This is the polenta Napoleon at the Walnut Grille, a new restaurant in Newton that features vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items. Dina Rudick/Boston Globe Staff

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food.” – George Bernard Shaw.  Our love and passion for great vegetarian and vegan food pushed us to dream farther and bring out dishes which are not just fresh and healthy but also made with a key ingredient called delicious, the one which appeases to all the senses. We at Walnut Grille want to make believe that Vegetarian and Vegan cuisine can be made memorably delicious and make you come back for more. Our kitchen uses mostly organic ingredients that come from the harvest of our local farms, with which our chefs passionately craft dishes that will exceed your Veg-imagination. Walnut grille is set in an atmosphere where sustainable agriculture, community-style dining, and responsible business practices are in place. All of our items in the menu are prepared fresh every day. We at Walnut Grille are committed to practice artistic, intuitive cooking with a menu that reflects the change in season, availability of local organic ingredients. Our unique “of the moment,” seasonally inspired menus and dining style reflects our commitment to the environment.

Walnut Grille
1203 Walnut St
Newton, MA 02461
617-964-1029
info@walnutgrille.com
http://www.walnutgrille.com/

SWISS BLISS | Artichoke stuffed with fresh vegetables at Mesa, in Zurich, one of many fine-dining restaurants in Switzerland’s business capital that feature vegetarian menus. CREDIT: Laurent Burst for The Wall Street Journal

ON THE FIRST WARM NIGHT of the year in Paris, the horse-chestnut trees along the Champs-Élysées are freshly veiled with new leaves. Just off the avenue, at Lasserre, a glamorous old luxury-liner of a restaurant, the elegant and habitually blasé crowd can’t help grinning at the cancan moment this place is famous for. Late in the evening, as many diners are lingering over dessert, the roof overhead silently glides open to reveal the night sky.

The real revelation at Lasserre this spring isn’t in the stars, however, but on the menu. For the first time, this establishment power-table—renowned for dishes like Pigeon André Malraux (pigeon stuffed with foie gras) and Poularde de Bresse en Demi-Deuil (capon with black truffles tucked under its skin)—is offering a vegetarian tasting menu. READ FULL ARTICLE >>

McDonald’s has a weakness, and it’s not just its quarter pounder with cheese.

It’s 19-to 30-year-olds, otherwise known as “millennials.”

They may be young. They may lack CEO status. But as Blockbuster, Kodak, and Blackberry have discovered, millennials’ collective preferences can make or break a business.

Advertising Age obtained a recent internal memo from McDonald’s stating the fast-food giant has failed to make it on millennials’ list of top 10 restaurant chains.

This could have something to do with millennials subscribing to healthier, more sustainable food chains.  READ FULL ARTICLE >>

Visit a typical Japanese restaurant in North America, and you’ll find plentiful vegan options—from fresh avocado sushi rolls and hearty soba noodles to exotic seaweed salad and sweet inari (fried tofu pockets stuffed with rice). And as people learn about the pain that fish feel when they are killed for fish-based sushi, sushi chefs are starting to create ever-more new vegan sushi options, including rolls made with mock tuna, soy salmon, and more!

Many fish used for food are raised on aquafarms, where they are crammed into tight enclosures with little room to move and kept in filthy conditions. Make the compassionate decision to save a fish’s life, and enjoy faux-fish and veggie sushi rolls! The following are our top 10 picks for restaurants that go above and beyond and have the best vegan options:

10. Vegan House

Los Angeles, California

Note: all vegan!

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Vegan House has both a diverse menu and a diverse crowd.

Top Picks
California Rolls: soy crab, soy fish, veganaise, chili powder, cucumber, alfalfa sprout, cabbage, carrot, avocado, brown rice, and sesame seed
Spicy Soy Shrimp Tempura Rolls: soy shrimp tempura, veganaise, chili powder, cucumber, alfalfa sprout, cabbage, carrot, avocado, brown rice, and sesame seed
Soy Tuna Sushi: tuna with brown rice and sesame seeds
Grilled Veg Sushi: grilled onion, eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini in nori seaweed

9. Franchia Vegan Cafe

New York, New York

Note: all vegan!

This Park Avenue café offers a great variety of faux-seafood rolls and also has delicious vegan desserts, such as dairy-free cheesecake and an iced green-tea float made with almond-milk ice cream!

Top Picks
Franchia Roll: vegetarian “crab” meat, cucumber, avocado, carrot, squash, and mountain greens
Vegan California Roll: an inside-out sushi roll stuffed with vegan crab, cucumber, and avocado (a compassionate twist on a classic!)
Spicy “Tuna” Roll: a six-piece sushi roll stuffed with faux tuna (made from soy protein, flavored with seaweed to taste like fish)
“Shrimp” Avocado Roll: a six-piece sushi roll with faux shrimp, available on white or brown rice

8. Sticky Rice

Locations in Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia

Sticky Rice boasts a large variety of vegan options and offers a unique mix of pan-Asian and American cuisine.

Top Picks
The Hot Hippy: spicy marinated tofu with scallions, peanuts, cucumbers, and carrots
G.I. Jane: cucumbers, vegan cream cheese, scallions, and sesame seeds rolled in crushed wasabi peas
Masumi: cucumbers and umeboshi (Japanese plums) sprinkled with sesame seeds
Garden Balls: Shiitake mushrooms, red pepper, cilantro, and spicy rice in an inari (tofu) pocket, then tempura fried and drizzled with faux-eel sauce (It’s not quite sushi, but it’s too good to leave off the list!)

7. Shojin Organic and Natural

Los Angeles, California

Note: all vegan!

A romantic and intimate spot, Shojin is completely vegan and has an extensive menu of delicious rolls that keep the foodies of Los Angeles coming back for more! Ask anyone who’s been, and they’ll tell you that “You must try the Dynamite Roll!”

Top Picks
Dynamite Roll: spicy “tuna” and avocado roll, with spicy vegan mayo and green onion on top, served with spicy “dynamite sauce”
Pirates of Crunchy: fried tempeh (made of soy), crunchy tempura batter, and green onions mixed with spicy mayo on a green vegetable roll and served with spicy “dynamite sauce”
Sweet Dynamite: fried tempeh and avocado roll with tricolored quinoa and sweet miso mixed with vegan mayonnaise, served with sweet soy sauce and with green onion on top
Yellow Magic Orchestra: pumpkin tempura and curry spiced tempeh on a green vegetable roll, served with Japanese karashi mustard sauce and sweet soy sauce
Purple Treasure: a fried tempeh and avocado roll with fried tender eggplant, topped with green onion and shredded chilies and served with sweet miso sauce

6. Kotobuki

Norfolk, Virginia

Located less than two miles from PETA’s headquarters in Norfolk, Kotobuki offers a number of faux-seafood rolls with vegan lobster, shrimp, and salmon. It even has a “PETA Roll”!

Top Picks
PETA Roll: seaweed salad, sweet firm inari tofu, soft savory fried tofu, steamed carrots
Buddha Roll (spicy): Shitake mushrooms, kampyo (gourd), asparagus, shiso (a flavorful herb), horseradish sprouts, topped with avocado and vegan spicy mayo
Mango Salsa Roll (spicy): vegan shrimp, sautéed red onions, with scallions inside and topped with avocado and spicy-sweet mango salsa
Hugged Rolled Salmon & Seaweed: vegan salmon and avocado with soy wrapper, covered with seaweed salad and sesame seeds
Veggie Lover’s Roll: vegan lobster with shitaki mushrooms, lettuce, cucumbers, avocado, horseradish sprouts, and onions, rolled in sesame seeds

5. Soy & Sake Village Vegetarian Cafe

New York, New York

Note: all vegan!

Found in the West Village, Soy & Sake makes an excellent spot to enjoy meat-free meals and great drinks.

Top Picks
Vegan Philadelphia Roll: soy salmon, scallions, vegan cream cheese
Dragon Roll: soy eel, cucumbers, topped with avocado
Peanut Roll: crusted peanuts, avocado
Hawaii Roll: fresh banana, avocado, and Korean pear, topped with a layer of mango and served with mango sauce
Bourbon “Chicken” Roll: marinated soy chicken with cucumbers, avocado, and lettuce

4. Tenon Vegetarian Cuisine

Markham, Ontario, Canada

Note: all vegetarian!

Canadians can’t believe their eyes when they see how real the faux salmon and other fish appear and taste! Tenon offers a variety of rolls with yummy combinations that don’t disappoint.

Top Picks
Ika Sushi, Sashimi, or Hand Roll: vegan squid served on sushi rice, on its own, or rolled up in a cone of nori (seaweed)
Unagi Sushi, Sashimi, or Hand Roll: vegan eel (made from mushrooms), served in your choice of presentations
Kani Sushi, Sashimi, or Hand Roll: vegan crab, served in your choice of presentations
“Ham” Sushi, Sashimi, or Hand Roll: vegan ham, made from soy protein and served in your choice of presentations
Mango Cucumber Maki: mango and cucumbers rolled up with sushi rice and nori seaweed

3. Beyond Sushi

New York, New York

Note: all vegan!

New Yorkers love the uniqueness of Beyond Sushi. With aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and delicious rolls, Beyond Sushi makes an outstanding choice!

Top Picks
La Fiesta: black-rice sushi with avocado, pickled jalapeño, chayote (a gourd native to Mexico and Central America), and cilantro leaf, served with mango chili sauce
Crunch N’ Munch: kiwi, baked tofu, alfalfa, English cucumber, and black rice, served with white miso sauce
Mighty Mushroom: tofu, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and micro arugula on six-grain rice, served with shiitake teriyaki sauce
Spicy Mang: mango, avocado, cucumber, black rice, and spicy veggies, served with toasted cayenne sauce

2. Minako Organic Japanese Restaurant

San Francisco, California

Minako might be small, but it packs a big punch! Hidden in the Mission District of San Francisco, it is a favorite for veggie-loving sushi enthusiasts of the city by the bay.

Top Picks
Spicy Vegetarian Eel: with avocado and cucumber
Tephe Maki: a vegan-eel and avocado roll wrapped with sliced inari (sweet fried tofu), served with carrots and spinach
Nigiri-Style Natto Sushi: hand-formed sushi made from fermented soy beans and green onions on top of rice
Umekyu Maki: pickled plum and cucumber rolled up with sushi rice and nori seaweed
Pickled Eggplant Sushi: hand-formed, nigiri-style

1. Loving Vegan

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Note: all vegan!

Our top honors go to this all-vegan sushi spot in the Southwest. A self-titled “Asian Fusion Cuisine” restaurant, Loving Vegan gets rave reviews from vegans and nonvegans alike! Loving Vegan earned our top prize as PETA’s number-one vegan-sushi restaurant because it truly proves that any food can be made deliciously and healthfully without animal products. Cheers and congratulations to Loving Vegan—this number-one award is well deserved!

Top Picks
Yummy Roll: vegan shrimp tempura, faux crab, avocado, cucumber, kampyo (dried gourd), and spicy egg-free mayo inside with sweet sauce on top
Crunchy Vegan Salmon Roll: vegan salmon tempura, avocado, cucumber, and spicy vegan mayo inside with tempura flakes and sweet sauce on top
Crunchy Vegan Squid Roll: the same as the vegan salmon roll but with vegan squid tempura instead
Vegan Spicy Tuna Roll: made with cucumber and gobo (burdock root)
Loving Vegan Roll: green-chili tempura, avocado, cucumber, vegan lobster, and vegan cream cheese inside, deep fried, served with spicy mayo and sriracha, and topped with sweet sauce

St. Patrick’s Day is just around corner, and soon Irish and American alike will be looking for ways to douse the world in green. Shamrock-colored beer is a favorite treat for St. Patty’s parties, but there’s nothing green about adding toxic food coloring to some cheap domestic lager.

At its simplest, beer is made from four ingredients: water, malt, hops and yeast. On first glance, it would seem that this short ingredient list means there’s nothing to keep vegans and vegetarians from enjoying a frosty brew with the rest of us. The reality is slightly more complicated.

Many breweries (including Guiness!) use animal products in the brewing process, reports the No Meat Athlete. Like wine makers, breweries typically use animal by-products clarifying agents, but animal parts are also used for head retention, flavor and coloring. This includes, but isn’t limited to:

Isinglass – Comes from the dried swim bladders of fish. Almost all cask conditioned ale uses isinglass as a clarifier, although it is more common in England than the U.S.
Gelatin – A clarifier obtained from the skin, connective tissue and bones of animals. Typically taken from cattle and frozen pigskin.
Casein/Potassium Caseinate – Protein found in cow milk used as a clarifier.
Insects – Made into dyes and used for coloring.
Albium – Refers to any protein that is water soluble. Most common type in brewing is serum albumin, which is taken from animal blood.

READ FULL ARTICLE >>

Whether you’re just dabbling in Meatless Mondays or have gone full-force vegan (perhaps for a New Year’s resolution), the Big Apple’s restaurant scene has plenty to offer. A number of city restaurants focus on options that will please even the most discriminating herbivore. From a chef who makes “candy” from the dirt of her garden to some tasty vegan menu items, Zagat Names Top Vegetarian Restaurants in NYC.

READ FULL ARTICLE >>

If you think vegan food only consists of brown rice, lettuce and tofu, you’re wrong. These days, vegan options are far from boring. Before I became a full-on vegan (vegetarian six years ago), I was all about the rich comfort food. Fried chicken. Juicy crab legs. Macaroni and cheese. How could I resist?

Turning to a plant-based diet was definitely a blessing in disguise. Not only do I feel better from the inside out, it pushed me to try all sorts of restaurants in town. And since November is National Vegan Month, I encourage you to give creative, cruelty-free a try. From ethnic dishes to popular American staples, you won’t really be missing out. In fact, you’ll be treating your taste buds and expanding your horizons at the same time. READ FULL ARTICLE >>

It was a warm California evening in the city of West Hollywood, and Kathy Freston was sipping a martini.

“Just because you’re a vegan doesn’t mean you don’t want to have fun,” she said, sitting in a booth at a restaurant called Craig’s. “I’m a decadent gal. I want to drink. I want to feel full at the end of a meal. I just don’t want it to have any animals in it, for a variety of reasons.”

Tall, slim and golden-tressed enough to be mistaken for a movie star, Ms. Freston is the author of books like “Quantum Wellness” and “The Lean,” and a high-profile advocate for veganism. She strives to consume nothing that can be traced back to sentient creatures: no meat, no eggs, no dairy. READ FULL ARTICLE >>

One of the most celebrated rockstars, Chrissie Hynde, went to VeganBurg’s spanking new 4th outlet in Singapore. Chrissie took a short break from her F1 race gig to shake things up at VeganBurg, where she had a taste of VeganBurg’s lip-smacking burgers. She visited all four VeganBurg outlets in Singapore where she sampled the menu.

Fresh from her Singapore Grand Prix performance, the singer-songwriter of the hits “I’ll Stand By You”, “Brass In Pocket”, “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and “Back On The Chain Gang” chilled at VeganBurg @ The Grandstand for lunch. Holding her favorite Cracked Pepper Mayo burger, Chrissie said “I’ve toured around the world with my band and always looking for the perfect burger. I finally found it at VeganBurg!”

“We think that Chrissie is the perfect personification of VeganBurg’s character and style. We’re all about great tasting burgers with a punch of rock and roll awesomeness. Edgy and straightforward – just like Chrissie.” said Alex Tan, VeganBurg’s founder.

Chrissie sat on the orange couch right beside the glass pane of the outlet. And boy, did she love the rock and roll vibe of the place! “The brand new eco-friendly fast food outlet combines a state-of-the-art industrial-safari themed interior design with biker style accents – perfect for rockstars and rockstars at heart. It’s an unbeatable combination!” said VeganBurg MarCom Warrior Katrina Lugartos.

“On top of that, millions of people around the globe are embracing plant-based lifestyles in order to combat environmental destruction, or better their own health” she added. In addition to getting a healthy and yummy fast food meal, customers will also get a chance to swap their pre-loved toys that come with a limited edition VeganBurg swap tag.

For more information on VeganBurg, please go to http://www.veganburg.com.

Eatonville; Jason Berger/The Washington Post

The Washington Post called on readers to point them to their favorite dishes, this time with one major (dietary) restriction: going meat-free. An avalanche of vegan and vegetarian suggestions poured forth via e-mail, on Facebook and Twitter, and via the blog. It turns out, this is what we actually eat: Brownies. Thick, carb-loaded sandwiches. Pizza. Pho. Tacos. Deep-fried cheese. See these and dozens of other indulgences that drew readers’ raves, below, and be sure to check out the photo gallery, with a photo of each dish.

SEE FULL LIST WITH DESCRIPTIONS >>

Oyamel – Washington, DC – Tacos de hongos
Tandoori Nights – Bethesda , MD – Pani poori
The Sweet Lobby – Washington, DC – Vegan carrot cupcake
Shake Shack – Washington, DC – The ‘Shroom Burger
Soul Vegetarian Cafe & Exodus Takeout – Washington, DC – Vegan macaroni and cheese
Loving Hut – Falls Church, VA – Wonton noodle soup
Pete’s New Haven Style pizza – Washington, DC – Edge of the Woods pizza
Eatonville – Washington, DC – Pan-seared tofu at Eatonville
Four Sisters – Falls Church, VA – Caramelized tofu with lemongrass
Smoke and Barrel – Washington, DC – Vegan wings
Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats – Washington, DC – The brownies
Afghan Kabob Restaurant – Springfield, VA – Vegetarian dish 2
BGR: The Burger Joint – Washington, DC – The veggie burger
Ren’s Ramen – Wheaton, MD – Vegetable ramen
Masala Art – Washington, DC – Baingan mirch ka salan
Science Club – Washington, DC – The veggie burger
Pedro and Vinny’s burrito cart – Washington, DC – Burritos
Windy City Red Hots – Leesburg, VA – Veggie red hot
Busboys and Poets – Washington, DC – Tempeh sandwich
Zorba’s Cafe – Washington, DC – Oasis salad at Zorba’s Cafe
Pho 14 – Washington, DC – Vegetarian pho
Elizabeth’s – Washington, DC – Gone Raw Kale chips
Great Sage – Clarksville, MD – Vegan grilled Reuben
Vegetable Garden – Rockville, MD – Eight-treasure eggplant
Sweet and Natural Bakeshop – Mount Rainier, MD – Raspberry thumbprint cookie
Galaxy Hut – Arlington, VA – Vegetarian steak and cheese
Mark’s Kitchen – Takoma Park, MD – Spinach tofucakes
Ethiopic – Washington, DC – Vegetarian sampler II
Julia’s Empanadas – Washington, DC – Vegetarian empanadas
Sunflower Vegetarian – Vienna, VA & Falls Church, VA – General Tso’s Surprise/General Tso’s Magic