The day after tomorrow is Saturday the 30th, and it’s indeed a great day to chill out at our shop and taste some yummy vegan meat substitutes!

Yes, that’s right, tomorrow the good people from Fry’s Vegetarian will be at Bamboo Vegan (from 12ish-4pm) to give free samples of their awesome vegan burgers, sausages, salami etc. There will also be some nice ‘n’ cute little recipe books that you can take with you and get some fresh ideas on how to cook Fry’s at home!

Come by, say hi, socialize with other lovers of cruelty-free food, and enjoy vegan living!

So let’s cut straight to the good news! We are glad to let you know that on March 2 we will be hosting our second event at Bamboo Vegan:

That’s right, we are bringing you another funky brunch, with veggie burgers (of all kinds) being the central theme. Oh Yes — make sure you reserve your appetite for Burgerkilla, because we will have many kinds of super yummy vegan burgers for you to try! There will also be a salad bar with fresh salad, sandwich fillings and crisps, as well as  fresh lemonade!

This event is also “Open Day” for vegan friendly artists and entrepreneurs. That means that we have a small team of guest spots for people who do cool stuff related to veganism in one way or another. Check the Facebook event for more info on that!

We are sure that Burgerkilla is going to be a blast. So why not join the fun and come down to Bamboo Vegan on Saturday 2 March!

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In times like this it seems kind of hard to focus on the good, but we should always to rise above and be a positive influence… We should also remember that there are countles others who have it much worse, lacking the “luxury” of surviving or even decent standards of living. Non-human animals definitely belong to this category. So let’s employ all our efforts of compassion and understanding towards them, and the world around us!

OK… Let’s continue with some Bamboo Vegan related news!

Don’t forget we have a new Tumblr blog that you should check out! We make exclusive posts with inspirational stuff that we find along the way as well as pictures and funny stuff we find along in our everyday lives (cats and sweets being two main themes). Check it out: http://bamboovegan.tumblr.com/

You should also remember that we constantly keep adding new items that are totally essential to the vegan’s and vegetarian’s diets, and are kind of hard to find elsewhere in Athens or Greece. We make exclusive imports in some cases, in order to supply you with what you need. Some of our noteworthy products are:

- Vegan Cheeses (blocks of cheese, cheese slices, cheese that melts, cream cheese)

- Nutritional Yeast (rich in B vitamins)

- Vegan Candy Bars (Cleo’s, Mahalo, Zebra, Twilight, Jokerz & more)

- Egg Replacers (important for cooking)

- Gluten Free products (cookies, flours, breads & more)

- Seitan (mix to make at home and ready-to-eat seitan products like burgers,sausages, strips etc)

We will always keep adding new stuff to our catalogue and try for the best possible prices. We really want to cater to the people who take their precious time to come to our shop.

Alright then, that should be all for now… take good care of yourselves and see you soon!

All the best,

Elisavet & Fotis — the BV team

First of all let us say a big THANK YOU to all of you who came out to our first vegan brunch last saturday. Things went very well and everyone seemed to enjoy lots of cake, cookies, coffee/tea and milk! An extra special “thanks y’all!” also goes out to Nick, Kiriaki and Vanessa who helped us big time with their awesome cakes and cupcakes! These people should soon become professionals in the vegan food business.

Moving on, we have a bit more news to post today… First of all, we’d like to let you know of our brand-new Bamboo Vegan Tumblr. Yes! Please check it out and follow / interact with us — we will be posting some exclusive posts there, including pics from our day at the shop, as well as lots of information and isnpiration on vegan living!

As Xmas approaches, we should inform you that we will be open on Sundays during the holiday season, from 10am-4pm. We will bring some extra special treats for you, like all-Christmasy gingerbread cookies and gift packages with nice goodies to take as presents to your loved ones. Just come to Bamboo Vegan and check it all out!

OK, well I guess that’s all for now. Check us out on tumblr, facebook & twitter and stay in tune for more news soon!

Best Wishes,

BV Team

This event operates within the spirit of every good vegan brunch, which means choosing a particular theme. In this case, we decided to organize an event based on our huge love for things like coffee, tea, cupcakes, biscuits, soy milk etc!

We have teamed up with a group of good friends, who have really helped us in order to throw a real vegan cookie, cupcake and cake mayhem. So bring yourself at Bamboo Vegan this Saturday and we will take care of the rest

Best Wishes,

BV Team

1. Tell us a few things about yourself (a bit of background info on who you are, what you do, where do you live, how long you have been vegan etc)!

I live in San Francisco, CA and am a vegan chef with a focus on raw pastry as well as alternatives to sugar based around healthy eating without any sacrifice of taste. I believe that things can taste amazing and feel good to your body simultaneously. My background is in traditional cooking, as much of my family are professional chefs as well, but none of them vegan. I grew up in a baby seat on prep tables in kitchens, then just naturally moved into helping then into cooking professionally. I became vegan about 6 years ago after reading a zine on the connection between feminism and the dairy industry ( I was already vegetarian, and had been for years ). As a serious feminist who was, at the time, going to school to teach kids about ending rape violence as well as speaking in a program about teaching healthy relationships in schools.  I could no longer ignore that so many females of other species were needlessly enduring the exact things I was fighting for human females to have the rights to. Such as control over your body, right to not be sexually assaulted or raped and control over reproductive rights. I went vegan that afternoon and never looked back. Going vegan was absolutely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. A while after that I wandered into a raw vegan restaurant and asked for a job, they gave it to me on the spot and from there I began to learn about the health consequences of food and how super healthy food could be better tasting and looking than traditional food ever could. I think that my background in traditional foods shapes the way I go about food because taste is incredibly important, but my background in anarchism and political activism also shapes my food in that: where it comes from and how the food itself effects the community is also really important.

2. Please tell us your story about how you discovered veganism. Also, how do you keep yourself motivated in being the best vegan you can be?

I sort of answered the story part above, but as for staying motivated it’s hardly even a choice, it’s just an undying drive to try to make the world a better, less oppressive, place. I know vegansim is better for your body but I also know that it’s far better for the world, the animals, the trees and our human world as well. And when I feel hopeless or dampened my community, as well as my partner Ed Bauer help me remember that we have to keep fighting in every way we can. It’s important to have a support system because our fight is draining and emotionally difficult at times, just seeing all the needless violence, pain and suffering, it wears you down. I look to those others, as they look to me, to keep each other standing strong. Also, knowing that people like you exist, a world away, who are struggling for the same things, is so beautiful and motivating to me.

3. How did the choice come to become a vegan chef and show-presenter? How have people reacted to it? Can you tell us a few more things about your company, Vegan Shortcake as well as the vegan show you do?

I honestly could not have expected how amazing people have reacted to VSC. We now have friends and comrades all over the globe who have discovered us and relate. It’s the most incredible feeling to receive pictures of my recipes being made in Chile or Germany or places that seem so far away. I wanted to do this because I thought it would be so fun and possibly effect people but see it as so small then I remember that we are a global community of incredible people who are so supportive of us!

4. “The future is vegan” — would you agree with this quote? Do you think there will be more people turning into vegans in the future, or will it remain a small percentage of every society?

I love that you ask this because my father, an avid meat eater, chef and constant inspiration, said to me once that I was the future of food and that the traditional foods he still prepared were on their way out. It was one of those moments when my perspective changed, I realized that this is true. That if we are to survive, on the planet as well as not be diseased that we must change our lifestyles and that veganism is a huge part of this. I believe that we must change the way that we see resources and food in general, our perspective as a species, and that as this change happens it will create more plant based people. I can see it already happening but people still have their apprehension and old world views. It will take time, and this is frustrating, but I can say with entire confidence that the future is, in fact, vegan.

5. Can you describe a day in your personal life? Is it hard to balance all your awesome vegan activities with your personal life? What are some of your interests for your free time?

Veganism is so intrinsically linked to my life in general, as food is so present in my life. I don’t find being vegan to be a strain on my life so much as I find it to be a constant form of inspiration. I live with non vegans currently and they are quickly becoming interested in more vegan food, as well as juicing and healthier options as they see the food that I prepare and how good I feel.

As for a day in my life, I wake up early, do some yoga then jump right into juicing some greens and fruit to kick start my day. Take my best friend, my animal companion, Ani out for a run in the mountain above my house in San Francisco. Then usually I spend time working, go to the gym on my break and after my day job I try to make one step forward on one of my projects, whether that is revising a recipe for an upcoming e-book, finishing an article for a magazine or column, meeting about the next step of my protein bar business or brainstorming new show ideas. Things I’m interested in when I have free time include outdoor stuff like hiking, or trail running. I love getting outdoors and grew up back packing in the mountains. I love my bike, making music, traveling as much as I possibly can and connecting with those I love and exploring new food around the city.

6. From what I know, you are also straight edge (abstinence from drugs, alcohol and tobacco). Can you tell us how that became a part of your life and whether you think it is connected with aspects of veganism?

For me straight edge is a tool used to stay focused on what matters in life, an inspiration to stay strong and an important back bone to my personal life and activism. I became straight edge when I was twelve years old when I heard youth crew (ed: a style of hardcore/punk music) and it instantly hit me that I wanted to be part of whatever this was. I learned a little about it and started claiming almost immediately. It took a long time before I met anyone else who claimed so for years, in my small town, I was the sober punk kid watching my friends do lots of drugs. I’m incredibly proud of this and love that we can show on VSC that sobriety doesn’t mean no fun.

7. What do you do when you find yourself in difficult non-vegan social events, i.e. parties, family dinners etc…

Family dinners for me are not challenging at all anymore, though this was not always the case. My family has grown to become incredibly supportive of my lifestyle and have educated themselves to be able to make amazing vegan food for me when I visit. When going to large social events or family events that are not quite as friendly I usually either eat ahead of time and then snack on whatever fruit or veggie I can find, or just drink water and focus on connecting with people. Sometimes I’ll bring food, I find that these type of events are good opportunities to talk to those I love about why adopting a non oppressive, i.e. vegan, lifestyle is good and how vegan food is amazing and not a sacrifice. Things I find not difficult but just annoying at these types of events are people apologizing for me being vegan like I am being kept from all the amazing flesh based foods they are consuming. It’s ok though, I do understand that it is all an evolution and that I was once a meat eater as well, so I try to not judge but to understand that they just don’t understand yet.

8. Do you think children should be raised vegan? Please explain your take on this subject?

This is a super controversial subject and I love that you asked it. I think that children should be raised vegan, and when I say this (and people say the same because my dog is vegan) that they don’t have a choice to be vegan and so it’s in some way unfair. I disagree. I think it’s unfair to un-consensually feed the flesh of another to some one who does not have a choice in the matter. I also believe that a whole foods, plant based, diet is the most healthy way to live and I think that children should be raised on the best foods because they are forming their bodies and needs all the nutrition they can get. I do not believe that this will create any deficiencies or problems with growth, quite the opposite. It will also give children a healthy relationship with compassionate living and consideration for those around them.

9. Are people in your social surroundings (family/friends)  friendly towards veganism? And is the American society vegan-friendly in general? What is the best place in the US for a vegan?

It took a long time before my family accepted me being vegan. As a family of chefs they thought I was essentially ruining my career and limiting my potential. But, for many reasons, I’m happy to say that they have even gone so far as to educate themselves on things so that they can cook for me when I come to events and are really supportive of my choices. As for my friends, the majority are vegan or vegetarian already, but those who aren’t don’t push their beliefs in my face at all, they respect my life choices which is wonderful.

In the US, in my opinion, the three best places to be vegan are the Bay Area, which is where I live, Portland, OR, or Seattle, WA. In Seattle I experienced the most incredible vegan community I never thought could exist, it was amazing and there are tons of food choices all over the city. Portland, OR also has an incredible community, a vegan mini mall, vegan gym, tons of vegan restaurants and is essentially vegan heaven… if you don’t mind the rain. And the Bay Area, specifically Berkeley, CA, just has so many vegan options everywhere. It’s got such a long history of veganism that everywhere has lots of options and is super accommodating if you choose to not go to one of the very numerous all vegan spots.

10. Could you tell us of a super-fast yummy sanwich recipe that you use a lot?

I love this question! I am primarily raw or “high raw”, and don’t eat much bread, but my favorite easy, super fast, recipe is black beans, quinoa, tempeh coated with nutritional yeast/raw parm ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDUeAs88WpM ), spinach and fresh salsa in a lettuce leaf wrap. It’s my favorite for when I’ve just come from the gym and need a fast protein rich meal quickly before work!

11. Tell something about your future plans. Since you have moved to California, do you have any plans to make your vegan career take off?

My future plans are to try to build up the show so that more people know we are here, put out more shows, travel more and generally make a name for ourselves, I also hope to get onto a large tv network someday. Also, building my protein bar business and writing more for more magazines and web sites. I want to be an inspiration to people, that healthy, vegan food, and even raw vegan can be even more satisfying for your body and taste than junk food/meat and dairy.

12. Feel free to close this interview in any way you want to. Thank you for doing what you do and promoting veganism & straight edge in a fun and interesting way!

Thank you so much for this interview, I hope to someday come and visit! Keep on fighting <3 XVX <3

According to Livestrong, seitan is a food made from wheat gluten and often used as a meat substitute in vegetarian cooking. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name seitan was coined by Japanese macrobiotic proponents in the 1960s, but analogous foods have existed in China and Japan for centuries. Brown in color and chewy in texture, seitan easily absorbs flavors and seasonings.

This week brings us 2012′s World Vegan Day, which is celebrated on the 1st of November. We are very glad to annouce that Bamboo Vegan co-hosts a vegan event along with the good people at ImroV Restaurant and the Greek Vegan Forum (www.veganforum.gr).

The event will take place at ImproV at 20:00 on Thursday, 1st November. There will be informative talks, vegan literature/flyers/stickers, screenings, food, good-looking vegans & more! The purpose of this event is to promote the importance of veganism (for the animals, our health, the world) but also do it in a fun way and show that veganism is F-U-N! So why not join us all and come celebrate with us?

There will also be gifts from Bamboo Vegan and ImproV. We will give away a gift voucher for one lucky winner, while ImproV will give away a free dinner for two! You can come at Bamboo Vegan and leave your details if you want to enter the contest!

Thank you and see you out there!

Elli & Fotis,
Bamboo Vegan Team

click on pic to enlarge

As you see, we are making an honest effort to be better at renewing this site more often. We have indeed started uploading all of our products online. Many of you have asked for it, so we are happy to oblige! We are hopeful that in a coule of weeks’ time, all our products will be online for you to check out! We include a picture and their price, in order to give you the best possible picture of what we carry on our shop’s shelves.

NOTICE: Unfortunately you can’t buy our products online yet. Nevertheles, you  can browse and if you see something you like and want to make an order, you can call us or send us an email and we will send them to you with a courier service, by mail, or bring it ourselves if you live around Athens.

OK, that’s all from us for now. Will be back soon. Make sure you check back for more info!!

Fotis & Elli

Bamboo Vegan Team

We’ve had a very exciting and busy fall here at Bamboo Vegan. The bakery part of the shop has brought smiles to the faces of vegans, vegetarians and all-around pastry lovers alike! Our vegan bougatsa and other freshly baked veganized goods are becoming a must in Athens’ veg(etari)an scene! In addition, we always try to do our best to be an efficient vegan mini market. As time progresses, we will be constantly adding more & more items. In fact, we are just about to receive our first, exclusive, Bmaboo-only imports from the best Euro vegan shops!! So make sure to visit us on a frequent basis!

Bamboo Vegan is not only a hotspot to shop and eat vegan, but it is also becoming a place where vegans, health foodies, athletes & many people of all backgrounds pop by to meet, eat and chat. Our road, Zoodochou Pigis, is slowly becoming… the vegan road of Athens!