Amethyst

By Ashley WalterPittsburgh Current Contributing Writerinfo@pittsburghcurrent.com

Her long, dark hair has a hint of wave in it. Streaks of purple and pink frame her face. Her bangs are half purple, half raven black. Her dimples and milky-white clear skin give her face a cherub-like innocence that contrast with mysterious aqua eyes that seem to morph between green and blue (and back to green again). A steaming hot green tea rests in her hands as the mist envelopes her.

This is Amethyst.

Many people need just one qualifier to define themselves: athlete, dancer, doctor. Amethyst cannot be defined by just one word. She is equal parts belly dancer, vegan, teacher, community organizer, mystic and mother.

Amethyst, 40, of Mt. Lebanon, is the owner of both Amethyst Arts and the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo. An entrepreneur and community organizer, Amethyst, ne Amy Marie Cottrill, started organizing cultural events when she was a sophomore in high school. She started a high school organization called Eco Club and hosted events where high school staff could sample vegan food. Then as a senior, she organized small multi-cultural festivals in the South Hills. She longed to bring vegan culture to her Carrick neighborhood. These events were small, but hosted local artists and food vendors.

Years later, her small multi-cultural festivals have morphed into something much larger. Over the years, the name of the event has changed, but the concept remains the sameto bring artists, performers and local vegan food together in Pittsburgh. An event eight years ago, Vegan Bazaar, hosted around 100 visitors. There were 1,000 attendees at her former event, the Pittsburgh Vegan Festival on the North Side, and then the North Hills. Now under the name Pittsburgh Vegan Expo, she expects a few thousand at the Monroeville Convention Center on Saturday, November 9.

A resounding theme throughout her festivals is belly dance, of which Amethyst is a certified performer and teacher. She was first introduced to the art of belly dance in 1997. In a high school acting class she performed a monologue in which she had to belly dance. Opting for no formal preparation, her first attempt missed the mark, much to the chagrin of her teacher. Following her failed attempt, she saw a belly dancer perform at a friends wedding. Intrigued, she enrolled in classes immediately.

Amethyst began taking classes around Carrick and then throughout Pittsburgh. She quickly started traveling with master instructors, such as Ansuya Rathor from the celebrated troupe Belly Dance Superstars. Her studies took her to San Francisco, Miami and Washington D.C. She studied traditional Egyptian and Turkish styles while also learning more contemporary dances.

Eventually, under Rathors instruction, Amethyst became certified in belly dance.

Often, she explains, those who practice belly dance choose a Middle Eastern name to perform under something that suits how you feel when you dance. While Amethyst is not a Middle Eastern name, she chose the variety of quartz because its purple color represents the divine. Amethyst has properties to turn negative energy into positive energy, she says, and thats what belly dance has done for me. Belly dance isnt a spiritual thing for everyone, but for me, it is.

She says spirituality is not essential in the art of belly dance. You can have any religion, or none, and belly dance. Belly dance is for everybody. I happen to be pagan. My version of paganism has lot of (Buddhism) in it.

Amethyst ties her spirituality into belly dance through what she calls sacred dance. Sacred dance, she explains, is belly dance mixed with spirituality for magical purposes and to transform things in your life changing patterns into more positive ones, moving meditation and breathing techniques to reach a goal. If you do something healthy with your body and mind, it will help you reach other goals.

Belly dance even without religion makes you stronger, she says. Historically, belly dance has helped in childbirth and works out your entire body, especially the core, she says. Many women come to her classes feeling uncomfortable at first. But soon, they realize that everyone in the class once felt the same way and end up leaving with boosted confidence.

Ive had students who, in the past, had negative experiences that have made them uncomfortable with their bodies. Ive seen them work through it, not for other people, but for themselves. Some women go on to perform in front of people, and some just want to dance with other women. However, she adds that men also belly dance. Not often, but occasionally, men attend her classes. She also offers female-only classes.

Belly dance isnt always such a serious and sacred matter. While Amethyst is versed in traditional styles of the dance, she has a playful energy about her that is expressed through her own unique style of belly dance what she calls electro belly. The ElectroBelly Troupe performs to electronic music and their events usually consist of deejays, break-dancers, live instruments and multimedia art.

My style depends on the type of gig, she says. Traditional events call for traditional style. My own style mixes tribal-fusion with Americanized dance styles.

Amethyst strongly integrates belly dance with veganism. Veganism, belly dance and spirituality all connect to me. They are all healthy. Belly dance works out your body and is emotionally healthy by connecting to other women and your body. Its a mind, body, spirit connection. If youre doing something that connects all those things, veganism fits in. Veganism physically makes me better. Knowing that she is not causing harm to any living creatures also makes her emotionally healthy, she says.

She is a veteran vegan despite her parents initial hope that it would just be a phase. She became a vegetarian at age five after a traumatic life experience. After eating fast-food hamburgers, she became very sick and was hospitalized for three months. Her kidneys stopped working, and her body went into complete renal failure. She believes the contaminated meat from the fast-food hamburger is what gave her E. coli. During her hospitalization, she overheard a doctor telling someone she was going to die. I heard that, and I was five. I knew what it was like to think I was going to die and want to live. After dialysis and transplants, she survived.

Then, just months later, her family nearly avoided a car accident. Her dad sped around a bend and the car spun. He hit the brakes and stopped just inches away from a cow. I looked into the cows eyes and felt a connection. The cow knew what it was like to almost die, just like I did. While her parents went to alert the farmer that cows were roaming free on the road, Amethyst saw a sign that read, meat for sale. She was horrified. It was the first time she learned that meat came from animals.

Her parents were not initially receptive to her vegetarianism. From years 5 to 10, she would have to sit at the dinner table and fight off her parents attempts at trying to get her to eat meat at the suggestion of their family doctor. Then, around the age of 10, her family tried a new doctor who happened to be from India a country where 42 percent of its citizens are vegetarian, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations. The doctor was more than familiar with vegetarianism and educated her parents on alternative ways to get protein.

In Amethysts early teens, her vegetarianism morphed into veganism. It took her a week to give up dairy, and she immediately noticed positive changes. Her acne went away, along with stomach and female reproductive issues. She says these things made it easy to stay vegan.

I was the only vegan I knew. Everyone thought I was strange and tried to feed me lettuce all the time. In high school, all my friends were 30-something vegetarians.

Amethyst takes solace in knowing that her young daughter, also a vegan, wont experience the kind of isolation that she went through. Annikah is 8 years old. She has dark hair and likes to add streaks of pink, purple and blue, just like her mother. She is Amethysts shadow, never far from her mother.

Amethyst refers to Annikah as her mini-belly dancer. They belly dance every day together. Shes been belly dancing since she could walk, Amethyst says.

To combat the isolation she experienced as a child, Amethyst started a private Facebook group with other vegan parents. The groups members often get together with their children. Also, the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo hosts children-friendly activities. For example, because Halloween can be a difficult time for vegan children, the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo will host trick-or-treating, where kids can collect vegan-friendly snacks from vendors.

A typical day in the life of Amethyst consists of balancing motherly duties, working on her businesses and taking Annikah to see cultural activities. My day has a good balance between work and my kid, Amethyst says.

She is a true optimist and says she wouldnt change a thing about the city of Pittsburgh. Truly delighted, she says, So many good changes happened here. Before, I would have asked for more vegan food, and now, there is. In the past, I would have asked for more cultural performances, and now, theyre everywhere! All the changes I wanted are happening.

Tubaiste, a student at Amethyst Arts, says that belly dance has improved her confidence, helped her at her job and even improved her posture (which was noted by her chiropractor, she says). Amaya, another student, says that Amethyst brings a very open feeling to the classes. Its not intimidating, and its just fun.

Those interested in taking belly dance classes under Amethyst can choose from a variety of walk-in classes, regular classes and workshops. Details can be found at pittsburghbellydance.com.

If vegan food sounds more appealing than taking dance classes, the next Pittsburgh Vegan Expo is November 9. The festival hosts food of different ethnicities, local desserts, raw juice, cruelty-free products, and artists at the Monroeville Convention Center. There are free yoga and belly dance demos throughout the day along with belly dance performances and live music. Its a nice way to promote veganism and local artists of every genre, Amethyst says.

Over the years, Amethysts life goals have changed. She originally thought she would like to open her own wellness center. While she isnt completely setting that aside, she would like to focus on her current projects. One of my goals is to keep working with more and more people, like Zen Den Pittsburgh (a wellness center on Mount Washington that focuses on relaxation, bodywork and energy medicine) expand into bigger projects with more artists, make the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo bigger, keep doing what I am doing.

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Long before she started the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo, Belly Dancer, community organizer and teacher, Amethyst has been preaching the gospel of a...

Talking to Bay Rose, youd think she was a bit older than 32.

It has zero to do with her appearance she wears a youthful smile and portrays a millennials self-confidence. Rather, it has everything to do with her life journey.

She mentions years working in a Bayport cupcake shop and at American Cheese in Sayville, while pursuing a certificate in holistic nutrition in New York City and an associates degree in culinary arts at Suffolk Community College.

Before that is Roses time working in the hotel industry in Denver, Colorado. That came after earning a masters degree at a university in Florence, Italy.

Further back are the four years studying philosophy at Siena College. And then theres her high school years spent in France.

Its exhilarating and at the same time exhausting to hear it detailed in one conversation. And what is particularly fascinating about her seemingly long trip of self-discovery is the reason were talking: Today, Rose, who really is just 32, has ended up right where she wanted to be all along.

Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a store owner, said Rose, who on Saturday, Nov. 2, following a ribbon cutting ceremony in West Sayville will officially open Nettle & Rose, an herbal apothecary and holistic specialty shop.

I remember my mom asking me when I was little, What do you want to do when you grow up? I always told her, I want to have a store,' Rose of Blue Point continued. Just being able to interact with different people all day long was always really cool to me.

Nettle & Rose, located at 77 West Main St. in a small freshly painted pink house, is a one-stop shop for herbal remedies and sweet and savory organic vegan treats that are gluten free, soy free, refined sugar free, natural flavor free, gum free and non-organic citric acid free.

The store will sell tinctures, salves, bulk herbs, all natural beauty and skin care products and its own line of powders and teas, while offering package-free provisions, such as bulk nuts, flours, dried fruits, and spices.

Aside from Roses childhood dream of operating a store, the inspiration for Nettle & Rose has come in stages.

When a debilitating mystery illness forced Rose to leave her corporate hotel job in Denver six years ago, she started consulting with a holistic nutritionist.

I lost 20 pounds over three months, and then lost another 20 pounds over three weeks, she said. I was just not physically able to work anymore.

Roses nutritionist trained her to use food to heal her body, she said.

I cut out eggs entirely, dairy entirely, and just moved to cleaner sources of food, Rose said. I found a local farm where I got my meat from, and I switched to wholly organic vegetables.

In about six months, Rose was feeling as healthy as she ever had. And then, she moved back to Long Island to pursue the holistic nutritionist certificate in New York City.

Old eating habits crept back in, followed by the stress of planning her own wedding. She was also burning the candle at both ends, if you will, commuting to nutrition classes in the city and culinary classes at Suffolk, while working full time.

I wanted to study holistic nutrition, so that I could pass along what I learned from my holistic nutritionist, Rose said. And then I wanted to round out my nutritionist certificate with a culinary degree, so that I could teach my clients how to cook their food.

Some time in 2016 came the idea to tie all of this knowledge together with her lifelong dream of running a store. And so began Roses search for a place to set up Nettle & Rose. Unfortunately, the stress of her journey took its toll, and 2016 also came with chronic pain and a lupus diagnosis at 29.

Instead of medication, Rose has since healed herself through a very strict diet, and these days lives pain free.

This store is representative of everything that has helped me heal, she said. Thats what I want to share with people. Youre suffering? You want to heal? Or you want more joy in life? Here are the things that brought a lot of joy to me and helped me heal.

People shouldnt have to sacrifice to be doing the right thing. What Im offering here is a learning space, Rose continued. Come and learn how you treat your body better. Come and learn how you can do better for Mother Earth.

Excerpt from:

Vegan treats in the mix at new herbal apothecary in West Sayville - GreaterSayville

Its the day before Halloween and you didnt think ahead to buy vegan candy online. Theres no way youd purchase the animal-based sweets, but then again, you dont want to be that house giving out pencils. Dont panic, and dont pay the extra overnight shipping fee for the vegan candy you should have purchased online a week agojust go to Target. VegNews editors conducted a thorough search of the Target candy aisles, inspecting each shelf for animal-free sweetsright down to the ingredients label. Grab a cart (youll need one) and fill it to the brim with these 30 vegan-friendly treats.

1. Dum DumsThese mini suckers have stood the test of timeevery generation loves them. Just be prepared to have a line at your door as the kids sift through the bucket to find their favorite flavor.

2. Jolly RanchersOne of the original candies that taught us blue is a flavor, these classic hard candies remain a staple in every well-stocked candy bucket.

3. AirheadsHalf the fun of these stretchy sweets is molding them like silly putty. Think of it as giving away a toy and a snack.

4. Sour Patch KidsTheres no gelatin or animal bones in these gummies! Save a few fun-sized bags for yourself.

5. Ring PopsReally, Ring Pops are just ordinary suckers yet they somehow taste ten times better because theyre candy bling.

6. Market Pantry Soft Peppermint PuffsIs it too soon to enjoy peppermint treats on Halloween? Nope!

7. Market Pantry Butterscotch Disc Hard CandiesDont fear the butterscotchtheyre vegan!

8. Fun-Sized Laffy TaffyThis candy can be a bit polarizingparticularly the banana flavor. Even if youre not a fan, at least read the wrapper for a good pun you can throw out at your next party. Note: only the fun-sized varieties are veganthe regular sizes contain eggs.

9. SmartiesAs of 2015, the family-run company was selling 2 billion Smarties rolls a year. Apparently, Smarties are here to stay.

10. SkittlesThis might not be what the doctors mean when they say eat the rainbow, but were going to ignore that thought for the sake of the holiday.

11. Individually-wrapped Strawberry TwizzlersIts not exactly hygenic to answer the door with a bucket of unwrapped Red Vines, but these packaged single-serve Twizzlers will do the trick for licorice-lovers.

12. Fun DipWhile Cherry Yum and Razzapple flavors might not exist in nature, kids love the interactiveness of these sweet and fruity packs of sugar powder.

13. Justins Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter CupsJustins nut butter cups are the vegan equivalent of Reeses. Target sells both full-sized and minis, so you decidewill you be that house rumored to hand out full-sized candies? Yes, yes you will.

14. Annies Bunny Fruit SnacksIf kids had the opportunity to create their own dietary guidelines, gummies and fruit snacks would definitely be a food group.

15. Gushers90s throwback! While our palettes have matured, theres no doubt these squishy artificially flavored snacks will thrill anyone under the age of 12.

16. Gogo SqueezSqueezable fruit is all the rage at the lunch table. Vegan-friendly flavors of this applesauce brand include apple, apple cinnamon, apple strawberry, apple banana, and a special Halloween pack in Raspberry Rush and Berry Madness.

17. Mamma Chia Probiotic SqueezeThe parents might steal these from their kids Halloween haul. The fruity flavors include Blueberry Acai, Strawberry Lemonade, and Strawberry Banana. With all the candy theyre consuming, trick-or-treaters could use a probiotic boost.

18. Annies Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie BitesAll trick-or-treaters are warned about accepting baked goodsthese mini cookie packs are the next best thing.

19. Oreo MinisNo one can pass up (dairy-free) milks favorite cookie.

20. Fig NewtonsWere we the only ones who loved Fig Newtons as kids? These figgy bars arent just for old people!

21. Barnums Animal Cracker Mini-PacksThese classic animal-themed cookies are so old, theyre officially retro.

22. LarabarsWith flavors such as Cherry Pie, Apple Pie, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, you can bet these fruit-and-nut bars wont be traded in the lunchroom the next day.

23. Oreo Handi-SnacksWe like to think of these lunchbox treats as deconstructed, interactive versions of Americas favorite accidentally vegan cookie.

24. Clif BarsGo for the nut-butter filled varieties or the minis. Theyre still sweet but offer a more robust nutritional profile than your standard Halloween candy. Parents will thank you.

25. Clif Z-BarsLike the originals, these kid-focused bars come in nut-butter filled and minis. Pick up a few boxes of the Double Peanut Butter and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

26. Angies Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Kettle CornCandy can be divisive. Everyone loves kettle corn. The choice is obvious.

27. Utz Halloween Bats & Jacks Single-Serve Pretzel SnacksIts an unspoken rule that every Halloween haul must include a pack of holiday-themed pretzels. You can help the trick-or-treaters hit this quota.

28. Ghoul-Aid JammersOn Halloween, its okay to drink the (Scary Berry) Kool Aid.

29. Surf Sweets Organic Spooky ShapesPumpkins, witch hats, and skulls, oh my! Delight any trick-or-treater with these vegan gummy treats.

30. Kathy Kaye Foods Popcorn BallsAnother classic, popcorn balls will never go out of style. Save a few for yourself and dress them up with a coating of vegan caramel or a drizzle of melted chocolate.

Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and fitness enthusiast living in Orange County, CA.

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30 Vegan Halloween Candies (and Other Treats) We Found at Target - VegNews

Small groups of students slowly circled the new 600-seat dining hall at Texas Womans University on Monday, chatting about what stations and food items were featured.

Holy s--t! Theres a deli, one student told her friend as she looked at the counter with fresh breads made on-site, filling options, a panini press and a toaster.

The deli is one of eight stations in the new dining hall, dubbed Pioneer Kitchen, that officially opened Monday. While officials celebrated with a ribbon-cutting, students filled the new space and were overwhelmed with options.

Students can build their own stir-fry dishes and watch as theyre cooked on a large Mongolian grill, check out the vegan options of the day or visit a gluten- and allergen-free station. Theres also the classic dining hall food: salad bar, burgers and pizza.

Emmaleigh Arnn and Anna Hammond are both juniors, each with a meal plan providing 40 meals a semester. So far this semester, Hammond said they had been to the old dining hall, the Underground, maybe five times. Now, theyre both sure theyll use up their meal plans at Pioneer Kitchen.

I had pizza from the wood-fired oven, and it was significantly better than the old one, Arnn said, laughing. It smells weird in the other one, and I walked in here and was wowed. It feels like a real college experience.

In addition to the dining hall options for students, there are other food-related services available at Pioneer Kitchen. Theres a teaching kitchen with live demonstrations to help students learn to cook, as well as a station for students to pick up cook-at-home meal kits that they can customize and make for two or four servings. The meal kit program, called Fed, is designed for students who live at Lowry Woods, the family-inclusive on-campus housing option, said Dianne Jackson, director of dining services.

Another take-home option is groceries for sale near the register. Dubbed the farmers market, the university has partnered with local vendors to offer produce and other food products for sale, such as jarred jams and fresh vegan linguine.

Theres also Pioneer Pastries housed within the dining hall, where anyone can order custom desserts and have them delivered anywhere on campus. Students can pay for the service with dining dollars or other forms of payment while ordering, Jackson said.

The additions are designed to help students as the campus becomes increasingly residential, especially with the new residence hall that opened this fall with 872 beds. The goal is to help students stay on campus and keep them from having to hop in a car whenever they need something food-related, Jackson said.

We wanted to compete outside of our walls, so we looked for programs that would cater to every student need thats something students are looking for, she said. We wanted to make this a one-stop shop for everything the students need so they dont have to leave campus, and this brings more value to their meal plans.

TWU Chancellor and President Carine Feyten cuts the ribbon Monday for Pioneer Kitchen, the new dining hall on campus.

During Mondays formal ribbon-cutting ceremony, TWU Chancellor and President Carine Feyten noted the growth in dining services since she started in the job in 2014. The university has added the Oakland Cafe, Which Wich and a Starbucks during her tenure, and now the updated dining hall will add to the student experience on campus, she said.

To be kind, not only was the Underground undersized, it was also underwhelming, Feyten said. As the university has grown and our enrollment has grown, we really did feel that we needed something more appropriate for the campus, the students, and also the faculty and staff. We never really had a place where faculty and staff could sit and eat.

With the opening of Pioneer Kitchen, the Underground is now closed, Jackson said. The kitchen will remain in use through the semester for catering services until new space in the new Student Union at Hubbard Hall is ready, she said.

The new dining hall at 1601 N. Bell Ave. is also open to the public $6.85 for breakfast, $8 for lunch and $9.15 for dinner.

JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @jennafduncan.

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From custom cakes to vegan entrees, here's what's inside the new TWU dining hall - Denton Record Chronicle

George Kunz was chatting recently about his Pro Football Hall of Fame chances when it was brought up that Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was looking forward to returning to Oakland-Alameda County Stadium, now that the skin part of the baseball infield is covered by a sod toupee.

No more skinned elbows and suffocating clouds of dust.

We never put the grass in, even after baseball season, the longtime Las Vegan (38 years) said about playing offensive tackle for the old Colts on chilly windswept Sunday afternoons at Baltimores Memorial Stadium.

That should be worth at least a couple of votes from the committee.

Eight Pro Bowl berths in 10 NFL seasons he was injured during the other two should be worth many more.

But so far, they havent been enough to get the big and humble man into Cantons holy grail.

It has been written that Kunz stood shoulder pad to shoulder pad with the other great offensive tackles of the 1970s Bob Brown, Dan Dierdorf, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright, Ron Yary.

All five have been fitted for the yellow sports jacket.

George Kunz still is wearing sweater vests and golf shirts.

He was a great player with the wrong teams at the wrong time, said fellow Las Vegan Tom Mack, an 11-time Pro Bowl guard for the Los Angeles Rams who received the Canton call in 1999.

The Falcons did not go to the playoffs during Kunzs six seasons in Atlanta. The Colts were better, advancing to the postseason three times when he was their right tackle, losing twice to the Steelers and once to the Raiders, in double overtime.

If Ken Stabler overthrows Dave Casper and the Colts go on to win the Super Bowl, perhaps Kunz would have a massive jewel-encrusted ring and a size 50 XL (more like 56 XL when he played) yellow sports jacket by now.

But theres still hope.

Superclass of 2020

In 2020, the Hall of Fame will expand by 20 members instead of the usual eight to celebrate the NFLs 100th anniversary. Ten spots in this superclass will be reserved for players who have been retired for at least 25 years. Kunz is on the list, although O-linemen such as Joe Jacoby and Jimbo Covert are receiving more notice.

Laura Herlovich, former public relations director for the NBAs Utah Jazz, and local businessman Tom Humm, brother of former NFL quarterback David Humm of Las Vegas, have organized a campaign on Kunzs behalf. Rick Gosselin, a member of the Halls senior committee, is another advocate hes the one who compared Big Georges credentials to those voted in with lesser accolades.

Tom Mack is beating the drum, too.

Its a very difficult road to hoe, Mack said after serving as honorary Michigan captain at Saturdays game against Notre Dame, for which Kunz starred before becoming the second player selected in the 1969 draft behind O.J. Simpson. Youve got to have championships along the way. It took the Falcons most of 30 years before they even got anybody in the Hall of Fame.

The closest statistic you can apply (to an offensive lineman) and it really applies to guys on teams that arent any good is how often they got to play in the Pro Bowl. And George played in a bunch of em. I think the world of him. He played well against Deacon (Jones); he played well against everybody we had.

Tall Man speaks

The meeting over coffee wasnt the first time I had spoken with Kunz about the Canton snub. In 2013, he said he didnt lose sleep over it because he had other things to occupy his time. He owned eight local McDonalds franchises and became an attorney (personal injury, family law, estate planning) after selling them.

He still doesnt lose sleep over it. But if you twist his arm not advised, because at 72 he looks like he still could open a gaping hole for Joe Washington or Roosevelt Leaks to run through hell admit that swapping his sweater vest for a yellow jacket would be an honor.

The ultimate honor.

Theres a great movie called The Tall Men and Robert Ryans quote about Clark Gable was real simple: Hes what every boy thinks hes going to be when he grows up, and wishes hed been when hes an old man, George Kunz said about what the Hall of Fame means to him now.

Thats about as good as you could put it.

Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.

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Las Vegan George Kunz hoping to stand tall in Canton - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Karlo Estates, in Ontario's Prince Edward County, is the first winery to be certified by VegeCert as vegan-friendly.

When you consider any of the presumed classic food and wine pairings oysters and Chablis, Stilton cheese and Port or steak and cabernet sauvignon theyre only perfect matches if you like both sides of the equation.

If you enjoy a strict plant-based or vegan diet, all are non-starters possibly on both the food and wine sides. While it might come as a shock given its a product of grapes, wine isnt necessarily vegan-friendly.

So many people dont understand that not all wines are suitable for vegans, says Jennifer Huether, a master sommelier based in Toronto who has been taking an active interest in vegan wine pairings over the past few years.

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Huether explains for many being vegan isnt a diet, its a lifestyle. Its not merely an issue about what they ingest, but a sincere belief that humans shouldnt exploit or harm animals in any fashion. Beyond the animal products that might be used in the clarification of wine, theres also the adhesives used in the labelling process to consider or whether animals, like horses or sheep, are employed in the vineyard work.

The principle of winemaking, having yeast convert the sugar in grape juice to alcohol, isnt a concern for vegans. The issue comes up when winemakers look to clarify or fine their finished wine to give them that clear, bright, jewel-like clarity.

Binding agents or clarifiers are used to attract suspended solids (proteins, tannins and other molecules) left over after fermentation that make the wine hazy and possibly taste bitter. The most common fining agents are derived from casein (milk protein), albumin (egg whites) or animal proteins (gelatin or isinglass, the latter being a fish by-product).

Because three of the most traditional fining agents are common allergens, you may have noticed the warning may contain milk, eggs or fish on the back label of some international wines, notably ones from Australia or New Zealand. Canadian winemakers arent required to specify which processing aids were used.

As part of her work with Toronto-based promoter and writer Priya Rao on an ongoing series of events that celebrate the art of pairing vegan wines and foods, Heuther has been actively combing what little material is available.

Just because you eat a plant-based diet, doesnt mean you dont like wine, she says. I found it fascinating that no one is really addressing this subject.

Huether says shes been looking to identify food and wine pairings that create the elevated experience that someone would experience with, say, a great bottle of Bordeaux and a lamb dish.

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Were still discovering as we go, she says. With vegan dishes you have different sugar levels, spices and umami levels, its a fun challenge.

Most of successes thus far have been recipe based, but Heuther is happy to share some guiding principles for anyone looking to get the most of a vegan wine and food pairing. She and Rao are hoping to have a vegan food and wine pairing e-book compiled for the coming holiday season. More information is available at thesocialherbivore.co.

The wines recommended this week are all vegan-friendly as professed by the producers. Outside of Karlo Estate in Ontarios Prince Edward County, no governing body has confirmed these claims. Many wine producers dont use animal-derived products, but fail to mention it. If you have any concerns about how your favourite winery makes its wine, its best to get in touch and see what they have to say.

Cave Spring Cellars Riesling 2017 (Canada)

SCORE: 90 PRICE: $15.95

Made in Cave Springs crowd-pleasing house style, this refreshing riesling is marked by mouthwatering sweet and sour citrus flavours. Zesty with a balancing sweetness, it makes a terrific aperitif or food-friendly (and vegan-friendly) dining companion. Available in Ontario at the above price, $17.99 in Manitoba, direct shipping to Alberta or British Columbia through cavespring.ca.

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Domaine Bousquet Malbec 2018 (Argentina)

SCORE: 88 PRICE: $13.95

Heres an organic and vegan-friendly malbec from Tupungato in the premium growing region of the Uco Valley. This easy to appreciate dry red offers a mix of berry and spice notes, with a fresh and lively character. Its a solid value thats ready to enjoy during the next year or two. Available in Ontario at the above price, $16.04 in Manitoba.

Fort Berens Estate Winery Chardonnay 2018 (Canada)

SCORE: 88 PRICE: $19.99

Fort Berens co-founder Rolf de Bruin explains the winery in Lillooet doesnt use animal products in the vineyard or winery operations. Produced mostly from estate-grown fruit thats blended with purchased chardonnay, this ripe and refreshing white is nicely balanced. Drink now. Available direct from the winery through fortberens.ca

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Karlo Estates Malbec Estate 2017 (Canada)

SCORE: 90 PRICE: $39

Karlo Estates was the first winery to certified by VegeCert, a Canadian body that conducts audits to confirm that production methods and supplies are vegan-friendly. The Prince Edward County winery produces a compelling range of estate-grown wines, including this distinctive malbec that reveals a sweet core of dark fruit that gains interest from herbal, earthy and spice notes. Available direct from the winery through karloestates.com

Yalumba The Strapper 2016 (Australia)

SCORE: 91 PRICE: $19.95

This juicy and generous Barossa red is a winning blend of grenache, shiraz and mataro (a.k.a. mourvedre). The result is a fresh and flavourful character that displays a pleasant array of mint, herbal and ripe red fruit notes. Vegan friendly. Available in Ontario at the above price, $22.11 in Manitoba, various prices in Alberta. The similarly enjoyable 2015 vintage is $24.99 in British Columbia.

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Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2018 (Australia)

SCORE: 89 PRICE: $14.95

Yalumba has always had a special affinity for the viognier grape, but in recent years has outdone itself. This is an exciting version of the entry level Y Series label, with succulent fruit and that exotic lemongrass and floral charge you hope to find in top-quality expressions. Vegan-friendly. Available in Ontario at the above price, $17.49 in British Columbia, $18.99 in Saskatchewan, $14.95 in Quebec and various prices in Alberta.

Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay 2017 (United States)

SCORE: 88 PRICE: $19.95

Appealing fruity and fragrant, Wente Morning Fog chardonnay is made in a crowd-pleasing style. The oak spice flavours are nicely integrated into the mix of floral, cream and citrusy notes. Vegan friendly. Available in Ontario at the above price, $19.49 in Manitoba, various prices in Alberta and British Columbia.

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Finding vegan-friendly wines isn't as easy as you'd think. Fortunately, that is changing - The Globe and Mail

October 30 2019, 12:01am,The Times

Hilary Rose

I was hoping that veganism was a minority fad that would go away and leave me in peace with my steak frites. Alas, not. The number of vegans in the UK quadrupled between 2014 and 2018. The Vegan Society has cited research saying that vegan meals are the UKs fastest-growing takeaway choice, but then it would do that. Now Waitrose is offering store tours to help shoppers to go vegan and claiming that 13 per cent of the population is either vegetarian or vegan, although the implied equivalence annoys me. Isnt there almost as big a gulf between vegetarians and vegans as there is between vegans and carnivores?

With the exception of the odd roast chicken, most of what I eat is vegetarian. I would

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Spare me a vegan tour of the supermarket. The food will be awful - The Times

The Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully Act of 2019 (conveniently known as The Real MEAT Act) was recently introduced to the United States House of Representatives by Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Anthony Bindisi (D-NY). The proposed federal legislation aims to limit the use of words such as meat and beef to products derived from dead animal flesh by requiring that plant-based and cell-based products are labeled with the word imitation. The bill comes after similar pieces of legislation were introduced in several states and claims that requiring such labeling would eliminate consumer confusion around food products. A growing number of fake meat products are clearly trying to mislead consumers about what theyre trying to get them to buy, Jennifer Houston, President of the National Cattlemens Beef Association, said. Consumers need to be protected from deceptive marketing practices, and cattle producers need to be able to compete on a fair, level playing field.

Jessica Almy, Director of Policy at advocacy group Good Food Institute (GFI), believes the proposed legislation is a thinly veiled attempt by the meat industry to protect its profits from growing competition. This bill is a bald-faced attempt to get the government to police food labels to benefit the conventional meat industry, not consumers, Almy said. Demand for plant-based meats is skyrocketing in all regions of the countryincluding Kansas and New York.

Sales of plant-based food grew five times faster than total food sales in the United States over the course of the 52-week period ending in April, according to a report compiled by analytics firm SPINS. The same report showed that consumers purchased $4.5 billion worth of plant-based products, with plant-based meat sales up by 10 percent in the past year. For comparison, sales of animal meat grew by only two percent during the same period.

Rather than let consumers decide the winners and losers in a free marketplace, this bill attempts to stigmatize plant-based foods by requiring that they be labeled imitation to tilt the playing field to benefit conventional meat, Almy said. We are confident that Congress will see this bill for what it isunnecessary government overreachand we do not expect it will get much traction.

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Federal Bill Aims to Force Vegan Companies to Add Imitation Meat Labels - VegNews

Is there anything better than finally getting to wear all of our jackets once summer is officially done? Outerwear has the power to completely transform the look of any ensemble, and the options that we rock during the fall season are some of our absolute favorites.

One of the most popular staples? Leather jackets, of course. Equally as incredible are all of the vegan leather pieces that have gained major traction over the last few years. For those eager to go faux, we found the most adorable vegan leather jacket that you can score for under $50 right now!

Get the Vegan Leather Double Peplum Jacket (originally $128) on sale for just $80 from Express, and score an extra 40% off site wide for a limited time!

Youre definitely going to want to pick up this jacket from Express while you still can. This customer favorite is flying off the shelves and sizes are sure to run out especially during this amazing flash sale! Take an extra 40% off your entire purchase from Express now through November 3, 2019. Since this jacket is already on sale, it comes out to just $48 with the additional markdown! If thats not the most amazing steal that weve seen lately, then we dont know what is!

This jacket is cut in an elegant moto style that has a double peplum detail in the back, which adds a nice feminine touch to the look. The collar goes all the way up to the neck with a snap closure, and the hem hits right at the top of the hip. The stretch knit insets on the side seams and sleeves basically guarantee that this vegan leather jacket will fit your figure to perfection.

Get the Vegan Leather Double Peplum Jacket (originally $128) on sale for just $80 from Express, and score an extra 40% off site wide for a limited time!

This jacket comes in six different colors to choose from, and is also available in regular and petite sizes. There are zippers on the side of each sleeve as well as a front closure, plus zipper side pockets on the front of the jacket. There are so many options to choose from which makes Usbelieve that theres a perfect look and fit for everyone.

Shoppers are obsessed with this jacket. They say that its perfection and are calling it absolutely gorgeous! More than 1,100 shoppers have reviewed this jacket and its consistently earned a rating of four stars or more, which is seriously impressive. With the amazing price that you can get at the moment, there truly isnt a reason for you not to pick up this vegan leather jacket from Express!

See it: Get the Vegan Leather Double Peplum Jacket (originally $128) on sale for just $80 from Express, and score an extra 40% off site wide for a limited time!

Not the style that youre shopping for? Check out more jackets & coats and all of the sale items available from Express here!

Check out more of our picks and deals here!

This post is brought to you by Us Weeklys Shop With Us team.The Shop With Us team aims to highlight products and services our readers might find interesting and useful. Product and service selection, however, is in no way intended to constitute an endorsement by either Us Weekly or of any celebrity mentioned in the post.

The Shop With Us team may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. In addition, Us Weekly receives compensation from the manufacturer of the products we write about when you click on a link and then purchase the product featured in an article. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product or service is featured or recommended. Shop With Us operates independently from advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback at ShopWithUs@usmagazine.com. Happy shopping!

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This Adorable Vegan Leather Jacket From Express Is Under $50 for a Limited Time! - Us Weekly

Pizza Hut

Specialty pizza shops have long offered vegan options. This year however, especially over the past six months, several pizza chain giants have expanded their menus to make them more inclusive to vegans and vegetarians alike. Here we take a look at some of the recent vegan additions by chains and smaller companies who have increased their plantbased offerings.

Dominos has added four plant-based options to its menu in Australia. The chain claims the pies taste every bit as delicious as the genuine article, and so far, customers agree. PETA recently awarded Dominos Vegan Taco Fiesta the Best Vegan Pizza in Australia award.

Dominos offers a Hawaiian pizza, ham and cheese pie, pepperoni and supreme all featuring plant-based meats. When the campaign launched down under, 50% of all restaurants sold out of the new options within the first two weeks.

Many of the larger chains embracing the plant-based meat trend favor the two best known brands in plant meat Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods. Pizza Hut decided to take a different approach. The brand recently launched its Incogmeato pie at one location in Phoenix, AZ. If the launch goes well, customers throughout the state will soon enjoy a pie topped with Morningstar Farms Italian sausage.

The chain will serve the test pie in a new round box, which is designed to be more environmentally sustainable than the traditional square box and is said to keep the pizza hotter and fresher.

As we reported last week, UNO Pizzeria & Grill, which famously invented the deep dish pizza, launched its Love All, Feed All menu, including vegan and dairy-free options such as Beyond Meat and Daiya Vegan Mozzarella Cheese.

In June, Canadian chain Pizza Pizza rolled out its Super Plant Pizza including plant-based pepperoni from Yves Veggie Cuisine, and a plant-based chorizo crumble made by Field Roast Grain Meat Co, with the new menu items now available in all traditional Pizza Pizza restaurants across Canada.

If you live on the east coast of the US, you can find vegan pies at locations like Jules Thin Crust Pizza or The Couch Tomato Caf. Over on the west coast, LA chain Lucifers Pizza let you choose your level of spice. Others like Picazzos, an Arizona favorite, offer up options that are both vegan and gluten-free for people with various dietary restrictions.

Related

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Pizza Chains Around the World Increasingly Adding Vegan Options - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine