Locavore's Lament

I rarely eat at, or at least try to minimize my visits to, chain restaurants. Naturally when I was younger and didn't really understand how economics worked, I only cared about image. Why would I want to be seen in a small-name mom and pop eatery when everyone I knew ate at the flashy popular corporate conglomerates? I wouldn't, so I followed the mainstream crowds and stuck to the good old chains.

Then one day for some unexplained reason, I changed. I realized what I was doing to the economy. I realized what I was doing to the local businesses that worked so hard to compete, many times to little avail. I gave my business to the wrong people. Rather than supporting the people in my community who actually cared about what they put in their food, what they do to their food and where their food comes from, I was throwing my money at the feet of corporate America only to get in return low quality goods.

I can't speak for other communities, but in Portland, restaurant, cafe and bistro owners alike love their food. They give their customers options, healthy alternatives and choices for those of us with certain food preferences. And I'm nearly 100% sure that they don't do this completely for the profit, as I'm sure nearly 95% chain restaurants do.

We went out to eat at a large BBQ establishment this evening. I was less than enthusiastic to go as I'd earlier checked out the menu only to be disgusted and let down. As with most chains, the only meat-free options came in the form of a salad. Somehow, chains seem to think that if you don't eat meat, you only eat salad. Upon earlier discussion of what I could eat at the restaurant, nearly everyone I was with said, "Well I'm sure they have salad," as if that would make it better. Vegetarians don't eat strictly salad, and if they're like me, they don't even like salad all that much. I find it so disappointing when a restaurant is so out of touch with dietary preferences that the only alternative to meat they can find is lettuce. Not only that, probably 4 out of the 5 salads on the menu are topped with meat.

Either way, as I had no choice other than to go for a salad (because the restaurant didn't even have a veggie burger option), I forlornly munched on my lettuce as the rest of the party inhaled all sorts of chickens, cows and pigs from who knows where, not thinking twice about what was required to put that food on their plates and probably not caring (as most people in the United States don't). And I don't even want to go into the amazingly incredible amount of calories and fat that were in those meals...

Anyway, after mirthfully sucking down the prepackaged, frozen and shipped from the other side of the country entrees, we handed over the large sum of money to the greedy corporation. Upon exiting, I couldn't help but notice the establishment was packed. Completely packed. People sitting, standing, pacing, just waiting to sink their teeth into this mindless food. And it made me so sad.

I wish people thought more about what they ate. I wish they would think about where their money is going. I wish they would try to open a restaurant and see what it takes to survive when there are restaurants such as this everywhere stealing all of the profits. I wish they would have a passion for food, put their heart and soul into their meals, and then see how detrimental chains are. I can't believe how many people follow the crowd. I can't believe that the majority still eat at the flashy popular corporate conglomerates and never give the locals a chance. I guess I thought that when I learned the importance of supporting one's community, everyone did.

But I still have hope. There are hundreds of amazing restaurants in Portland that are locally owned and operated, get their ingredients from local sources and offer their customers amazingly diverse choices. Looking for a barbeque tofu po'boy? Tempeh, lettuce & tomato (a vegetarian's BLT)? Grilled zucchini ciabata sandwich? Smoothie with hemp milk? Organic anything? You'll find it in Portland. I know these places are surviving, I know they have many faithful customers, and that truly makes me happy. But even if they remain small and have fewer customers than the chains, I will rest easy. I will know that while others are waiting endlessly to get a coveted booth at Red Robin only to eat mediocre food at a premium price, I'll be happy and comfy at my friendly neighborhood diner, supporting the deserving locals and getting only the best in return.