Vegan Food Tours In Las Vegas Educate And Impress.
Vegan Diana Edleman is introducing Las Vegas to the first vegan dining tour and vegan dining guide.
Diana Edleman is a Las Vegan, a Las Vegas resident that is on a mission to inform the public on all things vegan with her website vegansbaby.com, Vegas Vegan dining tours and her recently published book, Las Vegas Vegan Food Guide, the best in vegan and vegan friendly restaurants in Las Vegas 2018 ( available on Amazon.) Edleman is vigilantly relaying her vegan message on where to dine and drink the vegan Vegas way, baby! Her website, vegansbaby.com is the place to get up to date vegan information and vegan Vegas dining suggestions, dining tours and book information. We met up with her for a conversation on her new book and her Vegas Vegan dining tours.
There are a lot of people who have differing ideas about being a vegan. Some people think it is only about the dietary, but it is also a lifestyle and moral choice. How do you approach it and how do you describe it?
DE: That is my whole goal with my website Vegan's Baby and what I do is to make veganism easy. I really just want to show you that living the Vegan life style is easy. Such as how can I give up cheese? Well, there are options out there and anyone can do it. Go try the vegan nacho's at Nacho Daddy or some of the other wonderful dishes that are available.
What are the first steps that you give to neophytes?
DE: Stop eating meat and then give up dairy. Take baby steps at first; work your way to it. I was a vegetarian for 3 years prior to being a Vegan. I worked as an animal rights advocate and one day I made that connection. I also have told people if you have not made the connection watch some of the documentaries out there, such as Earthlings and other informative videos. Chances are you will watch those, clean out your fridge and change the way you eat.
Was working with at the elephant sanctuary an impetus for your making that connection to veganism?
DE: A lot of people say they love animals and what they mean is they love cats and dogs. It is not an all encompassing statement about loving animals if they sit down and eat a chicken. I thought I loved all animals but it was while I working at the sanctuary that a truck full of hogs went by on the way to slaughter and that was it; I was done with eating meat. I was a vegetarian up to that point but when I came back to the states I did make the complete change to veganism.
Is there a militant association with veganism?
DE: Are you taking about vegans that protest outside a restaurant while you are eating a meal? I am trying to change that image; I want this to be approachable and friendly without those militant combative attitudes. I do want people to understand that being a vegan is a journey and you might mess up but that's ok, you are still making a difference. I would never go up to someone and point out that they are wearing leather or approach someone eating meat at a restaurant. That is not my thing. People are much more open to you when you politely educate verses attack. The kinder you are the more receptive people are to change.
What are the physical benefits of a vegan lifestyle?
DE: There are many benefits to a plant based diet which are really good for you. It helps reduce your blood pressure, helps prevent diabetes, and lowers cholesterol. You will drop weight, your skin will look and feel better and you will have much better energy. I am not a doctor but I have heard that people can turn their cancer around.
Do you respect chefs that sustainably source meat and poultry products?
DE: At least I hope these animals had a better life before they were killed.
What is the best way to reach people with the vegan message?
DE: I think it's through Vegan's Baby! I believe I am reaching people the best way I know how; it's not attacking anybody, or passing judgment on anyone or telling someone you need or should to do this or that. I am presenting options, such as maybe you are not ready to go vegan but take a look at this dish at Sparrow and Wolf or Violet's Vegan mac and cheese; you are not going to believe that it is not mac and cheese. It's about making the experience fun and approachable. For me it is kindly educating not attacking; it is a positive activism. I like to partner with chefs that don't have a vegan menu and create an event. It shows the restaurateur that if you build it they will come and it shows vegans that the business community wants to support them. Yes, they serve meat and cheese but they have this for you. It may not be the perfect scenario but this has been created for you instead of it being just meat and dairy.
Why do so many vegan products are trying replicate meat and dairy flavors?
DE: That's only to make it more approachable for people. You go vegan for health and for the animals but the marketing for the fake meat, cheese and chicken is targeted for those that gave it up and feel yes, I gave this up but boy I would love a grilled cheese or something. So it makes it easier to transition. Most people are raised with these foods, so the thought of never having bacon again can be difficult. If I can introduce you to a pinto bean that tastes like bacon and you can put that on a salad, it makes it more viable and long standing. There are so many options out there.
Tell us your exciting news about what you are doing to educate the public here in Las Vegas.
DE: I am doing Downtown Las Vegas Vegan Dining Tour. Right now it is five restaurants, including Vegenation and Simply Pure but I also partner with non-vegan restaurants that have vegan options that include vegan food that you can only get on the tour. It is a three hour walking tour through Downtown Las Vegas starting June 2nd, 2018. I am monitoring the demand and hopefully there will be a great demand for it, since there are no other vegan tours like this. I eventually would like to partner with Lyft or something where we can go to the really cool vegan spots that are not walkable that are off Strip and not Downtown. I have worked 2 years in building and nurturing these relationships and I am excited to be able to offer the vegan dining tour.
And....Your book?
DE: Oh, yes! The Las Vegas Vegan food guide is now in a 2nd edition since the first is already outdated. The vegan scene is growing so quickly here. There are 35 dining categories; there are 75 dining suggestions within those, from Thai, to Spanish to Korean and more. It took me 2 years of eating out and gaining 20 lbs eating all that yummy vegan food. It is exciting to see the vegan dining scene from a few years ago being just a handful of restaurants is now almost 20. I am hoping that there will be more and it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of this; to be a catalyst for change. www.vegansbaby.com