Hello. As I said in another thread, I recently visited a "Vegan Burger Joint" that serves vegan "burgers" that pretty much look and taste like the "real thing." Its decor even reflected a typical "burger place," complete with burgers wrapped in thin wax paper, served in baskets overflowing with fries, and malts in tall traditional glasses. Apart from the lack of meat and dairy, it was truly a "burger joint."
The experience evoked memories of someone I once knew who absolutely hated vegan food that resembled traditionally meat-based food. He didn't like vegan hot dogs, burger patties, fake chicken nuggets, meatless crumbles, etc. He believed that he gave up that kind of food and its traditional presentation formats for a reason. He preferred vegan meals that in no way resembled traditional meat-laden food. He found the meat substitutes "derivative" and seemed to think that people who ate them didn't show enough commitment to truly changing their diets and habits. Of course, I argued that many people use these "substitutes" for transition purposes and without them some people would never consider going meatless. I started out that way myself. I bought veggie burgers and hot dogs. I did also eat vegan Indian and Thai food, but only in restaurants. At home I ate the "fake meat stuff." He conceded that somewhat, but he thought that "truly committed" people would, and should, gradually give such things up for "real vegan food" that embraced none of the traditional meat-eating forms and atmosphere.
The "burger joint" mentioned above also had online reviews containing claims like "even non-vegans will love it" and "I went there with my non-vegan friends and everyone loved it." After my experience there, were someone to hand me one of this restaurant's burgers out of context, I would have doubts that it was truly vegan. The experience reminded me so much of the "burger joints" of my youth that I would probably believe that I was eating meat again. Then I wondered if that was a good or a bad thing? I thought back to the person I knew who hated such "fake meat food" and I thought "was he right?" Should I embrace such "bridge food?" Am I unconsciously perpetuating a meat eating culture and ethos by embracing and consuming such food in traditionally meat-eating environments?
My initial feeling is no. The entire point is that no meat was consumed, despite how it was dressed up or presented. No cows or chickens were harmed. No slaughterhouses were required. No blood was spilled. And I still ate great food that, honestly, had a nostalgic element to it for me. I haven't eaten in a "burger joint" type place in years. I also cannot consume dairy malts for digestive reasons and this restaurant's vegan malts tasted pretty close to what I remembered real malts tasting like. I enjoyed the experience. I will likely go back and try more of their food. Plus, restaurants like this seem to be proliferating in the past few years. Vegan restaurants that imitate traditionally meat-based foods seem to have almost become trendy. Many seem quite successful. I do also wonder how healthy such food actually is, since veganism doesn't automatically imply or necessitate "healthy."
Do you think this all represents a good trend? A bad trend? Do you feel that vegan "meat substitutes" somehow compromise the spirit or intent of veganism? Could such "border food" contain the implicit risk of contributing to people converting back to meat eating again? I would be curious to hear what others think.
The experience evoked memories of someone I once knew who absolutely hated vegan food that resembled traditionally meat-based food. He didn't like vegan hot dogs, burger patties, fake chicken nuggets, meatless crumbles, etc. He believed that he gave up that kind of food and its traditional presentation formats for a reason. He preferred vegan meals that in no way resembled traditional meat-laden food. He found the meat substitutes "derivative" and seemed to think that people who ate them didn't show enough commitment to truly changing their diets and habits. Of course, I argued that many people use these "substitutes" for transition purposes and without them some people would never consider going meatless. I started out that way myself. I bought veggie burgers and hot dogs. I did also eat vegan Indian and Thai food, but only in restaurants. At home I ate the "fake meat stuff." He conceded that somewhat, but he thought that "truly committed" people would, and should, gradually give such things up for "real vegan food" that embraced none of the traditional meat-eating forms and atmosphere.
The "burger joint" mentioned above also had online reviews containing claims like "even non-vegans will love it" and "I went there with my non-vegan friends and everyone loved it." After my experience there, were someone to hand me one of this restaurant's burgers out of context, I would have doubts that it was truly vegan. The experience reminded me so much of the "burger joints" of my youth that I would probably believe that I was eating meat again. Then I wondered if that was a good or a bad thing? I thought back to the person I knew who hated such "fake meat food" and I thought "was he right?" Should I embrace such "bridge food?" Am I unconsciously perpetuating a meat eating culture and ethos by embracing and consuming such food in traditionally meat-eating environments?
My initial feeling is no. The entire point is that no meat was consumed, despite how it was dressed up or presented. No cows or chickens were harmed. No slaughterhouses were required. No blood was spilled. And I still ate great food that, honestly, had a nostalgic element to it for me. I haven't eaten in a "burger joint" type place in years. I also cannot consume dairy malts for digestive reasons and this restaurant's vegan malts tasted pretty close to what I remembered real malts tasting like. I enjoyed the experience. I will likely go back and try more of their food. Plus, restaurants like this seem to be proliferating in the past few years. Vegan restaurants that imitate traditionally meat-based foods seem to have almost become trendy. Many seem quite successful. I do also wonder how healthy such food actually is, since veganism doesn't automatically imply or necessitate "healthy."
Do you think this all represents a good trend? A bad trend? Do you feel that vegan "meat substitutes" somehow compromise the spirit or intent of veganism? Could such "border food" contain the implicit risk of contributing to people converting back to meat eating again? I would be curious to hear what others think.