Blossoming Lotus

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The Blossoming Lotus Restaurants are vegan restaurants in Kapa'a, Hawai'i and Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2002, the restaurants offer "Vegan World Fusion Cuisine", organic, GMO-free, and locally grown gourmet vegan and live food popularized by founder and chef Mark Reinfeld.

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[edit] History

Gabe Zingaro first began offering vegan food at The Portal, an internet cafe on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Mark Reinfeld, who had started a vegan culinary consultancy in Malibu named the Blossoming Lotus, became partners with Zingaro and renamed The Portal. Zingaro became operations manager and spokesperson and Reinfeld took on the role of "creative visionary and culinary soul".[1] Two days after the Blossoming Lotus opened in 2002, Silicon Valley investor Bo Rinaldi came on board. In 2006, the Blossoming Lotus moved to a larger location at the Dragon Building in downtown Kapa'a.

The restaurant has expanded their business to include the Lotus Root Juice Bar & Bakery, also in Kapa'a, and the Blossoming Lotus Cafe in Portland, Oregon. The Lotus Root opened in the original location of the Blossoming Lotus. The Lotus Root offers food made without refined sugar or dairy products, such as vegan pastries, ice cream, juices, and smoothies.[2] The Blossoming Lotus Cafe in Portland is located in the lobby of a fitness spa called Yoga in the Pearl.[3] A fourth location is planned for Mountain View, California.[1][4]

The Blossoming Lotus style of international vegan cuisine was popularized in the 2004 Vegan World Fusion Cuisine Cookbook, written by founder and executive chef Mark Reinfeld and owner Bo Rinaldi. The book contains an introduction by Jane Goodall, and 200 vegan recipes.[4]

[edit] Awards

[edit] Restaurant

[edit] Book

[edit] Further reading

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Yang, Jeff. "Viva Las Vegans", Asian Pop, San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-07-06. Retrieved on 2007-06-18. 
  2. ^ Nilsen, Robert (2006). Moon Handbooks Kaua'i. Avalon Travel Publishing. ISBN 1566919568. 
  3. ^ Hallett, Alison. "Raw Talent: Chef Stuart Reiter's Newest Vegan Enterprise", The Portland Mercury, Apr 20—Apr 26, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-18. 
  4. ^ a b c Chang, Lester. "Volleyball Stars: Kapa'a restaurant wins PETA award", The Garden Island, 2006-07-06. Retrieved on 2007-06-18. 
  5. ^ Adams, Wanda A.. "Alan Wong's repeats win of 'Ilima's Best Restaurant honor", Ilma Awards 2006 Winners, The Honolulu Advertiser, 2006-10-10. Retrieved on 2007-11-14. 
  6. ^ Past Programs and Events. 2006 Platinum Carrot Chef Award Winners. Aspen Center for Integral Health (2006). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  7. ^ "Cookbook of the Year" (November/December 2005). VegNews Magazine (46): 32. VegNews. 
  8. ^ Best Vegetarian Book. Finalists. Gourmand World Cookbook Award (2006-05-21). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  9. ^ 2005 PETA Proggy Awards. Best New Cookbook. PETA (2005). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
  10. ^ "Morsels: Cookbook honors", Da kine, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 2006-01-11. Retrieved on 2007-11-14. 

[edit] External links

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