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Big White Ski Resort
Have you ever been to a typical North American “ski-in, ski-out” village? Vegan-friendly dining isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
If you look around the village at Big White (and elsewhere), it’s obvious that every restaurant serves up meat, meat, and more meat. It’s exasperating and depressing.
“Vegetarian” doesn’t necessarily mean “veganizable.” It’s typically code for cheese, cheese and more cheese.
Vegan skiers, don’t despair. You can have a perfectly powder-licious ski experience and find some great vegan grub at the same time. All it takes is a little sleuthing.
Here’s the on-mountain restaurant listing for Big White.
Our trip to Big White was short (3 days). If we stayed longer, there are other places we would also try. Next time!
Check out where we did eat (and drink!)…
BEANO’S COFFEE PARLOUR
Soy Latte
Glen Plake?
LOTUS LOUNGE – THAI CUISINE
(Don’t forget to request “no fish sauce” when dining at Thai restaurants.
Expect the food to be spicy, so speak up if you want the heat turned down.)
Vegetable Thai Spring Rolls:
Mixed Vegetables in a vermicelli wrap, fried golden, served with sweet and sour plum and tamarind sauce.
Thai Yellow Curry:
Thai yellow curry in coconut milk with potato, onion, carrots and pineapple
(add tofu)
Black Bean Tofu:
Tofu with bean sprouts, garlic and fresh chilies in a black bean sauce
Steamed Rice
SANTÉ BAR – APRÈS-SKI
Dirty Pickle:
Muddled cucumber, lime, black pepper, gin and soda
I (unintentionally) had a green drink theme going on for St Patrick’s Day weekend.
The steamed edamame was green, too. And it was addicting!
Superstein Saturday
UNDERGROUND PIZZA
Veggie Pizza, no cheese (substitute extra sauce and another topping for the cheese)
For tips on eating vegan breakfast in your hotel room, see the previous post, “Ski Breakfast & Morning Powder.”
White Crystal Inn at Big White
Kebaba is a Middle Eastern restaurant in Bend, Oregon. On Friday I ate there for the first time. When I walked in the door, I was ecstatic to see that the lunch special was vegan 
, but my excitement was tempered by seeing lamb– baby sheep– on the menu. Of course, there were plenty of other animals on the menu, too.
No– baby sheep are no “better” than any other animal species, but yet I somehow still get a visceral reaction when I see “lamb” on restaurant menus. Is it because I never ate lamb even before I went vegan? Or, is it because I currently volunteer at a goat rescue that also cares for sheep? At any rate, it does bring up a certain question…
A friend gave me this sticker.
Kebaba is located on Newport Avenue.
Kebaba sign
Eric at Kebaba
The vegan lunch special at Kebaba
I chose the spicy tomato eggplant soup with my curried tempeh salad. The soup was outstanding. The salad and pita bread were delicious.
Curried tempeh salad with spicy tomato eggplant soup
Curried tempeh salad with spicy tomato eggplant soup
I tried a bite of my sister’s curried lentil soup. It was almost like a puree, which I liked very much.
The “Karnabeet” appetizer (seared cauliflower with lemon tahini sauce) was crazy good. Not only could I live on cooked cauliflower anyway, but I do believe I could drink lemon tahini sauce straight.
Curried lentil soup and Karnabeet
Karnabeet (seared cauliflower with lemon tahini sauce)
This was a great vegan meal. It’s just too bad that the whole restaurant couldn’t be vegan. It could SO easily be!
The Shire Cafe in Arlington, WA
Yes…there IS a vegetarian restaurant in Arlington, WA. Who knew? (Me!)
I actually found out about The Shire Cafe when I started volunteering at New Moon Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary four years ago (which is also located in Arlington).
On Fridays, I scoop the poop at the farm, and then I eat lunch at The Shire Cafe– with the owner of the goat rescue (my friend ). On weekends, after mountain biking, Eric and I like to drop in for a cold Mirror Pond and some dinner.
Located in the same building (the Mirkwood), is Mordor Tattoo. Savannah did my “vegan” wrist tattoo.
Savannah’s work: my vegan tattoo
The Mirkwood has an ongoing live music schedule. (Past our bedtimes!)
Mirkwood
Back to the food!!
Just about everything on the menu can be made vegan. There’s always a homemade vegan soup of the day. Most entrees come with salad, soup or fries. I highly recommend the soup, no matter what flavor is featured. Here are some pictures to make your mouth water …
Ruben Panini
Taco Salad
“Happy” Chicken Ranch Pizza
Gyro with soup
Calzone with salad
Calzone
Sweet Potato Fries
Burrito with (extra green and red sauces)
Godzilla Sandwich with Tomato Basil Soup
Happy Chicken Caesar Salad
Veggie Burger and Fries
Taco Pizza
Grilled Veggie Wrap
Happy Chicken Burger and Soup
Pesto Pizza
Chili
I ordered a bowl of chili with some french fries.. Mmm.
Gyro with Salad
Grilled Happy Chicken Caesar Wrap
Are you hungry for some vegan food yet?
Last weekend, we discovered this vegan-friendly restaurant in Stanwood, WA: The Chatter Box.
It has Malaysian, Thai, Indian, and American fusion cuisine.
Eric’s cute ’74 BMW poses in front of the restaurant.
The Chatter Box menu
The vegetarian section of the menu.
Nice, warm ambience.
I had the Tropical Madness. Delicious!
Eric ordered the Mongolian Tofu. Tons of spicy flava!
Eric & his parents
Looks like we aren’t the only ones who like the place!
We’ll be back!
I stopped for a late lunch at the Living Well Bistro on my way home from visiting family in Oregon this past weekend. This is a relatively new addition to the vegan restaurant listings for Portland, Oregon on Happy Cow. The man at the counter said that the Bistro opened up about 8-9 months ago. I’m ecstatic that I discovered it. It’s located just inside the Adventist Medical Center.
As a health care provider who is constantly frustrated with the nutrient-poor food served in “typical” hospitals and nursing homes, I still can’t contain my enthusiasm about dining in a 100% Plant-Based restaurant inside a hospital. Pinch me! This gives me hope for the future of health care.
I looked on the Adventist Health website and found that the hospital also has a Garden Cafe, which “…embraces the Adventist position of practicing a vegetarian lifestyle to support the holistic nature of humankind. All food or beverages consumed should honor and glorify God and preserve the health of the body, mind and spirit.”
You can poke around this website to learn more about the Adventist Health Studies (AHS) at Loma Linda University. AHS are “long-term studies exploring the links between lifestyle, diet, and disease among Seventh-day Adventists.”
I found out that, of the 96,000 AHS-2 study participants…
- 8% are vegan
- 28% are lacto-ovo vegetarian
- 10% are pesco-vegetarian
- 6% are semi-vegetarian (eating meat/fish less than once per week)
- 48% are non-vegetarian.
So how do those numbers compare to the U.S. general public?
According to the 2011 Harris Interactive survey (conducted on behalf of the Vegetarian Resource Group)…
- 5% are vegetarian
- Half of the vegetarians are vegan (2 1/2%)
That’s quite a difference. Those numbers are WAY too low! No wonder that the Adventist Health studies provide so much information on the benefits of plant-based eating.
Now…let’s enter the Living Well Bistro…
The Living Well Bistro Menu features breakfast items, appetizers, soups, salads, whole grain bread, flax crackers, tacos, live pasta, naan pizzas (with Daiya vegan cheese), rice/quinoa bowls, wraps, desserts, smoothies, and other beverages: A vegan’s dream come true!
On one side of the Bistro is a display of kitchen items for purchase…
I smiled W-I-D-E when I saw all the vegan cookbooks on display!
Dr. Neal Barnard is a doctor you can trust with your precious health…
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s The Joy of Vegan Baking…
I ordered the Garden Veggie Wrap & Sesame Ginger dressing for the salad…
“A whole wheat tortilla filled with our sunflower pate, cucumbers, bell pepper, tomatoes, carrots and seasonal greens finished with a creamy dill dressing”
I grabbed a Banana Almond Smoothie for the road…
“Bananas, almond butter and dates blended in rice milk”
I couldn’t resist this crazy moist, melt-in-your-mouth Mint Brownie…
Just like the Terminator said…
“I’LL BE BACK.”
My 2011 trip to Kauai wasn’t my first visit to the island, but it was the first time going as a vegan. I was pleased to discover that it’s quite simple to find tasty vegan food all over the island. I had one bad experience, but hopefully it was a learning experience for all involved.
I vacationed at the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club (on Poipu Beach) with my husband and parents (thanks mom & dad!). We ate local fresh fruit every morning and cooked most dinners in the condo. The lunch meal was typically the meal “out.”
I’ll start the tour of Kauai’s vegan eats on the South shore and work my way north…
FARMER’S MARKETS – You can’t beat the fresh fruit of Hawaii. At the beginning of your trip, find out where and when the Farmer’s Markets will be. Only then plan your other activities. Arrive early and bring cash!
KAUAI SOUTH SHORE
LIVING FOODS MARKET – Located in the Kukuiula Village (2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka #24), in Koloa.
We picked up some hummus and tabbouleh to take hiking on the Alakai Swamp Trail.
DA CRACK – Located at 2827 Poipu Road, in Poipu.
“Da Most Bang For Your Buck” is true! This is a “take-out only” Mexican food place. I appreciated that the Veggie Burrito/Veggie Soft Taco are vegan. I didn’t have to say “No cheese, please!”
PUKA DOG – Located in the Poipu Shopping Village (2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive), in Koloa
Puka veggie dogs are made from soy and wheat gluten. The bread is dairy- and egg-free. Have the Lilikoi Mustard and Tropical Relishes (dairy-free), but avoid the other sauces (which contain milk.) (Here is the Puka Dog FAQ page.)
PAPALANI GELATO – Located in the Poipu Shopping Village, in Koloa.
There is a whole section of dairy-free Sorbetto, and the sugar cones are vegan. With so many flavors, you’ll need to keep coming back! Here, I had lime on the bottom and pineapple on top…
ROY’S POIPU BAR & GRILL – Located in the Poipu Shopping Village, in Koloa
Our one bad experience. Here‘s the story…
Walking through the shopping village, I noticed the Roy’s “Vegetarian Menu” and the “Vegan Chocolate Souffle.” I figured that if a vegan dessert was on the menu, then Roy’s could accommodate vegans for dinner, too. The “Vegetarian Menu” looked perfectly acceptable. So, contrary to my usual frugal nature, I decided to splurge on fine dining.
Once seated, the waiter brought out edamame to eat while reviewing the menu. We stated that we are vegan, and immediately double-checked that the edamame was not cooked in butter. “No, cooked in oil.”
We ordered the Togarashi Seared Tofu & Hawaiian Mushroom “Poke” for an appetizer. It was rich.
Ginger Fusion
We ordered the Fresh Seasonal Vegetable Medley (“Chef’s Way”) and said, “That’s vegan, right?” Everything seemed fine, but when the waiter presented our plates, he described a risotto and used the word “butter.”
- “Vegan butter?”
- The waiter went to the kitchen.
- He came back, “It’s cream.” I had to explain that cream is dairy.
- The waiter was flustered. I was annoyed.
- We ate steak fries instead.
- Finally, I ordered the VEGAN Chocolate Souffle. At least it delivered! It was super decadent.
- I typed a complaint on the Roy’s website. I stated that I was drawn in by the Vegan Chocolate Souffle, and that I’d assumed that since Roy’s was offering a vegan dessert, it meant that a vegan could reasonably expect a vegan dinner, too.
A few days later, I received a phone call from the manager of Roy’s, who apologized to me for the debacle. Staff training was underway. She confirmed my suspicions that the appetizer was cooked in butter. Our $85 bill was refunded.
Moral of the story…don’t assume that vegan dessert means vegan dinner. We asked questions and explained our dietary preference, yet we still got into trouble. Hopefully some good came from our experience and the next vegan customer didn’t have to eat unwanted dairy products!
My Recommendation: Save your dinner dollars, but have dessert!
KAUAI EAST SHORE
PAPAYA’S NATURAL FOODS – Located at Kauai Village Shopping Center (4-831 Kuhio Hwy), in Kapa’a
Do your grocery shopping here! You’ll find every-vegan-thing that you need, to stock up your condo timeshare or hotel room. There are plenty of vegan options for a “grab & go” picnic lunch…check out the cafe. We picked up some Daiya Pepperjack Shreds to make nachos with fresh mango salsa…
RAINBOW LIVING FOODS - Located at 4-1384 Kuhio Hwy, in Kapa’a (behind the set of shops on the highway.)
I have a confession to make: I was almost too cheap to dine here. What a mistake that would have been! This Rainbow Veggie Wrap with Creamy Lime Dressing was probably the best meal of my trip (and I ate some good stuff!) I think it cost something like $11, which (for me) is a little pricey for lunch, but guess what? It was totally worth it. Don’t leave Kauai without stopping here.
KAUAI NORTH SHORE
THE HEALTHY HUT NATURAL FOOD STORE – Located at 4270 Kilauea Road, in Kilauea
It’s a small store, but it gets the job done.
KILAUEA BAKERY & PAU HANA PIZZA – Located at Kong Lung Center (2484 Keneke St), in Kilauea
Outstanding vegan cake! I had to try every flavor: Coconut, Banana, Macadamia Mocha, and Chocolate Raspberry. Hopefully they still sell them. I’d check ahead, because otherwise, this place really needs some veganizing!
As of February 2012, according to this website about the Kong Lung Historic Market Center, the bakery is advertising a gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan muffin. I’m not sure that sounds too exciting when on vacation. I hope that’s not their only vegan pastry option!
BANANA JOE’S FRUITSTAND – Located at 5-2719 Kuhio Highway, in Kilauea
Pick up some fresh fruit, but don’t leave until you eat a refreshing banana pineapple “Frosty,” made from 100% frozen fruit pushed through a juicer. This is better than soft-serve ice cream, because it’s naturally vegan. (Banana Joe’s inspired me to make my own homemade Frosties at home, with my Omega Juicer.)
HARVEST MARKET – Located at 5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, in Hanalei
This natural food store kicks some butt. Shop for your groceries or grab some food to take to the beach. I bought a scrumptious Tempeh BLT Sandwich and some Uncle Eddie’s Molasses cookies.
RED HOT MAMA’S – Located between Hanalei and Ke’e Beach, in the community of Wainiha.
Fresh mexican food and seasoned tofu is available! Avocado instead of cheese makes a better taco. It’s cash only, so be prepared! This website has a picture of the walk up window…it’s another “take-out only” restaurant.
Admire the fishes…Don’t eat them.
An Essay on Consistency…
Sooner or later, people who abstain from consuming animal products will listen to friends, acquaintances, or family members declare, “I only buy humane meat,” or “I only buy free-range eggs,” or “I only buy organic milk.” These are the actual words spoken.
“I only buy humane meat, etc” could be one person’s response to some horrific undercover video footage or another’s solution to factory farming. The health-conscious say this in the context of minimizing exposure to rBGH, E-Coli O157:H7 or BSE. Environmentalists might include the word “sustainable.” Followers of Michael Pollan make this statement in support of the family farmer.
When I hear “I only buy humane meat, etc,” I also hear the following unspoken messages: “Hey look, I’m doing something,” “I care about the animals, too,” and “I recognize there is a problem.” I would like to respond to both the spoken words and the unspoken messages.
“I only buy humane meat.” Really? So when you go out to restaurants, what do you order? What kind of pizza do you get? On the road, do you occasionally opt for the convenience of a fast-food restaurant drive-through? In the grocery store, what choices do you make when buying canned soups or frozen entrees? Do you always check labels?
“I only buy free-range eggs.” “I only buy organic milk.” Ok. When you go out for breakfast, what do you have? Do you ever get a pastry at the coffee shop? Do you ask your barista about the milk in your espresso? How about an ice cream cone on a summer day? What about the cheese in your sandwich, taco, or salad? Grocery shelves are lined with baked, packaged, and processed foods containing egg and milk ingredients. Is what you buy free-range and organic? Are you that selective?
These are the types of questions that come to my mind when I hear someone say, “I only buy humane meat, etc.” My first reaction is, “I’m not sure about that.” Chances are, you don’t only buy humane meat, etc. If you truly did, you would be reading labels, asking questions about ingredients, and eating like vegans do nearly all of the time because the vast majority of animal-derived foods do not proclaim to be “humane,” “free-range,” “organic,” ‘”sustainable,” or “grass-fed.”
“But,” you say, “I didn’t mean EVERYTHING I buy is humane/free-range/organic/etc.” Exactly. My point is that consistency is lost. Being true to your own word is meaningless. Whether you say you “only buy humane meat” because of the animal cruelty videos, the factory farms, your health, the environment, the family farmers or some other reason, please take a critical look at whether you are actually doing it. If you say you do something, then do it consistently.
My second reaction when I hear “I only buy humane meat, etc” is, “So, what?” What do labels like “humane,” “free-range,” “organic” (as applied to meat and milk), and “sustainable” really mean? Do you know? Do you want to know? What do you think they mean? What are you hoping they mean? Why do you care?
The first answer to the question “What do the labels mean?” is “Not much.” The second answer is, “It doesn’t matter.” “Humane” doesn’t matter because unnecessary killing can’t be humane. “Free-range” doesn’t matter because it’s still slavery. “Organic milk” doesn’t matter because cow’s milk belongs to baby cows, not humans. “Grass-fed” doesn’t matter because grass is what the cows would be eating if we would just leave them alone in the first place.
None of these labels matter to me. Animals should not be the property of humans. Animals are not things, they are sentient beings. Animals belong to themselves. They deserve the basic right to live their own lives. The problem is not “how” we use animals, the problem is “that” we use animals.
When you say “I only eat humane meat, etc,” is that really what you do? Is that really what you want to do? Or, are you actually just saying, “Hey look, I’m doing something,” or “I care about the animals, too,” or “I recognize there is a problem.”? If you indeed want to do something, then act. If you do care about the animals, then really care. Go vegan. If you do recognize there is a problem, then don’t deny it. Learn more about it, take action, and be consistent.
In closing, being consistent does not make you “radical” or “extreme,” although people who abstain from consuming all animal products are often called these things. Acting consistently on principle simply shows integrity. Being consistent demonstrates conviction and the willingness to stand up for something that is important, no matter what. Consistency in action is necessary for positive change. Be consistent, yes. But please leave the animals alone.
I only buy humane meat. It is 100% plant-derived. It is humane meat.
(Picture taken while mountain biking in Roslyn, WA, Sept 24, 2011)
