I was invited to dinner at Thaiburi this week. While Thaiburi is not a vegan restaurant, they have menu items that are vegan as-is or can be made vegan with modifications. Their menu professes, “We started Thaiburi to be more than just a restaurant. It’s our way of inviting you into our hometown. Every dish tells a story and we’re proud to share the taste of where we come from with every bite.” We ordered a few things to share, and as always, the appetizers were my favorite part.
Whether you call it “Fairy Floss” or “Cotton Candy,” it’s been a nostalgic favorite since its debut in 1904. The first commercial cotton candy traces back to 1904 at the first ever World’s Fair, where a confectioner and Dentist teamed up to bring the treat to the masses. In 2025, Bless from Sweet-Remix is bringing the 209 its first woman-owned, organic, kosher, vegan, and artificial-free cotton candy!
A chain of Latin-owned markets has expanded to Modesto, California, offering a surprising number of vegan options. The first Vallarta Market was family owned and operated and opened in Van Nuys, California in the 80’s, offering native Mexican favorites to the community. Now the market has expanded to over 50 locations in California. The newest addition to Modesto is off Pelandale Ave, and coming soon to the Century Center off Orangeburg.
While a pioneer in the chocolate industry, Ghirardelli has remained cautious when diving into the dairy-free chocolate category. They officially launched both their Ghirardelli Non-Dairy Chocolate Chips (in stores) and Ghirardelli Non-Dairy Hot Fudge Sundae (in their Ice Cream Shops) in the 2020s, and they’ve been in business for over 100 years!
