PETA's Vegan-Meatball Survey Puts Walnut 'Meatballs' Above Other Restaurants' Fare 

For Immediate Release:
November 4, 2009

Contact:
Kate Brindle 757-622-7382

Encinitas, Calif. -- If you're one of the growing number of Americans who are looking for tasty, healthy, and humane alternatives to a traditional favorite, you're in luck. That's because delicious, 100 percent meat-free meatballs are springing up at restaurants everywhere. So PETA set out to find the finest of the faux, and The Greenery Raw Food Cafe in Encinitas has grabbed the number two spot in the nation.

The Greenery Raw Food Cafe's "meatballs" are made from finely ground organic walnuts and are served on fresh, spaghetti-like zucchini noodles with marinara sauce. Bursting with flavor, the faux meatballs have a truly "meaty" texture or "mouth feel."

Taking the crown was San Francisco's Ike's Place for its Vegan Meatless Mike with spicy marinara and soy cheese and its Not So Sloppy Ike with tangy barbecue sauce. Philadelphia's famous Gianna's Grille captured third place with its "Haastile" meatball sub with sauteed onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. Rounding out the top five are Caravan of Dreams (New York City) for its Live Love Boat featuring almond-Brazil nut meatballs and Twisted Tree Cafe (Asbury Park, N.J.) for its baked tofu meatball wrap. All winners will receive a framed certificate to display on the wall.

"The delicious faux meatballs at The Greenery Raw Food Cafe are the real deal because they offer all the flavor of traditional meatballs but are associated with none of the cruelty or cholesterol," says PETA vegetarian campaign coordinator Kate Brindle. "This eatery is a great example of the growing number of restaurants that are satisfying America's hunger for healthy and humane cuisine."

For more information on all the winners, please click here.