more ideas on that restaurant

[Guest guest]

Hi Howard,

 

So in our responses, you've come across several kinds of vegans:

 

-those who are vegan simply for animal/environmental reasons and take the

health benefits of a balanced diet as an added benefit but like

great-tasting food so when they go out to eat they like to eat rich things

they don't or can't make at home.

 

-those who are vegan for the animal/environmental reasons but are also

extremely health-conscious (e.g. raw foods or no oil)

 

I happen to belong in the first group but can appreciate the philosophies

of the second. However, creating a cafe based on one kind alone will

create two very different cafes. It seems like you're either going to

have to choose one, or make sure to tailor your menu to include options

for the first crowd - maybe not on the extreme end of healthy but vegan

and really tasty and also for the second - good taste but more simple

with less " realism " towards certain dishes.

 

I LOVE Herbivore's brunch and go every weekend. My only problem with

their regular menu is that I feel they've tried to please both crowds at

once in the same dishes. So they're pretty healthy but not raw and use

different sauces and have baked french fries. However, everything is kind

of bland. I ordered pasta with " lemon cream " sauce, expecting... a cream

sauce! It was lemony but the " sauce " was like lemon juice and water with

a few herbs - no creaminess in the least! I would happily go to Herbivore

for dinner if they would include a few dishes for those of us who like

richer, more flavorful food. But they're trying to make a balance with

all of the items,.

 

I also like the idea of a menu with different styles of items becaus there

are sometimes when I'd just like a huge bowl of vegan salad with lots of

ingredients (i.e. more complicated than I'd make at home.) And then there

are other times when I'd like a Philly Cheesesteak with french fries and a

milkshake.

 

I agree that 24 hours in Berkeley wouldn't be a go. But at least to 10

would be nice. Also, in NY the diner is really popular, I think, because

it's not 100% vegan. They have cheese and eggs. However, there are many

vegan dishes and almost every non-vegan one can be made vegan.

Furthermore, it's not only grilled cheese adn french fries but they have

great vegan soups, salads like vegan Caesar, faijitas, spinach pies, and

much more.

 

And I also agree that the green-business idea is wonderful. I guess you

should talk to Roxanne's in Larkspur because they're whole restaurant is

green. I wish there were more people like you out there! And I like that

we're all thinking about this topic with many different ideas. It's neat

to hear what people's dream restaurants are.

 

Emily