The other day my wife asked if I would ever date anyone who wasn't a vegan. It's a ridiculous question, I know, because I wouldn't be happy being with anyone but her, but she wanted me to consider the hypothetical. As a vegan, would I consider a relationship with anyone not a vegan? I have a hard time thinking that I could have a successful relationship with anyone who isn't a vegan because she wouldn't share the same values as myself. Being vegan is a deep ethical committment, and it revolves around my love for life, the environment and my health. An anti-vegan in the midst would undermine my values. Is it much different than a lover of peace dating a known mass murderer? I think not. The differences between vegans and others are immense. I can't disown my family, and I would never consider it, but having a romantic relationship with someone who would conspire to stink up the house with burning flesh is quite revolting. Perhaps I would be condemning my life to one of loneliness, I don't know, but perhaps there would be more time to pen the great American novel. Anyway, the question was prompted by this online
Newsweek article:
"Love Me, Love My Tofu." It mentions one of our favorite vegan couples, Bob and Jenna Torres, who run the famous vegan podcast,
Vegan Freak Radio.
Veganism in the Valley
Restaurants
Unfortunately, there are no vegan or vegetarian restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley. There are a few places that have vegetarian parts to their menu, and if you are creative, you can assemble a vegan meal at an unlikely place. Stone Court Cafe on Stuart Place Road in Harlingen has several vegetarian items, including two coconut curry dishes. They will prepare items specially for you if you ask. They are really nice. I have them make me a vegan pad Thai. It's really good. Just be wary that one of their hot sauces has fish in it. So, be sure to ask about that. There's also Taqueria la Michoacana on West Jefferson in Harlingen. The papas a la Mexicanas is vegan if ordered with corn tortillas. They are so good but very spicy. Don't eat the refried beans. They are certainly not vegan. A lot of Valley vegetarians like Hop Tung on 10th Street in McAllen. It has a separate vegetarian menu. I personally think they use too much tofu on their plates and not enough vegetables. That said, their General Tso tofu is great. Le Lai is also on 10th Street. My wife liked it more than I did. Tokyo Sushi Bar is on 10th Street. This is a place I like more than my wife, but their food was really greasy, and we both didn't like the smell of the glassware. Taste of India on Nolana Loop in McAllen is really good. It's strange, but you have to beg for extra heat in the meal. They are so trained to people being sensitive to spicy food. They really don't know what they are missing. Thai Red Chili's on Ware Road in McAllen is good. Just be sure ask for the food to be extra spicy. Otherwise, it will be pretty mild. One of my favorite Valley restaurants is Uchi Japanese Restaurant on Ruben Torres Boulevard in Brownsville. They have a rice dish pronounced "dol-so-bob." It can be made with tofu. Just be sure to ask for it without egg. It is rice served in a hot bowl with vegetables and a spicy sauce, and the rice touching the bowl gets crispy. It really is good. At Betty's Tortas, which have several locations in the Valley, including Brownsville and San Benito, you can make tacos with corn tortillas, aguacate slices (avocado) and papas fritas (fried potatoes) with their house hot sauce. It's quite good. In Brownsville, the Vermillion has vegetarian beans, which are hard to find in these parts. Just be sure to be specific which beans you want. They also have charro beans (cowboy beans that are made with pork). I've heard that the Brownsville City Commission used to hold meetings in the Vermillion, so the restaurant had a reputation of being a center of power.
Grocery Stores
The best stores for vegans in the Valley are Sun Harvest on 10th Street in McAllen, HEB on Trenton and 10th Street in McAllen, HEB on Shary Road and the expressway in Mission, HEB on Lincoln and the expressway in Harlingen and the HEB on Ruben Torres and Paredes Line Road in Brownsville. The best two are Sun Harvest and the HEB at Trenton and 10th. Both have really good supplies of bulk items, hearty breads, teas, organic vegetables and, of course, tofu. There's a small health food store in the mall in Brownsville and one in Harlingen on Sunshine Strip. Both aren't that good because they hardly have much in stock. On South Padre Island, Naturally's Health Food Store and Cafe is great, and you can assemble a vegan sandwich there, as well. It is on the main strip. Tokyo Asian Market on 10th Street is really good, especially since they expanded. They have a great selection of Asian foods, many of which I couldn't do without.
4 comments:
before I married my partner, I dated two dudes who weren't vegan but became so during our relationship and continued after our relationship ended. my partner is not a vegan, but he became a vegetarian two weeks into our relationship. I love him as is and have a lot of respect for him. He also respects me and respects the fact that our household is a vegan household and that we're going to raise our child a vegan. will he become a vegan? no idea? but if he does I hope he becomes so in his own accord. btw way, visit my blog to see pictures of the baked goods I prepared today http://domingosiete.livejournal.com/
Hello
I live in McAllen and I am currently vegetarian but I am trying to switch to the vegan lifestyle. I find it hard because I can't find a lot of vegan products I always read about. How do you do it here?!
Hi Sable,
If you look at the bottom of this page, I put some resources you can turn to for products you can use. You can get everything you need at HEB on Trenton and the Sunharvest on 10th. The key is having some worthwhile cookbooks so you don't get discouraged. "Vegan with a Vengence," "Vive le Vegan" "How it all Vegan" and "Vegan Planet" are my favorite cookbooks. They make cooking easy and tasty. We order a good olive oil, Eliki, online. Occassionally we go to Austin or San Antonio on trips, and while there I may get a few things at Whole Foods or Central Market you can't find down here, such as organic grape jelly. It is easy being a vegan in the Valley. You just can't survive if you want to hang out all the time in restaurants. Even then, though, there are some options. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. Also, check out the Cochehua Vegetarian Collective. There's a link to it in my links section. That's the vegetarian group in the Valley. Hortencia Armendariz who leads the group is a great contact. Her blog is Domingo Siete, and there's a link on this page, as well.
Thanks so much! I will definitely look into those cookbooks and the links. That group also sounds great. Thanks a lot!
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