Great Sage goes vegan
Great Sage, a vegetarian restaurant in Clarksvile, has gone completely vegan.
"It was just going with our feelings and our respect for all animal life and all life in general," manager Angel Shorter told me by phone just now.
The change is not exactly breaking news. The restaurant made it back on Jan. 1. But I was unaware of the shift until friends who'd been there recently happened to mention it over the weekend.
Shorter said the change has been generally well received. She also said that the restaurant has expanded its gluten-free options, and that many parents appreciate how seriously the Great Sage kitchen takes food allergies.
"Ninety percent of our menu had been vegan. We had some dairy options," she said. "We've just eliminated the dairy options and the customer base is growing more and more by the day. I think we've made a lot more people believe that vegan food can be delicious as well as good for you."
But my friends were not pleased with the change. They were particularly disappointed in the mac-n-"cheese" their young son had ordered. My own kids loved the dish when it was made with real cheese. But the vegan version, presumably made with some sort of tofu-based substitute, didn't go over so well with my friends' son.
Though I'm not a vegetarian, much less a vegan, I've always enjoyed Great Sage, not just because the food was good, but because the owners seemed to care quite a bit about where their ingredients came from. If that concern has led the owners down the path of veganism, I can't quarrel with that. I just hope, selfishly, that some of my favorites are still on the menu.
A Great Sage mac-n-cheese, from when it was made with cheese. Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam
Comments
SO what is that? Mac and Mustard?
Posted by: Anonymous | June 1, 2010 10:46 AM
A Google search for "vegan mac and cheese" only showed "About 212,000 results," Anonymous, so I completely understand your confusion.
And per Sage's website:
"MACARONI AND 'CHEESE'
Brown rice macaroni and house-made 'cheesy' sauce. (Gluten free)"
The internet: Actually pretty easy to use.
Posted by: sean | June 1, 2010 11:03 AM
There are so many great ways to make vegan mac and "cheese," but everyone seems to have their own personal favourite recipe. I've tried lots that I think are naff and others which I think rock. Amy's has a new Daiya vegan cheese mac microwave thingie in the states now, and here in the UK I use multiple other cheese subs which never fail to fool cheese lovers!
My parents live about 45 minutes from Great Sage, so I like to go whenever I'm in the country :)
Posted by: Kip | June 1, 2010 1:31 PM
Thanks Sean, it's always so nice to hear from you!
You really brighten everyones day up!
We can always coun't on you!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 1, 2010 2:16 PM
Thanks, I do what I can.
Posted by: Sean | June 1, 2010 5:51 PM
When eating vegan like i've been trying to, the best way to go about it ( or explain it to little ones) is to think " let's give it a try." not expect it to taste like whichever. A good meal can be enjoyed if it doesn't spot on to its animal product counterpart, and if it does, it's a happy surprise. Just judge it on its own merits.
So about those horrid faux chicken wings i had the other day.. just because it's meatless doesn't mean the sauce has to suck. "They" don't even make a buffalo wing sauce with so little vigor.
Posted by: Meekrat | June 2, 2010 7:12 AM
I'm a gonna git ya, Meekrat
Posted by: Snowman | June 2, 2010 7:18 AM
And while you're at it, get me a faux meatball sub from One World and a glamrock boy to go, k?
Posted by: Meekrat | June 2, 2010 7:26 AM
I didn't know fauxs had balls
Posted by: baltimoper | June 2, 2010 7:43 AM
Whoa! I'm definitely going to make a side-trip down there next time I visit my fam in Baltimore. Their menu looks superb.
Posted by: troy | June 2, 2010 9:40 AM