Good News! Vegilicious, Europe's first vegan supermarket opens in Dortmund

Hi folks!

Good news! The first vegan supermarket in Europe opens in Dortmund, Germany.

(Source: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14903137,00.html)

Now, Germany is famous for it's beer, and sausages, seems like an unlikely choice for Europe's first vegan supermarket. But it happens! And big applause for it! Wonder if Malaysia has such stores or would have such store in near future! Then it would be a haven not only for vegan but also for parents who wish for a better and healthier food choices for their children; and in fact even for people who are having lactose intolerant would find their "safe" food here as vegan do not take eggs and dairy products!

For a more complete definition of vegan, let me quote from vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Vegan.htm:

What is a vegan? What is veganism?

Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients. Many vegans also do not eat foods that are processed using animal products, such as refined white sugar and some wines. Most vegans also avoid the use of all products tested on animals, as well as animal-derived non-food products, such as leather, fur and wool.
Vegan refers to either a person who follows this way of eating, or to the diet itself.

Vegilicious, which opened on February 26, occupies over 100 square meters in the city-centre, technically making it the only vegan supermarket in Europe.

 Vegilicious offers chocolate bars, cereals, and even meat imitations, like fake chicken wings, which use cane sugar sticks to serve as 'bones.'

"People say they can't live without cheese, but we've got 30 different cheese alternatives," said Kalkowski, who co-owns Vegilicious with wife Kim. "You can have anything you think you might be missing, so there's no need to eat animal products anymore."

Starting with a café and online shop, the Kalkowski's and their 16 staff have so far maintained a customer flow of 120-150 people per day. They have even managed to attract non-human clients, selling vegan dog- and cat food.

"It's ridiculous if you rescue one animal, but feed them with another dead animal," he said.

Said one Vegilicious shopper, "No, I'm not vegan, I have never tried real vegan food. I think it's good so I can now try."

Now, it makes me feel like flying to Dortmund now. If you do visit Dortmund, do drop by Vegilicious...another vegan shopping haven!

Cheers to a more healthier and lifestyle choices....and we do have a liberty to make the right choices!

Yummy Vegetarian Food@Imperial Art Cottage(Sri Petaling)

Lovely place to have some tea and meals. You can get Buddhist and spiritual books plus Buddhist prayer items here too ;)

Happy International "Ladies" Day

Hi folks!

Today is March 8, signifies 3 8 Ladies Day(heehee..purposely refuse to use women here...as many website administrator will block the word "woman" for some reason..sigh...)

Today commemorates a special day for ladies...

So let's rejoice, remind and rejuvenate on this day!

Cheers to ALL ladies! May you have a great day today & every tomorrow is a better day!

Are you tough Enough to be a vegan in Cuba?

Hi folks!

I just read of an article about the hurdles of vegan or even vegetarianism in Cuba at The Star Online, "

Cuba: Uphill battle for vegans"

Excerpts:
When elsewhere in the world, vegetarianism is gaining proponents who cite evidence that eating less meat is good for your heart and reduces the risk of certain types of cancer.

In Cuba, the island's handful of vegetarians face an uphill battle. Meat is such a central pillar of the Cuban diet, or at least the idea of the Cuban diet, that the rare decision to embrace vegetarianism is widely seen as bordering on insanity.

Cubans' love affair with meat is linked to the country's "special period" – an era of extreme hardship and acute food shortages in the early 1990s.

Cubans experienced true hunger during those dark years, missing many meals, making do with very small and unappetising ones, and going months without meat. "The 'special period' really hurt the cause of vegetarianism in this country. Meat became an obsession for people who lived through that time."

For full article go to The Star Online.

From what it seems a gift for not having meat as your staple to the feeling of deprivation....and thus longing for meat...

Seriously, we need to be tough enough to make the clear and right decision.

It's a matter of choice and we do have the liberality to make such wise choices now...

Cheers to Vegan-hood & Vegetarianism!

Vegetarian Popiah@Puchong

Hi folks, we just discovered a vegetarian popiah(spring roll) stall near Tesco Puchong. The skin is unfried type. We tried both with cooked & uncooked filling.. Yummy.. Not bad. It only open@nite till 12.30am :) Price MYR2-2.50 per pc.

Happy CNY 2011 everyone

Hi folks!

Have a greeny and healthy CNY reunion meals today!

Cheers!

Happy New Year!

Hi folks!

Like to wish everyone Happy New Year and may we lead a  better, greener, more meaningful life in year 2011!

Photo ©iStockphoto.com/ alexs

Cheers!