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The Week Without Meat Day 2: I guess should start eating stuff now?
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The Week Without Meat Day 2: I guess should start eating stuff now?
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| But it looks so real ... |
| Photo | Drew Lazor |
I'm abstaining from meat for a week. Read why here.
Day 1 was weird.
I blame my abnormal breakfast/lunch intake on superego trepidation. Like a denial-ridden alcoholic coming to grips with his gin-soaked addiction, it took me awhile to full accept that The Week Without Meat (TWWM) was officially upon me. After all, for a burger-chawing dummy like me, the thought of stretching this veg streak out for a fully seven days — through the burnt-flesh carnivale that is Super Bowl Sunday, no less — is sobering. Still, I should probably make it a point to consume more than five peanut butter M&Ms and one green grape in the daylight hours if I am to make it into February alive.
After work yesterday, I made a beeline to Monk's, where Meal Ticket culinary co-conspirator Felicia D. was working the back bar. After mumbling incoherently for awhile and downing the better part of a Russian River Damnation, I ordered their vegan burger, opting for "Monk's style" (bleu cheese and leeks, swiftly un-veganizing it), along with a side of frites and another beer, this time Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA. Monk's superserver Charissa informed me that the burger's inside had a consistency similar to veggie spring roll filling, which I found worrisome. Turned out, though, that it was pretty tasty — crumbly melty cheese notwithstanding, the burger's crispy outside and silky inside lent it a crab cake-like feel, sans the crab meat. Sans the sweet, delicious crab meat ... oh man crab cakes are so good. NO THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE HORRIBLE. BULGHUR WHEAT IS BETTER.
I ate the entire basket of fries. The little pile of greens on the side, too. Those are vegetables, kids.
Later that night, I wrapped myself up in a blanket on my couch, ate an entire pack of Airheads Xtreme Sour Belts and wept softly.
I have yet to eat lunch today, but I believe that I'm going to pop by Joe's Peking Duck Original 1984 in a bit for a bowl of their vegetarian noodle soup. Dinner plans are up in the air. Ideas and suggestions are welcome! Comment or e-mail drew.lazor @ citypaper.net.
Other TWWM notes:
- Thanks to everyone who commented on yesterday's introductory post. A few readers sent in links to some terrific-sounding veggie/vegan recipes, which I will definitely attempt to cook later this week.
- Guardian's Fraser Lewry attempted a Week Without Meat of his own in May 2008 to coincide with World Vegetarian Week. How'd it turn out? "I'm very sorry to say that I won't be joining you on a full-time basis," Lewry wrote. "I'm simply not tough enough to make the choices you've made and live your kind of existence, and I haven't found anything in your world that promises the rapture I know I'll get from a perfect veal cutlet or a simple roast chicken."
- Yesterday evening, I received a press release detailing Xochitl chef/owner Dionicio Jimenez's plans to serve an unusual tasting menu of indigenous/archaic Mexican fare to honor legendary prez Benito Juarez. On the menu — grasshopper tacos, breaded veal brains, crayfish tacos, braised wild boar and buttery garlicky frog legs. I want to eat all of those things. Luckily, this isn't going down until March so I will be able to take advantage.
- Also last night, I got an e-mail from Amy Giuffi of Cochon, one of the premier meat lover's restaurants in Philly. She wanted to share their latest $35 four-course tasting menu. It consists of:
- Chicken Liver Mousse with cornichons, croutons, whole-grain mustard
- Oyster and house-cured bacon chowder
- Duck with sweet potato puree, sauteed spinach, fig vincotto
- Cheesecake
MUST EAT LIVER OYSTER BACON DUCK NO NO NO DELETE E-MAIL DELETE E-MAIL DELETE E-MAIL SEITAN SEITAN SEITAN
Drew: did you *mean* to choose the official "Meat Week" as the very week to go vegetarian? (See www.meatweekisreal.com.)
Lisa: I had NO IDEA. Does this mean the meat gods will strike me down where I stand?
Dude, good luck! Veggie burgers can be De-lish, although I find them hit-or-miss. Racer 5 is tasty. Although, one time I was at Monks and they had Racer X on tap, and now I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to the 5...
Drew, you need to treat yourself to Horizons on 7th & South. It's an excellent, upscale gourmet vegan heaven. Bring your girlfriend. It's so friggin' good - you won't know what hit you! I recommend the seitan "steak" - I actually went there with a meat eater and he was shocked that what I was eating wasn't meat. Everything is savory, inventive, filling - and you'll actually be eating stuff that's good for you. Also there's a bar, which is quite nice. If you want something a little lighter on the wallet, get yourself some vegan wings from the Belgian Cafe at 21st & Green (same owners as Monks, same great Belgian beer). The wings are seitan (made from wheat gluten, so much tastier and heartier than tofu!) and if you're ok with eating cheese, drown 'em in the blue cheese dressing. It packs some powerful protein, and you can enjoy them during the Superbowl too! Have fun - your body will thank you for this week, I promise!
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