Cafe: Loving Hut

How can vegan food be tasty? We pondered this question as we picked up this week’s “Cafe” column to find an answer. At the very least, Michele Laudig found some tasty options minus any and all animal flesh.

Food Critic Michele Laudig on Loving Hut:

First time around, I went with an open-minded omnivore with whom I’ve shared plenty of meaty comfort food, as well as a Southerner with a fondness for fried chicken — and who goes veg on weekdays to keep cholesterol in check. On later visits, I was joined by a burger-loving buddy, and a gal who loves foie gras.

Nobody the place left a convert to veganism, but we all thought the food was pretty tasty — a pleasant surprise for those of us who’ve had some strange prior experiences with pseudo-meat. Why aren’t there more Loving Huts in the Valley? There are locations all around the world, but as of now, this is the only one in the Phoenix area (each is individually owned by followers of Supreme Master Ching Hai; the Vegetarian House restaurant on East Indian School Road will soon become a Loving Hut location as well)…full story