PETA Names Boise One of the Most Vegetarian- and Vegan-Friendly Cities

Fine Eateries Reflect the Growing Hunger for Meat- and Dairy-Free Dining 

For Immediate Release:
July 16, 2010

Contact:
Virginia Fort 757-622-7382

Boise, Idaho -- Local restaurants Shangri-La Tea Room and Cafe, Boise Fry Company, and Mai Thai helped Boise secure a spot among the top 10 in PETA's 2010 survey of the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in North America.

"Boise residents should be proud that their hometown is on the cutting edge of healthy cuisine that is Earth- and animal-friendly," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Because factory-farmed animals are subjected to intensive confinement and cruel conditions, more and more people are demanding meat- and dairy-free dining options."

Among the menu standouts at Shangri-La Tea Room and Cafe are the corn chowder (corn, potatoes, and a bit of onion in a veggie broth seasoned to perfection), the curry wrap (tofu, potatoes, and red pepper in a scrumptious red curry sauce wrapped in a warm tortilla), and for lighter eaters, the Mock Toona and Crackers. At the Boise Fry Company, French-fry connoisseurs can get their veggie burgers with a choice of frites cut four different ways from six varieties of potatoes. And diners at Mai Thai can choose from an array of delicious dishes, including veggie black-pepper steak sauteed with mixed veggies in a vegetarian sauce, vegan orange chicken sauteed with mandarin orange and mixed with veggies, and veggie citrus spareribs sauteed in a special sauce and topped with a bed of fresh lettuce and fresh pineapple chunks.

Olympia, Wash., took first-place honors among small cites, and Burlington, Vt., came in second. Rounding out the top 10 are Iowa City, Iowa; Bloomington, Ind.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Topeka, Kan.; Worcester, Mass.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Providence, R.I. The winner among big cities was Washington, D.C.

PETA divided the survey of U.S. and Canadian cities into two categories: cities with a population of 300,000 or more and cities with a population of 300,000 or fewer. For each city, PETA took into account the number of vegetarian restaurants and vegetarian-friendly restaurants per capita and also asked for input from PETA supporters and staff members on the quality of the options. The mayor and tourism bureau of each city that ranked among the top 10 in either category will receive a framed certificate and a letter of congratulations.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.