Episode 295: High-End Veganism and the Rise of Plant-Based Eating

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of veganism in light of an eviscerating review of the new plant-based menu at the New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Innovative fine dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park has earned mixed reviews for its newly vegan menu. Natalia cited historian Adam Shprintzen’s book The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of An American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. Niki cited the 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet along with Aymann Ismail’s Slate piece on the complications that plant-based pork substitutes present to Muslims and Amirah Mercer’s Eater essay on how she found empowerment in the history of Black veganism.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia commented on the latest season of the NBC series This Is Us.
• Neil shared his column for The Week, “Big Brother’s Historic Black Victory Shows the Future of Reality TV.”
• Niki discussed her column for CNN, “Britney Spears’ Bid for Freedom Comes at a Crucial Moment.”