Since July of this year, I’ve been doing a series of pilot interviews for a ‘Pandemic Insights’ research project.
It’s been exciting to devote the time and create the space for people to share their reflections on issues surrounding the pandemic, lockdowns, and other aspects of life during that time.
A bit about the project (in development) here:
I recently found myself in a moment of great surprise as I began to prepare mentally for the holidays next month. I realized that although I was forming the foundation for a project entirely devoted to storytelling and memories of the pandemic, I had completely forgotten that a holiday tradition I have treasured for the past several years was one I established during the pandemic!
The restaurant industry experienced severe disruption during the pandemic, including in places with no lockdown, such as Sweden, where I was living at the time. In fact, at the beginning of the pandemic, I worked briefly at EAT and penned ‘Chefs, COVID-19 & Food Systems’: https://eatforum.org/resource/chefs-covid-19-food-systems/
Although there was no lockdown in Sweden, there were many restrictions and also a great deal of ‘self policing’ by residents. In the city we lived in, it seemed at one point in 2020 that people had nearly stopped going out to eat. We had multiple friends and contacts in the restaurant, cafe, and bakery industry locally, and all of them expressed extreme stress at the near-total loss of business (and expressed a lockdown would serve them better economically, as then at least the government would roll out support for businesses).
Just as in many other countries, despite the stress (and also due to it), innovative approaches to adapt were rolled out. Some restaurants started to do weekly ‘meal kits’, which by the holidays of that year had become a regular service at some restaurants.
My husband and I always love to do a great big feast for Christmas Eve. December 23rd, as the day before the big holiday, is usually quietly buzzy and full of preparation, and also on the heels of what is often a very busy first few weeks of December, as everyone winds down for the holiday break.
I decided that year, in 2020, that I wanted to do something special for dinner on December 23rd and to show support for our favorite local restaurants in ordering their special Christmas meal delivery sets.
We ordered from each of our favorite local restaurants. Pictured here was my meal (from what was a popular vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the city at the time), along with photos I snapped while out picking up our meals that evening.
While enjoying the food with my husband and sipping on the mead he had got for the evening, I decided I also wanted to establish this as a tradition.
As I began to prepare for the tradition this year, I thought about how this ritual was born during the pandemic and connected to an industry adaptation and resilience strategy.
I have since enjoyed this tradition in Kraków and later for a few Christmases in Warsaw, where each year I ordered from my favourite plant-based restaurants in the city.
And now we are in Radom. Eating out can be limited for me here, as not many restaurants offer vegan options.
A few weeks ago, I was walking downtown and snapped the photo on the left. A gentleman walking right behind me said ‘You should take a selfie in front of the restaurant!’
I looked at him and had a hunch. ‘Are you the owner of the restaurant?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
I went on to share with him that I’d stopped in his restaurant a few times. It’s a cozy, good-looking place. But I was disappointed to not find anything vegan on the menu.
‘We have vegan options!’ He exclaimed.
I went on to mention that I was eager to find somewhere local to order from for my December 23rd holiday ritual. Might they have some options?
‘Give me a few days,’ he said, and we then exchanged phone numbers.
An hour later, one of his employees called me to confirm that they would send me a Christmas menu with vegan options.
And a few days later, via email, I received it.
Some vegans only dine at fully vegan places. I understand this for multiple reasons. Some of my all-time absolutely favourite restaurants are totally vegan and plant-based.
However, I also treasure moments like this.
I’ve been vegan for over a decade now and believe that part of shifting the paradigm is also in encouraging and supporting vegan options on menus and the acknowledgment of such options as a desired choice.
I look forward to my order for borscht, mushroom pierogies, and potato pierogies, and enjoy on the eve of December 23rd as I relax with my family and prepare for Christmas.
