My vegan coworkers were trying to accommodate the omnivores in the group as we made dinner plans, but we insisted that we instead cater to their preferences and step outside our normal diets to dive right into the full vegan experience.
Food is one of the top pleasures I have in life, and I am an adventurous eater. I'll try absolutely anything, especially when traveling. If it's a local specialty, I'm all in.
I was thrilled to find myself in front of a menu tonight that reimagined two of my favorite cuisines, Mexican and Japanese, as vegan delicacies. I scanned the menu and chose what sounded the most interesting, anticipating with raised chopsticks and a growling stomach.
Soon the waitress brought us plates loaded with beautiful, colorful, and intricate sushi roles. Ceviche made from mushrooms, tajin candy spicy "tuna", carrot tempura with creamy jalapeño cilantro sauce... every bite burst with freshness and flavor. We all shared tastes and ranked our favorites, passing plates around the table with equal parts enthusiasm and caution, so we didn't lose one single piece of the meal to a spill or drop.
At the end of dinner, with a full belly, I turned to my colleagues and said, "You might not believe me, but I think that's some of the best sushi I've ever had."
"So are you ready to go vegan, Bennett?" My colleague raised her eyebrows expectantly.
"I'll say, I enjoyed it for tonight! And maybe if I lived in California, I'd think about it."
"Fair enough," she laughed. "Now, here's my final attempt at persuasion: a vegan cookie for dessert." She pulled huge, bakery fresh cookies out of a shopping bag and distributed them around the table. We oohed and aahed, but admitted we'd all have to save these treats for later as we were stuffed to the brim.
I was grateful to have shared a meal outside my comfort zone, which seems to be the theme of this week on the west coast. I'm sad to leave tomorrow, and so, so grateful.