Supporting your local vegan restaurant has, arguably, never been more important. Of course, you can show your love by ordering your favorite plant-based fare. But another great way to back your beloved vegan spots is by voting for them in our annual VegNews Restaurant Awards.
It’s a win-win: you support your favorites, and you get the chance to win a luxury weekend in Las Vegas. Seriously—just by voting, you’ll be entered into a draw to win the trip of a lifetime to The Entertainment Capital of the World, complete with brunch and dinner at celebrity favorite Crossroads Kitchen. Polls close tonight, so vote now!
But before you start voting, check out this week’s food news. We’ve got updates on everything from crayon-themed soda and pumpkin spice creamer (yes, already) to an R&B brunch buffet.
Drizzy’s popular peanut butter is made with US-grown peanuts. | Drizzy
The Graza of peanut butter is coming, and we can’t wait to give it a squeeze
When it comes to top-quality, fresh, flavorful olive oil, we reach for Graza. And now, when we want the very best peanut butter—made with just roasted peanuts and peanut oil—we’ll be reaching for Drizzy.
The Australian peanut butter brand is renowned for its best-selling, ultra-smooth, vegan-friendly, drizzleable peanut butter, and now it’s finally coming to US stores. There’s just one slight difference: to maintain the quality it’s become known for, Drizzy will make its US peanut butter with, well, US-grown peanuts, of course.
According to the brand, it’ll still bring its “Australian approach to simple ingredients, thoughtful manufacturing and seriously smooth texture” with it.
Keep an eye out for Drizzy in stores from August 24.
The new lineup of sodas come in various fruity flavors, like Green Apple and Pineapple Cream. | Jones Soda Co / Crayola
Would you drink Crayola soda? Don’t knock it until you try it.
If you were ever the weird kid in the corner eating crayons, this new soda might bring a tear to your eye. Finally, you’re understood.
Yep, Jones Soda Co. has teamed up with Crayola to launch a new, limited-edition range of craft sodas. But don’t worry—they don’t actually taste like crayons (which, we imagine, taste something like bland, greasy wax).
The lineup includes Fruit Punch, Orange and Cream, Pineapple Cream, Green Apple, Berry Lemonade, and Fufu Berry. Better yet, every purchase comes with a packet of Crayola crayons, four coloring pages, and a limited-edition Jones Soda x Crayola box.
Planet Oat
Fall in July—it’s happening: Planet Oat’s pumpkin spice creamer spotted at Walmart
Listen, we love the sunshine, but sometimes the heat gets to be a little too much, and we can’t help looking forward to fall.
If you’re already mentally stepping on crunchy leaves, binge-watching “Gilmore Girls,” and simmering soup on the stove, then you might want to head to Walmart. Some shoppers have already spotted bottles of Planet Oat’s Pumpkin Spice Creamer on the shelves.
If Starbucks fails to deliver a vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte again (we’re still holding out hope), then this limited-edition seasonal creamer is perfect for whipping up your own pumpkin spice latte at home.
MyBacon’s meaty mycelium bacon has landed in Wegmans. | MyForest Foods
Disruptive mycelium bacon brand lands coveted spot in East Coast grocer
If you’ve been searching for a vegan bacon brand that tastes great, nails the texture, and isn’t ultra-processed, there was a time when it felt like looking for a needle in a haystack. But rest assured, it does exist, and it’s becoming easier to find than ever.
MyForest Foods already sells its pork-free, meaty mycelium bacon in more than 3,000 stores across the US, including Whole Foods Market and Erewhon. Now, it has also landed a spot at popular East Coast grocer Wegmans.
“If you know Wegmans, you know what that shelf means,” reads a MyForest Foods post on LinkedIn. “Their buyers are famously selective, their shoppers are famously loyal, and their set is where CPG brands go to prove it.”
Want to see what all the fuss is about? MyBacon is on Wegmans shelves now.
Souley Vegan is celebrating its new chapter with an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet. | Souley Vegan
Souley Vegan holds grand reopening in Oakland, announces R&B brunch buffet
In 2023, diners across California were devastated by the news that Souley Vegan, a popular Oakland soul-food spot, was closing its doors. At the time, owner Tamearra Dyson tried to save the restaurant with a GoFundMe campaign but ultimately decided to close due to declining foot traffic.
But we’re happy to report (especially because we love the Ain’t Gator Po’Boy) that Souley Vegan wasn’t closed for long. Dyson is now back serving up her beloved soul food classics in a new location in Oakland.
In July, Souley Vegan celebrated its return with a grand “rebirth” celebration. Soon after, Dyson announced a new venture: the Elevated Sunday Brunch Buffet. Starting August 9, guests can indulge in an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet, enjoy bottomless fizz, and dance to classic R&B. What’s not to love?
Abuelita Coco’s founder is branching out with a new business. | Abuelita Coco
A familiar face is opening a new vegan cafe in Chicago
If you’re a fan of vegan spot Abuelita Coco in Oak Lawn, Chicago, then you’ll love La Nieta.
The new vegan café and market, coming soon to Wicker Park, is also the brainchild of Casandra Flores, owner of Abuelita Coco. Of course, it will serve up an equally delicious menu of vegan tacos, sandwiches, vegan calamari, and more.
Keep an eye on Abuelita Coco’s social media for new exciting updates.
Tabay’s Mindful Kitchen is a park-inspired food truck in Montana. | Tabay’s Mindful Kitchen
Bozeman, MT gets its first all-vegan business
For too long, many vegans in Montana have had to cope with a lack of 100-percent plant-based dining options. Not anymore. Tabay’s Mindful Kitchen, a plant-based, park-inspired food truck, is now officially the city’s first all-vegan business. Cue the round of applause.
Head to the corner of 7th Ave and Mendenhall to feast on everything from vegan burgers and breakfast burritos to Persian loaded fries (complete with kabob crumbles), crispy shell tacos, and so much more.
Check out last week’s top food news
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe
Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
