On a Vegan Mission in Inglewood
{http://soundcloud.com/soundslikerstin/vegan-miss-b}
"I want to have whatever she's having!" was my first thought the minute chef Miss B. jump-danced from behind the kitchen counter towards me, her smile and the neon yellow silk scarf wrapped around her hair brightening up the restaurant shouting "There is the German reporter with a microphone!". She told me she had started her vegan diet in 1990 when she was 40. She still looks that same age!
Whatever Miss B. is having is exactly what you are getting at 'StuffIEat' her little restaurant on Market Street in Inglewood. "Whatever I like I give to you. Stuff I don't eat you won't get!" All of what she likes is vegan. Not very suprising in Los Angeles you might say. But totally unexpected in the Health Food desert that is Inglewood. At least that's what I thought and she agreed: I was not stereotyping. "If it wasn't for us, there would be no vegan restaurant. Clients still walk out when they see no chicken or fish on the menue."
Before we started the interview Miss B. - the 'B' stands for Babette - showed me her newest creation: a raw taco salad: mountains of colorful vegetables on top of mixed greens and a nutmixture substituting any taco-filling. We had a problem - I am allergic to nuts. "Probably because you have been eating a lot of stuff you shouldn't be eating, girl! Now you can't eat what you should be eating!" Miss B. might be on to something but I had to admit: even though maybe I would be able to live without meat I got to to have my cheese and my chocolate. Sorry! Not a problem for this chef! I would gladly take a bath in the desert she brought to my table: avocados miraculously transformed into a creamy chocolate mousse topped with fresh fruit and rasberry sauce.
Miss B.'s husband took her on the vegan path 13 years ago. Now they both are on a mission to bring healthy food and a healthy lifestyle to Inglewood. They need a lot of patience. On the workday I visited only two people were having lunch at 'StuffIEat'. Another four or five picked up orders. I spoke to the ones sitting down to eat. Brian travels at least two times a week a few miles from Watts to Inglewood so he can eat vegan. He has diabetes. He loves vegetables. And short ribs. The latter he puts on the grill himself. Convincing his family to go vegetarian or vegan is impossible. Gloria drives one mile from her office to try Miss B.'s newest recipes almost every day. She works long hours and has no time to prepare lunch. Her family knows to not give her any meat. Gloria prepares a killer kale-dish on Thanksgiving which nobody can get enough of.
StuffIEat has been in business for six years. Social media and an App that directs visitors from LAX to the restaurant help keeping it afloat. When the restaurant is filled with happy customers Miss B. turns down the radio, closes the door, climbs on a chair and gives an emotional rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.
I'm trying to tell you - this is not your ordinary LA vegan restaurant!
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