Compassionate Cuisine Celebrates Vegetarians

Although cows, pigs, goats and chickens typically aren't viewed as cute and cuddly household pets, one annual event is striving to raise awareness that animal cruelty laws shouldn't discriminate based on an edibility factor.

Now in its fifth year, Compassionate Cuisine will celebrate International Vegetarian Day by serving up healthy portions of vegan fare from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University, Long Beach.

Created by Melissa Witul, the event was borne out of Witul's visit to Animal Acres' 26-acre sanctuary in Antelope Valley. Lorri Houston, co-founder of the sanctuary, has partnered with Witul to spread the word about the abusive treatment of farm animals, and Houston will be a guest at this year's event. Witul said the event outgrew the 2nd City Council Gallery + Performance Space last year, when the event was moved to the Japanese Garden. What started with 80 people sampling vegan food from area eateries has become a soiree attracting as many as 400 people, Witul said.

"I'm not vegan," Witul admitted. "I became vegetarian when I (met Houston) ... it was life-changing for me. People can attend (Compassionate Cuisine) and know nothing about (being vegan)."

At least 22 food and beverage vendors, including Long Beach-based Zephyr Cafe, Viento y Agua and Whole Foods grocers, will be situated along the path winding through the garden serving all-you-can-eat samples. New to the event is the Seabirds vegan street food truck, Witul said.

In addition to Houston, other event guests will include Tanya Petrovna, founder and chef behind the Native Foods chain and author of "The Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook," PAW Project Team founder Dr. Jennifer Conrad, Dr. Michael Gregor, a farm animal and disease researcher, and Sarah Taylor, founder of The Vegan Next Door and author of "Vegan in 30 Days."

When Houston first began a farm animal sanctuary in 1986, she said nobody thought about sheltering abused pigs, cows and chickens.

Houston's early aspirations of becoming a veterinarian led to her lobbying for farm animal's rights after she made visits to slaughterhouses, farms and stockyards.

"Farm animals were, and still are in some areas of the country, exempt from anti-cruelty laws," Houston said. "I wanted to do my part to make a difference. These were forgotten animals."

These days, more than 25 farm animal sanctuaries are established in the United States. Houston said California began passing laws to protect downed animals (non-ambulatory livestock that are still alive) in the mid-1990s.

"It's now illegal to drag or abandon downed animals (in California)," Houston said. "But slaughterhouse cruelty hasn't been addressed. The animals are moving so fast in (meat) production lines that some are still alive when they are put in a vat of burning water. 'Red skin' is an actual industry term referring to animals that have been scalded alive."

Houston said the primary way to demonstrate solidarity for farm animal rights can be difficult for people - in other words, they should stop eating them. However, Houston said people who attend Compassionate Cuisine are open-minded, and she understands a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is not for everybody.

"(Compassionate Cuisine) is a fun and positive way to get people together to talk about these issues," Houston said. "We have 400 animals now at Animal Acres. There's lots of ways to help, either by volunteering time, money or sponsoring an animal. There are still so many farm animals that need rescuing."

Tickets purchased in advance are $35 per person or $45 at the door. Free parking is included in the lot across from the Japanese Garden, 1250 Bellflower Blvd.

For more information visit the Web sites compassionatecuisine.net or animalacres.org.