This project started in 1997 when I learned that the only world guide to vegetarian restaurants and vegan restaurants on the internet at that time (now defunct) was no longer being updated. However, I put the idea of HappyCow on hold until November 1999 while I was living in India.

I wasn't sure at the time exactly how a project like this could be managed, but there was some inspiration, and I felt compelled to take it on. I am a world traveler and have lived, worked, and traveled to over 50 countries in the past 22 years. I have been a vegetarian for about that long and have often found it difficult to find good places to eat and stay healthy while traveling.

In the recent years, HappyCow has benefited from donated time contributed by Diana, a 10+ year vegetarian. Now a husband and wife team, along with friends and volunteers, we have a lot of ideas for the future of the site and its development. Most of the ideas require more technical programming and funding, so they are slow in being implemented. Although HappyCow is a free site and non profit in nature but not 501-c status, our manpower and resources are at time limited... your patience is appreicated.

Nonetheless, we continue to be passionate about this project and are very pleased with our New Design (layout and background, evolving cow logo, easy-to-use menu), and with the additions of the HappyCow Members Community, Interactive Maps for most countries, address/zip code searches for restaurants and health food stores, and the capability for visitors to submit reviews for individual listings and photos to accompany the listings!

Additionally, we are focused on updating the all the listings by making their information as up-to-date and accurate as possible. We are also expanding HappyCow to include more community building features, and useful health-related information with an expanding vegetarian recipes collection in progress.

Each day, we are inspired and encouraged to know that HappyCow is the internet's most widely used and longest operating worldwide vegetarian restaurant guide. We deeply appreciate the flow of positive responses we receive from folks everywhere like you!