Amy ScattergoodPETA, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, recently announced its list of the 10 most vegan-friendly cities in America. And it should surprise no one that we came in pretty high, ranking third. Because we have lots of movie stars, and they're mostly all vegan these days, aren't they. Because we're more health-conscious than most cities, or at least we pretend to be. Because Ozzy Osbourne and Joachin Phoenix and Alicia Silverstone live here, and Bill Clinton comes to town a lot and he has to eat somewhere.
Who beat us out? Austin, TX, came in number one, that tiny oasis in an enormous red meat state that is also apparently the vegan food truck capital of the world. And Portland, OR, was second, because while there may be a disproportionate number of artisan butchers in the Pacific Northwest, they also have vegan bike shops and vegan B&Bs and even a vegan strip mall. Clearly, we have work to do.
Los Angeles gets points for having lots of vegan food chains: Real Food Daily, Veggie Grill, Native Foods Café and Tal Ronnen's new Crossroads, which is not a chain yet but probably will be pretty soon. We also pair vegan food and craft beer very well (see: the Vegan Beer Fest and Golden Road). Beer and celebrities and chain restaurants. The American Dream.
Check out PETA's complete list. And maybe somebody start working on a vegan surf shop.
See also:
– The Vegan Beer Fest is This Saturday!
– Top 10 Famous Vegans, 2012 Edition
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