Tribe of Heart’s film, The Witness, is available online for free in English, closed captions, Spanish and soon Russian! The information below is courtesy of Tribe Of Heart, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that produces award-winning, life-changing films about the journey of awakening conscience and the ethics of the human-animal relationship.
Answering the question of how a construction contractor from a tough Brooklyn neighborhood becomes an impassioned animal advocate, in the award-winning documentary THE WITNESS, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals and bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. With humor and sincerity, Eddie tells the story of his remarkable change in consciousness. You can watch a preview below, and see the entire film at the Tribe of Heart website
THE WITNESS
A Tribe of Heart Documentary
43 minutes, 2000
Director: Jenny Stein
Producer: James LaVeck
Photography: Jason Longo
Sound: Jane Greenberg
Menu, Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro, Foster City
I really shouldn’t complain that we have so many vegetarian Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. So, let me say instead that we were really happy to learn from the SFBAVEG (San Francisco Bay Area Vegetarians) Yahoogroups list that an all vegetarian Thai restaurant had opened in Foster City, a 35 minute drive from our coastside abode.
Knowing that there was a new vegetarian restaurant in close proximity to us created a state of angst that could only be soothed with a visit. So, within days we found ourselves hungrily eyeing the menu at the Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro.
Mango Sticky Rice, Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro, Foster City
We learned that the owner owns another Thai restaurant called Sweet Basil. In the veg vernacular, we call this place a “mixed” restaurant since it serves up animals as well as vegetables to its diners. The owner chose to take the veg food selections from its popular Sweet Basil and create a new all vegetarian bistro, Basil Cha Cha. The confusing part is that both restaurants are located in the same outdoor strip mall, just a few doors away from each other.
Crispy Spring Rolls, Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro, Foster City
Food: There are nearly 50 items on the menu — appetizers, salads, soups, fried rice dishes, noodle dishes, curries, and entrees. The menu clearly marks which dishes are already vegan, and which are vegan optional (meaning, they are vegetarian and can be ordered as vegan).
Now that I’m starting my third decade as a vegan, I often make conscious choices to avoid faux meats. So I appreciate that Basil Cha Cha offers all its entrees with a choice of veggie chicken, beef, tofu or vegetables. In essence, this gives diners many more options, as that one entree can be ordered multiple ways.
The dishes can be ordered to your spice preference (slightly hot, medium hot, and hot). Dishes with nuts are also notated.
Ambience: This restaurant is a step above the typical veg restaurant. It’s very stylish dishware fits right in with the artful presentation of the dishes themselves (many come with an edible flower) and the lovely decor. It’s not a large restaurant, so it’s a cozy little place for a quiet dinner for two or perfect setting to share food and conversation with a group.
Seaweed Salad, Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro, Foster City
Price: The dishes are reasonably priced, with most dishes in the $7.95 category, with a few of the appetizers, salad, and rice dishes coming in at $5.95 or $6.95.
Our Order: The money we saved by not having to pay for the typical parking in SF was spent on food, so we splurged by ordering food from just about every category on the menu
- appetizer: Crispy Spring Rolls, shown above
- salad: Seaweed Salad, at right
- soup: Tom Yum Veggie
- entrees: Yellow Curry, Pad Kee Mow
- dessert: Mango Sticky Rice, show above
On our first visit, we found alot of the dishes to be spicy, even when we ordered them mild. When the waiter found out it was our first visit, he gave us a complimentary corn fritter, which we thought was a nice gesture from a new restaurant to new customers (see photo album for photos of all the dishes). Despite the overly spicy food, we liked it well-enough to return to try some different foods, and this time we brought a group with us.
On our second visit, we ordered the Fresh Salad Rolls (substituting tofu for the veggie shrimp), Massamam Curry (potatoes, onions, and peanuts with tofu and vegetables), Sweet & Sour (tofu/vegetables with pineapple, onion, cucumber and tomatoes), and Mango Sticky Rice. Again we ordered the entrees as mild, and this time they really were. The curry was excellent; its base was a delicious blend of coconut milk and peanut butter.
In summary, the new Basil Cha Cha Vegetarian Bistro has both style and substance. I hope they thrive in Foster City. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to enjoy delicious vegan food at affordable prices in a pleasant atmosphere.
My tastebuds cannot even imagine what this is .. but it sounds delicious! The La Victoria Bakery & Kitchen hosts a vegan feast every Thursday night. The best way to get the current menu information is to read the Soul Cocina blog
Here’s the menu from last week
Steamed Cajun Spiced GARBANZOS~ $ 3.5
Asparaus SOUP w/ Toasted Farofa and Tempura Asparagus Tips ~$9
Local Snap Pea & Purple Potato POHA $11
OKRA Rasam with Lentil Fritter and Curry Leaf $11
Vegan TAMALES with Pickled Baby Vegetable and Mole Pipian $15
Organic PLATANOS maduros roasted in red palm oil over Mole Manchamantel with Black Beans and Rice $15
Kefir Lime Merengue Tartlet with Ginger Scented Rhubarb and Thai Basil Scented Strawberry $9
While I prefer to dine at retaurants that are exclusively veg to avoid any cross-contamination of my plant food, the worry would be reduced since apparently the entire menu is vegan this night at La Victoria Bakery & Kitchen
I spotted this tidbit in the newsletter from the Millennium Restaurant (the one and same iconic San Francisco restaurant). Thank you to Millennium restaurant for the tip-off! Below excerpted from their newsletter:
hosts Soul Cocina every Thursday evening, always featuring vegan & vegetarian treats…globally inspired Latin fusion cuisine with a local & healthy twist…YUM!
Soul Cocina at La Victoria
2937 24th St. @ Alabama
Last fall we had a quick trip to Phoenix. We got hungry and wanted some snacks, so decided to make a trip to Trader Joe’s. We were unsure what we would find, i.e. would this Trader Joe’s be as vegan-friendly as the ones we’re familiar with in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Well, we found pretty much the same array of vegan convenience foods in the refrigerated section and were delighted to find the Trader Joe brand of vegan cookies.
The biggest surprise, however, was seeing that the Phoenix Trader Joe’s has a vegan cookie flavor that we’ve never seen at the Daly City or South San Francisco Trader Joe’s. Well, of course, we had to go for the cookies we’ve never had … turns out they had coconut, which I’m not crazy about. But Chris like coconut and has declared this the best of all the Trader Joe cookies. We even brought the packaging home to show our local Trader Joe’s ….
Trader Joe’s has a selection of vegan foods at very competitive prices. The top three foods that I buy at TJs are: fresh sliced organic bread, soymilk, and organic frozen broccoli.
Since the economy went south, I’ve been watching my spending more closely than normal. Trader Joe’s helps me in two ways: 1 – food prices and 2 – easy recycling.
Trader Joe’s prices regularly beat Safeway’s and my nearest natural food stores (NFS) in Pacifica or Half Moon Bay. Here’s their list of vegan products, and below is my typical “shopping list” for TJs
Fresh:
- organic sliced sprouted barley bread $2.99 (I think this is the repackaged Alvarado bread that sells at my NFS for $3.69)
- vegan chocolate chip cookies (bag of fresh cookies, similar to Uncle Eddie’s, $3.99 )
Shelf-stable products:
- canned organic tomato paste and diced tomatoes
- organic soymilk (64 oz, 2.99)
- canned organic beans (until I get my pressure cooker!)
- Clif Bars (.99 each, versus 1.49 at my NFS)
Refrigerated foods:
-Tofurky slices (1.99 for smoked hickory)
- Earth Balance (organic, vegan spread that we use instead of butter, $3.69)
- tofu (I like the organic “twin pack” Soga at $1.69)
Frozen
- organic broccoli (16 oz for $2.29 – my favorite vegetable – I eat this about 5 times a week!)
- organic corn
- breaded “chicken” nuggets (look for the Trader Joe’s brand; they also carry Morningstar and these aren’t vegan)
- black bean and corn enchiladas
Recycling pays off in different ways. Obviously, it diverts materials from landfill and can be used to create new products. We’ve always recycled, and appreciated the curbside recycling that our community conveniently offers. With a renewed focus on watching where my money goes, I’ve started taking my cans and the occasional bottles to recycling centers for cash. Just recently I discovered that at the South SF Trader Joe’s, I can bring in cans and bottles and get my recycling cash right at the register. Very convenient, no special trip needed.
On our second visit, we ordered the Fresh Salad Rolls (substituting tofu for the veggie shrimp), Massamam Curry (potatoes, onions, and peanuts with tofu and vegetables), Sweet & Sour (tofu/vegetables with pineapple, onion, cucumber and tomatoes), and Mango Sticky Rice. Again we ordered the entrees as mild, and this time they really were. The curry was excellent; its base was a delicious blend of coconut milk and peanut butter.