PETA Names Topeka 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 14, 2010

Contact:
Virginia Fort 757-622-7382

Topeka, Kan. -- Local restaurants Globe, Tup Tim Thai, and Blackbird Espresso Bar and Bistro helped Topeka grab sixth place among small cities in PETA's 2010 survey of the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in North America.

"Topeka 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 Globe are the Baingan Bartha (fresh eggplant baked on an open flame with green peas and gently tempered with aromatic herbs and spices) and the chana masala (whole chickpeas cooked with onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, herbs, and spices). At Tup Tim Thai, PETA's taste-testers recommend the Thai Curry Triangles (golden wontons filled with sweet potatoes and celery, flavored with turmeric, and served with chili garlic sauce) for an appetizer and the Massaman Tofu Curry (with peanuts, potatoes, and vegetables) for the main course. (Any curry at Tup Tim Thai can be ordered with tofu and without fish sauce.) And diners at Blackbird Espresso Bar and Bistro have their choice of vegan bakery items such as chocolate chip cookies and banana nut bread, or hummus and veggie wraps.

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.; Worcester, Mass.; Lincoln, Neb.; Providence, R.I.; and Boise, Idaho. 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.