Vegetarian For A Month: Day 30!!!

This is it! Day 30! Tonight is the big dinner at Arthur’s, when I will finally be able to sink my teeth into a juicy, tender, medium-rare, 24oz sirloin!

Because roommate bailed on the fishing trip Sunday (as I knew he would), I didn’t have quite the advantage I needed to convince Billy that the 48oz’er was calling his name. However, roommate and I planned a trip down to the soccer field to work on him this morning, and we got a maybe out of him. We’ll see. I’m not getting my hopes up too much, but I am still excited that there’s a chance he will try. He plans to begin with the standard 24oz, and order a second one if he’s feeling ambitious.

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter whether he goes for it or not. I’m just excited to eat any amount of steak, myself, and to be in good company while doing so. Truthfully, the month without meat hasn’t been as difficult as thought it would be, and I have taken some good lessons away from it, which hopefully will translate into my every day life moving forward. Don’t get the wrong impression, I plan to eat plenty of meat. However, I could probably benefit from eating less meat, and by being a bit more creative with my food choices, rather then simply slapping some meat on the grill for dinner every night (I’ll cut that back to 5 nights a week.)

I’ll wax poetic a bit more about the experience once the month is officially over, but for now, one more conversation between me and roommate before dinner a couple nights ago:

Roommate: Dude, lets just get pizza for dinner. It’s easy and I don’t feel like doing anything.

Me: I had pizza for dinner last night. Katie and I made pizza this weekend.

Roommate: what’d you guys make? Some kind of tortilla and goat cheese pizza? I want real pizza! I want pizza with meatballs and pepperoni! Maybe some sausage and bacon!

Me: Can we compromise and get peppers and onions?

Roommate: Fine. This Wednesday is the big day, huh?

Me: Yeah, I’m really excited. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of those Arthur’s steaks!

Roommate: You think you’re gonna get sick like one of those little veggies? (Followed by some not-so-masculine sounding vomit noises) You probably do. You probably think you’re gonna puke after a couple bites, don’t ya? (more vomit noises) I can’t wait for you to pull that shit.

Me: I’m not gonna get sick. Stop with your nonsense.

Roommate: I can’t wait for it. Just like one of your little hipster friends (more vomit noises)

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 25

Less than a week to go! The big dinner at Arthur’s is six days away!

Last night, Billy and J came over for dinner. Billy, J and roommate had BBQ chicken, hotdogs and hamburgers…the Trio. I had portabella mushroom burgers. I was actually really excited because I went to the store and got the mushrooms, a red pepper, and was pretty damn sure we had some blue cheese left in the fridge. I also got some whole wheat rolls to use as hamburger buns.

I got home, and made it through the immediate badgering about the fact that I had to eat mushrooms while they got to eat the flesh of three different animals (it could be argued that it was more like 5 or 6 animals, because I’m quite certain that hotdogs contain raccoon toes, opossum tails, and shrew testicles.)

Billy: What’r you having for dinner tonight?

Me: Portabella mushroom burger

Billy: Mmmm, mushrooms again, huh?

Me: Yup, with peppers and blue cheese. The blue cheese is great because it makes it seem like I’m not just eating a mushroom on a roll.

Billy: I like portabella mushrooms actually…..as a side dish next to my steak!


We then talked about the Arthur’s dinner celebration next Wednesday. As excited as Billy is for the dinner, he announced that he will not be eating the 48oz’er. Roommate and I suspected that he would try to bow out of it (especially with J around). However, we have the perfect opportunity to work on him this weekend, when the three of us will spend the better part of a day fishing on a small boat. We anticipate that we will be able to turn the idea back into a distinct probability.

So, as I went to prepare my “filet mignon of mushrooms” for the grill, I began by searching for the blue cheese. I must have stood there staring into the fridge for about three minutes, and could not find the blue cheese.

Me (to roommate): Yo! Did you throw out the blue cheese?

Roommate: Uhhhh, I don’t think so.

I’ve learned over time that when roommate says, “Uhhh, I don’t think so,” it means, “yeah, whoops.”

OK, no blue cheese.

At least I have a nice red pepper. Oh, wait….I cut open the pepper to discover some kind of disgusting green fungus growing inside. Thanks, ACME!

Down to a mushroom on a roll. I did, however, have an onion in the fridge which at least added some additional texture.

Billy: How’s that mushroom on a roll?

Me: it’s actually pretty good. This roll is really good!

Roommate: What’s that? Some kind of weirdo roll?

Billy: Yeah, that’s some kind of soy and bean roll. See this? This is a real hamburger bun…Enriched white! This is what America runs on!

Roommate (to me): Not you. You yuppie hipsters run on yoga and soy bread.

Billy: This is my last day eating meat. Tomorrow I become vegetarian for a month.

……Laughter filled the room…..

Billy: There’s no way I could do that. I couldn’t even do it for a day. I wouldn’t even have any idea how to do it?

J: Come on, you could do it for a day.

Billy: Yeah, if I didn’t eat.

J: What about spaghetti?

Billy: Yeah, I guess you’re right.

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 18

Quick update before I leave for a long weekend.


Still going strong, though some of the aforementioned characters in my life are being increasingly unsupportive. There have been some conversations over the past several days with roommate, Billy, and others…


This morning I took my roommate to the airport….early! Like, 5AM early. What’s fair is fair. He gave me a ride to the airport for my most recent trip, so I willingly returned the favor. However, the conversation arose (right around dinner time a few days ago) about how he would get home from the airport, and this is how it went:

Roommate: You know I need to be picked up at the airport on Sunday night, right?

Me: I’m out of town this weekend. What time do you need to be picked up?

Roommate: Midnight.

Me: You serious? I have to go to work the next morning. Ask your uncle Billy to pick you up.

Roommate: Listen, I need to be picked up. I don’t care who does it. You and Billy get together and figure it out.

Me: I don’t know, man. I think I see a cab ride in your future.

Roommate: OK, I will gladly take a cab and never mention it once, if you eat meat tonight.

Me: No! And what does that have to do with this?

Roommate: Come on, dude! I’ll go get us some nice T-bones, and we can put them right on the grill. I’ll even tell Katie you picked me up at the airport.

Me: No! What is wrong with you?

Roommate: Fine, dude. Whatever.

The conversation then shifted to the celebratory dinner at Arthur’s, to take place upon the completion of my month without meat.

Me: So whatta you think about Billy puttin’ away the 48oz’er at Arthur’s? J (J=Billy’s lady friend) didn’t seem too thrilled with it.

Roommate: Yeah. I think the key will be to stop mentioning it, until the day of….Especially in front of J.

Me: So, you think we should just plan the dinner at Arthur’s and then really push for the 48oz’er that day?

Roommate: Yeah. I mean, we’re really going to have to make a big push that day, but I don’t think we should bring it up in front of J again.

Me: OK. Do you think he will really be able to put it away?

Roommate: Are you kidding me? Did you hear what his main concern is?

Me: No, what is it?

Roommate: His main concern is whether there will be two servings of Arthur’s potatoes that come with the double steak.

Me: What about all the other stuff they give you before the meal, like the pickles and peppers?

Roommate: We have to keep those away from him.

Me: I don’t know, I think the pickles might be good to stretch out the stomach a bit and prepare it for the steak.

Roommate: You might be right. Speaking of which, How can we really make sure Billy is ready for this? How can we help him prepare?

Me: We’re going to have to give him a couple training sessions.

Roommate: Maybe next week we’ll go out and get a London broil for him and see if he can put that down.



Last night…We had a few people over, and we ordered empanadas from Raul’s.


Orders included: BBQ Pulled Pork Empanadas, beef inferno empanadas, buffalo chicken empanadas, regular beef and chicken empanadas. And my empanadas: Broccoli and cheddar, and hummus.

G (buddy writing down orders): what kind of empanadas do you want?

Me: Uhhh, I’ll have the broccoli and cheese empanada, and…

Billy: You need some ham in that! The broccoli, cheddar, and ham empanada!

Me: And I’ll have the hummus empanada.

G: Look at Billy. Just look at how disgusted he is with you right now.

(Billy’s expression was one of disgust, disappointment, confusion, and sadness.)

Me: Yeah he does look pretty disgusted

Billy: This better be over soon. I can’t take this much longer.


I’m glad there are only 12 more days. Because Billy can’t take this much longer.

Tomato, Onion, Goat Cheese, Pepper Omeletts from this weekend

Poached Eggs, Goat Cheese, Onion, Basil wrap.

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 15

Half way there!!!

Another successful weekend. We barbequed on Friday night, and the vegetarian option included grilled Portobello mushrooms with blue cheese, peppers, and asparagus. It was outright delicious.

Saturday we had the best scone on the planet earth, and then the worst diner food on the planet earth (maybe not the worst, but somewhere around the 5th percentile.)

Saturday night we had vegetarian empanadas. Thanks, Raul.

We spent Saturday afternoon raspberry and peach picking.

Sunday morning we used a bunch of vegetables already in the fridge, and made goat cheese, pepper, onion and tomato omelets.

We then baked three outstanding peach/raspberry crisps that, along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, are possibly the best crisps I’ve ever had.

It was decided at some point Friday night, that my ceremonial re-introduction to meat, will be held at Arthur’s Tavern. Arthur’s is a steakhouse of sorts, with two steaks on the menu; the 24oz, and the 48oz. It has long been discussed, that given Billy’s ability to breeze through the 24oz like it’s off of the kid’s menu (gristle and all), we very much believe he could put away the double portion, no problem. Billy agrees, and it has been decided. For my return to carnivorousness (actually a word), we will hopefully witness what has been eagerly anticipated. Billy’s lady friend is not particularly fond of the idea, but we’re working on that. I will stick to the 24oz.

Billy: What are we doing to celebrate the end of this month with no meat?

Me: I’m not sure. I really haven’t thought about exactly what we’ll do.

Billy: I think we should have it at Arthur’s, and to celebrate, I’m going to eat the 48oz’er.

Roommate: Oh my god, that’s an outstanding idea!

Me: Absolutely! Done! That’s it!

Billy’s Lady Friend: Woa woa woa. I don’t think that’s such a good idea.

All of us: Why not?!

Billy’s Lady Friend: Because I don’t think it’s very healthy.

Billy: Listen, I want to do this before it’s too late. Right now, I’m in relatively good condition. Eventually, I won’t be able to do this.

Roommate: Yeah he’s fine! As long as he has his pills, it’s fine!

Billy’s Lady Friend: Well, your cholesterol is actually not too high.

All of us: See? It’s fine. If his cholesterol is fine, then it’s no problem!

Billy’s Lady Friend: Whatever.

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 12

I came back from lunch today, and found roommate and Billy sitting in my office. Out of pure excitement for tonight’s BBQ, they came to talk about the plan and divvy up the responsibilities beforehand. Roommate had already been in my office once today to discuss the same subject. Obviously, the menu was discussed…

Roommate: So what should we eat?

(Four eyes focus on me)

Roommate: You tell us, vegetable boy, what can you eat? Some kind of root?

Me: I don’t know, we were thinking we might do some Portobello mushrooms on the grill.

Billy: What does that mean? You just eat a mushroom? That’s it?


Tonight should be fun…

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 11

One thing I’ve noticed during my 10 days living a vegetarian lifestyle (roommate would have a field day if he heard me use the phrase “vegetarian lifestyle”), is that I’m more aware of what is in the food I’m eating. Because this is still new to me, I have to stop and think about what ingredients are actually in the food, before each time I eat. Most recently, I went into our freezer (looking for what I could unfreeze for dinner), and I found a giant bag of frozen M&M’s.

My first thought was, “holy shit! There’s a bag of M&M’s in the freezer!”

My second thought was, “Oh shit, is there any meat in M&M’s?”

My third thought was, “I wish there was a way for me to kick my own ass for even letting that question form itself in my brain.”

Then I ate an M&M.

Then I started thinking about the benefit of actually having to think about what is in the food before I eat it. Ideally, it will force me to take it a step further and think about what non-meat stuff it’s made with, so I ‘m better informed about whether it’s good for me at all. The example I provided is a poor one, because it led to me eating a few M&M’s, which are not typically considered healthy. Unless they have dark chocolate in them in which case they can save you from a heart attack like an aspirin, according to most chocolate companies.

I guess the point is that I seem to be a bit more aware of what I’m eating, and it makes me miss meat. I suppose the newness and awareness inspiring quality of this experiment will wear off in about 20 days or so, anyway. Perfect timing.

Vegetarian For A Month: Day 10

Another successful day.

For lunch yesterday, I had goat cheese ravioli with some kind of olive puree and diced tomatoes and onions, and it was decent. Not spectacular, but decent.

For dinner, I was in the city. Along with a friend and my special lady friend, I enjoyed the Larry Tate, which is a white pie topped with spinach, plum tomatoes, and fresh garlic. It was pretty delicious and I recommend the UES Two Boots for a pretty damn good pie. Not the best I’ve ever had by any stretch. But pretty prettyyyy pretttttyyyy, preeetttyyy good.

Before I left for the city, there was time for a short conversation with the roommate:

Roommate: what are we doing tonight?

Me: I’m going into the city

Roommate: What!?! Why? I thought you were staying here tonight!

Me: Nope, going into the city. Sorry, man, you’re on your own again.

Roommate: I thought we were gonna barbeque some kind of roots and berries. I got the good roots for you tonight!

Me: Very funny. I guess we’ll just have to wait for another night.

Roommate: What’r you doing in the city tonight? Going to some kind of tofu and fruit juice party?

Me: Yup. You got it. Going to a tofu and fruit juice party.

(I walk out of the room to get my things together)

Roommate (from the porch): It used to be beer and bacon tastings, dude!!!! Now its tofu and fruit juice parties! What’s happening to you?!?!