PETA Names Olympia the Most Vegetarian- and Vegan-Friendly City

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

For Immediate Release:
July 20, 2010

Contact:
Amanda Fortino 757-622-7382

Olympia, Wash. -- Local restaurants Tofu Hut, Vic's Pizzeria, and the Blue Heron Bakery have helped Olympia grab first place among small cities in PETA's 2010 survey of the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in North America.

"Olympia 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."

Tofu Hut offers a plethora of perfectly seasoned vegan feasts. The Tofu Sweet & Sour (deep-fried tofu with pineapple, bell peppers, onion, cucumbers, wild mushrooms, and carrots in a tangy sweet and sour sauce) is superb. Vic's is a must for pizza lovers--vegan and nonvegan alike. Among the eatery's many standouts is Vic's Vegan Calzone (stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, black olives, white onion, sweet fried peppers, and your choice of several tangy vegan sauces). Even though the Blue Heron Bakery isn't a restaurant, the store's vegan offerings--including brownies, walnut chocolate chip cookies, and peanut butter cookies--are so popular that PETA counted the bakery as major player in making Olympia a vegan winner.

Burlington, Vt., placed second among small cities and Iowa City, Iowa, came in third. Rounding out the top 10 are Bloomington, Ind.; Boise, Idaho; Lincoln, Neb.; Providence, R.I.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Topeka, Kan.; and Worcester, Mass. The winner among large 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.