"When my dad was a baker and people asked for special dietary items it was almost overwhelming. Bakers sell butter, sugar, eggs and flour- that's our staple. If we were just a bakery, we'd probably live by that," Schat notes. What he is most proud of is the simplicity of most of his recipes and the use of organic flour in his breads and baked goods. "Only a few of our breads include dairy or honey," he explains.

Vegan Eatin' Week was the brainchild of Jan Allegretti of CARE, who contacted Schat's operations manager Lisa Hensley. "Jan gave Lisa a call. They sat down and talked about the event and the menu, what we could do now and what we could modify to enhance our weekly menu," said Schat.

"We had lots of emails, phone calls and recipe swapping," notes Hensley.

"We had a similar event at the Himalayan Cafe," notes Allegretti, adding that the Himalayan Cafe event was a sell-out. "So many people want to eat fewer animal products. Vegan options are a big trend even in Las Vegas," says Allegretti, where patrons can routinely order vegan or gluten-free meals.

And there is a larger reason some choose a vegan diet. "There is overwhelming research on the relationship between diet, climate change and health. A UN report states that the consumption of meat and dairy has more impact on climate change than transportation. The health implications of choosing a vegan diet are enormous. Eating a steady diet of meat can exacerbate the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes," Allegretti notes.

"I've seen a lot of food trends and fads over the years," says Schat. "Cupcake shops are a fad. Organic eating is not a fad. It's a trend and it's huge. That's the big difference. Trends have substance and they're going to grow," he notes.

Schat never sees his bakery becoming a completely vegan establishment, but he recognizes the needs and desires from his customers to offer more vegan dishes. "People satisfy their sweet needs here and we'll always be a place for that. We also want to be known as a place that has vegan options. When you're in a town like this you need to offer everything from cupcakes to dutch bread, roast beef and vegan sandwiches. If anyone gets offended they're not seeing the big picture. We've got to make a living and pay our 50 employees. Events like this are great because they give us a little kick," he smiles.

"We hope that as a result of this event that many vegan specials will remain on the menu," says Allegretti.

CARE is a local animal advocacy and education organization started in 2007. "I've lived in Mendocino since 1986. One of the reasons I love this community is the number of people doing wonderful things for the environment and for social justice, but there was no organization focusing on animal issues," notes Allegretti. CARE has sponsored several "Veg-Fest" events in Ukiah - monthly events with a featured speaker or film along with a potluck or even a meal at the City of 10,000 Buddhas. CARE is working on several issues, including addressing the recent sightings of mountain lions in Ukiah and working toward a wild animal relocation policy as well as holding vegan cooking classes and farm sanctuary tours. Allegretti says the organization is always interested in people who are concerned with animal issues.

"We really support Schat's in this project to serve the vegan community and encourage this and other local restaurants to do more. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy this wonderful effort," says Allegretti.

All three Schat's locations will be offering vegan specials throughout the week.

Mendocino singer and performer Helen Eve will be entertaining guests on Sunday. Seating for Sunday's buffet is limited. Dinner will be served from 5 until 7:30 p.m.

For reservations, email caremendocino@gmail.com. To learn more about CARE, visit http://www.carefortheanimals.org

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“CARE: Compassion for Animals, Respect for the Earth, is a Mendocino County organization advocating the humane treatment of animals and a compassionate, sustainable lifestyle. CARE also supports those wishing to move towards a plant-based diet. CARE welcomes everyone interested in promoting health and harmony.”