Tonight, I walked about two miles from the hotel in search of a better place to enjoy a vegetarian-oriented meal. This is only my first full day of attempting to avoid meat to build some karma surplus for Yufang’s upcoming comprehensive exams. Talking with Ritch Calvin, VP of SFRA and my ICFA roommate, gave me some ideas and pointers about how to proceed with a meatless diet.
Lunch went very well with the conference’s luncheon offerings of salad, tasty veggies, and delicious lemon cakes. I didn’t want just a salad for a second meal today, so I went in search of more variety.
About two miles from the hotel, I discovered a Japanese hibachi and sushi restaurant. It is very small inside, but it contains three large hibachi grills, a sushi bar, and a few other tables. I was seated at one of the grills with two women. The older of the two, Carol, started talking with me when she caught me staring at the enormous halon-like fire suppression system bolted to the wall over my head. Carol, her daughter Becky, and I had a wonderful time talking over onion soup, ginger dressing covered salad, and veggie stirfry with fried rice. Carol lives in the area, but Becky lives with her husband in Maryland. It was interesting talking with Becky, because she is a professor of sustainability (she and her students are going on a three day trip to an island without electricity, but with compost toilets–how cool for her students!) and a vegetarian, or as she calls herself, an “ethitarian.” This serendipitous encounter fueled me resolve to eat healthier (and who knows–I might learn to like it!).
After saying goodnight, I walked back to the hotel (passing by Starbucks without stopping) to work on some posts that I was unable to publish earlier today.
Tomorrow will be a relaxing day with some writing, one definite session attendance, and some poolside fun and sun.
Did you decide to be a vegetarian partly because of my exams?! You’re so sweet. :)
I tried doing the whole vegetarian thing a few years back. It lasted about two weeks and ended with me eating an entire bucket of KFC. I realized I like meat too much. That said, I support your efforts. Good luck!
I should warn you, the soup at hibachi restaurants usually has something like chicken stock as its base…though it depends on how strict you want to be. I’ve been a strict vegetarian for over 15 years (I loosened up a little in Japan, allowing fish oil/broth because sometimes it was completely unavoidable), so you’re more than welcome to hit me up for some advice. :)
Thanks Smitha! I’ll definitely hit you up for some advice on vegetarianism. In just these few days, I’ve found it a real challenge to eat vegetarian. The most striking thing thus far for me is realizing how many dishes at restaurants have meat in them.
Hey Andrew–thanks for the encouragement. I make no promises about my being able to stick to this–I was surprised by my uncontrollable salivating while the neighboring hibachi chef was passing out stir fried chicken to his customers. I had a veggie burrito for dinner tonight, and it wasn’t too bad.
Ms. Miao–I love my baby :-)
[...] ICFA 2009, Friday Dinner [...]