Educating the common carnivore at Zephyr Vegetarian Cafe

June 2, 2007

By Emily Savage PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES When my dad talks about vegan food, he scrunches up his face and declares, “rabbit food.” It’s easy to understand why: to the common carnivore, meals without meat lack the proper flavor and protein, not to mention tradition. A similar thing happened a few years ago when I first took my ex-boyfriend to Zephyr, a vegetarian cafe on Fourth Street downtown. Scanning the menu for a familiar food choice, he looked over what makes Zephyr so great: most of their items are familiar foods, they just happen to lack unnecessary meat and meat by-products. Dining at Zephyr is like hanging out in your cool aunt’s sponge-painted kitchen. The pea-soup green walls are often decorated with eclectic art from local visionaries and a dusty piano sits against the front wall, itching to be

played. The staff seems to care little for your time constraints, but offer a wide array of yummy treats like apple pie à la vanilla tofutti ice cream and soy Chai lattes. For those looking to enjoy a hearty meal, there’s the requisite overflowing bowl mixtures, such as the garden tempeh bowl, filled with veggies, tempeh, beans and other goodies. Or there’s the tofu steak plate, which, true to its name, is a plate lined with bricks of flame-broiled tofu. But the best and most cost-efficient discovery is the Vietnamese spring rolls, which can double as a meal or appetizer and are giant in size. Get them filled with tofu ( $1 extra, but definitely worth it) and these two rolls deliver just the right amount of goodness and crunch. Also, order an extra bowl of the tasty “bon bon” sauce—spring rolls taste best when each bite is lovingly dipped. While the water system at Zephyr is a bit frustrating—one must sit idly as an ancient knob slowly drips

lukewarm water into your waiting cup—other beverages provide a much needed kick. Kombucha, the healthiest drink known to man (also known to occasionally punch you in the stomach with its oddly strong fermented micro-organisms) is a good choice for those looking to cleanse some toxins from their system, while the fresh-squeezed mimosa is good for those looking to feel a little silly as they munc seedy salads and vegan pesto sandwiches. Zephyr’s inviting inside and excellent assortment of foods establish the perfect setting for mini art showings and the occasional punk band, which they host sporadically. The front picture-window is littered with flyers and free pamphlets, protest announcements and local mags, all geared toward progressive thinking and living. For the vegan-vegetarian community the restaurant is a safe haven, providing tasty, healthy treats at a relatively low cost. And for the haters and the doubters—the ones who equate “vegan” with

“rabbit food,” or worse, “liberal hippie”—well, to you I say: order the grilled portobello mushroom burger, drenched in steak sauce and vegan mayo. Chances are you’ll realize the error in your thinking—and correct it with a vegan root beer. ZEPHYR VEGETARIAN CAFE 340 E FOURTH ST | LONG BEACH 90802 | 562.435.7113 | OPEN TUES-SAT 11AM-8PM | SUN 11AM-4PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $15-20 Filed under: Food One Response to “PLEASED TO EAT YOU” dreday, on May 31st, 2007 at 11:42 pm Said: why does this place look kinda crappy from the outside? it looks like it’s either closing down or still being worked on.Peter H

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