"Locally Owned” is a regular column highlighting local business owners — the backbone of our community and economy. The column explores the personal stories of the owners and the businesses they built. With feet rooted in contrasting cultures, Monica Hall’s life pattern has been to tread different paths and seek to find a balance between them. In her newest endeavor, the Monica Hall Spa Collection of organic skin care products, Monica has found the perfect synthesis. Born in Canada, and half-Native American Cree, Monica was uprooted from her family in the “scoop” of the 1950s and ‘60s, when Native American children were taken from their homes and placed with non-Native American families

Tea time again! I recently received this chock-full-of-info response to my article (Tea and Raw Food: Legal?) from Suzette Hammond, head of Training and Education for Rishi Tea--thank you, Suzette!! I thought I'd share it here (with the permission of the author, of course). Ms. Hammond's  response follows in its entirety, cheerio! Hi there, I’m not a raw foods follower, but I did want to offer some helpful information on the topic of tea itself. I work for Rishi Tea, as the head of Training and Education. I’ve also taught extensively with the Specialty Tea Institute (a branch of the U.S. Tea Association), the World Tea Expo and regional tea festivals in the United States. So, I really lov

Recently I’ve come to love tea! Hot tea. Tea that is probably heated above 115/118 degrees, which means it's not a raw food, technically...Oooohhhhh.... When I started drinking tea, at first it felt quite odd consuming something hot, but now I’m loving it! Although there are many health benefits associated with various teas, it's more of a comfort thing for me, and just kind of, well, nice. I’m anticipating especially appreciating it when the weather chills towards fall. I don’t typically consume caffeine as it causes me to feel like I just did a line of coke (FYI: no idea what that feels like, actually). So my tea comes decaffeinated (while decaf tea still contains a very small amount of

"What do you juice?" I'm frequently asked this question, and here's my very easy answer: generally, I juice whatever I find in my fridge! I like to keep it stress-free and simple. That being said, I do shop weekly for juicing items, so I’ve usually got good stuff on hand--although ingredients depend a lot on what's in season, on sale, and what caught my eye while shopping. Really though, I'll throw pretty much anything green into that juicer! Variety is good--nutritionally and taste-wise, and as often as possible, my juicing items are local and organic. I stick to "meatier" veggies, as my particular juicer has a tougher time with "frilly," soft-leafy items. Other than that, I'm not too pi

One of my very favorite raw vegan snacks of all time? That's right, pesto on toast!! You won't believe how good this is, or how lightly crispy and "toasty" this is! Here's what you'll need (ingredient amounts are estimates--it's not an exact science here): Equipment 1. Dehydrator (or oven on low setting) 2. Food Processor with "S" blade or Blender Aaand... here we go! Toast~ 1 eggplant 1/3 cup or so Bragg's Liquid Aminos (can be found near the soy sauce in natural foods sections) 1/4 cup or more nutritional yeast (good source of B12 if fortified--I use Braggs as it's gluten-free, but if that's not your issue, buy in bulk at natural foods store--much cheaper)  a generous shake or

People ask me all the time: "How do you eat raw vegan? It seems way too hard!" But you know what I think is really hard? NOT eating raw vegan! Today alone, I 1) listened to NPR's story on palm oil, and how that's causing environmental destruction, 2) signed a petition against the use of BPAs in Progresso's soup cans, and 3) yapped with a friend about GMOs. And that's only the tip of the (rapidly melting) iceberg! What about all the uproar around high fructose corn syrup, "bad fats," antibiotic use in farm animals, leaching of toxic chemicals into foods and beverages, diseases of the fork (diabetes, heart disease etc.), fish-farming nightmares (I call them "fissues"--badaboom) and factory f

Never Felt Better Vegan shop will shut its doors Thursday, ending a nearly seven-month run at its 19th and P streets location. “We’re going to go ahead and close down,” co-owner Jen Fosnight said Wednesday. “To be honest, we’ve been struggling to pay – it’s a great deal, and it’s not too much rent – but business has just been slow.” The shop focused on vegan retail items such as clothing, non-leather wallets, art produced by vegans and soaps, and also carried some food. “We’ve tried a bunch of things, but it was either lose this or lose the house,” Fosnight said. She added that the products will still be available online at the Never Felt Better Vegan Shop website. Vegan options at num

On Saturday, the third annual Sacramento VegFest was held at the Artisan Building on Del Paso Boulevard. Hundreds of visitors came to explore the world of vegetarian and vegan lifestyle alternatives, to check out new products and ideas, and to attend presentations by some top chefs in the healthy food movement. It was a happy crowd wending their way through the booths and displays on a sunny afternoon. Both guests and vendors were eager to share their enthusiasm for all things vegetarian. The Sacramento Vegan Society had an information booth. So did the Sacramento Vegetarian Society, and representatives from both groups were careful to emphasize their particular focus, cautioning us not

It’s that time of the year again and the question remains the same, “What are you doing for the holidays?” While some people maintain the same traditions they were raised with, some have welcomed new traditions and some just plain don’t celebrate at all. The Sacramento Press asked locals what their holiday plans were for this year.Alley Katz cook, Felipe Olivares, 39, said he was born in California but his parents moved here from Mexico and while he has become accustomed to the new lifestyle, he has maintained the Spanish holiday tradition throughout the years. “When I grew up, I went to a school that was literally named ‘White School,’ I was one of two Mexicans in the school,” Olivares s

Never Felt Better Vegan Shop, which reopened Nov. 4 in a new location at 19th and P streets, offers not only vegan food, but a range of products made in what the owners say are ethical methods by local vegans. “Everything we offer is vegan-friendly,” said Jen Fosnight, co-owner of the store. “Nothing here was tested on animals, and there are no animal products in anything here.” She said the shop is not just for vegans, but for anyone who wants a wide range of goods. The boutique offers non-leather belts and wallets, vegan nacho cheese, vegan tamales, other assorted vegan and fair-trade food items, soaps, artwork produced by local vegans and even clothing made locally that promotes anim

The new vegetarian food blog, “Eat Well, Live Free,” launched earlier this month in Sacramento. Since it went online, the site has garnered more than 400 unique visitors, said co-creator Marcos Hernández. Jillena and Marcos Hernández, the married duo that created the blog, said the idea behind the blog is to provide local vegetarians with information about recipes and restaurants that cater to vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. “We’re just trying to spread awareness and make it easier for vegetarians,” Marcos Hernández said. Jillena Hernández is a vegetarian, while Marcos Hernández is a meat-eater. While the two differ in that respect, they work well together in combining their skills for

Ten chefs in the Midtown and downtown area have agreed to take on the Vegan Chef Challenge starting Saturday. Throughout the month of October, each restaurant will feature special vegan items including soups, appetizers, entrées and desserts. Cafe Capricho, 58 Degrees, Bombay Bar and Grill, Tower Bridge Bistro and Michelangelo’s are just a few of the participating restaurants. Restaurant guests who order these specialty dishes will be asked to go online and vote for their favorite dishes. Those who vote will be entered in a drawing to win prizes. Diners who visit all 10 participating restaurants will be asked to score their overall favorites in each category and will be entered into a dr

Dining out as a vegetarian or vegan can be difficult. For those with dietary restrictions, modifying menu items or asking for substitutions becomes a normal part of ordering at restaurants. Many restaurants have menus that accommodate those with food allergies or whose diets are restricted, but the best way to be sure you are not eating foods you are allergic to or you choose not to is to ask. Shoki Ramen House is a popular destination for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike. The Sacramento Press recently spoke with a vegan who frequents Shoki Ramen House regularly. His experience prompted The Sacramento Press to do some research and create a guide to Shoki Ramen House for vegans

Vegan Bake Sale For Japan’s Earthquake Relief Local Vegan Bakers in Sacramento are organizing a vegan bake sale benefiting Japan's earthquake relief efforts. This bake sale will take place Saturday, April 2nd from 11:00am - 3:00pm at the Freestyle Clothing Exchange located at 2101 L Street in beautiful midtown Sacramento. The Freestyle Clothing Exchange will also offer a small discount with a bake sale purchase. If you'd like to help bake, or help spread the word via social media, please use the link below! If you'd like to come and eat delicious food while helping a nation stricken by horrific disasters,we look forwarding to seeing you Saturday! http://on.fb.me/vbsjapan   Full disclosu

During both World War I and II, our government introduced a new concept to the American people: Meatless Monday and Wheatless Wednesday. These initiatives were primarily focused on rationing food here in the states in order to give more to our soldiers off at war. Herbert Hoover, then head of the U.S. Food Administration, boldly proclaimed, “Food will win the war,” and as we all know, those wars were eventually won and the extra rations for our soldiers probably did help. Yet here we are after several decades, and the Meatless Monday motto is starting to pick up steam once again, except this time it’s to improve our health and environment. Even media mogul Oprah Winfrey has jumped on boa

Somewhere between Broadway and X, a secret spring runs with water that brings happiness, relaxation and generosity. I’m not sure where the mouth of the spring lies, but you can get a taste by just taking a look at some of the great businesses popping up in this corridor of numbered streets tucked next to the freeway between Broadway and the grid. The intersection of neighborhoods seems to make this area hidden and accessible only to those choice locals who know where to go. Off Broadway Bean, known by so many as just another cafe at 2416 16th St., is trying to make its way by producing specially selected and freshly roasted coffees and container after container of loose-leaf tea, just wai

My girlfriend recently finished a 21-day yoga and dietary cleanse at Deep Yoga. While I did not join her on her daily 5:30 a.m. yoga pilgrimages, I went stride for stride with her on the dietary portion of it. The first week we were allowed fish, but from the second week on we were no longer allowed any animal products. Or corn products. Or wheat products (I cheated here. I wouldn't have made it without soy sauce). It was not easy for this lifelong omnivore to give up meat, and even harder to give up cheese and grains, but I did, and lost nine pounds in the process. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's over. But I'll also concede that I both look and feel better. There is something to this

If you are looking for a healthy alternative, try The Green Boheme, a raw cafe located on Del Paso Boulevard. Just look for the lime green umbrella located on the streetside patio. Chef and owner Brooke Preston took over Richard Hensley’s restaurant after he moved on to new things, and changed it to The Green Boheme five months ago. The raw cafe offers organic, artisan vegan cuisine that has zero gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and pesticides. It is the only completely raw restaurant in the area. The menu changes often, sometimes daily and sometimes weekly. Some components take up to three days to make, and since each dish takes several days to prepare, once it runs out it comes off the me

 The world’s most popular reggae singer came to Sacramento Sunday and played a show in front of 4,000 ecstatic fans.   This, in and of itself, doesn't seem like it would be all that noteworthy.  Big stars play shows in Sacramento, if not all the time, at least semi-frequently.  I mean, John Mayer is coming to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in August, right?  And Carrie Underwood is coming to Arco in a couple of weeks.   But Matisyahu, the Jewish reggae artist whose album, "Bright Side of Life," has been at the top of Billboard’s reggae charts for six weeks, didn't play at Arco for $45 a seat, or Raley Field for 35 bucks a pop, or even Harlow's for 18 a ducat.  He played for free, on the

The organic purist, eco-conscious, thigh-conscious and dietary trendy may rejoice that Rick's Dessert Diner on K Street has a new neighbor with a new selection of baked treats. Sugar Plum Vegan, a vegan and wholesale bakery that offers fair-trade coffee and organic ingredients, has opened its doors for service. The cozy spot, situated below what was True Love Coffeehouse, has just enough capacity to hold five small tables and a very friendly staff, unfazed by transition issues with the ATM and continuous stream of customers placing to-go orders. "We want those that are hard core vegans as well as those who are just curious to feel comfortable here" said Owner and Chef, Melissa Sugar. T