Of Drinking and Conscientious Living: The Vegan Conundrum

For anybody who’s made the switch to living a vegan lifestyle, or for anybody who knows someone who’s done it, knows that it can be really hard trying to find the right balance between conscientious living and enjoying a good drink. It also definitely makes it a little more difficult trying to plan the perfect night out with friends if there’s an extra piece of gastronomic accounting that needs to be done. (But good friends try their best to make everything fun for everyone there, right?)

Overcoming the First Hurdle
The biggest problem when it comes to making a drink for a vegan friend is that there’s no way you can fake it without facing some damage to your moral consciousness. So while it might be acceptable to switch out the Cointreau for a more affordable triple sec in a Cosmopolitan for those on a budget, randomly exchanging ingredients can be dangerous for a vegan drinker.

Becoming vegan isn’t just a state one declares. It means inspecting each and everything that goes into food and drink to make sure that no ingredients come from animals, and there’s no danger of cross contamination.

Generally, one of the smarter options is to go for German or Belgian beers because breweries are required by law to adhere to beer purity laws. When working with liquors, the folks over at Barnivore.com have put together a very well-researched list of what’s okay to serve and what isn’t. Luckily, since Tanqueray happens to be vegan-friendly, SDD’s Gin O’Clock recipes are all in the clear!

Wait, but Isn’t Wine Vegan?
The funny thing is, while wine is made from nothing but grapes, people would think that it would be, by default, vegan. But when wine isn’t served immediately after it’s pressed and this is where animal byproducts come into the equation. Many wineries will make use of finers that are meant to absorb the suspended solids present in the liquid. Some examples of finers include egg whites, gelatin, and isinglass—all of these being ingredients that vegans avoid. So what’s a good host to do?

You can work with a distributor that has options that are vegan friendly and removes the guesswork for the buyer. Dedicated vegan websites like Veggie Wines and Vegan Society list, Marks & Spencer as an option for their vegan-friendly wine selections.

Everyone deserves to have fun and being vegan doesn’t have to mean abandoning alcohol altogether. Cheers to that!

***This article was written by Katrina Wilsons. (Susie doesn’t do enough research to write this thoroughly.)***

So I like Bloody Marys (thick ones that you have to chew on). You know those nasty aerosol perfumes in the grocery store that say “If you like ____, you’ll love this?” This takes that and blows it up x100. If you LIKE Bloody Marys, then you’ll LOVE Anvil Pub with they’re hosting F**K BRUNCH, their answer to Dallas’ frou-frou brunch scene.

Anvil Pub in Deep Ellum is quite a bar (I don’t know if I’d dub it a true pub because they don’t serve real snakebites). Bikes hanging from the ceiling, bartenders with five different colors of hair (that’s just one bartender), and a food menu vegans can even enjoy. I’ll make the trek down to Deep Ellum with my boyfriend on Tuesdays for half price food, or with friends on a busy Friday for a late-night pizza*. It’s good for all occasions (except brunch with the future in-laws).

Back to the food … it’s good—no, great—and it’s not typical greasy bar food. You won’t want to die when you roll back to your car after an appetizer (get the triple dip) and an entree (get anything). It’s a bit slow, so don’t get food if you’re in a hurry. (I’m serious. Good things come in time.)

OK … now … let’s talk about brunch, baby
Let’s talk about you and me
Let’s talk about all the good things
And the bad things that may be (at Anvil)
Let’s talk about brunch.

Anvil has one of the most unique brunch offerings in Dallas. Just scroll up … that’s their brunch. Order from their three-option menu (Bloody Mary, mimosa, or screwdriver), and you’ll be delivered (albeit after 20-30min) a GIANT** mason jar filled with delightful intoxicants with a skewer of delicious and unexpected things to soak it up for $20. Mimosas have actual cinnamon rolls on them, and Bloody Marys have sliders … among many other things. Oh, did I mention that your brunch comes with a beer kicker? Yeah … does.

Anyway, do this. Don’t order too much food if you’re partaking in F**K BRUNCH, as you really don’t need much more. (Oh Hey Dallas and I ordered a pizza and chicken fingers and hardly touched any of it.)

Enjoy … and say hi to the Holmans while you’re there … because they’re awesome.

ANVIL PUB
2638 Elm St, (Deep Ellum)
(214) 741-1271

*Try getting a Russian Roulette Bullet … one piece is sprinkled with pepper for $0.50. What a deal?
**Mustard bottle included in picture for comparison.

Pilates for people who love wine.

Movember at Del Frisco’s Grille

November marks the intersection of most of my favorite things: pumpkin season, an acceptable time to start listening to Christmas music*, cold weather, and facial hair. As I’m sure you’re aware, November is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month when men (and some unlucky women) grow facial hair as a show of support. (Move over pink ribbons, the staches are here!)

Del Frisco’s Grille is doing PCAM one better with its Movember menu. Stop in and order off of 9the special November-only menu this month and proceeds will benefit Movember. Menu offerings include some DFG favorites, and a couple specialty drinks like the Lip Tickler (a deliciously-whiskey based cocktail that will put some hair on your … lip, pictured below) and the Stiff Upper Lip.

Stop in Mondays in November and show off your ‘stache and you’ll get a FREE APPETIZER!

Eating and drinking for a cause always works for me!

*If you think November is too early, keep it to yourself. Christmas music makes me happy, and you bitching that it’s too early to listen to it will just peeve me. 🙂

My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.

Winston Churchill

Link

Cook for a Cause at Mockingbird Station featuring Smallcakes

Two of my favorite things at once, all while raising money for a local charity? Don’t mind if I do! Join me at Mockingbird Station‘s evening of gourmet cupcakes and champagne from its soon-to-open new cupcakery, Smallcakes.

The evening will feature a five-course mini-cupcake tasting paired with champagnes for 30 guests. There will be fabulous gift bags for attendees and all proceeds will go to the chef’s favorite charity, You Can. We invite you to enjoy a night of decadent holiday treats in support of a wonderful cause!

Buy your $20 ticket here and join me for the deliciousness!

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P.F. Chang’s

Saké has met its match at P.F. Chang’s! The every-man’s “fancy” Asian Bistro has revamped its cocktail menu to include some more well-known cocktails than previously offered, such as a Moscow Mule, sangria, and their version of a Bloody Mary, the Sichuan Mary.

My party tried the Moscow Mule (not terrible at all, and quite strong), the sangria (really nothing too unique, but it’ll hit the spot if you’re looking for something refreshing), and the Manhattan Gone A-Rye (delicious and strong as s**t … if you like Manhattans). I was pleased by the flavors, and look forward to trying the Coconut Lemon Sour and Black Tea Gimlet on my next visit.

P.F. Chang’s still offers a full bar, beer (lists customized with regional offerings), wine, and saké.