Ann Arbor, MI: Eco-Friendly Restaurants
Action
After an overnight train from Washington, DC to Ann Arbor and an afternoon exploring the university town, Josh and I joined two other friends for dinner at The Earthen Jar , an eco-friendly, vegetarian, Indian restaurant. Kim guided me through the experience. First, we went to the back to pick up clean plates, silverware and cups from a drying rack next to a sink. Then, we weighed our empty plates before loading them up with tasty vegan and vegetarian Indian food at a clearly labeled buffet. Finally, we presented the laden plates to the proprietor who charged for the meal based on weight. My meal, where I sampled five dishes in addition to rice, was $4.50. At the end of the meal, we returned our dishes to the back, washed them, and set them to dry in the drying rack.
Reflection
Kim’s studying Environmental Justice and she knew Josh from his days at Wesleyan. She introduced the restaurant to us as eco-friendly. After thinking about the restaurant, I decided that it appealed to me, because the kind of lifestyle it promoted was not just an environmentally conscientious one. I think my labor organizing friends would like it, because they wouldn’t have to worry about contributing to a business that pays below minimum wages to undocumented workers hidden from view of consumers as dishwashers. If they were to grumble about those workers not having any jobs at all in this restaurant, I could point out that the restaurant was consequently very affordable for the underemployed. Additionally because one has to clean up one’s own plate, leaving leftovers is an unappealing option, and customers are encouraged to take smaller amounts. Taking smaller amounts is also encouraged by the practice of paying by the pound, promoting a healthier diet. By consuming less, there’s more food to go around for everyone, theoretically decreasing hunger and food inequity.
In short, I liked the restaurant because by ostensibly addressing one environmental issue (disposable plates and silverware), it also addressed labor, health, and food equity issues. And I had a damn fine meal.
Question
Do you know of any other such yummy and affordable restaurants? By addressing environmental issues does one a) rarely, b) usually, or c) inevitably address other social justice issues? When do environmental concerns clash with other concerns? Did the scrumptious curry cloud my judgment? Are self-service restaurants the answer to all the world’s problems?
After an overnight train from Washington, DC to Ann Arbor and an afternoon exploring the university town, Josh and I joined two other friends for dinner at The Earthen Jar , an eco-friendly, vegetarian, Indian restaurant. Kim guided me through the experience. First, we went to the back to pick up clean plates, silverware and cups from a drying rack next to a sink. Then, we weighed our empty plates before loading them up with tasty vegan and vegetarian Indian food at a clearly labeled buffet. Finally, we presented the laden plates to the proprietor who charged for the meal based on weight. My meal, where I sampled five dishes in addition to rice, was $4.50. At the end of the meal, we returned our dishes to the back, washed them, and set them to dry in the drying rack.
Reflection
Kim’s studying Environmental Justice and she knew Josh from his days at Wesleyan. She introduced the restaurant to us as eco-friendly. After thinking about the restaurant, I decided that it appealed to me, because the kind of lifestyle it promoted was not just an environmentally conscientious one. I think my labor organizing friends would like it, because they wouldn’t have to worry about contributing to a business that pays below minimum wages to undocumented workers hidden from view of consumers as dishwashers. If they were to grumble about those workers not having any jobs at all in this restaurant, I could point out that the restaurant was consequently very affordable for the underemployed. Additionally because one has to clean up one’s own plate, leaving leftovers is an unappealing option, and customers are encouraged to take smaller amounts. Taking smaller amounts is also encouraged by the practice of paying by the pound, promoting a healthier diet. By consuming less, there’s more food to go around for everyone, theoretically decreasing hunger and food inequity.
In short, I liked the restaurant because by ostensibly addressing one environmental issue (disposable plates and silverware), it also addressed labor, health, and food equity issues. And I had a damn fine meal.
Question
Do you know of any other such yummy and affordable restaurants? By addressing environmental issues does one a) rarely, b) usually, or c) inevitably address other social justice issues? When do environmental concerns clash with other concerns? Did the scrumptious curry cloud my judgment? Are self-service restaurants the answer to all the world’s problems?
3 Comments:
At 2:46 PM, Jen said…
This place seems so homey! Aah, the question . . is it better to underemploy people or to not employ them at all? Luckily, I don't think you have to decide that. This type of thing will not take over all restaurants. And hey - sometimes I want someone else to do the dishes. And what if we all stopped going out to restaurants? That doesn't help the economy. I wonder what would happen if all across the country we all started spending money responsibly, stopped using credit except for 30 day/same as cash, stopped living beyond our means. The US economy would collapse. So if someone chooses to have an eco-friendly restaurant, that's the least of our economic concerns.
I do like the 'pay by the pound' thing. Can you imagine if McDonald's started doing that? No more 'supersizing'.
BTW - I'm honored that my wedding made your 'itinerary'. . . very cool.
At 8:14 PM, kim wetzel said…
By addressing social issues you, c) inevitably address other environmental issues. its social first, it has to be. there's no environment to save unless its the environment for future peoples. i'll have to go ask the earthen jar owners whether the low-impact dining service was intentional for religious or environmental beliefs, or if it was just the most logical solution to their particular physical economic (capital) and labor constraints.
i wish you'd included in your ann arbor post how josh spent 10 minutes in the town and found the cheapest ethnic lunch available, while "your host" has been here a year and never got around to trying the jamaican jerk shop! arg! josh is so good at that its aggrevating!!
At 12:14 AM, Renate said…
I have to be self-indulgent for a momment and comment on myself. I just finished reading World Hunger 10 Myths by Francis Moore Lappe and Joseph Collins. Their 10 Food First Fundamentals at the end link a variety of social issues w/ hunger, as I tried to link a vareity of issues w/ the way the restaurant operated. For example, "Safeguarding the world's agriculture environment and people freeing themselves from hunger are complementary goals."
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