Start of tour
Columbus, Ohio
May 20, 2011End of tour
ABOUT THE TOUR
Our co-founder and president, Gene Baur, is embarking on a cross-country adventure, the Just Eats Tour: Exploring Vegan America. In his iconic Volkswagen van, Gene will travel across America seeking out the game-changers at the heart of the movement. Through recipes, videos, photos, blog posts, and interviews, Gene will explore the past, present, and future of the vegan movement. Oh, and he'll be eating well and sharing delicious recipes he picks up along the way. We want you to be a part of it! Follow the van, share your recipes, take the Vegan Challenge, and enjoy the food and stories behind it all. The Just Eats Tour is traveling from Farm Sanctuary's 25th anniversary Gala at Cipriani in New York on May 14 to Farm Sanctuary's Country Hoe Down in Orland California on June 4.
TAKE THE VEGAN CHALLENGE
For the three weeks that Gene was on the road for the Just Eats Tour: Exploring Vegan
America, he put out the challenge for website followers to eliminate meat, dairy, eggs,
and other animal products from their diets. Many of you took him up on the Just Eats
Tour Vegan Challenge, pledging to go vegan for the duration of the tour! Some stuck
with it from day one, some joined in half way through, and some simply tried a few
new vegan recipes. Yet everyone taking the challenge made a difference in the lives of
farm animals, their personal health, and the planet- all while discovering how delicious
and satisfying vegan meals can be! While the tour has come to an end, new vegan food
options are being added to menus and grocery store shelves every day. We encourage
everyone to continue choosing plant-based foods and enjoying the tastes of vegan
America!
COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE
Thank you
New York City
May 14, 2011 in Manhattan, New YorkWilmington, Delaware
May 16, 2011 in Wilmington, DelawareAvondale, Pennsylvania
May 16, 2011 in Avondale, PennsylvaniaLancaster, Pennsylvania
May 16, 2011 in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaMany of you have heard the story of Hilda, a live sheep discarded like trash on a pile of dead animals behind the Lancaster Stockyards in Lancaster, PA. Hilda became the very first animal rescued by Farm Sanctuary and went on to live with us until 1997. Next on the tour, Gene will be revisiting the location of the former Lancaster Stockyards, as well as stopping by the Wilmington, DE home that served as Farm Sanctuary’s first haven for rescued farm animals. That evening, Gene will join guests for dinner at Lancaster’s historic Stockyard Inn, which for decades has served steak dinners to hungry cattleman. On May 16, however, the menu will be a little different: the Inn has agreed to serve a gourmet vegan dinner to celebrate Farm Sanctuary’s 25th anniversary! Join us for a reflective journey into Farm Sanctuary’s past, and a triumphant celebration of its future!
Home in Watkins Glen
May 17, 2011 in Watkins Glen, New YorkFollow Gene online as he makes the journey back to the rolling green pastures of Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter in Watkins Glen. The 175-acre sanctuary has been a refuge to thousands of rescued farm animals over the past 25 years and currently is home to over 500, including chickens, turkeys, pigs, cattle, sheep, and goats. Gene will take viewers on a virtual tour of the farm, telling the stories of the rescues that brought these residents to our shelter. Watkins Glen may be a small town, but the big influence of Farm Sanctuary is apparent in numerous vegan options at local restaurants – from one popular lunch spot that offers a “Sanctuary Special” sandwich to the Burger King where the very first BK Veggie was served. Check back soon for posts from this joyous return to the roots of the nation's largest farm animal protection organization!
Akron, Ohio
May 19, 2011 in Akron, OhioColumbus, Ohio
May 20, 2011 in Columbus, OhioThe Vegan Windy City!
May 21, 2011 in Chicago, IllinoisThe VW will be pulling into Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood to visit Karyn’s on the Green, a chic vegan restaurant that has been “making vegan sexy” in the Windy City. On Sunday, Gene will travel to the suburb of Hindsdale to talk to members of its Unitarian church about what it means to be vegan. Before heading off, he’ll enjoy some of Chicago’s famous soul food -- vegan style! -- and share the recipes and hot spots Chicago has to offer.
Iowa City, Iowa
May 23, 2011 in Iowa City, IowaOmaha, Nebraska
May 24, 2011 in Omaha, NebraskaTulsa, Oklahoma
May 27, 2011 in Tulsa, OklahomaDallas, Texas
May 28, 2011 in Dallas, TexasAustin, Texas
May 30, 2011 in Austin, TexasPhoenix, Arizona
Jun 02, 2011 in Phoenix, ArizonaLos Angeles, California
Jun 02, 2011 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaOrland, California
Jun 04, 2011 in Orland, California
Dinner in Columbus
May 20, 2011
Dr. Popper, our connection to the Columbus vegan food scene, told us about the many, stellar vegan dining options Columbus has to offer and we were blown away! Sadly, we only had time to visit one eatery, but holy delicious eating! We had an incredible dinner at Dragonfly, an all-vegan restaurant that has been nominated for a James Beard award. Everything we had was stunning. Stunning. Appetizer - House-made Gnocchi Bolognese, Entree – V Plate: Polenta Lasagna Pistachio Pepperjack (an absolute must!), Dessert - the very popular House Parfait (think: passion fruit cream, chocolate custard, passion fruit gelée, and chocolate gelato)!
Gene’s boxing lesson!
May 20, 2011
We met Doug Owens, another partner of the Wellness Forum team who provides personal trainer services and boxing training. Doug has worked with many notable athletes interested in improving their performance: Brady Quinn, Jody Shelley, James "Buster" Douglas and Alexander Zolkin. We were particularly impressed with the testimonials Doug shared from professional football players who’ve adopted plant based eating and report that they recover more quickly and experience less soreness after the battering of a football game. To round out our afternoon’s exploration of vegan health, Doug coached Gene in boxing and readied him for a round of good natured and sweat-provoking sparring in the ring. Whew!
The Wellness Forum
May 20, 2011
Upon rolling into Columbus, we were warmly welcomed by Dr. Pam Popper and her amazing team at the Wellness Forum (http://www.wellnessforum.com/). It’s a collection of health-promoting enterprises that empower people to eat well and enjoy active lives. Central to the organization’s mission is promoting plant based eating and exercise. We spoke with Del Srouf, their Chef who lost 200 pounds after shifting from an unhealthy vegan diet to a healthy vegan diet! Del prepared a wonderful, oil-free lunch for the Wellness Forum staff (as he does every day) and the appreciative Just Eats crew. During lunch, Wellness Forum staff members shared their inspirational stories of improved health and transformation after switching to a whole foods, plant based diet.
