Queer Vegetarians and San Diego’s Finest Feasts

POSTED BY MaryB ON Nov 11th, 2010 IN Eat Drink and be Mary | 2 COMMENTS

You can’t talk about quintessential gay dining experiences without taking a minute to recognize the significant vegetarian inclinations of the queer caucus. But why? Maybe the queer + veg combo = a double negative which cancels out each marginalized fringe group to fuse for the greater good. (Did someone say co-op?) What’s the opposite of mutually exclusive? (Double rainbow all the way.) YOU do the math. I’m a writer; I passed Statistics by the hair on my TI-82 but I believe there’s got to be a program to figure out the exponentially increased probability of a vegetarian queer. I think it has something to do with that elusive MATRIX button. Queer raised to the feminist power, multiplied by community conformity and squared by the number of vegans [in the band] she’s trying to impress. Whatever the equation, gay vegans are everywhere. Shall we call them passion fruits? Corn nibblers? Queens of kale? Any way you toss it, there are a lot of us at the salad bar. Is there something in the green drink? Were we all issued a gay gene derived from some steak-eschewing mutant pedigree? Maybe THAT’S why they can’t isolate my homo double helix! Y chromosome carriers aren’t immune either. Sure Ellen and Portia (writers of Lesbian Cannon Law) are vocal vegans but so is the Biggest Loser’s fabulous broccoli floret, Bob Harper. The point is, if you’re not vegetarian [READ: yet.], chances are good you’re going to date one, gay marry one, or at least sauce somebody’s apples. The point is, you better know where to go when they finally take you up on that dinner date, Delilah. If you’re in San Diego you’ve got plenty to choose from. Here are the ones I will personally vouch my vegetables for. Not only are they veg-minded but they are also gay friendly … Alchemy 1503 30th St. San Diego, CA 92102 Highlight: Vegetarian tasting menu every Wednesday night. India Palace 694 University Ave. (across from Whole Foods) San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: All-you-can-eat lunch buffet everyday 11:30-2:30 with lots of veggies to choose from. Jimmy Wong’s Golden Dragon (AKA The Asian Bistro) 414 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: Veggie friendly AND open ‘til 3 AM. Evolution Fast Food 2965 5th Ave. (corner of Quince) San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: Drive-Thru vegan. Jyoti-Bihanga 3351 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 Highlight: All-vegetarian menu, vegan options, neatloaf and Sri Chimnoy peace and quiet. Kyber Pass 523 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: Afghani veg and vegan options in prime window-shopping gayborhood block. Amarin Thai 3843 Richmond St. San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: Mock and tofu options for all entrees and a $4.95 lunch special served every weekday Loving Hut 1905 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92104 Highlight: 100% Vegan. 100% delicious. Muzita Abyssinian Bistro 4651 Park Blvd. 92116 Highlight: Authentic Ethiopian in University Heights with veggie/vegan options. Pizza Fusion 5th Ave. between Robinson and University in the heart of Hillcrest. Highlight: San Diego’s best organic pizza complete with vegan and gluten free options. Burger Lounge 4116 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 (Kensington) 406 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 (Hillcrest) *new Highlight: Quinoa burger, and a hearty vegetarian salad Pomegrante 2302 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92104 Highlight: Traditional Russian-Georgian cuisine with lots of veggie plates. Rancho’s Mexican 3910 30th St. San Diego, CA 92104 Highlight: San Diego has no shortage of fresh Mexican, but this one is chuck full of vegan options that are menu staples, NOT afterthoughts. Royal Food Mart 3401 1st Ave. San Diego, CA 92103 Highlight: For a hearty, fresh, convenient, quick vegetarian sandwich in Banker’s Hill when you’re on the run between Hillcrest and downtown. Soltan Banoo 4646 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92116 Highlight: Loubiah (green bans and tofu over rice) and other veg-friendly Persian delights. Spread 2879 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92104 Highlight: Entirely vegetarian menu with raw vegan options, fresh as the neighbor’s kids. Tao 3332 Adams Ave. San Diego, CA 92116 Highlight Japanese and Vietnamese veggie-minded cuisine with all non-GMO tofu. Veg-N-Out 3442 30th St. San Diego, CA 92104 Highlight: Even newbie veg-converts won’t miss In-N-Out after their meat-free burgers bliss. Mary Buckheit is a freelance writer based in San Diego, she can be reached at MaryB@FlawLes.com

I was part timing over the summer at this super cute, mostly vegan, organic and locally grown cafe slash restaurant owned by two hard-working women who were… wait for it… an ex-Mormon mother and daughter duo. I spent about a week with them and ate their lovely food. Chit chatted with the Native American, rocker, barista, gay boy who worked there. Got to know a very cool family that went there every day to make sure their children got their fill. And during my time there, I think I had some of the smoothest bowel movements I’ve ever experienced in my life.

This place was right up queer vegan alley. Oh except for the fact that there were no gay people any where to be found. Don’t get me wrong the upper middle class folk that hit that joint up were fine people too, its just that when I did get to make a drink for, say a soft butch Lesbian on her break from Trader Joe’s, I felt like I wanted to pass a note that read: “Tell the others there is safe ground here.”

Ok so maybe Pomegranate Cafe will never be the hip new queer spot in valley, but that hasn’t stopped me from telling every sleeveless flannel wearing person I see about it.