The week of April 5 was a busy one for RAVS.
VEGANISM AWARENESS EVENT:  On Tuesday, April 7, RAVS member and Nazareth student Rebecca Silliman staged a Veganism Awareness Event in partial completion of requirements for one of her courses, and also for the fun of it! At the Center for Spirituality in the Golisano Academic Center (the beautifully repurposed motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have a new home now), Silliman put together a panel for discussion and Q&A, made up of herself, Claire LaDelia, Alexa Laubscher, and Dr. Jill Brooks, and moderated by Olivia Fontana. It was a great event, attended by about 25 people and with the sounds of the Nazareth Wind Symphony in the background (they were having a dress rehearsal in the nearby concert hall). Delicious and abundant vegan food samples included food donated by The Red Fern (tempeh sliders), Vive Bistro and Bakery (dips and spreads), and Voula’s (dips and spreads); as well as Amy’s vegan pizzas and desserts and plenty of raw food and crudités. A wonderful job done; and it’s great to see so many committed young vegans!
PLANT-BASED WORKSHOP AT LORI’S  On Saturday, April 11, Ted Barnett, MD gave a 2-hour presentation on plant-based nutrition to about 25 people at Lori’s Natural Foods Center, as part of the store’s Spring Into Health program. It was a lively time with lots of interest and questions, as well as vegan food samples provided by Lori’s (olive-y salad, spinach artichoke dip, and carrot cake). Thanks to Stephanie Beiter from Lori’s (a RAVS member) for putting this together. Stephanie tells us that Lori’s is experimenting with making its own vegan cheeses based on the recipes from Miyoko Schinner’s book Artisan Vegan Cheese. (BTW, if you go into Lori’s, please put a note into the suggestion box asking the store to carry vegan cheeses made by Miyoko’s Kitchen, http://miyokoskitchen.com )
FUND RAISER DINNER AT VIVE BISTRO AND BAKERY  On Sunday, April 12, we had a hugely successful and pleasurable fund raiser dinner at the new French-inspired Vive Bistro and Bakery at 130 East Avenue. We completed filled two seatings of 60 people each. The setting is elegant, the service was friendly and the food was divine. Diners had a choice of either Potato and Leek Soup or Vine Harvest Salad (grapes, pears and mesclun greens with balsamic vinaigrette), for starters; a choice of Potato Gratin with roasted mushrooms and hollandaise, or Provencal Pasta with tomato sauce, fennel and rosemary, for the entree; and Orange Madeleines for dessert (Proust never had it so good).  Thanks to owners Pam Hathaway, Nick Lemesis, and Keith Savino; chef Mark Demara; and all the cooks and servers. If you haven’t already done so, please patronize Vive, which is open for lunch 7 days a week, and now open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. And, Vive now has it’s liquor license!
–Carol Barnett, RAVS Co-coordinator