Saturday, 25 February 2012

• Is Fashion Island the Most Vegan-Friendly Mall in America?

  

  Photo courtesy of The Irvine Company

  
  Note: This post is about food and food only.
  Please save the comments saying veganism is a lifestyle and Neiman's sells furs, etc.
  I agree but that's not the aim of this entry or this blog in general.
  
  

  While we're not lucky enough in SoCal to have an all vegan mini-mall like they do in Portland, we do have some pretty quality vegan food choices at our local malls. I mean, even Brea has a Loving Hut in the food court now.

  While I was sampling all sorts of vegan deliciousness at the Native Foods Fashion Island preview day last month, I realized that this upscale outdoor mall with an ocean view might be the nation's most vegan-friendly mall. While it doesn't have any vegan-specific clothing retailers, it does have giant versions of your standards like Urban and Forever 21, so you can still get your plaid and faux leather on. What I'm talking about here, however, is the FOOD.

  
  Le Pain Quotidien Tofu Scramble
  
  

  
  Le Pain Quotidien Seasonal Vegan Cannele

  Say you're strolling through Fashion Island in the morning feeling the ocean breeze in perfect 70 degree weather and get a craving for a tofu scramble. No problem, head to Le Pain Quotidien and you can add a vegan seasonal cannele to that delicious scramble. Want more of a restaurant environment? Head to the parking lot outside of the Apple store (correction: the old location of the Apple store that I was referring to is the Tesla showroom now) to True Food Kitchen where you can chow down on a tofu scramble and soyrizo breakfast burrito. If you feel like it, you can even wash it down with a glass of rosé. It is Newport after all.

  
  Hana Grill Vegan Chicken Bowl
  
  

  
  Native Foods Double Cheeseburger Pizza
  
  

  Maybe you're looking for a casual lunch before a little shopping. You can always head to Le Pain Quotidien for a vegan quiche or tartine and freshly baked organic bread. Getting your Asian mock meat fix sound more appealing? Head to Hana Grill for their vegan chicken bowl. If you're like me, you might be craving Mexican food. Wahoo's can satisfy that craving with tofu options in their tacos, burritos and bowls. True Food Kitchen is another lunch option, with cheeseless pizza, tofu dishes, soups, salads and organic cocktails. Of course you can always eat at an all vegan establishment in Native Foods, try the double cheeseburger pizza or Oklahoma bacon cheeseburger.

  If you happen to be at Fashion Island for dinner and feel like going somewhere a little nicer, you can try any of the vegan tofu dishes at P.F. Chang's. True Food Kitchen is a solid choice for dinner also, or if you're feeling like keeping it casual Native Foods is always a sure thing.

  Want dessert? Grab a peanut butter parfait from Natives or take a short drive down the street to Sprinkles for a vegan red velvet cupcake.

  Looking to just watch a Lakers or Angels game and undwind with a microbrew and some decent bar food? I'd suggest a Stone IPA and Gardein sliders from Yard House.

  So there you have it. Fashion Island might be just be the most vegan-friendly (in terms of food) mall in the nation, and with a brand new Whole Foods set to open later this year, it's only getting better.

  Does your local mall have vegan options? I'd love to know if there are any that challenge this vast selection. 

  This post is contributed from the Vegan Vagrant!
  For more photos of delicious vegan food, see the original post here!

  Click here to visit the Fashion Island site.
  Click here for map and directions to Fashion Island.

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