Nowadays hearing about Veganism and Vegans is the norm. Celebrities like Natalie Portman, Russell Brand, Mike Tyson and even Bill Clinton have adopted a plant-based and animal-free diet. As has Ella Woodward, a former blogger whose clean-eating vegan food guide ‘Deliciously Ella’ was the overall number one best-seller in the UK book charts in 2015.
However, is Veganism a fad or fab? Is it possible for the average person to take on this strict plant-based diet and animal-free lifestyle? Are there places in Paris to buy vegan products? Does vegan food even taste good? This weekend I wanted to find out.
As someone who is interested in all things food, I enjoy learning and hearing about different ways of leading a healthy lifestyle and applaud those who want to share their insights to others. Fortunately, my friend Jess is a very proud vegan and wanted to partake in my first vegan luncheon at “East Side Burgers”, a restaurant located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. East Side has been serving vegetarian burgers in Paris since September 2012, to eat in or take-out, on a menu that caters completely to vegans too. A blessing to people like my friend Jess, who can now enjoy burgers completely guilt-free.
On arrival you’re greeted with some mouth-watering offerings of vegan quiches, cookies, cheesecakes and even sweet tartelettes to tickle your taste buds. You can also choose from their “Burgers of the Day” (the classic Eastside Burger and 2 differing burgers each day of the week), hotdogs, homemade sides and snacks. So, with all this choice, I decided to order their pepper and tofu quiche and almond and walnut cheesecake. Jess went for “Le Eastside” burger and a tomato and tofu quiche. Orders were placed with our names to be notified for pick up later, so off we went to the downstairs seating area to wait for our orders to be called out.
A word of advice, if you want to eat at this joint, I definitely recommend getting there early. Seating is welcoming with a quirky atmosphere but a little on the small side. Wi-Fi is also offered, so if you’re in need of instagramming your lunch munch or snapchatting it to your friends before it disappears into digestive land, all is possible. A few minutes after sitting down to our table, our names were called out via the speakers to be told to collect our meals and oh boy, they didn’t disappoint. Unable to tell the difference between this vegan quiche and that of a non-vegan was really impressive and the vegan cheesecake was so delicious that I couldn’t help myself but to order a vegan peanut butter cookie with chocolate chunks (for a friend – of course!!) and tempted Jess in doing the same. Eastside Burgers really changed my outlook on Veganism. With such a delicious and guilt-free meal costing less than €10, minus the cookie at €1.90, I started to understand how it is possible to uptake a plant-based and animal-free diet and lifestyle, even in Paris.
As I was beginning to realise that being a vegan was possible for the non-rich and famous, I asked Jess some questions about her take on the lifestyle.
How long have you been a vegan and why did you adopt a vegan lifestyle?
Veganism for me is a recent transition, as I was vegetarian for a long time before. I decided to go vegan for my health, for the animals, and for the planet. Once I sat down and actually did my research about the horrific things done to animals in factories, the devastating effects the meat industry has on our planet, and the countless benefits a vegan diet has on your health, for me there was just no question about it; a vegan diet is the future.
Where do you purchase vegan products?
Vegan products are basically any food items that don’t contain any animal products, which is a huge amount, so I buy my vegan shopping in any supermarket! Of course for more specialist items like fake meat, vegan cheese, tofus, vegan sweet items etc. I go to health food shops around Paris, like Naturalia, Un Monde Vegan, and Bio c’ Bon.
On average, how much do you spend on vegan items?
I don’t spend much on my vegan diet unless I’m buying rarer items like fake meats and cheese, as it’s easy to find all the fruit, veg, and cupboard products for cheap prices in your average supermarket.
Where do you recommend for vegan places to eat?
For vegans in Paris we are kind of spoilt for choice these days, I have a list of vegan friendly places in Paris that just keeps growing. Of course there is East Side Burgers, which was delicious and very affordable, and there’s an amazing Asian place called Tien Hang near the canal Saint Martin which is totally vegetarian and almost completely vegan; the menu is huge and also pretty cheap. Those are just two of so many choices!
Have you noticed any advantages and disadvantages of becoming a vegan?
There are so many advantages I wouldn’t really know where to start! Besides the obvious of no longer participating in the harm of animals/the planet, I always have energy, I never feel bloated or sluggish after a big meal, I know that my body is running on plant based fuel and protein, and I get all the nutrients that I need from all the fruit, vegetables and grains that I eat. Not to mention there is a vegan version of literally any junk/sweet food you can imagine, that you can eat without the guilt. When the vegan diet is done right, your body will thank you. The only disadvantage that comes to mind are the opinions of people who aren’t aware about all the benefits of the vegan diet, who perhaps sneer it off or judge you, or hands down don’t tolerate it at all, but sometimes people need a long time to change their views about diet, which have been ingrained in them since birth.
It is true, in my opinion, that life can be made a little more difficult socially and it’s possible that finances may get pinched when abiding by a vegan lifestyle but I’ve also come to realise that it is possible for the average Joe living in Paris to change their regime. Veganism is not just a fad but indeed, fab. And that peanut butter cookie with chocolate chunks for my ‘friend’ definitely helped make that decision.
East Side Burgers
60 Boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris
Words and cover image by Lorna Talboys
All other images by East Side Burgers Facebook
