Individuals on campus and in the Baton Rouge community who choose a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle have many restaurant choices in the area.
Southern Louisiana, known worldwide for its Cajun cuisine, often has few vegetarian-friendly food options. The exceptions to this in Baton Rouge present vegans, vegetarians and even the average omnivorous college students with viable and delicious choices.
Vegans generally avoid all products, including food, clothing and personal care items, made with animal by-products.
According to Vegan Outreach, a national vegan advocacy group, many choose to eliminate all animal products from their diets to oppose cruelty to animals. A pamphlet from the group states there are about 2.5 million vegans in the United States.
Vegans, according to the pamphlet, often label themselves as “strictly vegetarian.”
Vegetarianism, which includes a wide variety of diets depending on the individual, is another prevalent lifestyle. A 1992 poll done by Vegetarian Times magazine revealed 7 percent of Americans, or approximately 12.4 million adults, characterize themselves as vegetarians.
Baton Rouge, especially with the number of University students living here, has found a market for vegetarian foods.
Fortune Kitchen, located on West Chimes Street just north of campus, offers an entirely vegetarian menu including Chinese, Japanese, Indian and American food choices.
Diners can order items such as chickpea curry, fried rice and even veggie steak and burgers. Meals can be cooked to order according to vegan dietary restrictions, such as non-dairy and egg-free dishes.
Fortune Kitchen offers specials like veggie sushi on Tuesdays.
Rita Patel, partner-owner of Fortune Kitchen, said their primary customer base is the University campus.
“It is kind of tough because people here prefer meat,” Patel said. “Still, people on campus seem to be more health conscious and interested in vegetarian food.”
Patel said business has been down during the past year but attributes it to poor economic conditions.
“I do not think it is because we are a vegetarian restaurant, but a problem for all restaurants,” Patel said. “We are held up by the LSU community.”
Greg Waldron, a graduate student in agronomy and vice-president of the Vegetarian Society of LSU, said Fortune Kitchen has the benefits of being both close to campus and very inexpensive.
“Fortune Kitchen may very well be Baton Rouge’s only entirely vegetarian restaurant,” Waldron said.
Scott Ziegler, a philosophy major and Vegetarian Society president, said Baton Rouge’s wide range of ethnic food choices generally serve as the best options for vegetarians.
“Lebanese food is a wonderful option and serve vegetarian plates, and there are a lot of good Lebanese restaurants around campus,” said Ziegler.
Greek and Lebanese restaurants near campus include Atcha Bakery on Nicholson Drive and Arzi’s on West Chimes Street.
India’s on Essen Lane offers ethnic vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Besides an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, India’s offers a wide variety of vegetable and rice dishes. For non-vegans, India’s specializes in dishes made with homemade cheeses, such as saag paneer or mutter paneer (spinach or peas, cheese and spices) served over aromatic rice.
Ziegler said Thai Kitchen on Perkins Road and Red Flower on Highland Road, while not specifically vegetarian in their cooking, will still cook according to vegetarian specifications.
“All you have to do is ask,” Ziegler said.
Other stores in Baton Rouge specialize in organic produce and sell ready-made vegetarian sandwiches.
Living Foods, with stores located on Perkins Drive and on the corner of Highland Road and Staring Lane, offers vegetarians both prepared food and grocery items.
Both locations are open seven days a week.
Both Ziegler and Waldron cite ethical, environmental and health concerns as reasons to consider vegetarianism. They said while Baton Rouge may not offer the number of vegetarian restaurants seen in large cities, there still are options for those who choose vegetarianism regardless of reason.
“It’s pretty much day by day, but I’m able to get by with what Baton Rouge has to offer,” Ziegler said.
Information about the Vegetarian Society and links to other vegetarian sites can be found at www.geocities.com/veglsu.