Winter 2019: The Veggie Issue, No. 19

Last night for dinner, I prepared for myself a roasted acorn squash, garnished with slivers of bitter greens, toasted hazelnuts and plumped currants, served alongside a simple green salad and a bowl of barley vegetable soup. I am not a vegetarian, but I am concerned about our environment, my health and trying to contribute positively to the world around me. And so, welcome to this special Vegetables issue of Edible Queens. 

A recent food exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London was aptly titled Food: Bigger than the Plate. What we eat impacts our immediate selves, our bodies, the economies of producers (both farmers and corporations), the air we breathe, the water we drink. Agriculture, particularly monocropping used to grow animal feed, is a significant contributor to climate change through its own greenhouse gas emissions and its practice of deforestation for land use. Our ancestors used animal products as flavor enhancers or for special occasions, not as a staple of a weeknight meal. 

I don’t mean to sound preachy, but I have been increasingly affected by the heightened concern I see across many cities and countries. We, as individuals, need to start thinking about how we recycle, what we chose to eat, how we chose to cook—not just for ourselves, but for all future generations. 

Changing our eating habits requires us to set aside the cultural norms that have accompanied us since birth. At times, these choices will clash with our family traditions. In this Vegetables issue, Hernan Leguizamo, born in Colombia—“a culture of starch-based foods [and] looking at consuming animal or meat products at least three times a day”—shares his personal journey with our editor Abby Carney. As a Colombian myself, I can only imagine how difficult that decision must have been. 

In “Shabbat Shalom: No Meat Required”, Alexa Weitzman describes her own commitment to eating only vegetables and her family’s willingness, over time, to embrace her delicious food even during the highest of holy days. Edible Queens contributor Joy Notoma scouts two “Smoothie Operators” in Jamaica who have made healthy eating and drinking their mission. The unstoppable Dawn Kelly confides in Joy her dad’s wisdom: “You are what you put into yourself… Whatever food you put into your mouth, whatever books you read… that’s what comes out of you. If you eat healthy, you will be healthy.” In “Live from Laurelton” writer Daphne Chen describes how two vegan friends tired of traveling to Manhattan or Brooklyn for their vegan staples, set up A Live Kitchen serving blistering pan-Latin and Caribbean foods.

With this issue we are also introducing a new section called Queens Keepsake, which highlights food treasures peppered around the borough. Our keepsake for this Vegetables issue is New York City’s first vegetarian diner, Smile of the Beyond, which was opened in Jamaica in 1972 by spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy. Frequent contributor Giulia Pines chats with the friendly crew there about food while taking in the bright abstract canvases painted by its now-deceased founder.

While my decision to eat more vegetables and less meat has less to do with spirituality and nothing to do with perceived superiority, I do hear Greta Thunberg’s message loudly and clearly. Her words have helped me become more aware of things that I have chosen to ignore. Let’s all play our part. Veggies, even in the harshest climates, are a good choice for hearty meals.

Claudia Sanchez | Publisher | @claudiasanchezmahedy