As I recently passed the one year mark of Offroad Vegan, I’d like to get some feedback from my readers about future content. What would you like to see?
Yearly Archives: 2014
![Restaurant Review: Moncai Vegan [San Diego]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/20141119_124705.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Restaurant Review: Moncai Vegan [San Diego]
San Diego has a pretty decent vegan scene, and Moncai Vegan is a cornerstone. The nice thing about it, is that it contrasts to the “fast food” nature of other pillars, such as Evolution and Veggie Grill.
Moncai Vegan is more of a take your time and relax kinda place.
While a small space, it is setup very well with about six or seven tables. The ambiance is a bit austere, but the warm service combined with the scent of fresh baked goodies more than makes up for it. They have an awesome display case filled with donuts , cinnamon buns, and other baked goodies.
Continue reading Restaurant Review: Moncai Vegan [San Diego]
Product Install: Rugged Ridge Low Mount Snorkel
I installed the Rugged Ridge low mount snorkel kit on my 2010 JK (3.8L) way back when, and remembered that while a tedious install, the benefits of this kit were well worth the effort. The same can be said about this kit for the 3.6 Pentastar.
I wanted to share some tips and tricks for the install, as well as some mods I have to make so it would accommodate my bolt on coilover kit, and Bushwacker fender flares. It is impossible for any manufacturer to consider all possible customizations, so I hope this can help a lot of people.
Please heed my advice and, before you tear your Jeep apart, run to the store and buy:
Continue reading Product Install: Rugged Ridge Low Mount Snorkel
Does this Vegan Support Hunting?
I find that a lot of the issues surrounding animal rights nowadays are pretty polarizing. On one side, we have organizations like PETA that grab headlines with crazy stunts. On the other hand, we have people like Ted Nugent screaming about how many animals he mercilessly slayed.
I find that the vegans are preaching to the vegan choir, and the hunting, consumptive users are preaching to Ted Nugent.
And, with that scenario, it is impossible to make any progress.
Johnathan Safran Foer, in his book Eating Animals laid out an extraordinary story about a vegan that helped build a slaughterhouse. Basically this vegan wanted the ability to help build and design an ethical(ish) slaughterhouse. This viewpoint is similar to my personal objective on hunting.
1. Global Veganism just ain’t happenin.
Do I wish that tomorrow, the World would be vegan? Yes. Absolutely. We would very quickly improve a lot of the health issues we all face, as well as make inroads on curing hunger, and potentially reverse climate change, as well as countless other benefits.
But we all know that just about will not happen. So, once we can accept that, we need to ask ourselves the next question.
If the World isn’t vegan, what is the next best moral position?
Heck Yeah! One Year of ORV – win something!
Thanks to all my readers and supporters out there! Because of you, my blog has been exploding. I have just shy of 20,000 unique visitors in my first year.
To celebrate, Northridge 4×4 and Beyond Meat have joined forces, giving me some awesome swag to give away!
The prizes include:
- Northridge 4×4 mechanics gloves
- Northridge 4×4 t shirt, decals, 2 coozies, and hat
- Beyond Meat T Shirt and hat
- 4 free Beyond Meat VIP coupons for FREE Beyond Meat!
How do you win!?
- Find the contest post on Offroad Vegan’s Facebook page.
- Make sure you already “Like” the page.
- Post a photo as a comment of EITHER your off road rig OR a vegan meal you recently prepared.
- I will randomly draw a name and will announce the winner.
All photos must be posted by 12/10/14!
Have fun and good luck!
Rubicon 2014 Video!
The video documenting our Rubicon adventure is finally online!
![Restaurant Review: Evolution [San Diego]](https://offroadvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-11-17-01-07-05-1.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Restaurant Review: Evolution [San Diego]
I’ll be honest. From time to time I miss the ability to go grab a bag of fried, cheesy, meaty food from a fast food joint. And, while there are plenty of vegan places that try to fill this niche, have never found one that did it perfectly.
Until today.
When I found out I was heading to San Diego, I knew I’d also haveta make a beeline for Evolution. Evolution’s tag line is simple “Delicious Vegan Fast Food. ”
The building is located in an easy location nicely situated next to Balboa Park and seemed to have ample parking (I walked there). It was nice to see a drive up window, proving that vegans should also be allowed the occasional lazy fast food experience.
The outdoor seating area, while a bit sparse was nice, and provided a shady spot to eat out of the sun. Service was brisk and friendly.
I ordered at the register where they also had a nice selection of grab and go foods, desserts, and drinks. I picked up an organic Blue Sky organic soda to go with my lunch. The decision was tough, between the Bacon Cheeseburger and the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, but at the staff’s recommendation I went with the Buffalo.
What was most exciting for me? Honestly it was the greasy bag that reminded me of lunch at Ronnie’s (a legendary, non-vegan greasy spoon lunch spot in Auburn MA my family would frequent). Inside the bag was an awesome white bag of fries, the buffalo chicken sandwich, and ketchup. It was brilliant. Taking the fast food theme even further, a voice squawked over the intercom when my order was ready to be picked up at the counter.
I opened the bag, and the strong smell of Buffalo indicated I made the right choice. This sandwich was absolutely amazing. The “chick’n,” while similar to Gardein seemed housemade and had a great texture and flavor. The soft bun was also super good.
The fries, made fresh from Kennebec potatoes were cooked to perfection and had just the right salt.
I had to save some room for the chocolate shake I ordered. Made with housemade ice cream, it was not too heavy but perfectly sweet.
The best part of this meal was that I didn’t leave in a food coma. While I definitely treated myself to some good ol’ vegan junk food, I still felt good enough to walk the 2 miles back to the hotel.
I still have about four days left in San Diego, so I know I will be back to Evolution!
Product Install Notes: Evo Long Arm Upgrade Kit
One of the last major upgrades I needed to make to my Jeep was a proper lift. I have been happily running the Teraflex 2.5″ “Budget Boost” but we all know those do not offer the benefits of a real lift.
So I recently ordered the Evo Long Arm upgrade kit and 4 Evo spec King coilovers for my suspension.
The install is cutely referred to as “bolt on” but there is very little bolt on about this. It actually really irritates me that it is branded as such.
Evo should consider this a “hybrid solution” that requires minimal cutting and easy welding.
You will spend countless hours grinding off stock frame parts and drilling new holes. No instructions are provided (none as in ZERO, NADA) so you will also spend a good amount of time with puzzle pieces and counting hardware parts to see what bolts go where.
So I wanted to write this huge post as a way to help those that are about to undertake this install. Hopefully my tips and tricks will save you time and frustration. Grab a cold one, sit down, and read through this post before starting your own kit.
Continue reading Product Install Notes: Evo Long Arm Upgrade Kit
Rubicon 2014 Teaser
Check out my latest video project from the Rubicon trail last August!
Special thanks to Beyond Meat for their support!
The Great Illusion: On Glass Windows & Slaughterhouses
Let me start this off with me saying I was a meat eater.
I remember going to a wholesale club in Massachusetts, where there were ham steaks (big ones, too) on a sort of tape. They were vacuum sealed and perforated between each one. They came off a huge spool in a cardboard box. Once you had the quantity you wanted, you simply tore off the last one, and tossed them in your cart.
It was only later that I realized those pig slices were probably like some sort of cross-section of the same animal. At least for 4 or 5 of the steaks. It was actually really gross.
I bring this up, as it was probably my first epiphany about what I am actually eating. Growing up, we are told that meat is an important part of your diet, and that beef is “what’s for dinner.” Of course I didn’t stop eating meat because of that realization, but it was the first of many small moments that finally ended with me being vegan.
The meat and dairy industries spend immense budgets on establishing the “black box” approach to meat. Their labels have pastoral farm imagery, and catchy phrases like “Smithfield Farms” and even extensive rebranding efforts on the names of cuts. This is, of course a huge lie being fed to Americans. There is no “farm” in the animal industrial complex. The days of the local farmer, humanely raising and caring for livestock are sadly close to an end.
Continue reading The Great Illusion: On Glass Windows & Slaughterhouses
Off-road Vegan 