This past week, Alternative Outfitters was featured on Supreme Master TV.  They did an interview with co-founder, Jackie Horrick, to find out more about the company and how it got started. Check out the videos below. 

Part 1A

Part 1B

Part 2A

Part 2B

I’ve been a vegetarian for about 28 years now and although I don’t cook from scratch all the time, I have tried my share of bouillons, stocks, and broths.  I have never found one as easy to use and as ready-to-eat as the Vegetarian Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base.

Vegetarian Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base

It’s certified vegan and made with seasoned vegetables.  It contains salt so you don’t even need to add any.  You just dissolve the Better Than Bouillon into boiling water and you have an instant stock that’s tasty and ready to eat.  Today I made vegan wonton soup using the Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base and Vegan Frozen Tofu & Vegetable Bite Size Won Tons. It required no prep time and was so yummy.  I just made stock with the bouillon and threw in the wontons while it was lightly boiling for about 2 minutes.  Once the wontons floated to the top, it was done!

Vegan Wonton Soup

The Better Than Bouillon can be used alone with water or you can add your favorite ingredients for a hearty soup.  It’s also great as a base for quinoa or couscous.  So get some today and make your own savory treats!

It’s time to start shopping for fall and back to school and AlternativeOutfitters.com has you covered.  We just received a huge shipment of new boots from Sugar Shoes. Here is just a sample of some of the new vegan boots we just got in. 

Morigami Floral Sweater Black Boot

Morigami Floral Sweater Black Boot
Oh so lovely and delicate! These slip on boots will definitely add a lot of character to any outfit! Features a decorative black, green, and tan floral faux shearling outer, two black bows to tie the boot in place, black interior faux fur lining, slightly padded insole, and rubber sole.

Xanadoo Black Faux Suede Thigh High Boot

Xanadoo Black Faux Suede Thigh High Boot
Slip into comfort this fall when wearing these new retro style thigh high boots by Sugar Shoes! And what’s great is you can wear these boots in different styles, wear them high or wear them scrunched down low! Comes with a sewn on side bow which wraps around the leg to hold the boot in place. Features a black soft faux suede exterior, sturdy canvas and pleather interior, fashionable wrap-a-round bow, and black rubber sole.

Surprise Party Suedette Tan Boot

Surprise Party Suedette Tan Boot
With the colder months soon approaching, you will want to snuggle your feet in something sweet! Features a smooth faux suede outer, light yellow tie-a-round side bow, soft faux shearling interior lining, slightly padded insole, and thick brown rubber sole.

Rockband Brush Off Black Ankle Boot

Rockband Brush Off Black Ankle Boot
These boots are perfect for that punk princess in you! Great addition to any fall wardrobe - can be worn casually or out to that next rockin’ show! Features black pleather exterior with some “brushed off” allowing some white to peek through, 8 lace hole tie up (w/ additional spare strings added in boot box), inner side zipper for easy on/off, thick white stitched seam, slightly padded footbed, and extra thick tall traction sole.

Guitar Hero Crinkle Black Boot

Guitar Hero Crinkle Black Boot
Cruelty-Free ROCK n’ ROLL!!! These boots are perfect for that rock star in you! Features a black crinkle pleather exterior, two decorative side buckles, inner side zipper for easy on/off, thick white stitched seam, slightly padded footbed, and extra thick tall traction sole.

Ballots must include identifying information in order to be counted. Submissions must be at least 50% complete to qualify for prize drawings. Write-in responses should be vegan. Entries must be received by August 31, 2008 at midnight. Nominees are based on the companies receiving the most votes in the 2007 Veggie Awards, but we encourage you to submit write-in votes. Happy voting!

Madden Girl shoes by Steve Madden are perfect for work or school and Alternative Outfitters has them! New styles just arrived and they are going fast. These Madden Girl pumps have adorable details and are made of high quality pleather, so no animals had to suffer to make these shoes.  Check out the latest styles below or go directly to Alternative Outfitters to view the entire collection.

Madden Girl Jorrdan by Steve Madden

The Madden Girl Jorrdan Patent Mary Jane Pump is available in Black or Bronzy Brown pleather. It features two thin adjustable straps with buckle, rounded toe, and a perforated design around the top and back heel. The reasonably sized 2″ heel is comfortable to wear all day and is the perfect shoe to take you into the evening.

Madden Girl Candise by Steve Madden

This Chunky Heel Pump will keep your feet comfortable all day. The Candise Pleather Pump is available in Tan and Black. This Steve Madden shoe features a decorative pleather strap with button, pleated rounded toe, padding on top of the back heel for added comfort, cushioned insole, and thick rubber sole with decorative flower design tread.

Madden Girl Stacii by Steve Madden

The Madden Girl Stacii Pleather Pump is available in Black and Brown and features a sweet satin bow. It also has a pleated toe, perforated flower motif around the brim, a slightly padded insole for comfort, and man-made rubber sole. The perfect shoe to pair with a work suit to add that feminine touch.

To view more leather-free Madden Girl shoes click HERE.

Dogs are Not Livestock

Join In Defense of Animals (IDA) in Los Angeles to protest the South Korean Government’s Plan to Classify Dogs as Livestock.

IDA has long protested the horrific cruelty associated with South Korea’s notorious dog and cat meat trade. They have been working with a local South Korean group, CARE, to bring the practice to an end and urge the government to enforce existing laws that ban dog and cat consumption. Please join them to protest.

When:  Friday, July 18, 2008, 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
Where: South Korean Consulate, 3243 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010

For more background and information view the IDA Action Alert.

There is also a protest on the same day in San Francisco. Click HERE to view more information.

We arrived at Green Leaves Vegan Restaurant at 7:30 on a Wednesday night. It was fairly empty and we were wondering how they could possibly stay open until midnight with such little business. Apparently I just had to be patient because after 8:00 hungry veg*ns from all over showed up to partake in the yummy vegan fare that makes Green Leaves so popular. 

We had a big group and we were determined to try as many menu items as possible.  We started with the Drum Sticks.  They are described as deep fried soy “chicken legs” served with house sauce.  Maybe it’s because they were deep fried, but they were oh-so-good.  We even ordered a second round.  We also had the Quesadilla with Vegan Cheese.  I haven’t had a quesadilla in so long and this one did not disappoint.  It was exactly as I remember.  The Chicken Sa-tay is soy chicken served with peanut sauce and cucumber salad.  The peanut sauce is delicious and is probably what makes this dish so delectable.

Now on to the main dishes.  There are so many different styles and choices of food here that it becomes a real challenge to decide what to get.  We pretty much stuck with the Thai style food, but there are breakfast burritos, pancakes, and scrambled Egz (the tofu version) that are served all day.  Not to mention wraps, sandwiches, and burgers.  We loved the Pineapple Fried Rice which was loaded with chunks of pineapple and cashews. The Rock & Roll Noodle dish is one of their “Signature” dishes.  The name and description (pan fried wide rice noodles with tofu, chili sauce, basil, tomato, onion, bell peppers, bean sprouts & special house jalapeno sauce) implies that it’s a spicy, but it wasn’t really spicy at all.  It was still full of flavor and very tasty.  The Mongolia Beef was our least favorite dish.  It had a nice presentation, but didn’t live up to our expectations after tasting the rest of the food.  The Shitake Curry was delicious and had a slightly unusual flavor (but in a good way).  We even got the Fish Dinner which is served with tahini sauce.  I am always a little apprehensive when trying “fish” in a vegan restaurant, because sometimes they tend to be too fishy tasting, but this dish was just right.

This is a great restaurant for sharing since you can order everything family style.  The food comes out fast, but don’t expect exceptional service.  This place is about the food.  Oh, by-the-way, there is no alcohol served here, but you can play Guitar Hero while you are waiting for your food which is fun.  Parking can be tough since they don’t have a parking lot.  It can definitely be a challenge to find a spot on the street. The key is to carpool or ride your bike and go with a large group so you can try lots of dishes. 

Green Leaves is located at 1769 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
You can view their website at GreenLeavesVegan.com.

Twilight Tour at Farm Sanctuary’s California Shelter
Saturday, July 19 - Orland, CA

Join animal lovers of all ages at the California Shelter for Farm Sanctuary’s second intimate evening tour of the summer. Commune with contented farm animals during one of their favorite times of the day and learn interesting facts about their nocturnal habits. After the tour, enjoy a gorgeous sanctuary sunset, complimentary vegan appetizers and beverages, a kid’s pajama contest, and other fun family activities. Pajamas are strongly encouraged! Click here for more information.

Taking Action for Animals Conference
July 19-21 Arlington, VA

Taking Action for Animals is one of the largest national conferences of the animal advocacy movement. Join them July 19-21, 2008 in the Washington, DC area for this special event designed to motivate, inspire, and teach advocates from around the globe.

So much has happened for animal protection in the last year, and it’s time to gather together to push the cause forward. After the Michael Vick case exposed the world to illegal dogfighting, learn what you can do to combat animal fighting in your community. After the slaughter of sick and crippled cows led to the largest recall of meat in our nation’s history, learn what you can do to protect farm animals from cruelty and abuse. As the November election approaches, learn about animal issues that will be on the ballot and how you can pass laws to protect animals. For more information go to TakingActionForAnimals.org.

Why is it that when vegans ask meat eaters to eat one meat-free, dairy-free dish instead of their usual flesh and potatoes for one meal, they act like you are trying to poison them?  Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of meat eating friends that are happy to try a vegan dish, but there are some who can’t even fathom not eating meat for just one meal.  I had a recent incident regarding my birthday dinner.  A family member wanted to take me out for my birthday which I truely appreciate; she told me to choose the restaurant.  She selected the location since they didn’t want to drive too far.  Los Angeles is a big place and we don’t live near each other.  Anyway, she suggested Santa Monica, so I said great! Let’s go to Real Food Daily (RFD).  “Do they have meat there?” she asked. “We’ll no” I said.  She said we can’t go there then, because she doesn’t want to put her husband through that.  What!?!  Is it such torture to go to a highly rated vegan restaurant with nachos, potato salad, and club sandwiches, not to mention, amazing weekly specials and not eat meat for just one meal?  Apparently it is, so we had to figure out another restaurant.