Over the last few months, I have been making some big life changes, the biggest of which was a complete diet change. After learning more about the meat and dairy industry and the effects that those industries have on our environment, I decided that it was time to go vegan. So far, my journey has been interesting. Sometimes it's a lot harder than I imagined it would be and sometimes it is a lot easier than most people make it out to be. For instance, it's been really easy to learn how to make vegan chilis that are even better without meat, but it has been really hard to find a creamer substitute that has the right consistency. I have also been experimenting with alternatives for all of the things I used to eat. The cream cheese on my toast is now avocado, which in my opinion has been a huge upgrade to my morning routine. I have also been touring Detroit restaurants with a whole new eye and have a new appreciation for spaces that offer vegan options on the menu.
One of the best spots I have found so far is Ale Mary's in Royal Oak. They have a full vegan menu that includes appetizers, entrees, beers, wines and much more. But, they also have a full regular menu and an enticing lineup of beers to offer, in case you are not interested in living a vegan lifestyle.
The biggest lesson that I have learned so far is that some people think you are insane when you tell them that you have switched to a vegan diet. A lot of us have never even considered a plant-based lifestyle and we assume that others are judging us for not living the same way. But, the truth is that most people who live this type of lifestyle are not going to tell you what to do with your bodies. Sure, we would love it if everyone would go vegan, but we know that this is a decision that everyone has to make for themselves. We do, however, still want to go out to eat with our friends and be treated like one of the gang instead of a weird hippie-dippie vegetable eater. Ale Mary's is one of the only places in town that offers two full menus like this, and on top of that, they do it right.
They offer up bar food that is completely meat free, but full of taste. This includes buffalo cauliflower, McClure's fried pickles, and a drool-worthy version of the unbelievably delicious impossible burger. There are a lot of options, which is something that is usually hard to find, and so far everything I have tried is great. They even have vegan Spanish coffee made with faux sour cream! This is the perfect places to meet friends for a drink whether you're vegan or not, but it's even better if you can give someone you love the pleasure of being able to order from the menu.
The catch is that this space is small as can be, so your best bet is to make a reservation, which you can do online here. Kudos to Ale Mary's for serving up animal-free, cruelty-free selections. We hope to see more restaurants jump on board, and of course, I would love to see more of you join me on this journey! To learn more about veganism click here.
~S
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