Powered by Plants

I was in third grade when I decided to become a vegetarian, and although I didn’t know it then, at nine years old I inadvertently altered my dietary life forever. 

What caused me to go veg, you might ask?  Was it the fact that I loved animals and voraciously consumed[1] as much puppy exposure and animal time as I could possibly get my hands on?

Not quite.  (Although very true, valid points.)

Was it that I was prematurely health conscious, cholesterol concerned, and trying to maintain my literal girlish figure?

Are you kidding me?  As a third grader I should have owned stock in pizza bagels:  I was inhaling those babies like they were going out of style!

Was it that I was the Greta Thunberg of the 90’s and had decided to try my hand at environmental activism by silently protesting the hot dogs my mom desperately tried to serve me?

Girl, please.  I wasn’t even close to being that “woke.”

No, at nine years old I decided to become a vegetarian not because of my love for animals, a distinct personal preference, or even a desire to save the world, one pig at a time.  Rather, my reason was much less thoughtful and decidedly more authentic to a true childhood experience:  I went veg because I wanted to be a little asshole for my mom.

Now, I say this recognizing that 1) Sunday is Mother’s Day, and 2) I love my mom very, very much.  She’s a great lady, we’re actually quite close, and in pretty much every other facet of my life I am the polar opposite of being a problem child for my mother[2].  However, for some reason I honestly can’t recall, at a young age I decided I no longer wanted to eat meat and instead chose to be uncharacteristically difficult, dooming “short-order cook” to be just another one of the many hats my poor mother was already wearing.

Love you, mom.

So, I did it:  I became a nine-year-old vegetarian.  And I didn’t look back.  Two decades later I continue to be powered by plants:  I still don’t eat meat, and I still don’t eat fish, but I definitely do still eat cheese because – well, come on guys, it’s cheese!  In other words, I’m nothing if not dedicated stubborn, and when I decide to do something, you darn better believe I commit. 

But do you want to know the funniest thing about all of this?  It turns out, I was a girl ahead of her time.  Little did I know then that the world would slowly turn its sleepy head and steadily follow my already well-worn direction; little did I know my “high maintenance” eating habits would become a veritable, highly sought-after trend.  In only a few short years we went from people looking at me like I was a talking Chihuahua and being unable to accommodate me when asking for meat alternatives to a stampede of restaurants popping up around the country and intentionally marketing themselves as vegetarian, vegan, and environmentally-friendly.  In other words, I, Katie Puszka, single handedly started a dietary revolution.  Guys, I’m not trying to freak anyone out here, but I think I might have been some kind of vegetarian child prodigy!

So here we are.  It’s 2021 and now being powered by plants is cooler than ever.  Don’t say I didn’t tell you so.  In fact, just last week a new plant-based restaurant opened in downtown Wayzata that is already getting national attention.  Created by the owners of Crisp & Green — a fast casual salad-style Chipotle that originated in Minneapolis and is readily growing throughout the Twin Cities — Stalk & Spade is a new plant-based burger joint destined to knock all vegetarians’ socks off. 

As indicated by one of the restaurant’s many neon signs, Stalk & Spade promises to be “everything you never knew you always wanted.”  From burgers to shakes to “chicken” sandwiches, everything on the menu is plant-based and easily accessible to foodies looking to feel good about what they’re putting into their bodies without having to sacrifice killer taste.  The Star Tribune applauds Stalk & Spade for its original concept and hopeful goals of national expansion, and Forbes calls founder & CEO Steele Smiley[3] “the man who wants to build the plant-based McDonald’s of the Future.”  Positive reception and accolades aside, the restaurant’s origin story may be one of its most endearing features:  Smiley was inspired to launch the pseudo burger joint after his son asked for a more fun, kid-friendly way of clean eating that didn’t indefinitely involve salads. 

Love it.

Now one week old, Stalk & Spade offers more than just burgers.  Inspired by food that will boost human health, promote animal welfare, and help fend off the deleterious effects of climate change, the restaurant proudly boasts five types of burgers, four chicken sandwiches, and a whole litany of dairy-free ice creams and shakes that will make even the most steadfast of carnivores’ mouths water. 

And boy, was this restaurant well-received by the local community.  Cam and I visited the already hot spot for dinner last Saturday and were surprised to see a long line of veggie lovers that wound and twisted its way well outside the door.  Holy moly, that line was long:  From the time we arrived to when we eventually received our food, we waited a little over an hour, but, thrilled by the opportunity to support local business and try something new, we were more than happy to do it[4].  The energy buzzing around the new dining locale was palpable, and we enjoyed the opportunity to partake in the excitement and sample some delicious new foods.  Even Cam, a true meat lover at heart, readily enjoyed both the southwest “hamburger” and spicy “chicken” sandwich he devoured.  Despite the fact that he has been eating mostly homemade vegetarian dinners with me, I was proud of Cam for his adventurousness and unreserved willingness to try something new that might not fall inside his typically carnivorous wheelhouse. 

So, will more and more people continue to venture outside their comfort zones and sample plant-based foods? 

Given last week’s performance, it’s safe to say that’s already happening. 

Will Stalk & Spade live up to Smiley’s dreams and truly become the McDonald’s of the future? 

I have my doubts, but time will tell. 

Will pseudo chicken sandwiches start popping up everywhere and inspire a real chicken-led, revenge-seeking human takeover? 

There’s really no way of knowing.

And yet, despite the uncertainty around Stalk & Spade’s plausibly bright future, let’s not lose sight of one pivotal, undeniable fact:  That I, Katie Puszka, started a vegetarian movement. 

[1] Pun intended.

[2] Let’s be real, mah:  I’m pretty much a freakin angel.  You did good, kid.  You did good.

[3] What a name!  It can’t possibly be real, right?

[4] Plus, let’s not forget it was a gorgeous, eighty-degree evening — the first of the year — and we were starved for some long overdue people watching:  Can you blame us?