It has been a tradition with Bay Area Vegetarians to ask for volunteers to organize a community Thanksgiving get-together in their local area. This provides an opportunity to celebrating Thanksgiving vegan style in cities across the Bay Area.

This year we have 1 restaurant dinner and 3 Vegan Food Parties (VFP). You'll find full details for each event on the calendar. And, if you're new to VFPs, read more about them here.

11/18 Mountain View

This is a traditional Thanksgiving theme Vegan Food Party dinner hosted by Collin and Sharon respectively, who also organize the monthly Garden Fresh (there is a 11/28 dinner too!) and Fragrance Land (next dinner is 12/20).

11/22 Pacifica

A delicious array of vegan Thanksgiving foods are planned, so contact Ann & Reeba to join us. Pacifica is a short drive from San Francisco, and if the weather cooperates, there's a nearby park for easy hiking.

11/22 Emeryville

Don't like to cook? Hosted by George. In recent years, it's been at New World but this year moving to Manzanita Restaurant, featuring an organic, macrobiotic foods buffet.

11/22 San Francisco

Hosted by Kim and Jamie. They've been hosting since we started doing community events, so join them at their Castro home for a wonderful community dinner, VFP-style.

 

The holidays can be challenging for vegetarians. Fussy relatives who do not want to give up their customary feast-favorites can pose a roadblock to an enjoyable, compassionate holiday meal. Animal Place, a sanctuary & education center, has a cooking class on Nov 17th.

After the cooking demonstrations, share a traditional holiday meal that you can easily duplicate in your own kitchen! Menu includes: seitan roast with herb dressing, brown gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mixed greens with applies and walnuts, and pumpkin pie. For more info or to register:

 

"I AM AN ANIMAL: THE STORY OF INGRID NEWKIRK AND PETA" debuts on HBO on November 19th.

 

 

Feel Real Cafe (SF) closed earlier this month. Vegetarian restaurants are becoming scarce in Milpitas: DiLac closed in April, we've heard Lu Lai Garden is slated to close November 24th, leaving only the Milan Sweet Center.

For regular updates, check out our Guide News Blog

With 1,281 reviews in the Ultimate Guide, these vegetarian restaurants are ranked the best.

Top Ten Vegetarian Restaurants

1) Vegetarian House, San Jose - 4.55
2) Pizza Plaza, Oakland - 4.52
3) Cha-Ya, Berkeley - 4.5
4) Garden Fresh, Mtn View - 4.47
5) Good Karma, San Jose - 4.38
6) Tofoo Com Chay, San Jose - 4.29
7) Millennium, SF - 4.22
8) Manzanita Restaurant - 4.16
9) Cafe Gratitude - 4.13
10) New World Vegetarian - 4.12 (re-entry)

Agree or Disagree about the Top Ten? Then say something about it, with an Ultimate Guide review.

How to review a restaurant in the Ultimate Guide

 

Vegan holiday food is actually some of the easiest and tastiest food you can make (or buy). This month's recipes include mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, glazed brussel sprouts and pumpkin pie.

 

11/18 KFC Cruelty Protest - SF
11/18 Thanksgiving Celebration - Mountain View
11/20 Silicon Valley Lunch - Kokila's Kitchen - Cupertino
11/20 Letter Writing Party - Oakland
11/22 Coastside Thanksgiving Celebration - Pacifica
11/22 Animals are Friends, not Food Thanksgiving - Emeryville
11/22 Vegan Thanksgiving Celebration - SF - Castro
11/28 Garden Fresh Vegan Dinner - Mountain View

12/01 KFC Cruelty Protest - San Jose
12/02 Vegan Book Club Discussion: The Tortilla Curtain - SF
12/09 Vegan Cookie Exchange - Menlo Park
12/10 Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary Work Event - Stockton
12/11 Happy Bamboo dinner - San Jose
12/16 KFC Cruelty Protest - SF

Outlook users can use the 'calendar' icon link ()to add this event to their calendar.

For latest news and events for Bay Area Vegetarians, check out the News Blog and Event Calendar. We don't always announce it, but event photos are added periodically to the gallery, too.