VegNews Magazine

ONE OF THE FIRST RESTAURANTS I fell in love with when I went vegan in 2010 was a takeout window called Oasis Vegetarian Cafe in Riverside, CA. I was a student at nearby California State University, San Bernardino, about an hour east of Los Angeles where veg restaurants were few and far between. So when hunger struck during my two-hour break between classes, rather than settle for the pre-packaged cucumber-avocado sushi at my campus cafeteria, I would race down the freeway to make the 90-minute round-trip trek to Oasis for one of their incredible steak burgers. I drooled over the giant slab of juicy, chewy, marinated seitan with lettuce, tomato, onion and a simple-but-addicting tofu-lime dressing. It was a weekly treat I always looked forward to that brought some excitement…

BEST SNACKING COMBO Harvest Snaps’ Tomato Basil Lentil Snacks showered in nutritional yeast BEST TRADER JOE’S FLAVOR BOOSTER Cuban Style Citrusy Garlic Seasoning Blend BEST BÁNH MÌ Char siu mushroom and ham bánh mì from Vegan Bánh Mì Thao in Long Beach, CA BEST QUEER-, MEXICAN-, SEX WORKER-OWNED COFFEE AND FOOD CART Speed-o Cappuccino in Portland, OR BEST VEGAN PRODUCT ON PLANET EARTH Kelly’s Cheezy Garlic Croutons…

NEW YORK CITY IS A MELTING POT LIKE NO OTHER—especially for the plant-based diner. You can start the day with a traditional Jewish breakfast, tuck into lunch at an all-vegan Ethiopian eatery, savor a Szechuan supper, and end the evening with Caribbean cocktails and bar snacks. But one of the Big Apple’s most celebrated chefs (and VegNews Restaurant Award winner—turn to p.46) Guy Vaknin is introducing New York to a region virtually untapped by the city’s plant-based scene: Basque Country. The warm, coastal region straddled by Spain and France is home to one of Europe’s oldest civilizations, and this fusion of cultures is the inspiration for Le Basque, the latest fixture in Vaknin’s empire of restaurants. Le Basque also completes the chef’s culinary “tour” of the Mediterranean, which includes the…

SEAFOOD IS MICROPLASTICS, NOT FOOD MICROPLASTICS WERE FOUND IN A WHOPPING 180 FISH SAMPLES OUT OF 182 taken from six commonly eaten seafood species in Oregon, according to new findings from Portland State University. The study revealed harmful microplastics in a variety of species, including salmon, herring, and pink shrimp (which had the highest contamination). Researchers found it particularly troubling that human-made particles, such as clothing fiber and plastic fragments, appeared to be able to move from the gut into the muscle of animals. Want to avoid unwanted crunch during your next sushi night? Maybe opt for the avocado roll instead. THE FUTURE IS FANCY CULTIVATED MEAT HAS LANDED IN CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME, and it’s not the meat you may think. Parfait (a smoother form of a pâté) and…

PAT BROWN, the visionary founder of Impossible Foods, has spent his career transforming the impossible into the achievable. A former Stanford biochemist renowned for his research on AIDS and other pressing global health issues, Brown left academia to address what he views as the most urgent crisis of our time: the environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture. Laser-focused on innovation, Brown has made it his life’s mission to disrupt the food industry and reimagine how we nourish ourselves. His work at Impossible Foods has not only revolutionized plant-based eating, but sparked widespread conversation about the future of food and its role in combating climate change. Now, with his latest venture—a documentary titled Wild Hope: Mission Impossible—Brown is doubling down on his efforts to restore ecosystems, reduce carbon emissions, and inspire…

Best Milk OATLY • Watch out, almond—oat milk is coming for your crown as the alt milk of choice, and Oatly is leading the charge. Four years after its Starbucks debut, the Swedish brand is doubling down with yet another coffee collab—this time with Nespresso. From coffee to cereal and oatmeal, VegNews readers are splashing Oatly on everything. 2nd Place: Silk 3rd Place: Califia Farms Editors’ Vote: Elmhurst Best Ice Cream BEN & JERRY’S • Creativity and innovation are the mantras that guide the Flavor Gurus at this cult-favorite ice creamery. And with 19 dairy-free whimsical creations spanning from the fudgy, marshmallowy Phish Food to the newest Chocolate Caramel Brownie, it’s no surprise Ben & Jerry’s has won its sixth Veggie Award. 2nd Place: So Delicious 3rd Place: Oatly Editors’…