by Aimée
First of all, happy Juneteenth! I had always been taught that Juneteenth was sort of a Texas-specific holiday (as it marks the date that enslaved people in Texas learned of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation), but I’m glad to see that it’s really caught the nation’s attention this year. Anyone who didn’t already know about Juneteenth certainly does now. Like I discussed in my first ATF piece, so much of our present day society and economy was built on the backs of African American slaves, and that’s something we really can’t ignore.
On a completely different note, there’s something I’ve been wanting to write about in some capacity for quite a while. Thanks to Shelby, I can now use ATF to express my every thought and opinion (mwahahaha). So let’s talk fake meat.
When I was around three years old, my taste buds changed dramatically. I think I actually had/have legitimate sensory issues, but in the late 90s/early 00s, I was simply labeled a “picky eater” and even a “spoiled brat.” There were lots of things I stopped eating at age three, but the one food group that has remained excluded from my diet into adulthood is meat. I started eating seafood in high school, and have actually always eaten bacon (don’t ask), but your standard “meaty meats?” Nope, won’t eat ‘em. I am not morally opposed to the consumption of meat by any means; I just don’t like it. The textures freak me out, and the smell of beef in particular repulses me.
On that note, I’ve never really been one to enjoy any “fake meat” varieties. Sure, I’ve eaten some, and tolerated them, but I’m much happier getting my protein fix from cheese, beans, or nuts. So, when the world was introduced to Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, I was less than enthusiastic. For a former meat-eater who’s chosen to go vegetarian or vegan for ethical reasons, Beyond and Impossible make perfect sense. But for those of us who just don’t like meat or are creeped out by food that bleeds (even if it’s fake vegetable matter “blood”), we’ll politely decline.
But here’s where the problem arises. Some restaurants that formerly offered standard veggie burgers (often made primarily from beans) have decided to switch over to either a Beyond or Impossible burger. Burger King was the first fast food restaurant to have a veggie burger on their menu, but they’ve since scrapped it for the Impossible Whopper. I was going to write that Applebee’s did something similar (dropped their black bean patty option for an Impossible burger instead), but I now see that they offer a black bean patty, a traditional veggie patty, and an Impossible patty. So, some good news there! (Not that I frequent Applebee’s, but still. A win’s a win).
This is a common problem for vegetarians, and even more so for vegans, though: going to a restaurant and finding only one thing on the menu that doesn’t contain meat. News flash: meatless people have different food preferences, too! If you, a meat eater, don’t like chicken parm, no problem! You can get the veal instead. Or the lasagna. Or the spaghetti and meatballs. The list goes on and on! But if you’re meatless, you’re often looking at eating something bland, something light, or - if you’re “lucky” - something deliberately created for vegetarians that you don’t actually like. For me, that’s when I go to a nice little Manhattan gastropub with eight menu items and see that the only veggie one is an Impossible burger.
I haven’t even mentioned the fact that Beyond and Impossible burgers are much more expensive than standard veggie burgers, or other substitutes like tofu. At Applebee’s alone, it’s a $2.99 upcharge for the Impossible patty - more costly than the other veggie alternatives, a chicken breast, a turkey patty, and the original beef patty. When that’s the only meatless option at a restaurant, a vegetarian or vegan is forced into spending a good sum of money on something they might not even really enjoy. So, once again, shout-out to Applebee’s for correcting that previous error! (I guess someone heard me complain). Also, I’m not asking for much here. I know for a FACT that the black bean patties at Chili’s are bought frozen in bulk from Costco or Sam’s Club (or something to that effect). They probably cost the restaurant ~1¢ per patty - if that - and they’re super easy to prepare as well.
Again, I’m not trying to say that the Beyond and Impossible products are inherently bad in any way - just that I, and others like me, don’t necessarily want to eat something that is designed to look, feel, and taste like actual meat. And when a restaurant only offers that in addition to its meat products, it can be a big disappointment to certain meatless folks.
One restaurant that has always done it right is Bareburger. If you don’t live in the tri-state area or, weirdly enough, Columbus, OH, you might not be familiar with Bareburger, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say it is THE BEST. I won’t get into their impressive sustainability efforts, but I do want to talk about their menu. They update their menus periodically (and they vary from location to location), but the NYC locations currently offer ten different burger patties. Of these ten, fiveare meatless: the Impossible patty, the Beyond patty (yes, they have both), the sweet potato patty, the quinoa patty, and my beloved black bean patty (and theirs is definitely not a frozen Costco varietal). Also, at locations I’ve been to in NYC and on Long Island, the backside of the menu cards feature a completely vegan menu. Overall, it’s an excellent restaurant that makes a point to accommodate all types of eaters: carnivores, vegans, gluten free people, and weirdos like me who like to put bacon on a black bean burger. Honestly, in 2020, it’s surprising more restaurants don’t follow this model. If you have any you’d like to recommend, feel free to let me know!
Shit We’re Loving: People
Aimée’s Pick: Andy & Rachel Berliner, founders of Amy’s Kitchen
I had initially thought about shouting out the founders of Bareburger, but it seems they’ve had some drama and internal feuds over the years... Instead, I’d like to shine a light on the founders of Amy’s Kitchen: Andy and Rachel Berliner. You’ve probably seen Amy’s frozen meals at your local grocery store, but you may not have known that all of their products are completely vegetarian. Some are even fully vegan, gluten free, and/or Kosher. They offer food items from a range of cuisines, such as Mexican, Thai, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, and Moroccan, so there’s no limit to a vegetarian’s palette here!
According to their website, Andy and Rachel started the Amy’s Kitchen brand simply because they themselves wanted ready-made vegetarian meals. Instead of complaining about their lack of options on a newsletter (*cough* @ myself), they took action and started creating and selling their own recipes out of their home. Seeing as this was in California in the late ‘80s, their health-conscious, vegetarian products quickly gained popularity, and the business boomed. In addition to their grocery store frozen and shelf products, Amy’s Kitchen now has two fast food restaurants (called Amy’s Drive Thru) in California. Here’s hoping the restaurants expand to the east coast!
Thanks to Andy and Rachel, people like me can have a tasty, filling lunch at work, and people who legitimately cannot eat certain animal products for religious or health reasons can eat their products without fear. I commend the Berliners’ honesty, their drive, and their commitment to their consumer base.
Show Your Support: The Okra Project
Each day this month we’re featuring the lovely organization, The Okra Project, which supports the Black Trans community by bringing homecooked meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever they can reach them. A Trust Fund has already donated $90, enough for one whole session (includes chef’s pay and groceries) with an Okra Project chef, and we encourage you to share their story and help support them too!
Here’s a quick breakdown, directly from their website, of donations and how your giving helps:
18 people could donate $5
9 people could donate $10
6 people could donate $15
3 people could donate $30
1 super generous human could donate $90
You can click that cute button below that will take you directly to their PayPal account where you can donate to them 👇
Daily Intention
Today I will…
Actually open that meditation app I paid for…
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: