Vegetarian Conformation… Part 1

A few weeks ago, I started living a more vegetarian life, also known as ‘no-more-pates-for-me’ – especially the beautiful chunky, country-style ones at The Butcher Shop in Boston’s South End – and definitely no more of their gorgeous steak tartare (pictured below).

That said, I was back at Barbara Lynch’s hip restaurant last month and fell in love all over again. Delicious small plates and rich wines pretty much make for a perfect meal. And the staff in the kitchen and in the front of house never fail to impress – always familiar, always kind, always beaming with recommendations to suit your taste or mood.

As a vegetarian – or I should say ‘pescatarian’ as I do still eat fish (along with all these other folks) – I decided to abstain from the heavier meats for health reasons more than anything else. I adore lamb, beef and pork but just started listening to my body and my body was saying, “Hey there, don’t you feel gross, sluggish, tired, bloated and uncomfortable when you eat that stuff? Let’s stop for a while,” and I did.

It’s been only three weeks so it’s not a permanent change yet, nor may never be. And I’m not hardcore about it yet either. If I want a bite of my husband’s burger, I’m gonna have a bite. But with that bite, I’ll remember how I feel if I scarfed down the entire burger and I’ll refrain. Or at least, I have so far.

If you haven’t gathered, I’m being very non-committal about it all because (1) meat tastes so darn good, (2) I do tend to eat out and sometimes it’s the only thing on the menu, and (3) I have so many fabulous friends who cook amazing meals for me and I don’t want them to alter their habits for little old me one bit. This is my choice, not theirs.

The good news is: I sort of like this vegetarian thing. I do feel a whole lot better. I pay closer attention to what I eat and how much I eat. As I fall out of love with pates, I am falling in love again with all those beautiful vegetables I bring home from the farm and local markets, nodding in respect to their flavor and texture by using special spices or really good olive oil. My food is fresher and cleaner. My palate and tastes are too.

While I’m not sure how long this will last – because you all know it’s fairly hard for the husband and I to go an entire Summer without slow-smoking pounds and pounds of pork and beef – I am living in the moment for now and relishing my new choices. I may not be choosing to eat meat, but I am choosing to eat farm fresh vegetables, fabulous fruit (especially the citrus sent to me by my father-in-law – thank you!), rich whole grains and pastas, homemade doughs and… loads of wine and cheese! I mean, I’m healthy, not crazy.