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Archive for May, 2010

Mark Bittman Shares Sushi Minus The Seafood Ideas

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, May 7th, 2010 in Authors, Flexitarian, Food & Drink.

"Spain... On The Road Again" Television Series Launch

Mark Bittman is famous for his flexitarian approach to eating and in a recent column in the New York Times, Bittman shares with readers how to make sushi without the fish.

Sushi without the seafood is not only vegetarian friendly, but budget friendly and Bittman points this out in the article.

“Think about it: sushi without seafood, sushi without restaurants and sushi without spending $80 a person. It’s an appealing option,” he writes.

Vegetarians already know that nori seaweed strips make great wraps and although not every non seafood option Bittman gives is vegetarian, there is an abundance of vegetables and vegetarian protein to try like fried tofu, raw or seared tofu, avocado, mushrooms and eggplants.

Bittman says that when buying nori, look for sheets with darker colors and fewer holes.

And eat right away for a crispy sushi experience–as soon as nori touches moisture, it begins to soften.

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A Starbucks drink is seen on a table in New York's Times Square

Update: An update to this post can be found here.

Coffee and cow lovers united when Starbucks announced their Frappuccinos could be made vegan.

Now, the coffee giant is offering a However You Want It Frappuccino, which allows the consumer to specify the strength of the coffee, type of milk and other syrups and topping.

Of particular interest to the vegans will be the Soy Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino(R) Blended Beverage, described as an “all-natural strawberry sauce, creme base, soy milk, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream.”

But don’t you need to remove the cream to make it completely non-dairy?

Or is this cream coming from the soy?

More investigation is needed, probably during the next trip to use Starbuck’s WiFi and purchase one of their special edition CDs they won’t stop playing over and over again during your four hour study sessions.

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Green Day "American Idiot" Musical

Green Day "American Idiot" Musical

Who ever thought Billie Joe Armstrong would make it to Broadway?

The American Idiot musical portrays young adults trying to find their way through the world: one leaves to fight for his country, another escapes to the city, and another gets stuck in suburbia.

Seen here is a video of the cast singing Green Day’s “21 Guns.”

Sure hope that leopard attire on one cast member is fake, because only an American Idiot would still be wearing real fur.

Take a look, watch the video and decide for yourself.

Fur real?

Or (hopefully) fur fake.

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RSPCA Asks Supermarkets To Buy Slow Growing Chickens

Written by Vegetarian Star on Thursday, May 6th, 2010 in Animal Issues.

Battery chickens in cages on factory farm

The RSPCA is asking supermarkets in the UK to replace chickens bought from farmers who use a faster growing method with birds obtained by rearing more slowly to improve animal welfare.

“Science and practical experience clearly demonstrate that this would lead to an even greater improvement in the welfare of many millions of chickens,” said Dr. Marc Cooper, senior scientist for the ASPCA.

Dr. Cooper said that many retailers are already buying more ethical food under the ASPCA’s Freedom Food Scheme, which details standards that are to be met during animal rearing, but more can be done.

According to the UK Vegetarian Society, skeletal disorders and heart failure are two common conditions that occur in fast growing chickens.

The structure of the bones of fast growing birds cannot keep pace with the growth of the muscle and fat, causing pain and making it difficult to move.

Heart failure is thought to occur because the high amounts of Oxygen needed to keep pace with their metabolism agitates the cardio-pulmonary system.

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The Creep Show welcomed Gary Holt, lead guitarist of the metal band Exodus, and also a PETA member and animal activist to discuss several topics in the music news world, including a PSA the band GWAR is doing for PETA with Red Chord lead singer Guy Kozowyk.

The PSA features humans pitted against each other in dog fights instead of animals. The discussion of the show starts around minute 4:10.

Take a look.

Will it get metal heads in on the anti-dog fighting action?

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Brian May Campaigns With Labour Candidate Dan Norris

Queen guitarist Brian May campaigned in the region of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency recently, an area that is being targeted by the Tory party.

He was accompanied by supporters from his Save Me Campaign, which he created to educate and encourage people to help preserve many of the laws that already exist that protect animals.

The party is of interest to May because it has expressed desire in repealing the Hunting Act of 2004.

“I want to say ‘please be aware that the Conservatives may try to look moderate and nice but they are still steeped in blood sports’.”

“The country will be awash in the blood of innocent animals if the Conservatives get back in, and I just want people to be aware of that.”

A series of full page ads have been placed in newspapers by UK animal rights group PAL (Political Animal Lobby) warning people that if the Tories win the election, the fox hunting ban will be lifted.

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Vegan Author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau Says No More Excuse-itarian

Written by Vegetarian Star on Thursday, May 6th, 2010 in Authors, Food & Drink.

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau "The Joy Of Vegan Baking"

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau "The Joy Of Vegan Baking"

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of several vegetarian cookbooks, including “The Joy Of Vegan Baking,” is giving a series of speeches around the United States titled, “From Excuse-itarian to Vegetarian: Addressing the Blocks that Keep People from Making Changes.”

Patrick-Goudreau says making the transition to vegetarian or veganism is easier than you think and you may not even realize your diet is almost there.

Even meat eaters area already eating fruits, vegetables and nuts, for example.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of taking the same spices you’d use in a meat dish and applying those to a plant based one.

“When you’re going to get salad from the salad bar, just don’t put cheese on it,” Patrick-Goudreau said. “Try a bean burrito instead of a chicken burrito.”

Patrick-Goudreau advised vegans worried about calcium to consume lots of dark, leafy greens that contain the mineral, such as kale, collard greens, chard and broccoli.

Of course, buying her cookbooks doesn’t  hurt either.

Besides The Joy of Vegan Baking, Patrick-Goudreau has also authored The Vegan Table : 200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion.

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Grand Opening Of Thomas Keller's Bouchon In Beverly Hills

The Animal Protection & Rescue League has organized a protest against celebrity chef Thomas Keller outside his three restaurants because he serves foie gras.

Several other animal rights groups, Animal Protection & Rescue League, Orange County People for Animals, In Defense of Animals, and Compassion Over Killing have launched a campaign about foie gras and will be outside Keller’s restaurants holding banners depicting the conditions inside Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Keller’s supplier.

Foie gras is produced by force feeding geese so much their livers swell several times their normal sizes.

The metal pipes placed in their throats for feeding often injure the digestive tract as well.

“As a veterinarian, I find foie gras to be a disease rather than a delicacy,” states Elliot Katz, DVM, President of IDA. “The liver’s function is to process toxins, and a liver in this grossly enlarged state from force feeding cannot function properly.”

The protests will be held at the following restaurants on Saturday, May 8.

Per Se, 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019 – Time: noon
Bouchon, 235 N. Canon Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210 – Time: 7:30pm
French Laundry, 6640 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599 – Time 7pm

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