Maybe it’s the fallen vegetarian in us. Maybe we love the smell of death threats in the morning.
Whatever our damage, we’re sitting at Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Bistro in Echo Park on September 11th, trying to bury the ghosts of an office view from the 106th floor of the World Trade Center, one eye sentry over our shoulder for religious zealots toting AR-15s or an enraged animal rights activist with a butcher knife.
Formerly known as Sage Vegan Bistro, a staunch shelter of cruelty-free dining with two L.A. locations, the restaurant vaulted to the center of controversy this past spring following its rechristening as Sage Regenerative Kitchen, which followed its decision to begin serving dairy, meat, and eggs from regenerative farms.
Apoplectic that this tabernacle of tempeh was turning its back on unconditional veganism and the tenants of ahimsa, former fans now spewed invective, threats, and poxes-upon-the-home of owner and lifelong vegetarian Mollie Engelhart, whose father and stepmother founded Cafe Gratitude, the touchstone of hippie-souled, capitalist-spirited vegan eateries. PETA was pissed.