Thursday, February 23, 2017

by Chloe. opening day: initial impressions

Thank goodness I got my breakfast smoothie (Peppermint Patty all the way!!)  from my job at VO2 Vegan Cafe before stepping into this experience... 

I definitely anticipated some craziness and surrealness, but it was overwhelming!! 

This is the line I stepped into (it goes the length of the restaurant)

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Fortunately, I wasn't starving because of the aforementioned smoothie breakfast. But the weather is unseasonably warm for February in Boston, and I was inappropriately dressed in my winter coat, having come from my early morning (when it was chilly) prep cook shift at the vegan cafe in Cambridge where I work. 

I was planning on just getting a cupcake and green juice to start, and that was a great idea because I neglected to take a menu from the front door.  You really need to read a menu while you are in line, because you may feel rushed at the register (there are only two POS computers).   

An Esquared executive was handing out smoothie samples to the line of waiting customers. I took a green one.  

I selected a non-sweet raw green juice from the grab-and-go case on the way to the register, and then a raspberry tiramisu cupcake for my order.  It's all I planned to order for this first morning experience anyway, so I was fine that I wasn't prepared with the menu.  Cupcakes come presented in really nice gift-worthy boxes!! 


It's surreal seeing my name, and vegan, on some of the most-wanted treats in the global culinary community.  Chef Chloe Coscarelli has done a beyond-amazing job.  

The line through the mirror. 


The line out the door and window from my small round table. 

The table I was sitting at was right next to the table where the Esquared Hospitality executives were 
buzzing around, on the computer and smartphones.  I recognized them all from the Esquared website. That was interesting...  


The line out the door as I left, so long that it doesn't fit in the frame! 



The menu that I took on my way out.  I will study it on my way to dinner tonight. I'm ordering a bunch of dishes, some to eat on-site, and some for takeout. 



They sell by Chloe. shirts (the black with white logo embroidery that the staff wear), but my size 
small wasn't in the basket, so I didn't buy one yet. They also sell the aprons (want!!) and the "C" caps in colors different from those worn by the staff. 

Stay tuned for my dinner experience with friends tonight! 

The global vegan scene is evolving, and Boston has become an early part of that... I know vegan 
food, as I've been vegan in Boston for almost five years. I work in the community and I eat in veg restaurants almost every day. My goal, is that the expansion of vegan chains, and their popularity, will push the other vegetarian and non-veg restaurants to get dairy (the "liquid meat" industry),  
egg, and all animal products off their menus and modernize to the vegan movement. The success and rapid growth of vegan restaurants in major metros is proving that animal products need to be abolished from the human diet, and our lifestyle needs to evolve beyond the cruel and unnecessary slavery of non-human animals. 


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