The Vegan SA Blog

A warm welcome to Francois Henning, our latest volunteer. Francois will be managing our directory listings for East Rand. This will be a very useful step forward for our directory since we currently have no listings at all for that region of Gauteng.

Francois lives and works in the local area and already knows of many helpful shops, so hopefully we can start to see some new listings for the East Rand fairly shortly.

Francois became vegan in early 2007, after spending almost 5 years debating the pros and cons of being vegan. In high school his best friend was vegan. Her absolute conviction for the cause of animals and the realization that it only takes one person to make an impact is what compelled him to convert to veganism. He supports the view that animal farming has an absolutely devastating effect on the earth. “There are more effective and intelligent lifestyles than eating flesh”.

He’s the only vegan in his family and often has to fend for himself therefore he advocates for veganism in South Africa. He wants to make sure that no vegan ever again has to make do with less than good, simply because they choose to live responsibly.

Francois loves cooking and trying out new and exiting recipes. He admits that he’s no chef, but can serve up a mean meal. All things sugary are his worst vice. “If I knew that vegan chocolate tastes this good, I would have converted a lot sooner”. His favourite foods are avocado and potatoes.

He is currently working in the cosmetic industry as a financial accountant.

The Natural Connection in Bloemfontein is the latest additon to our vegan-friendly shopping guide to the Free State. The shop is an eco-conscious boutique store and on-line shop that supplies a wide variety of 100% natural and organic skin, body, hair, baby care, cosmetics, household and pet care products to the public.

• 100% Natural, Organic Ingredients
• Free from petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, colours and preservatives
• No sodium lauryl / laureth sulphates or parabens
• Earth friendly
• Animal friendly
• Holistic

Famous brands include Esse, SpaRitual Nail Lacquers, African Organics, Enchantrix, Pure Beginnings and many more.

Brown rice harmony

…the journal of a South African vegan in Japan by Carey Finn

15 July 2010

As usual, it’s been a while since I’ve posted an update on my adventures in Japan. You probably suspected I’d OD’ed on the condensed milk – and I won’t lie, it was close – but I survived to wrap up Year 1 in Osaka.

This past month, a lot has happened. First, the rainy season arrived, then my veggie garden threatened to float away. The humidity levels passed 100%. I stopped functioning during the day and only managed to make it to school by strapping an electric fan to my left foot and dragging it along behind me.

In actual vegan news, I visited a lovely little restaurant in Minamikata, a couple of stations north of Osaka City. The place is called Genmai Harmony, which means Brown Rice Harmony. It’s a stone’s throw from the train station, which is very convenient, but there’s very little English, which is not so convenient! However, we managed to order the house veggie curry, which was served with a couple of salads and a variation of miso soup. We felt all harmonic until we found out that the cakes were sold out, but a cup of genki (‘energy’) tea restored the mood. I couldn’t decipher exactly what was in it, but I suspect ginger and a variety of Chinese herbs. On the way out, we picked up an order form for organic veggies, which are grown on a nearby-ish farm, by the owner’s connections.

Raku’s rebirth

As you know, my favourite vegan restaurant in Osaka closed down in May. The owner, Sano-san, has been working at his friend’s new restaurant (not veggie) in south Osaka, and has started reopening Raku there on Saturday evenings. He’s held 2 ‘bossa nova’ gigs so far, serving up his trademark Brazilian fejwada, curry, salad and a new addition of falafel with deep-friend wheat meat. The restaurant is bigger than the old premises and has draft beer on tap – a leftover from the place’s izakaya (‘pub’) days. So far the support has been good so, provided that his next few gigs are successful, he is planning to open Raku 2.0 more regularly, from September.

Curry in Den-Den Town

Meanwhile, short of decent veggie places in convenient locations, my posse have had to find alternative grub joints to meet up. Sano-san showed me an Indian restaurant in Nipponbashi, the Akihibara area of Osaka. It’s known for its maid cafes, toy stores, electronic stores, porn and strangely-clad characters. Just past a horrific pet shop (which I have been complaining about for an entire year, with little response), is a curry place run by real Indians. Usually, curry in Japan resembles curry, but that’s where the similarities end. But this stuff is the real deal, with even the ‘mild’ powerful enough to make grown men cry.

While not a vegetarian restaurant, they offer a lot of veggie dishes, which can easily be made vegan. Good prices, hot spices and gigantic nans have made me a fan of their dinner sets – samoosas, salad, a big plate of curry (I recommend the “green peace” one) and nan, plus chai tea to settle your stomach. They show Indian hip-hop videos and they sell Bollywood movies. What more could you want?

Next time: Carey goes home: a special South African edition!

An opportunity is available for a hands-on person to invest in a small health and wellness retail outlet in White River.

One of the 3 partners reluctantly has to leave due to unforeseen family commitments. It may be an ideal opportunity for an alternative health practitioner or similar as the shop has an attached private room that can be used for consultations, natural beauty treatments or alternative health therapies. The shop specialises in natural and organic products, special diets and also environmentally friendly products.

One of the partners is a nutritionist and the other is a Cordon Vert chef qualified with the UK Vegetarian Society. The partners believe they offer a different type of health shop in that they promote a complete healthy lifestyle rather than sell unnecessary pills and supplements.

If interested please forward a resume to evangeline.mckay@gmail.com.

Vibrant Health are the latest addition to our vegan vitamin and health supplements website directory section.

Their products are designed specifically to improve the function of human biochemistry. The goal is to enhance health and healing.

New England Greens dba Vibrant Health buys all raw materials utilized in its products. Products listed here contain no materials of animal origin, nor materials that have been tested on animals. Neither materials nor finished products are exposed to or tested on animals of any species, nor would such practices be considered.

Vibrant Health products are distributed in South Africa through Natural Vibrance and are available from health shops in the Western Cape, Gauteng, KZN, Free State and Mpumalanga.

For a full list of their products that are suitable for vegans, visit: Vibrant Health Products Suitable For Vegans

Spiceburg Restaurant is the only restaurant which specialises in south & north Indian cuisine, most other restaurants simply specialising in northern Indian. There is a huge difference between south & north Indian cuisine.

On your arrival, please request the Vegan Menu. There are around 30 vegan dishes available, from soups, starters, salads, bread, rice, main dishes and desserts too.

Spiceburg Restaurant is the latest addition to our Johannesburg vegan-friendly restaurants.

The 2010 International Vegetarian Union (IVU) World Vegetarian Congress will be held in Jakarta from 1-6 October, with an excursion to Bali from 7-9 October.

The Indonesia Vegetarian Society (IVS) will host the Congress. It is estimated that there are 80,000 members in IVS’s 51 branches across Indonesia.

The main Congress, from 1-6 October, will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital and largest city. It is easily accessible from others cities in Indonesia and from other countries. It is also the headquarters of IVS. From 7-9 October, the Congress shifts to Bali. The purpose being to allow speakers and participants, both local and international, to relax, sightsee and enjoy the artistic and natural tropical paradise that is Bali.

IVS has invited a wide range of societies, organizations, universities and formal and informal schools to participate in the Congress, and they will distribute brochures, flyers, posters and banners through their partner restaurants and branches. Additionally, Gramedia (the largest and most famous bookstore chain in Indonesia) is allowing IVS to use its stores all over Indonesia to promote the Congress and the Meat Free Monday programme that IVS has been carrying out nationwide.

The Indonesian Department of Culture and Tourism has put the Congress in their 2010 agenda to promote the Congress domestically and internationally. IVS has also appeared on a Metro TV live morning talk show to promote the Congress. A big turnout from overseas will boost the event’s chances for media attention.

Speakers at the Congress will use only 2 languages: Indonesian and English. Every speaker will be helped by a translation team in panel and parallel sessions.

Such fabulous Indonesia dishes as Gado-Gado (mixed steamed vegetables with sauce and milled peanuts and monkey nut), Karedok (mixed raw vegetables with toppings), Ketoprak (mixed steamed vegetables, rice noodles and various toppings) will be provided. Plus, Congress delegates will enjoy tempeh, one of indonesia’s best known foods, as well as a variety of unique desserts.

Note that for the last 10 years, all IVU World Vegetarian Congresses have exclusively served plant food.

Please see the Congress website for further details.

Our latest directory addition to vegan-friendly Cape Town accommodations:

Nestled on a private quay in Cape Town’s bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, between a working harbour and the serenity of an international yacht marina, Cape Grace is a welcome and gracious sanctuary of tradition, sophistication and contemporary comfort.

From the globally inspired offerings of the hotel’s restaurant Signal, to the whisky, wine and cocktail treats that await below deck at the popular Bascule Whisky, Wine and Cocktail Bar, to the African delights that surprise at The Spa at Cape Grace and finally, to the customised yacht charters on Spirit of the Cape, the hotel is dedicated to surpassing expectations and making your stay the most memorable ever.

Breakfast options:
1) Selection of fresh, stewed and dried fruits
2) Home made muesli
3) Soya cooked oats with cinnamon and agave nectar
4) Soya milk, soy yoghurt, toast and vegan margarine
5) Pancakes
6) Hot breakfast including grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and grilled tofu

Lunch options:
- Red quinoa with roasted vegetables, mustard & rosemary vinaigrette & root vegetable crisps
- Soups

Dinner options: (VEGAN TASTING MENU)
- Beetroot carpaccio, courgette, sweetcorn & wild rocket salad with tahini dressing, served with dukkha-spiced root vegetable chips
- Patjuk soup – shiitake mushrooms, pak choy, spring onion & azuki beans
- Miso risotto, pickled shimiji with a bean sprout & radish salad & coriander dressing
- Roasted butternut & pea shoot mille feuille with amoretti biscuits with rosemary & agave vinaigrette
- Green apple & lemongrass sorbet
- Chocolate caramel tart with cranberry compote & cranberry-ginger snow

On 16 June 2010, the European Parliament made ‘vegan’ a legally protected term. This means that it is now illegal for food labelled “vegan” or “suitable for vegans” to be made using anything from animals.

Article 35 of the European Food Information Act states that “The term ‘vegan’ should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from or with the aid of, animals or animal products (including products from living animals).”

The European Parliament voted to give legal protection to the term ‘vegan’ as part of Amendment No 175 of the new consumer food information regulations. Previously the terms ‘vegan’ and ‘vegetarian’ had no legal definition in Europe. Now consumers can now look forward to reliable and consistent food labelling.

George Rodger, Chairperson of the Vegan Society Council of Trustees (UK) said: “This is a great day for veganism in Europe and indeed the world, as vegans and veganism are now given official recognition. We look forward to the UK government putting it into practice.”

The new food consumer rules are likely to come into effect around 2014.

Note: also defined was “The term ‘vegetarian’ should not be applied to foods that are, or are made from or with the aid of products derived from animals that have died, have been slaughtered, or animals that die as a result of being eaten.”

We wonder if we can expect similar legislation and consumer protection forthcoming from South African lawmakers?

Here is a new addition to our vegan cakes and muffins website directory section:

Sweet Designs supplies a selection of vegan cakes for weddings and other such important or special occasions, in flavours ranging from vanilla, carrot to chocolate. Cakes can always be decorated to your specific requirements and needs.

Delia Webber, the proprietor of Sweet Designs, says that she currently supplies her cakes in the Gauteng region only.