Going vegan isn't an easy dietary transformation. Vegans eliminate all animal products from their lifestyle, which include dairy, meats, wool, fur and many other ingredients and materials. I know a few people who have successfully adapted to a vegan lifestyle and that means forcing myself to go eat at vegan restaurants and even pay more money for my meal. If it was up to me, I’d go order a 10-piece chicken nugget, small fry, and vanilla frosty from Wendy's and I’d be set, but we all make compromises for the sake of the others.
Almost always my friends and I would look at the menu before deciding if it’s the place we want to go. On Pride day, by Chloe seemed like the perfect option for us; it would accommodate two of my vegan friends and we were easily within walking distance of the West Village.
If you've ever been to Shake Shack you know the routine, you place an order and wait for your buzzer to ring and pick up your meal on a chic tray. At by Chloe, it's the same idea, except vegans do it much better. There's no germ filled buzzer and you can grab a coloring sheet and some crayons while you wait for someone with an angelic voice to call out your name.
Before I made it to the counter, it took me a good 10 minutes to figure out what I wanted to order. The menu was pretty simple and it even listed the ingredients inside, which was a huge plus for me, especially not knowing what a veggie burger was even if it hit me in the face. I run a personal foodstagram so I've already seen what people order the most. From what I saw on Instagram, I ordered the classic burger with classic fries. Of course, there was another option for sweet potato fries, but those are a few dollars extra and an option that was too healthy for me.
At first sight, my food looked amazing and I was so hungry I was anxiously waiting to take the first bite. Fast forward to me digging in and trying to savor a bit of everything. I hated it. I hated vegan food and I'm honestly not surprised. What's the fun in having a burger if there's no cheese and ketchup made out of beets? None. Although I am a dessert lover, I definitely was not in the mood to try some vegan goods. I had tried some vegan food for the first time and I definitely did not need to ruin desserts.
So, will I ever become a vegan? Nope. Will I ever eat vegan food again, ever for the sake of my friends? Another nope. But I tried it and that's what really matters. Like they say, "Don't knock it until you've tried it." I've tried it and I can rightfully knock it now. I may not want to change my dietary habits ever, but I have a huge respect for those who are willing to sacrifice cheese, ice cream, pizza, and chicken nuggets.
