It's an odd memory to have, but I remember the first salad I ordered at a restaurant. Back when I was a junior in high school, my dad took the family out to Outback Steakhouse. When the waiter came to take our orders, my dad ordered a rib eye, my mom a blackened chicken Caesar salad, my brothers both ordered burgers and I ordered a house salad. As soon as the waiter left to put in the orders, the jokes came pouring in from my older brothers. They couldn't believe that I would order a salad at a steakhouse. They said it was sacrilege.
Looking back, I think it's a peculiar thing to grow up in a culture where not eating meat in every meal somehow reflects poorly on someone. I'm really glad that vegetarian cuisine is making great strides in becoming more accessible. It really has come a long way from bland pieces of tofu.
In a previous post regarding First Friday, I mentioned the Hare Krishna food stand that is a staple at the monthly art gathering. Since 1996, Krishna devotees have been serving vegetarian meals at FSU. My first time eating there opened my eyes to actually considering the life of a vegetarian. Their use of meaty textures and delicious seasonings made the idea of eating a meal without meat very accessible. It surprised me how tasty beans and potatoes could be. It also didn't hurt that it was only 5 dollars for a huge plate so I always end up taking some home for later. I like to make it a point to let my dad know whenever I eat vegan food. If for nothing more than to hear him call me a hippie.
Soul Veg is another great place to grab a bite if you're interested in a healthy and satisfying meal. This restaurant is on South Adams Street and offers soul food with a vegetarian twist. If you told me about this restaurant 4 years ago, I wouldn't believe it could be done. One of the major pillars in soul food cuisine is meat. Fried and breaded meat. Soul Veg sets out to emulate and expand upon conventional Soul Food. The vegan macaroni and cheese that they make has all the familiar flavors of the Kraft Easy Mac that I grew up with, but without the butter and the cheese. I'm not entirely sure how they did it, but it was great. I also had a vegan burger there that really hit the spot.
If you're interested in trying something different, check out Soul Veg and FSU's Hare Krishna Club. The club serves lunch daily in the first floor cafeteria of the brand new Center for Global Engagement at 110 S. Woodward Ave. on the FSU campus. The meals nurture the body and the mind with fresh and healthy ingredients.
Tags: First Friday, healthy, Soul food, Tallahassee, Vegan, Vegetarian
Pedro SemperteguiPedro Sempértegui is a recent graduate of Florida State University's English department. After growing up in the quiet suburb of Coral Springs, Fl, he moved to the capital to pursue writing. Since Tallahassee's nightlife has introduced him to new music, awesome food, and delicious microbrews, it's only right that tries to pass on that knowledge.
