My vegan journey is full of adventure. One such adventure led me into the heart of New York City to work at a vegan restaurant. It was sheer joy interacting with 300 to 400 customers we served in a buffet style from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. I cherished my lunch breaks so I could sit down and spend time with them. I lived for those moments!

Not only did I work in Manhattan, but I would travel to Maine to work at my company’s bakery operation. They also had a vegan restaurant in Portland, and a doctor frequented it. In addition to running his practice, he taught at a university in Maine and asked my company to put his medical students on a 21 or 30 day (I forgot) vegan meal plan program. He actually asked Dr. Colin Campbell to help sell this concept to them, so I was able to see Dr. Campbell in person. I’m sorry that the picture is blurry.

Sadly, I had to leave the restaurant, but I will always remember the many great experiences I had with the wonderful people of New York City and Maine. I miss them so much that I helped make OpenSourceVegan.com to at least artificially create the mingling restaurant experience that I relished.

I now work in Arkansas at a health center called Wellness Secrets that helps people combat chronic diseases by promoting a plant based diet and healthy lifestyle through our five day live-in and traveling health education programs.

Miraculously, two of my friends that used to work at Wellness Secrets just started a vegan restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas called Something Better Foods. They asked me to help them with their project when I can. When I actually went inside their restaurant before it opened, I couldn’t help but think about the positive influence this restaurant is now bringing the city of Fayetteville. Honestly, I have to help because I remember all my interactions with customers in the past, and I also love this plant based diet.

On Sunday, I went to the grand opening of Something Better Foods.

I already knew that Chef Chew’s vegan food was going to be exceptional. I’ve tasted it many times before. However, like old times, I had to mingle with the customers, and this is what they had to say:

Wow. There seems to be never a dull moment in my vegan journey. I’m now helping a vegan restaurant in Fayetteville, which will truly offer the city “Something Better”, and who knows where the influence will go from there?