California Vegan Restaurants - Happy New Year

Divino was much anticipated even before it open in the location on University Avenue in Berkeley, California that previously had been Fellini. I’ve been trying to make it to Divino but my planning has been a little haphazard. A friend and I had planned on dining there on the night they opened but we were a little too early – by one day. The next time I was passing through Berkeley on my way to the City I thought I would try it for lunch but they were only opened for dinner. Well I finally managed to make it there for dinner this evening which also just happened to be the first day they have opened for brunch. Divino’s menu…

Well, I don’t know if you could really call it a restaurant. There are not too many things on the menu because this is a specialty shop. What they specialize in is done exceptionally well and it is done with an enormous variety of options. They do Cinnamon Rolls – Decadent, calorie rich, sugary, chocolaty, nutty, fruity, sweet goodies. Cinnaholic in Berkeley is a Northern California institution that, while not a vegan dinner destination, is often included in one’s East Bay vegan dining plans. With nearly 30 frosting flavors and even more different toppings the number of possible combinations is mind blowing. Some of these options that come together especially well make up the menu of named specialty rolls. This…

When dining out with a group colleagues, friends or family the minority of vegans in the party will most certainly influence the choice of dining venue. Conscientious restaurant chefs and managers must decide and subsequently define operational policies for accommodating any dietary needs including the needs of vegans and vegetarians. There are just a few logical approaches to this: identify which menu items are vegan; identify which menu items can be prepared vegan; or leave requests for vegan food to the discretion of the chef. Note that I said “chef”, not cook, not manager. That last approach really takes a confident, skilled chef because what ultimately arrives at the diner’s table is truly representative of the chef’s art. Line cooks…

It was March 16, 2011 when fellow CVR team member Ilsa Hess told me that the kitchen in a bar in mid-town Sacramento, which had been closed for some months, was launching a vegan menu on St. Patrick ’s Day. That’s tomorrow I was thinking. How perfect the world seemed at that moment. Well, corn beef and cabbage won out on St. Paddy’s day but later that week the kitchen in the Round Corner Tavern, which we now know as Downtown’s Kitchen, launched their vegan menu and we were eagerly standing by to sample the goods. The Round Corner soon became a favorite hangout of the young bohemian vegan crowd (we call it just “RC”). This is the go-to spot…

Owner Ernesto Delgado is beaming; he is excited about his new vegetarian kitchen. Yes, not just menu but kitchen. He greats us warmly. Even though he will not be launching his vegetarian menu until the following day he is eager talk to us about it, but first it’s time for us to sample some vegan offerings from this kitchen. Our server too seems eager to serve and lets us know at the outset that he understands we are vegan and makes some suggestions on what we might like from the kitchen. It’s an easy decision for myself and CVR team member Ilsa Hess – let it be chef’s choice. For an appetizer we are each served a delicious soup followed…

Sacramento is fortunate to have its fair share of vegetarian and vegan restaurants and a few of these are all-vegan. The vegan community proudly acknowledges them as key elements in the local culture. Loving Hut on Stockton Boulevard (formerly Au Lac Veggie) has been an insider favorite for several years. They have a dedicated local following by local vegans and “normal” people in the know. This rather small scale family run operation it is at the top of the list for local vegans who wish to meet for a casual lunch, but here you may also see a couple of Buddhist monks, a family with children or busy medical professionals on their lunch break. Simple accoutrements and inexpensive prices belie…

Sacramento, California is experiencing renaissance in vegan culture. An ever-growing number of eateries are recognizing the demand for vegan cuisine from a dedicated vegan community and an increasing conscientiousness among the dining public. Successful recent events like the Sacramento VegFest and programs like the Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge are showcasing vegan food as fine cuisine and not just an alternative to pacify picky eaters. As a result the Capitol City is positioning itself  as a cultural nucleus and respected destination for vegan and vegetarian travel. Vegan dining patrons can choose from respected fully vegan eateries or vegan options from mainstream eateries ranging from bar food to the finest cuisine where  quality ingredients and artful presentation are elevated to the highest…