Last Thursday I hopped on a plane for a short trip to Southern California. The point of the trip? To officiate my cousin’s wedding!
I flew to San Diego and stopped by Native Foods for a bit to eat before making the quick one hour-ish drive to Temecula.
I stayed at an Airbnb “retreat” (small cottage house) on a farm. I don’t know why I was so surprised to find horses, a goat, chickens, roosters, and breeding dogs on site. I think sometimes we get caught up in our own world (vegan, vegan, vegan) that we assume everything is the way we want it to be. Because, in my head, I was sure I was going to a produce farm.
At first I was uncomfortable and then I just eased into it. Patrick the goat was adorable and loving
and I gave him loving back all weekend long. Her two breeding dogs sleep in her home (it’s not a puppy mill), along with two dogs she rescued (one yellow lab, a senior with arthritis, was new to her home – he had been abandoned in the desert by his owners, probably because of his aging legs and high vet bills, and she took him in).
There were young chicks in a pen near the retreat, since they are small, and I visited with them each morning. The cat and I bonded on the front step of the cottage.
And I watched the owner tend to the animals all day long. Each and every day. It was humbling, as it reminded me, once again, to meet people where they are and to understand that not everything is black and white (is anything?). Which isn’t to say that I don’t have a perspective about animal use. It is to say I don’t have all the answers.
I went to a grocery store and picked up a few staples: veggies, fruit, granola, vegan yogurt, tofu. I wasn’t sure which meals I would have in the cottage so I figured being prepared was the way to go. I made a great big salad filled with veggies and fruit and topped with cilantro chili Bitchin’ Sauce for dinner.
Friday morning I got up early, had a big bowl of yogurt, granola and fruit, put the finishing touches on the ceremony script, and was off to the wedding!
It was such an honor to be part of Raven and Mike’s beautiful, important day!
The reception was held later that night so I found time to have lunch with a fellow Main Street Vegan lifestyle coach and educator, Bren, at Aiyara Thai Cuisine (great food!) Later I had a blast at the reception – family time, live music, good food!
Saturday I deemed myself on a solo 36-hour vacation and I made the most of it. I stayed in the cottage and wrote all morning. I did take some time to make a big breakfast (and a corresponding video):
Yes, seasoned YouTube and video aficionados, this is a vertically shot video because it originated as a live broadcast on Periscope, which shoots vertically, not horizontally.
Later that day I decided to visit a couple of vineyards. Because Temecula is wine country! I did a quick bit of research to try to find a couple of vegan-friendly vineyards.
I started at Wilson Creek Winery which I found via a blog post on eco-friendly Temecula wineries.
I tried a few terrific wines, grabbed a glass of petite syrah after the tasting, and sat on the lawn while listening to live music. Oh, the Wilson family portrait contains the sweetest little surprise.
Miss Molly (Molly Merlot), Mrs. Wilson’s pet pig!
From there I was off to Falkner Winery for a late lunch at The Pinnacle before the tasting. I found this winery via Vegansaurus. The Pinnacle offers a menu that clearly identifies which dishes can be made vegan (yay!). So I had brussels sprouts and a noodle dish.
Very tasty and a lovely view. I highly recommend it!
Sunday I saved my appetite for a big brunch in San Diego, which would serve as my meal of the day, as I flew home a few hours later. Moncai Vegan offers Sunday brunch 9 am – 2pm. This tiny, cash-only vegan cafe is such a gem! The staff was kind and fun and the food was comfort all the way.
Tofu and veggie scramble, biscuits and gravy, potatoes, fruit, pancakes, and an apricot Bellini.
It was a fantastic, quick trip to Southern California wine country!
I’ll end with a flashback recipe I shared on Facebook this morning for Meatless Monday: Vegan Seven Layer Salad.
Great today as a meal and even better for Fourth of July festivities in the U.S. this weekend! Grab the recipe here.
2 thoughts on “A vegan weekend in Temecula, CA”
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Gosh, I love you. I have all but stopped reading vegan blogs other than recipes as I am so tired of the holier than thou, I am better than you, intolerant attitude I find so pervasive in the vegan community. Thanks for keeping it real, JL.
Ah, @theveganversion:disqus, I appreciate your feedback and support! ❤️