This past week I packed my bags and went to Philadelphia for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Annual Convention, where 12,000 speech-language pathologists, audiologist, hearing scientists, speech scientists, language scientists, psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, interpreters, teachers and every other professional that communication is important. As I packed my bags, my veganism was on my mind. I was worried that I would not have anything to eat for the next five days. So I packed my backpack full of rice cakes, a huge bag of flavored almonds, and some granola bars. I was revolted at the thought of having to eat these unsatisfying subpar snacks. Thus, I headed to the airport. All was good until I reached Georgia and I had to wait an hour for my layover. I was hungry. I took out the large one-pound bag of toffee flavored almonds and ate a handful after the next. I soon realized that this bag was not going to last me for five days. I finally flew into Philly around 4pm EST. I was nervous if I was going to find food. I started to feel the rumblings within my stomach. I checked into my hostel. I immediately saw that there were a lot of hippy people around. I thought, "they must know where vegan food is!" Unfortunately, no one knew of any vegan or vegetarian restaurants around, even those who live in Philly year round. I suited up to battle the stinging night winds of Philly in search of dinner.
I walked down 3rd street until I hit a place that seemed really promising. Restaurants lined the street going for blocks. As I entered South Street hoping to be able to quell my hunger and to warm my fingers, I saw a lot of pizza and cheesesteak restaurants. My heart sank and my hunger turned to nausea in disappointment. I continued down one side of the street until 8th. I did not find anything. I crossed the street and continued the path back as I came. I passed a couple erotica shops and a couple more pizza shops. I walked past a cheesesteak place. My eyes glanced pass the glass window thinking that there was only dead cow on their menu, but then I saw the word "Veggie". At first, I thought it was just talking about the grilled onions and peppers that went on their cheesesteaks. As I continued to read it said, "Veggie Steaks". It intrigued me. I stood outside of the shop re-reading "Veggie Steaks" over and over again, trying to parse what it possibly could me. I was apprehensive about going in and asking or even reading the menu. I had no desire to look like some dumb white kid from the midwest. My numb fingers screaming at me for warmed overpowered my shy conscious. I walked in the door and asked about their "Veggie Steak". Indeed it was a vegan cheesesteak with a tempeh-esque meat with peppers, onions, broccoli rabe and soy cheez. I sat down with my vegan cheezsteak. As I down this foot-long hoggie filled with fake meat as a mock representation of Philadelphian tradition, I realized my insatiable appetite to explore the world via my mouth was going to be gorged with delicious vegan food. And this was just the beginning.
After getting ready, I went down to the kitchen in the basement of the hostel to have a glass of orange juice and the vegan cranberry scone that I saved from the previous night. It was a fulling and a delicious breakfast to the start of my day. Thursday was most seminar-packed day of my entire trip. I ended up eating the backup granola bar and a handful of almonds throughout the day until I had my mid-afternoon lunch. I had not had time to really explore Center City yet, so I went to the closest Panera-esque store in the gay district and got a greek salad. After another long stent of seminars, I ended up in China town looking for some food. I stumbled across an all vegan chinese restaurant. Here in Lawrence, there is a vegan-friendly Pan-asian restaurant, but it is kind of upscale, nouveau food. I really miss the cheap, $4 deep-fried general's chicken that I would get at places like Tryyaki or New Peking. So, when I stumbled upon this place, I almost had a heart attack. I was seated next to a hippy couple that was shoeless and had dreads. This was a sign of true culinary excellence. The menu was entirely vegan and was 5 pages long. I had no idea what to order, the options impeding my decision making. When the waiter asked if I was ready, I blurted out the generals chicken with brown rice. Luckily, when the plate came with glazed cubes of tempura battered bean curd with broccoli tossed with a spicy brown sauce in a cabbage bowl, I died a little on the side. I took the bite as fast as I could, unfortunately burning my palate little, as submitting to the vegan Asian-American bliss. With an empty plate and an extended stomach, the waiter handed me the dessert menu. I wanted one of everything, was too poor and too full to do that, but there was one thing that I have always craved as I heard my friend talk about state fairs and that was deep fried cheesecake. I ordered myself strawberry vegan cheesecake. My life ended when I took that first bite. I threw all of my personal health codes out of the window and just indulged in the most decadent, yet simplistically white trash, dish. I could barely pull myself from my seat to force myself to take the 20 minute walk back to my hostel. As I walked back to my hostel, I saw people carrying Whole Foods bags, and my heart fluttered. My pace increased with the beat of my heart. I dropped off my bag onto my bed and pulled out my laptop. Google has never failed me before. There was a Whole Foods on 9th and South. Before you know it (even though it was another 20 minute walk) I was at Whole Foods, my home away from home. I needed to grab breakfast. Breakfast is the most difficult meal to find vegan and the one meal I have the least amount of time to grab. I bought a banana, pumpkin vegan donut holes, and a raspberry lime juice. I dragged myself back to my hostel as the exhaustion of my day was starting to set in.
The next morning I woke up and devoured my vegan donuts. I had not had a donut in about a year. It was time. I was ready to take my 3 hour lunch break and explore Center City on Friday. I walked up and down each street between Market and Walnut and 12th and 16th. I found this place, only blocks away from the convention center. It was a vegan falafel bar!!! I died and went to heaven. In heaven, there is a huge pita filled with hummus, falafels, and every topping you can think of. I got a class of freshly squeezed orange juice. It was a cute setup. The bar was unlimited. When I would eat all of the ghobi and broccoli out of my pita, I could go and put more in. It was cheap too! After my belly was full, I went to find where I would have dinner. I wanted to get a feel for all cuisine that would offer me something vegan. Once I found an Indian restaurant, I was sold. I knew that was where I was going to go back for dinner. After a long day at the conference, I had only 2 hours to eat before a party I was supposed to go to. The Indian restaurant did not have as many vegan vegetarian dishes (without saag) as I had hoped, but they had something that most do not, it was ghobi alo. As I sat and took in every last floret of cauliflower and every grain of rice, I looked out the window and saw people walking together and having a fun time. As I sat alone, as I had so many times in the last couple days, I realized that this vegan food is my company. I had to find more. Alas, I had to go to a party, where all of the hors d'ouveres were cheese and meat. I must wait until the next and last day of my trip to enjoy more. |
| The vegan Asian restaruant on 9th and Cherry |
Philadelphia surprised me providing a lot of options and a cultural awareness of veganism. I found (on Friday) other Asian places that served all of the meat dishes with imitation meat and their sauces were vegan (it was on South and that's why I didn't eat there for my last meal, too far away). I also discovered places within Reading Terminal (a huge market next the convention center) had vegan cheesestakes. There were so many options that I did not explore due to time, transportation and money. Philly not only surprised me giving me options but also the quality of the food. I was never hungry or dissatisfied. I left Philly the my insatiable appetite satiated.
