Just a quick post tonight to share an article I just read: The Best Decision I Ever Made. This posting was written by a professional chef who has spent years in the restaurant industry serving up meat, but finally turned vegan. For someone who has made their livelihood in the food industry, the decision to go vegetarian or vegan threatens to upend a way of life and affect income. His story was especially poignant for me, given my upbringing in a family restaurant. I have been searching for stories such as this to connect to for years.
It reminded me of those first few years as a vegetarian myself, still helping out at the family's restaurant. Supporting the family business was non-negotiable, and of course I wanted to see the restaurant, and in turn, the family be successful. But suddenly, it seemed an ethical dilemma, as now 95% of the menu included items I wouldn't eat myself. Tricky situations arose when customers asked for menu recommendations and I would stand by quietly as these same customers would exclaim to me how great their gigantic serving of beef tasted.
As the fourth generation of restauranteurs, I often dreamed of running the place myself one day. But I know I wouldn't be able to serve meat to my customers. And I doubt an all-vegetarian restaurant would be well-received in such a small town!
I commend Doug for putting his livelihood on the line for his own health - and for animals. A chef has the power to influence the palates of others and make an even bigger difference!
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