Vegan Corny Dogs FTW

Annual Texas Veggie Fair draws record crowd of peaceful easy vegans

Vendors at the Texas Veggie Fair sold "vegan" T-shirts.

Photo by Marc Lee
Veggie corn dog was one of the fair's most popular items.

Photo by Marc Lee
At the peak of the event, some food stands had people waiting in long lines.

Photo by Marc Lee
Speaker Carol Adams talked about the links between the oppression of women andanimals.

Photo by Marc Lee
Some of the Veggie Fair's fried items would've been right at home at the otherbig fair.

Photo by Meg Ramsey
There will always be cupcakes.

Veggie Fair
Oatmeal whoopie pies.

Photo by Julia
Pizza.

Photo courtesy of Jinx Vexx

Whether it was the picture-perfect weather, the joyful throwdown by Erykah Badu or the corny dogs – veggie, of course – the fourth annual Texas Veggie Fair was a smash hit and record-setter, too.

The fair, which took place on Sunday at Reverchon Park, continued its exponential growth, drawing a crowd of 7,000 – up from last year's 5,000, also a record setter.

This year boasted a few new features. Trinity Hall Pub hosted a popular beer garden. An extended kids' area offered more arts and games. And recycle bins were installed by Recycle Revolution, making it an eco-friendly event – an extra effort that's rare in the festival world.

The speakers' stage included author Carol Adams, who wrote the highly influential 1990 book The Sexual Politics of Meat; and activist Nick Cooney, founder of The Humane League, whose mission is to reduce the suffering of farm animals.

Vendors sold vegan T-shirts, "Eat Kale" jewelry and VitaMix blenders, the must-have gadget for those who observe a raw diet. Animal advocacy groups such as sponsor Mercy For Animals erected booths. Whole Foods hosted a demo station starring chefs such as vegan chef John Mercer and Najat Kaanache, of new Trinity Groves restaurant Souk. There was free yoga, and live music.

But the big thing was the food, all vegan, meaning no meat, dairy or eggs. Food trucks such as Nammi and Good Karma Kitchen lined up next to booths from every vegan-friendly in town and some out of town. Veggie Garden had a glistening veggie stir-fry; Be Raw sold pad Thai made from zucchini noodles. Denton Vegan Cooperative served spicy tofu curry in a wrap.

The longest lines of the day were for Austin's famed Capital City Bakery, who sold brownies, pumpkin cupcakes and a thick cheesecake with berry jam; and Tough Cookie Bakery, maker of the Corn Dawg, a vegan version of the corny dog that was just like the real thing.

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Sweet life

Dessert and wine pair up at new Bordeaux & Creme lounge coming to Plano

Photo by Sobremesa Studios

Bordeaux & Crème's Pistachio Romance features a Sicilian pistachio macaron layered with raspberry confit, pistachio ganache, fresh raspberry, and rose sugar.

A unique new lounge that gives wine and dessert equal billing is coming to Plano: Called Bordeaux & Creme, it will open this fall in The Shops at Legacy North, 5840 Legacy Circ., Ste. D165, joining notable neighbors including The Capital Grille and Seasons 52.

Noting that traditional wine bars often treat dessert as an afterthought, founder Shanice Williams says Bordeaux & Crème is designed around the pairing experience.

"Wine and dessert are often treated separately, but they're capable of creating something truly memorable when they're thoughtfully paired," Williams says in a release.

Her wine and dessert lounge will offer "curated wine flights, house-made desserts, table-side experiences, and an atmosphere designed for everything from date nights to celebrations with friends," she says. "Some of life's best conversations happen after dinner and there should be a space worthy of them."

The intimate, 1,426-square-foot lounge will seat about 40 guests. It will debut with approximately 30 wines by the glass and bottle, with plans to expand more selections. Williams says sparkling, white, rosé, and red wines, alongside curated wine flights, will encourage guests to discover and explore.

Desserts will be made in-house, seasonal, and created specifically with pairing in mind, she says. Among the offerings will be a brûlée cheesecake: a vanilla bean crème fraîche cheesecake layered atop a brown butter sablé and finished with a brûléed sugar crust and transparent sugar dome. It will be paired with a sweet wine, whose honeyed notes complement its rich, caramelized finish, the release says.

Another standout, the owner says, will be the Pistachio Romance: a Sicilian pistachio macaron layered with raspberry confit, pistachio ganache, fresh raspberry, and rose sugar. The dessert will be paired with a sparkling rosé wine, balancing fruit, texture, and freshness in a single experience.

“A glass of wine, something sweet, and music that sets the mood is an evening experience I always wanted but could never quite find," Williams says.

They're aiming for mid-November opening; updates will be posted on their Instagram page. Hours will be 4-10 pm Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and 4 pm-midnight Friday-Saturday. The lounge will be closed Mondays.

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