9/27 Middle Ground
We are travelling right now in Toronto, Canada for a funeral. We were visiting with family and planning to go out to dinner with Sandy’s parents and five members of her extended family, including three children under the age of 8. As I sat in our room gulping gin and tonics I thought,”Where in the world are we going to find a satisfying meal that we can all eat? I pictured Sandy and I trying to fill up on iceberg lettuce salads and sugar packets. We brought as much food as we could reasonably bring over the border without it being absconded (plus, we had to leave room for the duty free gin.) We were now faced with a situation that included small children, hungry meatatarian parents and two vegans.
I did the upfront research on Happy Cow, but we are far enough outside of the city center to make all the hip vegan eateries out of reach. In all honesty, it just felt wrong to request that we go to a vegan hot spot when Sandy’s parents were in the middle of grieving and seeking comfort food. “Here you go dad, I know you were looking for baked chicken and mashed potatoes, but here is a seitan patty on sprouted bread with a carrot apple smoothie.” Not so much. Compromise has to work for everyone. We cant expect those we love to completely modify their lives to suit our new lifestyle. They had already gone out of their way to eat our entirely vegan picnic lunch on the trip to Toronto. They even gave up their thermos for Sandy’s soon to be world famous chick’n noodle soup.
So, I suggested the middle ground, the great vegan and meatatarian equalizer, Thai food. We went to a tiny place right down the street from our hotel. The kids had chicken wings, the Rents had curry and the cousins had chicken Pad Thai. Sandy and I ordered the most decadent Coconut Cashew with Vegetables. The coconut gravy love sauce was so thick and succulent it made me want to act inappropriately. It enveloped the veggies, cashews, pineapple and tofu in a lasting embrace. When it was gone I wanted more, but it was time to leave.
In the end, it worked out beautifully. We were well fed with gourmet vegan edibles, perfectly in line with our passion and beliefs, while our loved ones had the comfort of food they recognized and enjoyed.
We are now hiding out in the business center with our salt and vinegar potato chips. I am looking forward to another vegan adventure tomorrow as we navigate a funeral and more family time. Then, on to Niagra Falls. Cant wait to share the photos.
Have a delicious day.
Tags: compassionate eating, dairy free, going veg, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan travel, vegan wannabe
