What does it take to open up the Houston location of an international vegan chain restaurant in say, the endcap of a Kirkwood strip center whose previous tenant was the Texas Bar-B.Q. Co.? The Houston Press‘s Katharine Shilcutt tries to explain:
The money that Supreme Master Ching Hai gathers from her followers is used to fund things such as her elaborate and expensive outfits; her adventures in creating and selling jewelry (back to her followers at a huge markup, of course); the filming of long infomercials like the ones that play on a constant loop in the restaurant, which are broadcast to followers via the Internet (which is why the movement has been called a “cybersect”); and the founding of restaurant chains like Loving Hut which adhere to one of the most important principles in Quan Yin: vegetarianism.
The restaurant at 2825 S. Kirkwood, in the Richwood Shopping Center just north of Richmond, is Loving Hut’s 25th U.S. location. But how neatly it fits here: Thank you, Supreme Master! Perhaps other ventures of yours — in painting, poetry, spirituality, fashion design, or beauty makeovers — might find a home in other lonely strip-center locations around town? Surely this formula could be expanded:
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Inside its clean, spacious interior, the Houston location of Loving Hut has a table with brochures and various pamphlets on going vegetarian or vegan, along with a wall of photographs of celebrities, all brilliant or beautiful, and all non-carnivorous. If Scientologists were less aggressive and more interested in food, this is undoubtedly the kind of restaurant they would run.
- Vegan Surprise [Houston Press]
- Houston’s Grand Opening Day! [Loving Hut]
Photos: Loving Hut (top); LoopNet (Richwood Shopping Center)
If Scientologists were less aggressive and more interested in food, this is undoubtedly the kind of restaurant they would run.
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Some vegans aren’t exactly passive creatures. Just ask the managers at Whole Foods.
I drove past this place just this morning, saw the sign and at first thought it was a sex-toy boutique. It is across Kirkwood from a Chinese restaurant disturbingly named Spicy Panda. Not too terribly far away near Harwin is yet another oddly named eating place, Them Hung. Which brings us back full circle to the Loving Hut.
Finally, a vegan place I can feel bad about eating at. Uh, no thanks.
Well, if you can mass produce vegan food and serve it on little trays, it has truly become mainstream.
Well, if vegan is your thing, there are plenty of other places to eat at that aren’t so in your face. If vegetarian is your thing (not vegan), you have even more choices.
I hear their tofu burgers taste a little like spotted owl.
I hear their tofu burgers taste a little like spotted owl.
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I hate to ask but how do you, or they, know what spotted owl tastes like?
Spotted owl tastes a little like Panda or a Manatee. You have to work the gamy taste out of it. LOL
kjb, would that be Spicy Panda?
Of course! Throw enough spice on anything and it’ll taste good.