits, non silk ties, and non leather belts and shoes in the blink of an eye.

Shortly after getting my new wardrobe, I had some sanctimonious meat muncher attempt to embarrass me in a group of people by pointing out that "the hypocrite still wears leather and wool." I honestly think the guy almost puked on himself when I undid my belt and showed him the "Vegan Collection" label stamped on my belt and pointed out that my suit, tie, belt and shoes were all vegan. I enjoyed doing that so much, I went and bought more suits and ties. (I got several really nice non wool suits at Overstock.com. A side benefit: my wool suits would cost me $300 to $400 each. These vegan suits, very nice suits, cost me $80 each. I got the shoes and belts from Alternative Outfitters. The ties I got from Jaan J. Very nice ties. Check them out.)

So, my use of animal products and wearing of animal products has changed significantly over the last 3+ months.

Do I still cheat on my diet? No. I have been completely vegan for months, except for maybe some honey consumption. I can't recall because I don't think about it (call the vegan police!!!!).

Will I cheat? I hope not, but I am human.

Am I perfect in my veganism? Hardly. I am still "passive" in my diet. For instance, just yesterday, at a golf course (of course), while my friends were munching on critter parts on a bun, I got just the bun and loaded it up with veggies and condiments. Did I make them go get me the ingredients list on that bun? Nope. It might not have been vegan. I'd give it better than 75/25 it was vegan, but you never know until you check the ingredients. Anything 50/50, if I don't know, I will skip it. I can't say that all of my soaps and cleaners are vegan, but I am sure that I will be cycling the non vegan stuff out as I buy replacements and read the labels.

What happened?!

Evolution happened.

I have evolved, helped along in a large part by friends and influencers, but internally in my thoughts and mental state. Not through the screams of the "MEAT IS MURDER!!!!!" crowd or the "You aren't vegan" label police, but through the education, patience, and the example provided by some very good people. I would like to think that all of you that participated in our last exchange are very much a part of that influence. Thank you.

And thank you, Julieanna, you sneaky vegan, you.

Hello, my name is Jim. I am an imperfect "veg*n"

2010-05-11T19:53:48Z

I recently got in a little tiff with someone that was taking exception to someone being called a "vegan", when they were not "fully vegan." The premise of this person was, vegan is not just a diet, it is a lifestyle. I bounced it back and forth with him, as I am totally turned off by the sanctimony of some of the veganer than thou's in our ranks (not saying this person was. He may be very genuine), but then I really got to thinking and I realized, who the hell am I to be arguing with this guy? When I really think about it, I am not a vegan. Not by the strict sense of the definition. Maybe not even by a stretch. I am a dietary vegan 99% of the time (more on this later), but I do wear wool suits, silk ties, leather shoes, and I eat honey. I am not "vegan". So, what the heck am I, pray tell? I can't say that I am vegetarian, that will confuse people that may be cooking for me (friends, family, restaurants, etc). I can say that I am a "strict vegetarian", but then "vegetarian" is so watered down anymore, that "strict vegetarian" might just be interpreted as someone that is really strict because they don't even eat chicken or fish. And so, as irritated as I get, when I hear someone say, "I'm vegetarian, but I do eat chicken and fish," I can appreciate a vegan getting irritated by me, standing there in my wool suit, silk tie, leather shoes and sticky honey fingers, proclaiming, "I am vegan." I get it, I really do. So, again, I ask you, what am I? My wife could probably roll a few labels right off the top of her head, but let's keep this to labels concerning my diet.

Many years ago, it was bounced around that there should be a new word, "vegetan", used for dietary vegans. I was opposed to it back then, because, if I put myself in the shoes of the common folk, all of these labels would just confuse the crap out of me. The only purpose I saw for "vegetan" was so that we can internally (among us veg*ns) label ourselves. I just didn't, and still don't, see it as worthy of all of the confusion it would cause externally, just to have a label that would make us feel good internally. So, what should I call myself? You vegans out there, sound off. Does it really bother you when dietary vegans call themselves vegans? I can understand if it does, I really can. If it does bother you, how would you prefer a dietary vegan like me label himself?

Moving right along, I want to also point out that I am weak and I stray. As hard as I try and as much as I promise myself, I do find myself cheating from time to time. I can go long stretches where I am rock solid and then I can fall completely apart. I can't figure it out. What does "fall apart" mean? OK, so, I can resist everything when it comes to meat, broth, cheese, eggs, dairy, gelatin or anything else in meals. What I struggle with is my MASSIVE sweet tooth. I never touch ice cream or anything so boldly non-vegan. Chocolate is the bain of my veganism. I happen to prefer dark chocolate, so milk chocolate really doesn't temp me. But, if I am dying for chocolate and there is no other option, and sitting there is a piece of dark chocolate with some milk product in it, I turn into a spineless wimp. Additionally, I sometimes will find myself being what I call "passively vegan". What the heck does that mean? To me, this is when I am sitting in some meeting and I am about to pass out from hunger (which is funny, since I have enough fat stored on my gut to last me a month if I am ever stranded without food) and there are some rolls or something that possibly could be vegan, but very possibly could not be vegan and, rather than aggressively hunting down an ingredients list, I just readily assume in my mind that it is vegan and I eat it. That's what I call "passively vegan".

Why am I going on about this? Well, I am a strong believer in the fact that shining sunlight on something has a cleansing affect, but also because, I know that other people struggle with this. It's not easy being vegan in this world where animal pieces, parts, and derivatives are being thrown at you on a constant basis. As I proof this draft, I am being presented with an ad to "Baconaise your burgers". It's a constant barrage. I know several vegans that are very convicted in their veganism, but they have confided in me that they sometimes have "moments of weakness". I am by no means justifying my spineless events by pointing out that others cheat, too. I am merely pointing out that there are many of us that struggle, so that those that are new to veganism or isolated in their veganism (not a strong support structure) do not get discouraged and give up because they struggle while "everyone else is so strong." If you are new to being vegetarian or vegan, or even if you have been vegetarian or vegan for a long time, and you find that you have moments of weakness and stray from your convictions, don't beat yourself up over it. Don't get discouraged. We are all at different stages on an evolutionary path and many of us struggle and stray from time to time. The key is to stay focused on why you have made this choice and know that you are doing the right thing.

My name is Jim. I am doing the best that I can, but I am an imperfect veg*n.

Oh, no, here goes my diet!

2010-05-07T03:37:03Z

I have always said, if I lived near Millennium Restaurant, in San Francisco, I would weigh 400 pounds.

Ever since the first time I ate at Millennium, I have been envious that the good people of San Francisco were able to have such a fine vegan restaurant nearby, that they can eat at whenever they felt the desire (nightly?). I have never had the luxury of having a truly world class vegan restuarant nearby. If it weren't for all of my corporate travel, I would be completely oblivious to truly fine vegan food and, now that I have had it and know what world class vegan cooking really is, I want it! It's been turture knowing it is out there, but not having ready access to it. To torture me even further, after 8 years of living in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and

suffering through a vegan desert (not dessert), I moved to Chicago and then they opened Sublime, in Ft. Lauderdale, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM MY FORMER HOUSE! And to make it really bad, Sublime is absolutely sublime! The food, the people, the restaurant is absolutely amazing! The vegan gods are against me! Why can't I have that in a town where I live? Why can't I have that in Chicago?!!

Well, I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that the Vegan gods have smiled upon me and their answer to my prayers is Karyn's on Green!!!! Don't get me wrong, there are some very good places in Chicago for vegan eats (like Karyn's two other restaurants, the Chicago Diner, Amithabul, etc.), but this is vegan dining at its finest! www.karynsongreen.com

Karyn has really done this well. The food, the service, and the ambiance is exceptional. First and foremost, it is 5 minutes from my house. This is critical. I can be sitting in my living room, craving some BBQ bacon meatloaf, some chorizo sliders, a big slab of her incredible tiramisu, or all of the above, and I can be seated and

served in 15 minutes! Ok, maybe this is an exageration, as I do recommend reservations, but, whether you are seated at a table, at the bar, or up stairs in the lounge, service is quick, friendly, and attentive. My wife and I like to sit at the bar before dinner and soak up the sights, sounds and smells, as we wait to be seated. Once seated, we have a nice meal by possibly sampling one or two of the "small plates" and then split a "large plate"...

HAHAHAHA! Who am I kidding?! Actually, I always get out of control and order several small plates, a couple of sides, a large plate and then force my wife to order a large plate, so I can eat whatever she has left over. Afterwards, we go upstairs to the lounge, sit in the comfortable chairs and enjoy a dessert (or 2 or 3). I love this place!

The next time you are in Chicago, or if you ever really needed a great reason to come to Chicago, you have got to get to Karyn's on Green.

The secret to surviving international adventure travel? CLIFF BARS!

2010-02-25T02:21:51Z

OK, this is probably something that every vegan already knows, but as I am planning my next big adventure, and as I communicate with the resort and establish my dietary needs, and hear, "No problem. We take good care of you," I am reminded of the many trips (most) in the past where there was a problem and they didn't take good care of me. Let's face it, they want your business and many hotels, resorts, and tour operators will tell you just about anything they think you want to hear in order to get you to spend your money with them.

I am reminded of the two times I went to the Galapagos Islands to go scuba diving. I called and spoke with the dive operator in the Galapagos and spoke with the owner, rather than dealing with their office in Quito, Ecuador. I was diving on day trips, where we would leave early morning and come back late afternoon, and lunch and snacks were served on the boat. I was assured, "No problem. We have lots of vegans." As we went out on the first day, I had a nice chicken sandwich served to me. I reached for a Cliff Bar. I spoke to the owner when we got back that day. I got, "No problem. They got the lunches mixed up, but we have you taken care of for tomorrow." The next day, I was presented with a lovely egg salad sandwhich. I reached for a Cliff Bar. I spoke to the owner again and he apologized all over himself and yelled at his staff and assured me that he would personally see to it himself. That next day, and I know you are now going to think I am making this up, I was served grilled fish with a side of rice and some salad. I reached for my Cliff Bar. After the usual apologies and assurances, we went out the next day, and as we were just out of sight of land, a small boat appeared on the horizon, speeding towards us from the port. It was the owner. Guess what they forgot to pack? For that day, and for the remaining days, I got white rice, some raw vegetables and some fruit. I was hardly taken care of and I thanked god for Cliff Bars.

I had such an incredible experience diving in the Galapagos and was so impressed by the flora and fauna of the Islands, I had to go back the next year and do a 8 day live-aboard dive trip. I called the owner, reminded him of my previous year's experience, he acknowledged that he remembered me and assured me he had his act together and the chef on the boat is fully aware of how to cook for me. I told him that the previous year was mildly amusing and, as my wife continually reminds me, I can always stand to miss a meal, but this is all meals for 8 days. I really need him to deliver. He gave me his personal guarantee (Am I gullible, or what?). I fly back down, load up on the boat, and away we go. 2 hours outside of port (you see this coming, don't you?), here comes the small boat. They did not load my food. The owner was apologizing all over himself and yelling at the crew. They loaded up the food and away we went. For the first 2 or 3 days, I had to fight with the "chef" through every meal and I ate a lot of Cliff Bars. Finally, after picking up a knife and helping him in the galley, he got it and, I have to admit, I ate very well and several of the other people on the trip started requesting to be served whatever I was being served. By the last day or two, he was getting pretty creative.

So, as I am planning on going diving in the Maldives in April and, as I am arranging my accommodations with the resort and establishing their ability to feed me, I am hearing, "No problem. We have lots of vegans. You will love the food." And, so, like I have done so many times before, I am on Amazon.com ordering two cases of Cliff Bars. The island I will be on can only be reached by sea plane and is so small that half the resort, like the villa we will be staying in, is actually on stilts over the water. For 7 days, I will be at their mercy. It won't be like I can hop in a cab and head down the road to a restaurant when they screw up. I am hopeful, but I am suspicious that my ole buddy Cliff and I are going to be pretty tight on this trip.

If you wouldn't eat it at home, why do you eat it on the road?

2010-02-09T05:38:30Z

As I am currently on the road, I figured that I would blog about something that I struggle with and something that I know many of my friends and coworkers struggle with. When on the road, we tend to over eat and to eat crap that we typically would never eat if we weren't on the road. When not on the road, I eat a small breakfast of coffee and a small bowl of multi grain cereal with unsweetened soy milk. For lunch, if I have lunch, I will typically eat a chopped salad of mixed greens, raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruits, and balsamic vinegar (no oil, no salt). For dinner, I will have a small meal that usually consists of brown rice and some type of legume stew (lentils, garbanzos, etc). My wife is Peruvian, so we lean toward veganized versions of Peruvian dishes.

Lately, something that I have really been hooked on is mixed roasted vegetables and some type of greens (kale, collard, mustard). I cut up a rutabega, a large turnip, a sweet potato, a large carrot, half a head of cauliflower (separated), a head of broccoli (separated), about a dozen halved brussel sprouts, and a generous number of garlic cloves. I rinse them all in water and then sprinkle them with a generous amount of seasonings. You can use salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, cajun seasoning, or whatever you choose. You can use oil, but I don't. I like a dry roast and, besides, oil is just empty fat and calories. Spread everything out in a roasting pan and slide the pan into a preheated oven set to 400 degrees. Shake the pan every 15 minutes while roasting for an hour. More or less, according to how well done you like your veggies. I like mine a little crispy on the edges, so I turn the oven to broil for about 5 minutes before I remove the pan.

I find this alone to be a great meal. But I will also take a bag of frozen greens, dump them into a pan, throw in a healthy amount of chopped garlic (Can you tell I love garlic?), cover them about half way with water or broth (I use a unbeef bullion, that I buy in cubes at Whole Foods, and water), and then cook for about 25 minutes. I like my greens well done. The roasted vegetables and the greens make an incredible meal for me that is very low fat, very low calories, and packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. I generally eat very healthy when I am not on the road. I try to eat less than 2000 calories per day and usually have no problem falling below that number.

Put me on the road and all bets are off. Who knows why? When on the road, I will typically start with the breakfast buffet at the hotel, which will include oatmeal with raisins and walnuts, sliced fruit, orange juice, and coffee. There's nothing unhealthy about this, but it is twice as much as I would normally eat at home. Until recently, I would even hit Starbuck's on the way to my meeting for a large triple shot soy latte, which would easily add another couple hundred calories to my breakfast. Thankfully, I have spared my waist and my wallet of that nasty habit.

For lunch, it is almost always a lunch meeting and I will typically eat some type of pasta dish with oil, salt, and loads of unnecessary calories. For dinner, you guessed it, a dinner meeting where I end up eating more pasta, oil, salt, calories and fat. Why? I have no idea. I could order a salad with balsamic vinegar and eat like at home, but I don't. It's an urge like when the airplane pulls up to the jet bridge and the fasten seat belt sign goes off and everyone jumps up and starts jamming their way off of the plane, pushing and shoving, dashing past each other in the concourse, running down the escalators, only to stand for 20 minutes waiting for luggage at the baggage claim. It makes no sense, but we do it anyway. I over eat on the road and I dash off the plane. Ok, I admit it.

One thing that I really enjoy about being vegan is that being vegan prevents me from eating all kinds of garbage that I wouldn't even hesitate to eat if I weren't vegan. When traveling, I find that I am subjected to an incredible amount of junk food. Cookies, donuts, danish, candy, chocolates, chips, and just about everything else you can imagine, but since these items are rarely vegan, I never touch them. I have the world's worst sweet tooth. Have I said this before? Being vegan is what keeps me from shoveling down 5000 calories a day, I swear.

People always comment on how much discipline I must have to be vegan and, the fact is, I find being vegan easier than watching my consumption and, therefore, I use my vegan diet as a way to keep my consumption down. Confusing? Today, as I was waiting for my flight, I was sitting in the Red Carpet Club (United Airlines' club lounge) and noticed a fellow road warrior firing down muffins like they were donut holes. This guy was probably about 5'8" and that was just his waist! If those were vegan muffins, that would have been me. No question. Ask the Nelson's. They will tell you. I have no control when it comes to vegan goodies.

In exactly 20 days, I will make my annual trip to Vegas for an industry convention. Sure, I will get to golf at a great golf course that costs $300 per round. Yes, I will be staying at the Four Seasons in a a palacial suite. It will be nice to see my buddies, do some business and have some fun, but, when the plane lands and I shove my way through the airport, dash out to my rental car, and lay rubber out of the airport, I will be dashing to Ronald's Donuts for the best (Only?) vegan donuts in the United States. And I will repeat the trip every day for the 4 days I will be there.

The first time I went, the owner thought I was ordering for a large family that hadn't showed up yet. When I polished off the tray myself and went back for one more boston crème donut, I think I scared her. Now, every year for the past 5 years, she doesn't recognize me until I order my first tray. Then she gives me the, "Ah, back again this year. See you tomorrow." I am on a first name basis with most of the staff at Watercourse Foods in Denver (the BEST vegan bakery in the western hemisphere). Is it because I am so charming or is it because I walk out of there with a massive box of sweet potato cinnamon rolls about every time I show up? My name is Jim and, yes, I am a vegan glutton.

I'm sorry I can't help you with sage advice on avoiding calories while on the road, or on how not to shove your way through airports, but I struggle hard with this. It is my Achilles heel. Maybe if I write this down so you all can see it, it may help me be more successful in controlling my appetite on the road? But not tomorrow. I am going to be in Omaha tomorrow, shoving my way through the airport, and dashing to McFoster's for some vegan cheesecake!! :0)

Tip #1: Traveling as a vegan requires the proper frame of mind. If you want to change the world, you may have to change your mind.

2010-01-29T22:14:17Z

If there is one thing that I have learned, since becoming a vegan, that has helped me the most in my travels, it is to set my mind right. I used to set myself with high expectations and demand that my expectations be met. I would get so wrapped up in MY demands as a vegan, I overlooked the simple fact that most people have absolutely no clue what a vegan is. Think about it. How many times has a non-vegan family member or friend tried to cook for you, only to find that they didn't realize that cheese is really an animal product and that, just because it doesn't have a face, a clam is still an animal? Do you get visibly upset with them? Do you stomp away mad? You know that their intentions were in the right place, they simply had no clue. You end up munching on whatever vegetables they have or throw together a salad and you smile. It has taken me a while to learn, but I mentally prepare myself and set my expectations low in virtually every new situation. There are several reasons for this: 1. I nearly can't be disappointed. 2. I do not offend or hurt a well-meaning person's feelings. 3. I demonstrate to others that being vegan is not that difficult.

You see, with high expectations comes a great deal of disappointment. Maybe this won't work for you, but it serves me well in all aspects of travel. If you fly a lot and you always expect the plane to take off on time, you are setting yourself up for ulcers. If you can't roll with the punches when your hotel room isn't ready or plan to hit traffic on your way to the airport, give it up. Get a desk job somewhere or expect a nervous breakdown in your near future. We live in a meat and dairy centric world and I don't see mass enlightenment coming any time soon, so set your expectations accordingly. Yes, over the past 12 years, since I have become vegan, thanks to the hard work of people like the Nelson's, the Robbins', Jeff Novick, Dr. McDougall and thousands of us vegan evangelists, awareness and options have increased dramatically, but it still has been at a snail's pace. I know what you are thinking, "You have got to be kidding? This is this idiot's advice for being a vegan traveler, take your lumps and smile?" LOL. That is kind of funny. But, no, that is not my advice. I am just suggesting that you examine your expectations and ground them closer to reality, if needed. Aside from setting my expectations low, as a form of avoiding disappointment, I do this because I see myself as a vegan ambassador and, in the past, when I would throw a fit or make a big deal that there was nothing for ME to eat, I would deeply offend and turn off those people around me that, I might not have realized, spent a great deal of time seeing to it that there was something for me to eat. The assistant that set up the lunch and called the restaurant and was proudly awaiting my approval for a job well done. The marketing person that went to great lengths working with the convention center or hotel to ensure that I was taken care of and was looking forward to seeing my needs satisfied. Even a client that might have been excited to take me to his favorite restaurant and treat me to a good meal. Just like a family member or friend, they are all well-meaning. Throwing a fit, pushing your food away like a child that doesn't want to eat his peas, can deeply offend and turn people off to ever considering a vegan diet.

Now, if you knew me like my family and friends do, you would know that I have an edge to me and I am hardly the type of person that walks around on egg shells worrying about offending people. I also have a "don't let the b@stards win" attitude about eating out. I pride myself on being able to eat in any restaurant. One of my clients, when I first started in this job, learned that I was a vegan. This guy had an opinion about vegans, that I find rather typical, but this guy is an avid hunter, or "Sportsman," as he calls himself. He wanted to get in my face with his diet and "make the vegan squirm." So, he made reservations for dinner at a very high-end steak house. This was his regular haunt and he knew the management very well, so he made a special request in advance for a "special" prime rib. I ordered a basic salad and smiled when it arrived. When his "special" prime rib showed, it was brought out on a platter the size of a trash can lid and the meat was hanging over the sides! There was also a bone on it that had to be over two feet long. I laughed and told him that I hoped that they had a portable defibrillator, because their was no way I was doing CPR on "that ugly face." He was disappointed that he didn't upset the vegan, but was pleasantly surprised that not all vegans are the way he perceived them. Now, when I come to town, he makes reservations at this same place, but he has arranged for the restaurant to make me special vegan meals with seitan and soy products that they literally keep on hand just for me. It is my favorite restaurant in Iowa. They tell me that they have had other veg*ns come in over the years and these veg*ns were stunned to find out that this steak house can make them a vegan mock duck dish with roasted vegetables or some other vegan creation. That's right, if you ever find yourself in 801 Steak House in Des Moines, IA, and you get a great vegan meal, you can thank me. I am taking 100% credit for this. Maybe we can look at this as a form of pay-it-forward for vegan travelers? As we travel the globe, and patiently educate the meat-eating world, we will be setting the stage for future vegan travelers to have their expectations exceeded? I wonder how many great surprises I have had because one of you had visited that restaurant before me? I was stunned to learn that one of my favorite restaurants in the Denver area was serving "vegan" dishes that weren't really vegan! It turns out that the owner and the cooks in the kitchen had gotten their wires crossed and many of the items had dairy in them. A friend of mine had discovered this (long story) and, rather than throw a screaming fit, he literally spent hours with the cooks talking with them about what is vegan and what is not vegan. The result is that this restaurant now has printed up a completely separate vegan menu. When in Denver, you can count on going to Yak and Yeti for very tasty authentic Nepalese and Indian food and be rest assured that it is 100% vegan. You can thank Dave for that one.

Lastly, I try not to make a big deal, because I never want to send the message to others that being vegan is a big deal. How many of you have had people tell you that they would like to become vegetarian or vegan, but it is "just too hard?" They have probably learned this by watching other vegans and vegetarians struggle to find something to eat and, possibly, making a big deal out of it. If you set your mind with very high expectations, life as a vegan traveler will be a living hell and everyone will see this. If you set your expectations within reason, you will do very well and people will see that being a vegan is actually very doable. Yes, there are times that I may actually get nothing to eat because the special meal that they made me is fetuccini alfredo and the salad has cheese in it, but, according to my loving wife, I can *always* stand to miss a meal, so this is not a tragedy. I just don't make a big deal out of it, because it really isn't that big of a deal. Besides, if I end up with nothing to eat, it is really because I dropped the ball, so who should I be mad at? Here's what I do so that I am almost always guaranteed to get a good meal and not make my friends, clients, and/or coworkers uncomfortable or show them that being vegan is too difficult: When I know that I am going to be eating at a certain hotel or convention center for an event, I call the catering manager myself before the event and I discuss the menu. I don't just dump this on someone else to handle for me and expect it to be done right. If I know where reservations have been made for a restaurant meeting with a client, I call in advance and speak with the manager or chef. I make arrangments in advance. If I don't know in advance, I wing it. After we are seated at the table, I excuse myself, like I am going to the restroom, and then I go find the manager and place my order away from the table so that I can get very specific about what my dietary restrictions are, but without making everyone else at the table uncomfortable. I have eaten at some of the most anti-vegan establishments you can think of, from Ruth's Chris, to Smith and Wollensky's, to McCormick and Schmick's, and I have had good meals by following this simple trick.

Surviving as a vegan while traveling in a dairy and meat eating world

2010-01-27T02:34:12Z

I am writing this, because I know that I cannot be the only vegan out there that has a job that requires a lot of travel to a lot of different places. I can't be the only vegan that regularly has to deal with finding food to eat within the confines of corporate functions and conferences, where the catering is usually low quality over-cooked junk that is laden with butter, cheese, and meat. I am sure that there are other vegans other than me that have to endure business lunches and dinners with clients, as well as dealing with the adventures of finding vegan grub in airports and on airplanes. And, because of this, I would like to dedicate this blog to all things related to eating out in a meat eating world. I will start this blog off over the next few weeks and months by sharing how I find food to eat while traveling, attending conferences, and eating out with clients. I also do some adventure travel in various places around the globe and I will share my experiences with you as I travel.

My intent is both selfless and selfish. First, I am hoping that I can be of some service to my fellow vegans that struggle with this on a regular basis. Even for those of you that don't travel often or have to entertain clients, I am sure that there are times when you find yourself in the awkward position of being surrounded by a group of meat eaters and there are very limited food options for you and you struggle with putting together a meal. Second, I am hoping that, by sharing my travel experiences and my dining out tips and tricks, many of you will share your experiences, tips and tricks, and then I can further develop my skills. To be sure, I am by no means an expert at this. Like most every vegan out there, I have developed my skills through the school of hard knocks, but I can always use some new tips and tricks from fellow vegans. I do pride myself in being able to find food no matter where I go. It has become almost a kind of game or even a hobby for me. Iam looking to perfect my skills.

To develop this even further, it is one thing to be able to scrounge up a vegan meal in a meat world, but it is another thing to eat healthy. French fries are vegan, for instance, but they are not that healthy. I have many times found myself indulging in unhealthy foods, while on the road, that I would never consider eating if I were at home. I have gotten much better at this, as of late, but I believe that I will always struggle with it. Let's talk about this. A word of warning, I have the world's biggest sweet tooth and I make no apologies. I cannot and will not turn down good vegan desserts. Even worse, I am in your face about it. While I am indulging in these vegan delicacies, I will often be posting pictures. Don't worry, I will also share with you where you can find them. I am mean and nasty, but not that mean and nasty. :)