Let the battle begin.

Hain Celestial Group Inc., (HAIN) the company behind a variety of organic products including Terra Chips, shares were up Thursday afternoon after activist investor Glenn Welling of Engaged Capital LLC said he has launched a change-of-control director election contest that could include a push to have the company sold.

Specifically, Hain was up by 5% in after hours trading to $35.76 a share on news of the campaign. The company's shares dropped precipitously in August 2016 after it announced at the time that it was delaying earnings and expected to miss its own guidance over revenue recognition problems.

Nevertheless, the situation seems to be coming back under control. Hainreported its annual 2016 report on June 22, after 13 months without filings, after the company corrected what it said we're "immaterial errors" for prior-period financial statements. Itsrevenue is down slightly so far this year, and its profits dropped recently by half, compared to the company's results over the same period last year. Hain hasn't had an annual meeting since 2015. However, with its reports back on track expect an annual meeting and a boardroom skirmish to take place in the coming months.

In a securities filing, reporting a 9.9% stake, Engaged said it had discussions with the company's board and may have further discussions. Welling did not disclose the names of the seven director candidates he has submitted to Hain. However, Welling, who has launched a number of successful director election contests in recent years, will be seeking to replace seven of the New Hyde Park, NY-based company existing eight directors. In the filing, Welling suggested that Engaged could push for a variety of changes at the company including a "sale" of the business as a whole or in parts.

According to a person familiar with the situation, Welling is likely interested in pushing Hain to boost revenue through a new stronger approach to sales and promotion. Alternatively, the activist may seek to have Hain sold to another packaged foods company, he added.

It's very likely that a number of different buyers could be interested in the company as a whole or in pieces, as packaged foods companies seek to increase their exposure to organic foods, he added, including PepsiCo. Inc. (PEP) Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) General Mills Inc. (GIS) , Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) , Nestle SA, and Unilever NV (UN)

Hain Celestial has a variety of well-known brands beyond Terra chips, including Celestial Seasonings teas and Earth's Best Organic. It has dozens of products, including dairy and non-dairy foods, baby foods, frozen foods and deserts. The company says its goal is to be the leading marketer and maker of organic and natural better-for-you products.

Welling's fund accumulated shares betweenMay 1 and June 28 at prices ranging from $32.12 a share to $36.89.

PepsiCo. is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells PEP? Learn more now.

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An Activist Investor Wants to Take Control of Organic Food Pioneer Hain Celestial - TheStreet.com

The time is ripe for Jeff Bezos to work his business acumen on an area of the US food system thats been slowly growing for years: organic food. And with his purchase of Whole Foods Market earlier this month, hell have even more reason to try and convince US farmers to join him.

The meteoric growth of Whole Foods over the last several decades has been a testament to the growing popularity of natural and organic foods in America. The Organic Trade Association estimates those foods now account for 5% of total food sales, or $47 billion. Thats still a tiny sliver of food sales. But even before the Amazon acquisition, people in the industry were saying that number would jump to about 10% in coming years. Now that Amazonwith a much broader consumer base than Whole Foodshas officially picked up the natural-and organic-foods mantle, previous growth estimates might actually be conservative.

But theres a problem for Bezos if he wants to make organic food as ubiquitous as an Amazon-branded delivery box. As demand for organic fruits and vegetables has grown, the number of acres used to farm those crops has remained about the same.

One of the reasons is that its particularly onerous for farmers to switch from conventional farming techniques to organic. The government requires they create a three-year plan for how they will transition to accommodate more rigorous standards. The idea is that it takes about three years for conventional soil to contain the nutrient levels needed for organic certification. Organic crops must be rotated, and farmers must follow stricter standards for pest management and erosion control, among other things.

During that three-year transition period, farmers essentially go through the motions required for growing organic foods, but they have to sell it as conventional food at conventional prices. But if Amazon manages to give more people cheaper access to organic foods, there will be an incentive to push more farmers to go through that process, says Maggie Monast, a sustainable sourcing expert at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Most people have computers but they might not have access to a Whole Foods, Monast tells Quartz. But if this acquisition does increase demand for organic, there will be serious challenges in terms of scaling up.

For now, the US has relied on importing organic vegetables and fruits from other countries to make up the differencesomething some experts remain dubious about (paywall) when there are instances of imports of so-called organic corn and soy from China, for example, that have been found to be fraudulent.

Can Bezos overcome the challenges of producing more organic food the way that he overcame the books trade and then pretty much every bricks-and-mortar retailer? Well find out soon enough.

Excerpt from:

Amazon's new grocery venture gives Jeff Bezos his greatest challengecreating enough organic food - Quartz

PAOLI -- Ken and Sherrie Ruegsegger opened the 700-square-foot Paoli Local Foods as a way to sell and market the meat and vegetables grown on their farm near New Glarus.

Since 2007, the business at 6895 Paoli Road, now known as Paoli Cafe & Grocery, has expanded to 5,000 square feet and in 2012 included the addition of a cafe where the offerings have included sandwiches made with meat curated from local producers, stuffed green peppers with wild rice and quiche made with a Swiss chard, kale and goat feta cheese.

Ken Ruegsegger packs cartons with chicken eggs in between waiting on customers at Paoli Grocery & Cafe. Ruegsegger's farm near New Glarus is home to 35 ducks and 400 laying hens.

Customers routinely stop in to purchase duck and chicken eggs and bicyclists have made the store and cafe a regular stop but the business in downtown Paoli is closing, not due to a lack of business, but because of a divorce. Friday is the last day of business for the cafe, while the store will remain open through Wednesday. An auction is tentatively set for July 13.

"It's been an awesome journey," Ken Ruegsegger said. "I get to grow the food, cook the food. ... It's really sad that I have to leave but I'm trying to do the work of three people, and it's not working."

Paoli Grocery & Cafe offers a wide range of organic and natural products but is closing after 10 years of business.

The grocery store became known for its wide range of locally raised products including grass-fed Angus beef, chicken, turkey, organic produce, homemade jams, pickles, wild gathered items and organic compost from the family farm that Ken's father, Albert, purchased in 1958. Ken took over what is now a 140-acre operation in 1980.

The store also helps support about 80 local producers and has been one of the staples of Paoli, an artisan community along the Sugar River just south of Verona. Other businesses in the hamlet founded in 1856 include Paoli Schoolhouse Shops & Cafe; Cluck, The Chicken Store that sells backyard chicken supplies and art; Paoli Pub & Grill, Zazen Gallery, Hop Garden and Paoli Bread & Brat Haus.

Carol Torregrossa of Verona carries a carton of duck and chicken eggs purchased from Ken Ruegsegger. Torregrossa said she likes the taste of the eggs from Ruegsegger's poultry. "His stuff you can count on it all being good," she said.

But the loss of the business will leave a sizable retail space empty at the corner of Ridge Trail and Paoli Road and be one less outlet for organic produce, meats and locally produced foods, although Ruegsegger plans to continue selling products from his farm through his website, his delivery service and at the Dane County Farmers' Market.

He has 3,500 subscribers to his newsletter and the number continues to grow. On Thursday, he was busy packing eggs from his farm into cartons in between waiting on customers at the deli counter. He has 35 ducks and 400 laying hens. The soy-free duck eggs sell for $10 a dozen and the soy-free chicken eggs for $6 a dozen.

"I sell out. I can't keep up," Ruegsegger said of the demand for his eggs.

A basket of soy-free chicken and duck eggs gathered from Ken Ruegsegger's farm wait to be packed in cartons. The duck eggs are more white and larger than the chicken eggs.

In 2008, the Ruegseggers were nominated by the local chapter of Slow Food Wisconsin to represent the state at the Slow Food Nation festival in San Francisco and were nominated for a Dane County small-business award.

Among the items that are part of the store's liquidation are 300 free-range, soy-free chickens that were just recently butchered and pastured, and soy-free pork. The sale also includes jams and jellies, pickles, salsas, cheese, Kombucha, granola and bulk grains and pasta. All restaurant and store equipment is being sold, including a walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler, shelving and cooking and baking equipment.

Ken Ruegsegger rolls a cart topped with 30 dozen chicken eggs out of his Paoli Grocery & Cafe. These eggs were purchased by a vendor who plans to sell them at a farmers' market in the Milwaukee suburb of Elm Grove.

Ken Ruegsegger said his wife has been gone from the business for nearly two years and he only has a few part-time people working at the farm and the cafe and grocery operation. There is little free time for Ruegsegger but it also has been his life.

"It's insane but you know what? I've enjoyed every minute of it," Ruegsegger said. "I love what I do, I love the people, I love the food. I've learned so much and I've helped so many people. It was just an incredible experience, but there will be a transition period."

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'It's been an awesome journey,' but Paoli Cafe & Grocery to close - Madison.com

Futurism only supports companiesthat we trust. Aura Premiumis one of those companies. We may collect a share of the sales from the items featured on this page. Sign up for Aura Premium here. A New Way to Think

Mindful meditation is becoming an increasingly popular tool, one that people use to manage both their emotional and mental health. The practice is,in essence, the art of not reactingthe art of finding inner stillness through the use of external stillness. Its taking the time to close your eyes, turn your focus inward, and put all of your energy into just breathing.

Its an incredibly simple practice that doesnt take much time at all, and it is incredibly helpful. Ina study published in Clinical Psychology Review,researchers at Boston University and Harvard Medical School found that the technique helps alleviateanxiety and allows individuals to better cope with stressfulsituations. Similarly, in a study fromFrontiers in Psychology, researchers found that individuals who meditate have more gray matter volume in their brains than those that do not.

Yet, only 18 million Americans report their participation. Unfortunately, the reality for many overworked Americans is that relaxation is a luxury. Indeed, 92 % of the country still hasnt caught onto the trend. Its a surprising statistic considering the fact that meditation has been proven to increase concentration, decrease anxiety, and even help to preserve the aging brain.

Over the last few years, there have been a variety of apps that have aimed to close the gap between people who make time for meditation and the people who dont know how to fit it into their lives. And while many of the apps that have hit the market have effective qualities, few are as impressive and progressive asAura Premiumthe app created by meditation teachers and therapists that actually gets to know you, so it can help you better.

The AI-infused app is programmed to take post-session feedback information and use it to become a dynamic tool that assists with your mental health. Each time you use the app, it creates more pathways for you to get better at finding your zen.

And while anyone whos into mindful meditation will appreciate the app for its relaxation enhancers, its most appealing for people who are new to meditation and need guidance. All users need is three minutes a day to practice, though you can also choose 7 and 10-minute meditation durations as well.

The app is mostly geared towards helping its users get into a better headspace through exercises, breathing routines, and key spoken wordsthough it also has the ability to track users moods to help them see patterns and form connections.

Aura is essentially like having a portable guide in your pocket. And its been so successful in helping its users find inner peace, it was rated the best new app for February 2017 with thousands of nearly perfect ratings. For $59.99 on StackSocial, you can get a lifetime subscription to the app and start your journeyto better mental health.

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There's A New Way to Use Meditation to Reshape Your Brain - Futurism

CRYSTAL LAKE The McHenry County College Continuing Education Department is offering students two classes next month to teach individuals self-defense and how to reduce stress.

In the Womens Self Defense class, participants will be taught awareness and how to protect themselves. The course is designed for beginners. Participants are asked to wear comfortable pants and a T-shirt.

The self-defense class costs $29, and will be from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. July 13 in the MCC Gym, Room A107. When registering, use course code NHE S09 002.

MCC also is offering a class called Meditation for Stress Reduction and Concentration to teach participants methods for stress reduction. The instructor will teach participants daily meditation practices such as mantra meditation and loving kindness meditation.

The meditation class costs $25, and will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 13 at Yoga Seva, 407C E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake. When registering, use course code: NHE S68 003.

To register for either course, call the MCC Registration Office at 815-455-8588. For information, call Renee Erling at 815-455-8759.

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MCC to offer self-defense class for women; meditation course - Northwest Herald

Ever wonder what your body is going through when you deliberately shut it down for 10 to 20 minutes during a nice, solid bout of meditation?

Believe me, you're not alone, girl.

Those deep breathing exercises you're instructed to do during meditation aren't just for show.

As you sit still and demand your mind to calm the f*ck down, your psyche is actually undergoing some major positive changes.

Here are five things that happen to your brain not before or after, but exactly while you're meditating.

Cortisol is a hormone your body releases when you're stressed, so if your cortisol levels are low, that means you are #TooBlessedToBeStressed.

Astudy published by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health involved 30 medical students who had their blood tested to measure their cortisol levels before meditation.

After four days of mindful meditation, their blood levels were checked again. The findings revealedthat the average level of cortisol significantly lowered post-meditation.

When you're meditating, your brain produces theta and alpha waves.

Theta waves usually occur when you are in your deepest phase of dreamless sleep.

Alpha waves occur when your mind is in an idle state, like when you're daydreaming.

This means that, though you are awake, meditation induces brain activity that happens when you are either in your most relaxed state, or when you are sleeping.

That is honestly beyond incredible.

Like, think about it: Even though you're technicallyawake, your brain is so ridiculously relaxed, it produces activity as if ityou're freaking asleep.

I'm sorry, but you cannot tell me meditation is nota gift sent down from the heavens.

After all of that, you are in an ultimate relaxed state.

This is basically what people mean when they say that they feel zen.

You feel light, and free from worry you feel happy.

And you can thank good ol' dopamine for those positive vibes.

Dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, is released into the body during pleasurable situations.

Meditation, my friend, is indeed, a very pleasurable situation.

The gray matter in your brain is located in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is crucial for learning and memory.

Gray mattercan also be found in other parts of the brain associated with self-awareness, compassion, and reflection.

In a 2009 study published in the journal NeuroImage, Eileen Luders, a researcher in the Department of Neurology at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, compared the brains of 22 meditators and 22 non-meditators of the same age.

Her results showed that the meditators had more gray matter in regions of the brain that are imperative for attention, emotion regulation, and mental flexibility.

Increased gray matter is needed to ensure that the brain is efficiently processing information.

Luders believes that the increased gray matter in the meditators' brains should make them better at controlling their attention, managing their emotions, and making mindful choices.

It's safe to say, with all of that goodness listed, as you wipe your mental slate clean, your brain is literally re-configuring it self.

Your cortisol levels are lowering, gray matter is increasing, and alpha and theta waves are flowing.

Honestly, your brain sounds like a kickass, naturally high work of art.

So continue breathing in deep, and exhaling anything that doesn't serve you.

Your mind is undergoing a major glow-up!

#NewBrainWhoDis?

Subscribe to Elite Daily's official newsletter, The Edge, for more stories you don't want to miss.

Imani Brammer is a writer, on-air talent and YouTuber, where she produces videos on how to navigate the nuances of adulthood. Subscribe to her channel at YouTube.com/ImaniBrammer.

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This Is What's Actually Happening Inside Your Body When You're Meditating - Elite Daily

Reva Seth is a bestselling author and the founder of The Optima Living Lab, an initiative making the case for public investment in the personal infrastructure of individuals.

Pro athletes, celebrities, Fortune 100 CEOs and Silicon Valley billionaires have rhapsodized on how meditation and mindfulness are the most effective tools for health, personal performance and well-being since, well, exercise. Like yoga and running before it, mindfulness tools and meditation programs are now big business with popular apps like Headspace, the Mindfulness App and Buddhify receiving tens of millions of downloads.

Mindfulness and meditation are simply about regularly exercising the ability to be, deliberately and calmly, fully in the moment. This requires an individual to still his or her mind, control emotions and breathe regularly and deeply. Its a simple habit that produces incredible (data-based) results which is why leading global companies such as Google, Target and General Mills are incorporating it into their organizations.

Research shows regular practice reduces both physical and mental-health costs and improves emotional quotient (essential for social cohesion and success in a knowledge economy) and resilience to stress, as well as employee focus, concentration and productivity.

Researchers from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., found that meditation and mindfulness reduce anxiety, depression and pain.

Similarly, a study in the Journal of Health Psychology found that meditation and mindfulness lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Scientists at the University of Oregon found that meditation techniques actually result in physical brain changes that protect against mental illness by increasing the signalling connection in the brain and the density of protective tissue.

From a public-health perspective, Canada should be experimenting and implementing what research suggests is a cost-effective, non-invasive means of helping to address our national mental-health crisis.

Mental illness and addiction affects one in five Canadians in their lifetime. Canada is also the second highest per capita consumer of opioids in the world and, according to the International Narcotics Control Board, these numbers are rising.

Data show that Canadas youth are also suffering from rising levels of anxiety, stress, depression and suicide. A large-scale 2016 study tracking Ontario students for the past 20 years found that one-third had moderate to severe symptoms of psychological distress an increase from two years earlier.

The economic costs of these numbers are significant. Mental illness broadly costs the Canadian economy more than $50-billion (from health care, social services and income support) and Canadian businesses lose $6-billion annually as a result of lost productivity, absenteeism and turnover.

Even more staggering is the ripple effect that our national mental-health crisis is having on our families, workplaces and communities. Statistics Canada in 2012 found that approximately 11 million Canadians had a family member with a mental-health or addiction problem. More than one-third reported that their own lives had been directly and adversely affected by their family members mental issues.

The traditional frame of reactive acute care is no longer sufficient or optimal.

Its time for public-health officials, policy makers and the public to get behind a commitment to scaling up access to meditation and mindfulness programs. These practices shouldnt remain the stronghold of the affluent who have the time and resources to invest in cultivating stronger mental wellness. Information and opportunities to practice meditation should be available to all Canadians with schools, hospitals, workplaces and even public transport or the CBC as possible points of delivery.

Successful models that could be scaled up are already operating across the country, and the first step should be to survey these existing success stories for templates that could be nimbly offered more widely. For instance, in the Toronto District School Board, the Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute introduced lessons in mindfulness with six workshops over two months. Similarly, the Vancouver School Board offers teachers mindfulness training through the MindUp program.

This is not a replacement for better medical care, improved social services or pharmaceutical intervention its a supplement or augmentation to existing treatments and a pro-active means of strengthening the ability of more individuals to personally invest effectively in their mental and emotional wellness.

A national strategy and commitment to promoting mindfulness and meditation would also positively nudge forward our collective ability to better navigate other social and health priorities. For instance, meditation has been shown to alleviate loneliness among seniors, reduce stress among caregivers and help promote focus and reduce anxiety among youth.

Much like ParticipAction was launched by the Canadian government to promote healthy living and physical fitness (and to battle exorbitant health-care costs), the next frontier is to do the same with our countrys mental well-being by publicly scaling up education, understanding and access to meditation and mindfulness.

Follow us on Twitter: @Globe_Health

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Mindfulness and meditation need to be part of Canada's mental-health strategy - The Globe and Mail

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today termed the Sabarmati Ashram here as Mahatma Gandhi's "tapobhoomi", or the land where he did spiritual practice, and said the place has enlightened the entire humanity.

Modi was here to take part in the centenary celebrations of the Sabarmati Ashram, which was home to Gandhiji from 1917 to 1930.

After a short visit to the Ashram, Modi left a message in the visitors' diary at 'Hriday Kunj', a place inside the premises where the Father of the Nation used to live.

In his message in Gujarati, the PM said the Ashram is not just a building or an institution, but a place which has witnessed the building of a nation.

Modi wrote in the diary that "100 years of Sabarmati Ashram is not a centenary of a building, institution or an activity only. To bring the nation out of hundreds of years of slavery, Bapu made this place his 'tapobhoomi' and gave us 'swaraj' (independence)".

"This Ashram is a live witness to the process of nation-building. This place enlightened the consciousness of entire world's humanity, not just of India. I bow down to this 'tapobhoomi'. I bow down to respected Bapu," he further wrote.

During his visit, Modi interacted with Ashram trustees about ongoing activities, planted a tree, offered flowers at Gandhiji's statue and also tried his hands on a 'charkha' (spinning wheel).

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PM Narendra Modi visits Sabarmati Ashram, says it enlightened human race - Economic Times

Ahmedabad: Meira Kumar, the opposition's presidential candidate, will launch her campaign from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Friday in the presence of Gujarat Congress leaders.

File image of Meira Kumar. Reuters

Kumar, who arrived in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening, would visit the ashram at around 9.30 am and then meet the Congress MLAs at the party headquarters in the Paldi area, said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Himanshu Patel.

Sabarmati Ashram was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 to 1930.

Upon her arrival at the airport in Ahmedabad, Kumar, who will contest against NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind in the 17 July presidential poll, said it was a "battle of ideologies" and not a "Dalit versus Dalit" fight.

"Attempts are being made by some to project the election as a Dalit versus Dalit fight. It was from Gujarat that the ideology of Gandhiji spread across the country and world. That is why I have come here to make the people realise that we fight for our ideologies," she told reporters.

After meeting the Congress MLAs on Friday, Kumar will interact with the media in the afternoon, said Patel.

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Meira Kumar to launch presidential poll campaign from Sabarmati Ashram at around 9.30 am - Firstpost

EXPAND

Look at that pancake with its margarine scoop. Just look at it.

Kathryn DeBruler

It is noon on a Sunday and a line is predictably snaking its way from Jonathons Oak Cliff. People drive for miles to have their chicken and waffles, making Jonathons more than a place to simply consume brunch, but rather a brunch destination.

But if you keep walking down North Beckley Avenue a few more paces, you will quickly find yourself stumbling upon another restaurant with another, albeit smaller, line. This one doesnt spill out onto the street but instead takes the form of people biding their time on benches inside. These patrons are waiting to be seated at Spiral Diner, the vegan eatery that has built an ardent following over the 14 years it has been in operation.

This is the Lumberjack and it's more than okay. It's vegan all night, and it's vegan all day.

Kathryn DeBruler

For those whose suspicions are aroused by restaurants that only serve plant-based foods (and the people who choose to eat them), picture this. Spiral Diner is a happy place. It has the look of a '50s diner tin ceilings, Formica tables thats collided with a candy store, with its enthusiastic embrace of springy, youthful colors.

If you fear vegan restaurants because of a stereotyped (but also semi-accurate) perception of the people who work there as militant vegans who will throw red paint on your Cole Haan loafers, fear not. Spiral Diner is staffed by people who may be collectively described as hip but also nonthreatening. They wont mention your leather shoes, but they will ask you how you like the pancakes.

And yes, Spiral serves pancakes. And quesadillas. And biscuits and gravy. So if you fear vegan food because of its foreignness, fear not. Spiral Diners brunch menu is all about the familiar faces.

It's also all about the tofu scramble. Every dish on the menu, save for the pancakes and disco home fries more on these later features tofu scramble in some way. Now before you complain about tofu being foreign, just know that tofu scramble has the consistency and appearance of scrambled eggs but the taste of something that has been kissed by a turmeric-loving God that wants us to eat well and live for a long, long time.

Spiral Diner will make you a dang quesadilla.

Kathryn DeBruler

Spiral Diner elevates the humble scramble to new, cumin-scented heights. The tofu is scrambled with a generous hand of spices, bits of potato and other veggies, which provide a nice textural breath between the monotone mouth-feel afforded by the tofu. One dish that brings the scramble into its fold is the breakfast quesadilla ($10.95). Here youll find the scramble tucked into a whole-wheat tortilla along with a smattering of vegetables and peppers, vegan sausage and Daiya cheese. Daiya cheese is akin to American in that it has that distinctly silken texture when melted that can only arise from being highly processed. The overall effect is a quesadilla that is exceedingly rich yet virtuous.

That whiplash between indulgence and altruism continued with an order of the disco fries ($4.95). These friespresent the eater with a rare opportunity to feel both the delight of not perpetuating a pattern of systematic animal exploitation and also the unbridled joy of eating poutine. Its true that the gravy has a slightly mottled, broken appearance and tastes subtly and oddly of vanilla, but one can only expect so much when cow udders have been spared.

The disco home fries are proof that veganism and weight loss can be mutually exclusive.

Kathryn DeBruler

The gravy captures that creamy, rich, artery-painting quality of traditional gravy just the same. Its particularly enjoyable when served on a couple of the diners sky-high biscuits, which manage both a hearty chew and a delicate crumb. Paired with a couple of herbaceous and toothsome sausages with a bit of scramble(the Lumberjack, $9.95), this is the kind of food that, despite its ingredient list, doesnt shy far from grandmas table.

But if youre going to order one item only from Spirals brunch menu, let it be the pancakes. Light with nutty crumb, these cinnamon-studded beauties, when drizzled with a bit of golden agave nectar, are divine. A true, well-made pancake if there ever were one.

Spiral Diner is a vegan restaurant, yes. And in our steak-adoring city, its nice to have an option for those who have chosen an animal product-free path. But in truth, Spiralis simply a restaurant a place which can readily accommodate the majority of palates.And Spiral Diner has demonstrated what perhaps all of us omnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike always secretly knew, that Horace Mann is full of crock: Biscuits and gravy are the great equalizers.

Spiral Diner, 1101 N Beckley Ave. Brunch served 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

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After All These Years, Spiral Diner's Vegan Brunch Is Still Better Than Most Meaty Dallas Options - Dallas Observer