Veg-Jing Out: Beyond Philly Pizza, Vegan Hot Pot @ Organic Party

Original Drew Pittock theBeijinger

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Veg-Jing Out: Your weekly guide to a guilt-free lifestyle in the capital.

Tube Station launches new Philly Special with Beyond Meat

Last month Tube Station unveiled the Beyond Philly Special, a plant-based take on their Philly cheesesteak-inspired pie made with Beyond Meat crumbles, peppers, onions, mushrooms, basil, and mozzarella cheese. I had the pleasure of tucking into one earlier this week, and it was undoubtedly the most nostalgic pizza experience I’ve ever had.

Mom decided to splurge on that sweet, sweet supreme 'za

Growing up in the US in the 90s – before our current age of “artisanal” and “healthy” frozen pizzas – there were a few dominant brands that filled the grocery stores. Namely, Red Baron, Tony’s, and Tombstone. Of these brands, the big three topping options were cheese, pepperoni, and the loftily named supreme, which generally consisted of sausage or beef crumbles, peppers, and onions. It was a luxurious purchase that transcended your average pizza night, elevating the evening to a gourmet experience fit for pizza kings and queens.

Dear Red Baron, thanks for all the memories but Tube Station will take it from here

Admittedly, 10-year-old me didn’t have the most discerning palate, and Tube Station’s Beyond Philly Special is far and away better than any frozen pizza from my childhood. Nevertheless, its flavor profile – coupled with the orange Fanta I ordered – was enough to transport my belly back to the golden days of my youth, when birthday parties came with goodie bags and all-nighters weren’t awash in copious amounts of booze.

The Beyond Philly Special runs RMB 65 for a 10-inch, RMB 155 for 19-inch, and RMB 198 for 24-inch.

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Vegans of Beijing Present: Farm Trip!

This Sunday, Jun 27, Vegans of Beijing will be hosting a deliciously informative day at Herb Whisperer – located inside Pingren Organic Farm – about a 35-minute drive outside Wangjing. From 4-8.30pm, green thumb enthusiasts will learn about local ecology from Dr. Thomas Avery Garran, traditional Chinese medicine and organic agricultural practitioner.

Maybe skip the free-flow brunch this weekend and get your hands dirty

Following the lecture, guests will be treated to a vegan hotpot and organic salad dinner. Tickets for the trip run RMB 359 and include the class and the meal. Scan the QR code in the poster below to join the Farm Trip Group, where folks will receive directions to the farm and can organize carpools.

Scan the QR code to join the VoB Herb Whisperer Farm Party group chat

Founded in 2015 by Dr. Garran and his wife Wu Jianghong, Herb Whisperer develops plant-based products including skincare salves, salad dressings, and liquors, while also hosting educational outings and consulting on ecological agriculture. If you can’t make the VoB event this Sunday, Herb Whisperer regularly holds farming parties and other events. To find out more about their mission, or to get involved, follow Herb Whisperer on WeChat (ID: tingcaozhiyu2019).

New vegan grocery app packed with rewards

The Shanghai plant-based lifestyle consulting firm 小步 Vegan xiǎo bù Vegan – aka Small Step Vegan – released a new vegan grocery delivery app this week, and while the selection is still rather limited, the platform is showing great potential, largely down to its rewards and incentive programs. Case in point, for every purchase customers accumulate points, which can then be used towards their next purchase. My first order came to RMB 99.9, which translates to 90 points, and every 10 points are worth RMB 1. Likewise, during the last week of each month (beginning this Thursday, Jun 24), users are encouraged to participate in a mini week-long vegan challenge, which also earns them points. For instance, a daily check-in begets one point, and completing the vegan challenge is worth 15 points.

At RMB 59.9 for Beyond Meat patties, the prices aren't too bad either

There’s also a “Leaderboard,” where people can compete to be the most vegan (please, save your eye-rolls and let us have our fun). According to Small Step Vegan, “The purpose of this challenge is to allow people to practice plant-based diets within a week,” thus easing them into the lifestyle surrounded by a supportive community. At the moment, the grocery selection is limited to a few meat and dairy alternatives as well as a couple of snacks, however, there are tabs for egg replacers, fruits, spices, and even clothing which are “coming soon.”

So whether you’re looking for a new plant-based grocer, are considering the move to vegan or vegetarianism but want a little encouragement, or you’re simply a competitive person who can’t pass up the opportunity to join a challenge, this app is for you! To find out more about the initiative and download the mini-program, click here, or add Small Step Vegan's official WeChat account (ID: veganpingtai).