Vegan Snack: Judy’s Love Sticks

Vegans in the San Francisco Bay area and greater Northern California tend to be well acquainted with Judy’s Breadsticks, a vegan snack company that produces packaged Country Crackers and a variety of “Twigs,” small bread sticks.

“I wanted to promote the idea that things can taste good and be vegan,” says Judy’s Breadsticks owner Lynda Najarian, who started the company in 2000, “I also want promote world peace, and I believe it starts with no cruelty.”

The handmade Country Cracker disks are made with 100 percent organic whole grains, wheat flours, barley malt and olive oil, while Twigs are made of 100 percent organic whole-grain wheat, barley malt and olive oil. Twigs have an intense crunch when chewed and are not suggested for those with sensitive teeth. Shades of savory and sweetness can be found in the Twig’s five flavors of Sesame, Sunflower, Roasted Garlic, Sweet Currant and Coffee Bean.

Twigs can be eaten out of the bag or used in various dishes. Sunflower or Sesame Twigs make excellent soup sticks and can be crumbled-up into croutons for salads. “The Sweet Currant Twig is great with a creamy, soft blue cheese,” suggests Najarian. And Coffee Bean Twig, covered with flecks of coffee bean, sea salt and sugar, is a creative topper on a scoop of vanilla gelato, or could be used as a stir stick for hot Chai, latte or coffee.

Six-ounce bags of Twigs and Country Crackers sell for about $3.50 and can be found in gourmet shops in Northern California, or ordered online at lovesticks.com.  –Nina Roberts