I became a vegetarian two years ago.
I had toyed with the habit in high school but eventually abandoned it after growing tired of eating pasta with margarine every night (I didn't know how to cook and my mom refused to make a second dinner to accommodate my strange eating habits).
It was only once I was in college that I realized I was now responsible for buying my own groceries and could eat out wherever I wanted. I didn't have to eat meatloaf anymore. I could buy tofu or Rice Dream without being made fun of by my Neanderthal of a brother (who is, several years later, today a vegan). I discovered the wonders of veggie crumbles (fake meat bits that make outstanding vegetarian tacos) and Morningstar products like Chik Patties, fake chicken that tastes good with mustard and mayo on toast.
I was suddenly a veggie renaissance woman. Vegetarian lasagna, veggie pizza and the aforementioned tacos were now staples in my household. The only thing lacking in my veggie repertoire was a place to eat out when I didn't feel like cooking.
Sure, with my newfound cooking skills and the wealth of vegetarian recipes at my fingertips, I could cook for myself every night. But what about those special occasions when you just want to go out? And I'm not talking about a cheese trio sub at Blimpie's. I wanted a place where the vegetarian food wasn't an afterthought. Where the server doesn't look at you strange when you ask if there's lard in the beans.
It took a lot of work and countless recommendations from friends, but I've found a few places that satisfy my need for delicious vegetarian food. Though Phoenix is not exactly a hotbed for vegetarian dining, the places we do have really stand out. You can get everything from really strange ethnic food to a homey bowl of that comfort food known as chili. I can even get a big slice of vegan pumpkin pie.
Who said being a vegetarian meant sacrificing taste? Definitely not me.
