I am Compassionate or Cafe Gratitude is Pretentious

March 5, 2006

Since I wrote the original post that started, let me chime in by saying it's been interesting to see the various reactions to my post, and I especially appreciate the thoughtful and interesting discussion that has resulted.

But for me -- it didn't matter whether the waiter was veg or not -- or whether non-veg people should work at veg establishments -- it was just the total irony and pretentiousness of a restaurant like Cafe Gratitude having its representative tell me he was vegan but quit because he felt more connected to animals when he ate them but at the same time wanted to tell us we were wonderful, bountiful, gracious, blah blah blah.

As I said, I liked the food but just really surprised at the forced atmosphere of self-affirmation of dining there. Maybe some folks really like this and buy into it and find it to be genuine. And that's fine -- but I thought it was here on this list, in a community of people where many *have* chosen to be vegetarian for compassion for animals, that the total inappropriateness of the waiter's remarks would resonate with others, and perhaps serve as a potential warning to anyone who would find such an experience unsettling.

Thankfully the food was good and the conversation and company even better, so this was just a minor blip in the evening. Personally, I thought it was entertaining and still left him a good tip. It was just the total irony .......

My blog with more details

http://www.generationv.org/2006/02/27/it_was_pretentious

Cafe Gratitude in the Ultimate Guide

http://www.bayareaveg.org/ug/display.htm?id=595

Cheers,

Tammy

Bay Area Vegetarianswww.BayAreaVeg.org