Visited 4-22-2011

First heard about Vinnie’s Pizzeria from a suggested “match” on a dating site. Yeah, I know. I spend most of my days in an office building, though…and you know corporate tends to have a frownie face over some inter-office dating. Plus, sometimes you can actually become acquainted with some nice people.

Located at 148 Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this joint has a high turnover; the customers, even at 1am, were consistent. There is another location in Greenpoint. Both are open late, but on Fridays and Saturday, the Williamsburg location closes at 3am while Greenpoints closes up at midnight.

Now, let’s make it clear, I heart Blackbird Pizzeria in Philadelphia. That it’s all vegan is great. That I bought there probably the two tastiest slices ever…is why it’s amazing. At Vinnie’s Pizzeria, though, everyone can be satisfied. My sister actually said it was now at the top of her list. She could get something for herself (even though, of the two slices she got, one was actually vegetarian, and she said that it was better than the meaty slice.)

In both vegetarian and vegan, they had several yummy looking varieties at only $4 a slice, which is a great price considering they’re serving you up a nice size slice.

When I asked what the vegan options were, including a perfectly melted Daiya-packed cheese slice. Something about vegan chick’n and jalapenos sold me, though. The combinations are definitely original.

I wished my vegan cheese had melted a little more, but the crust was nice and crispy. The jalapenos weren’t too overpowering either. I vascillated…but only momentarily…before I scowered my bag for my emergency $5 and went up for a second slice. It was a toss up between a vegetarian slice with black beans, a vegan slice with eggplant, and the special vegan spare rib with broccoli.

I really liked that, when I asked about whether the feta cheese on the vegetarian pizza had animal rennet, the guy (fail Sarah at getting helpful people’s names. Doh!) went to check. With feta, I already knew that there tends not to be a concern, and he said that the ingredients didn’t list it.

Tom Hanks says, 'Thanks.' LOL!

Wrapped to-go but it didn't even make it out the door!

The girl at the counter commented that she really should have known the answer because vegetarians come in all the time and ask the same question. (Yes! I’m not alone!) I went with another vegan slice cause I figured, ‘get it while I can.’ According to her, the spare rib normally comes with pineapple and the broccoli normally comes with chick’n. So this special slice was a “marriage” of the two. She was right that the spare rib was really good, but I’m thinking I have to try it with the pineapple cause the broccoli seems kind of bland; totally wasn’t carrying its weight in the partnership.

In addition to my slices, I’d gotten a vegan Cookies and Cream Brownie ($3.50). The plan was to take it home. I’m not good with the follow though. The mound of sweet vegan frosting was calling to me through the cellophane…and I answered it by gobbling it all down.

Additionally, they have vegan options other than pizza, including Garlic Knots (5/$1), Ham Pinwheels ($1.50), Italian Sausage Rolls ($5.50).

Since, my Diet Snapple ($1.50) was all that made it out the door, this place does come with a warning: Don’t eat yourself sick. I gobbled up way too much food, and as I drank my Snapple on the way home, it hit me just how stuffed I was. With so many choices at such a reasonable price, it’s easy to get carried away! They’re cash only, but like Foodswings just a mile away, they have an ATM in shop to help you out with that. So go. Eat some vegan pizza. Let the work week melt with the Daiya.

Since I am on the fence about the dairy ingredient whey, I decided to ask a company that uses whey protein concentrate and labels their products as vegetarian, to hear what they have to say about the matter. I just wrote about the brand Nature’s Path because I like that they do have toaster pastries that do not have gelatin. Below is my Customer Service Submission and Nature Path’s reply.

Query:

1-26-2011

I am a vegetarian which is why I first picked up a box of your Toaster Pastries and I love them. Recently I have been reading about the ingredient whey and how it may come into contact with animal rennet added to the milk, then I noticed that your pastries contain whey protein concentrate. So that I can make an informed decision when purchasing your products, could you tell me whether animal rennet is used at any point during the manufacturing process of the whey you use in your products? Thank you.

Response:

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your comments on one of our Nature’s Path products. We take each comment seriously and we endeavor to always provide a good quality product. Nature’s Path is committed to producing quality organic foods, using the best ingredients available, while adhering to strict quality control procedures.

Nature’s Path Organic Toaster Pastries http://www.naturespath.com/products/toaster%20pastries?tid=8&brand=All&nutri=All do not contain animal rennet however they whey is a dairy ingredient.

Nature’s Path makes over 70 organic products, each with a variety of ingredients. All Nature’s Path products are vegetarian. The use of dairy or honey is due to the flavor profile or texture these ingredients contribute to the product.

There are different kinds of vegetarians. Lacto-ovo vegetarians do not eat meat, but they do eat dairy and eggs. Lacto vegetarians do not eat meat or eggs but eat dairy products. Vegans do not eat any animal products or by-products. All Nature’s Path and EnviroKidz products are vegetarian. Most of our products are also vegan.
For more information on Nature’s Path vegetarian and Vegan products, please visit http://www.naturespath.com/eat-well/vegetarian-diet.

…

N.B. Please be aware vegan and vegetarian statements are in no way related to allergen statements. Please specify your query if you require further information regarding dairy/ casein allergies.

Please visit http://www.naturespath.com for more information on our company and our products.

Your email tells us that you are passionate about your health and wellness. If you would like to get more involved and share your opinion with us, please accept our invitation to join our research panel, The Cereal Bowl, at https://www.naturescerealbowl.com/R.aspx?a=23

Thank you for being a valued Nature’s Path customer.

copyright 2011 ClickR Skin Care

So I was at Sephora last night and took a hard look at their new ClickR Skin Care. Many of the boxes have ”Naturally pure. Always vegan” written on their sides. All except two: the Acne Spot Serum and the Stop-Time Night Cream. Looking through the ingredients I noticed that the Acne Spot Serum has lactic acid (not really vegan) and the Stop-Time Night Cream has bees wax (also not really vegan).

Should I really care? I mean, why should I? I’m a vegetarian, not a vegan.

Besides, these boxes don’t carry the vegan claim on them; I even had someone else check to make sure I hadn’t overlooked it. However, on Sephora.com it claims that “This breakthrough brand is also 100% vegan and committed to never testing products on animals.” I like honesty, that’s all. If the first part of this statement is, well, false, how can I believe the second part about animale testing?

Then again, what if all the the products are 100% vegan and it’s just that they’ve found ways to make synthetic lactic acid and bees wax. Okay, but then all the boxes would be wrong. How can something synthetic be pure?

So, yeah, something seems off to me. I’ve emailed the company in the hopes they can clear up my confusion about the inconsistencies.

1-19-2011

Thank you for your precise detective work! You are right that lactic acid can be sourced from milk, however it can come from other natural, plant based sources as well. The lactic acid in Acne Spot Serum is in fact vegan and its source lies in plants. We assure you that we have done our homework on this one.

Beeswax! We are looking into this now and will be back to you shortly to clear up the confusion.

We appreciate your questions and hope you keep in contact.

Sincerely,
clickR

Well, the part about lactic acid is good to know. I only know what I know about lactic acid from Wikipedia. Although, seriously, this just proves how difficult it is to figure out how ingredients are sourced. I’m going to look on the bright side that alternatives sources do exist and companies are looking into them, and the hope that eventually companies will come up with more simplified labels, without the indiscernible names.

They’ll get back to me on the bees wax. That’ll be interesting.

I like how quickly they replied. This one took only hours. They’re new, but it’s refreshing when I’ve been waiting MONTHS for replies from some companies.

I’m still not writing them off my list yet.

Cherry Smart Gels (copyright Kozy Shack, 2011)

If you read me mention about looking for a substitute for gelatin, which PETA so helpfully provides, you know I’m curious about finding a vegetarian/vegan Jell-o alternative. Kozy Shack (and who knows who else) may have beat me to the punch…and that’s fine by me. (I’m still going to do my own fun, at-home experiements…and, yes, they will involve vodka.)

Kozy Shack SmartGels come in 4 flavors (3 of which have sugar free varieties that are only 10 calories a cup) and are labeled “Carrageenan-based. No Animal By-Products.” From reading labels and contacting companies, I’ve learned (and maybe you have too) that companies have their own standards attached to these labels. Understandable, I suppose, because individual vegans and vegetarians have their own definitions too. So, I contacted Kozy Shack, and I’ll keep you posted. I’m crossing my fingers for this one.

2-8-2011

Questions or Comments

I was recently checking out your Kozy Shack SmartGels. I was excited to see that they are carrageenan-based and that they have “No Animal By-Products.” This is nice to see, but I know companies have different definitions. Could you tell me a little more about what the exclusion of animal-by products means to your company? Does this mean the exclusion of products made from animals, like gelatin? Or the exclusion of products that come in contact with products made from animals, like whey that comes in contact with animal rennet? Does your definition of “animal” include fish and insects? Thank you for any additional information you can provide me with.

Will there be a vegetarian standout?

Ok, so if you’re a vegetarian, you can’t really have those cute Conversation Hearts even if the sugar isn’t processed with bone char, unless your definition of vegetarian fare includes gelatin. Yes, like gummy bears, Brach’s Conversation Hearts, the Valentine’s day fave, contain gelatin. Um, with an exception. Browsing the Valentine’s candy at Walmart, I did notice that either the Sassy or the Sweet variety of Conversation Hearts (at left) did not contain gelatin. I can’t remember which one does or doesn’t, but if their reply to my email doesn’t make it a moot point, I’ll be sure to go back to Walmart and find out which one…and grab a few boxes while I’m there. Since Brach’s is a fairly large candy company, I’m hoping they keep exceptional records of ingredient processing by their distributors, but that didn’t prove the case with Godiva. So we shall see.

Query 2-9-2011

comments@farleysandsathers.com

Question regarding sugar processing practices

Hello,
My name is Sarah. I want to first say that I enjoyed your products throughout my childhood. As I’ve gotten older, I have become a vegetarian. In my research regarding vegetarianism, I have read that some sugar refineries use bone char filters to make their sugar whiter. My question is whether your company uses sugar from refineries that use bone char filters? I have contacted many companies concerning ingredients and processing practices, some more forthcoming than others. I thank you and your company greatly for any time given to this matter.

Sarah

Kim Kardashian (copyright Life & Style magazine, 2009)

It happens to many women…probably men too, but men aren’t the ones prancing around in bikinis (unless you’re John Mayer or Pauly Shore) and short skirts. Little lumps and bumps on the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen, a.k.a cellulite.

When most normal people look at me, they don’t think ‘FAT.’ I eat my sweets, yes, but I think even if I didn’t indulge, I wouldn’t be perfect. I knew I couldn’t be alone because Clarins, Bliss, Shiseido and Tarte, at least, make cellulite moisturizers or serums. There’s a market of “solutions” for this problem. So I started looking for a moisturizer that would help but not break the bank. I found St. Ives’ Cellulite Shield Total Body Cellulite Control. At around $4 an 18 ounce bottle, it also grabbed my attention because it “Does Not Contain Animal Ingredients.” Companies define animal ingredients differently. So…

2-8-2011

Product Ingredient Questions

I was recently checking out your Total Body Cellulite Control Moisturizer. It interested me to see “Does Not Contain Animal Ingredients.” This is nice to see, but I know companies have different definitions. Could you tell me a little more about what the exclusion of animal ingredients means to your company. Does this mean the exclusion of only products made from animals, like gelatin? Or the exclusion of animal by-products, like urea? Does your definition of “animal” include fish and insects? Thank you for any additional information you can provide me with.

REPLY: 

February 15, 2011

Ms. Sarah Leonard
PA   

Case 514347

Dear Ms. Leonard,

Thank you for contacting Alberto Culver regarding your questions or concerns on Animal Testing. We are deeply committed to providing our consumers with safe, quality products.

Sincerely,

…A little good news in my opinion. One of my questions was left unanswered and as I thought about the response more, I decided to broach the question again…

 Ms. Hansen,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your answers. The only question I believe was left unanswered from my original message was Does your definition of “animal” include fish and insects? I look forward to hearing from you again.

Sarah Leonard

…So, again, we shall see.

My email pretty much explains why I contacted Hourglass Cosmetics about their mascara. They have vegan products and, judging from the ingredients, I wandered about their mascaras. Hourglass thoroughly impressed me by one uping me and offering up info I didn’t even ask for.

Query 1-30-2011

Hello,
I was in a Sephora and when I told a woman with your brand that I was vegetarian, she told me that some of your products are vegan. I have your foundation and was looking into some of your other products. I see “VEGAN” listed next to most of the products in your “FACE” section, excluding the bronzers. When I went to other sections, though, I didn’t see any vegan products. Really, I’m interested mainly in a mascara. I couldn’t find ingredients listed on your site, so I went to Sephora.com. I noticed beeswax in the Film Noir Mascara. I was just curious if this was the only ingredient that kept this mascara from being considered vegan? As noted, I’m vegetarian, so I’m not particularly concerned about the use of beeswax. Thank you for any information you can provide.
Sarah Leonard

Reply 2-2-2011

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for your interest in Hourglass Cosmetics.

The only non-vegan ingredient in our Film Noir Mascara is the Beeswax.

In case you were interested in our Superficial Lash Mascara, that product contains Beeswax as well as Lanolin Wax.

Hope this info was helpful.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further questions.

Thank you,

Charlie

I made these back on the 12th or 13th…of January.

The messiest and most time consuming part of this recipe is the chopped sugared walnuts topping. I made one batch with and one without. Both went of equally as well. The cupcake and frosting, though? A cinch to whip together!

I actually had a coworker tell me, days later, that she was still telling her friends about these cupcakes.

The recipe I used is from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Go get it. Seriously! How many examples of how easy and amazing this book is do I need to give you?