James Bernard Frost - California & Nevada. The Best Organic Food Stores, Farmers Markets & Vegetarian Restaurants

California & Nevada: The Best Organic Food Stores, Farmers' Markets & Vegetarian Restaurants
James Bernard Frost HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC. www.hunterpublishing.com Ulysses Travel Publications 4176 Saint-Denis, Montral, Qubec Canada H2W 2M5 The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington Oxford, OX44 9EJ England 2010 James Bernard Frost All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. This guide focuses on recreati onal activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim any responsibility for injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume and hereby disclaim, liability for loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions are the result of negligen ce, accident or any other cause.

Introduction L iving in San Francisco, my girlfriend Kimberly and I are amazed at the excellent quality of vegetarian restaurants in our city. However, we wanted to see what else was out there in this great nation of ours, so we took a trip to our local Barnes & Noble hoping to find a guide to the pleasures of vegetarian dining throughout the United States. We were disappointed that such a travel book did not exist, and thus an idea was formed. Shortly afterwards, I took on the task of producing a guidebook that would help readers find alternative dining options in the United States. After nearly two years of labor, the book in your hands is that guide. Not just a guide to restaurants, natural foods stores and farmers' markets, the book also contains facts and tidbits that health-minded and environmentally conscious individuals will find appealing.

In an effort to make this book useful to the wide range of people who are vegan, vegetarian, struggling to become vegetarian, or simply appreciate meatless cooking, I have included a wide range of restaurants, stores and markets in this guide. You'll find everything from hamburger joints with a garden burger option to gourmet raw foods restaurants that adhere to strict vegan standards and espouse the consumption of easily digestible uncooked foods. I have also given special consideration to budget travelers trying to stretch their dollars. All listings have an eye toward value.

T he precise and correct usage of the term vegetarian is disputed by various groups within the vegetarian movement. For the purposes of this book, the term "vegetarian" refers specifically to those who abstain from consuming the flesh of animals (beef, poultry and seafood), but who might eat various animal by-products such as eggs, milk, cheese, etc.

The term "vegan" is used here when referring to those who eschew both. "Macrobiotic" is used loosely herein to describe an Eastern philosophy of vegetarian dining that emphasizes a balance in diet. This guide does not delve deeply into the reasons for choosing to become vegetarian. The subject is better explored in a number of well-written books. Current, highly recommended primers include Joanne Stepaniak's The Vegan Sourcebook and Howard F.

T he book is organized by region, with states listed alphabetically in each chapter. T he book is organized by region, with states listed alphabetically in each chapter.

Cities, major and otherwise, are listed alphabetically under each state - major cities are oftentimes divided into sub-areas as well. Within each subsection you will find a general description of area restaurants and natural foods stores, as well as an assortment of featured restaurants. Each state listing begins with an overview and describes the area's vegetarian outlook, and tells about regional cuisine that includes vegetarian options. In addition, under both state and city listings, you'll find information regarding common tourist destinations to help you make the most of your travels. At the end of this guide is a state-by-state listing of farmers' markets. This compilation was gleaned from various Web sites, as well as the National Directory of Farmers Markets, a pamphlet published by the US Department of Agriculture.

Unless specifically noted as an organic or vegetable-only event, markets listed may sell beef, poultry or seafood, as well as genetically altered or chemically treated vegetables. The last chapter contains a glossary of food items and dishes.

The featured restaurants scattered throughout this book were chosen for reviews based on the restaurant's reputation and my accessibility to it. They are not necessarily better or worse than non-reviewed restaurants. Some featured restaurants were simply given a "thumbs up" symbol. In these cases, it's either one of two things: 1) I had only the time to stop in quickly, check the place out, talk to staff members and maybe grab a quick appetizer, or 2) the restaurant was highly recommended by its patrons.

Either way, I didn't have enough information to give it a complete rating. Featured Restaurant Price Scale Price scale reflects the average cost of an entre. $ = Less than $6 $$ = $6-$12 $$$ = More than $12

I t's always a good idea to contact locations before you set out to confirm hours of operation, location, and to find out whether major credit cards are accepted, as many small establishments are on a cash-only basis. Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this guide is correct, many businesses change their hours of operation according to season or other factors. Some may move or even go out of business before this book is released. The following is a list of handy Web sites of interest to vegetarian travelers:

• www.vegetariantimes.com - Vegetarian Times magazine maintains a glossy Web site with well-researched recipes, vegetarian menu substitutions and a bulletin board for posting notes.
• www.epicurious.com - Epicurious is an award-winning food encyclopedia.
  Helpful Web Sites
  The following is a list of handy Web sites of interest to vegetarian travelers:
  • www.vegetariantimes.com - Vegetarian Times magazine maintains a glossy Web site with well-researched recipes, vegetarian menu substitutions and a bulletin board for posting notes.
  • www.epicurious.com - Epicurious is an award-winning food encyclopedia.

    Web site includes a database with thousands of searchable recipes and an expansive food dictionary.

  • www.vrg.org - The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains the most linked to vegetarian site on the Web. VRG's Web site features nutritional tips, a guide to raising children on a vegetarian diet, travel tips and much more.
  • www.ivu.org - The International Vegetarian Union provides vegetarian contact information for hundreds of countries.
  • www.vegsource.org - VegSource Interactive's site is somewhat difficult to navigate, but if you can find your way to their message boards a visit is well worth it. Ask a question in one of the many topic areas; the well-attended boards provide frequent answers.
  • www.vegetarian.about.com/food/vegetarian - About.com maintains a well organized listing of unusual vegetarian links. You'll find quirky tips, including a guide to having a vegetarian wedding!
  • www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm

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