Vegan Adventures in Northern Georgia, Vol. 1 | mello's Blog

Today has been an interesting one indeed. My tiny sliver of a window provides a nice view of concrete and dark cloudy skies. Wait, there's a patch of blue right there... nope, it's gone... I guess we'll meet again blue skies. Darn you clouds, interfering with my daily dose of blue skies and sunshine.

I was forced to go get lunch by my remote boss. I have a tendency of skipping lunch around here, there's always something that needs to be done NOW. I was in the mood for a wonderfully delicious Vietnamese vegetable rice noodle bowl. I asked for some suggestions for Asian food in the area and was directed to Peng's. Ooh, I'm getting Asian food, Hooray! Upon reaching the restaurant I was deeply disappointed. Deeply. Did I say I was deeply disappointed? There was one item on the lunch menu that seemed vegan. Mixed vegetables. Okay. The menu didn't say what it came with, and the waitress didn't give me any options. I was optimistic as I quietly read my book while the overweight couple (who obviously frequented the joint) chit chatted with the waitress and other various patrons. Everyone always stares suspiciously at the woman dressed in business attire with a strange non-accent. "You're not from around these here parts. We don't take kindly to your kind" mentality seeps out from their very presence.

My plate came, hooray! Chopsticks were given upon request. The little white girl who can use chopsticks with grace and expertise is always a spectacle for the staff. What did I find upon my plate? Fried rice which I had not requested, vegetable egg roll, mixed veggies in mystery milky colored sauce. Yum..... I couldn't really complain because this is indeed what I ordered after receiving the depressing news that sesame Tofu was not an option. I didn't grill the waitress about food contents. I was already the odd one out. sometimes it's best for one's sanity to not become more strange in the eyes of equally strange, strangers. The only thing safe for me to eat, or so I thought, was the mixed veggies, which only took up one third of available plate space. Oh! how I was deceived by the vegetably goodness! One bite had me suspicious of the milky sauce. Is that... chicken broth I taste? I wasn't 100% sure, and being a peace lover I didn't question anyone. Besides, no one would REALLY know the answer to my multiple questions regarding the contents of my food. I may be able to get around with my Chinese and Spanish lingual skills but lengthy discussions regard the 'veganess' of my food far surpass said skills.

I am now 100% sure I consumed SOME animal product or by-product which I haven't consumed in a very long time. My evidence? My stomach is screaming at me with shooting pains!!! It's only been 30 minutes since I finished my 'meal!' My conclusion: Peng's is bad, do NOT eat there again, vegan little one. 

After leaving the evil Chinese restaurant, I decided to change my cell phone plan. $20 for unlimited text is cutting deeply into my pocket right now. After standing in line for 20 minutes, reading my book of course. Someone finally determines they cannot help me. Great. Thanks for wasting my time. Here's a tip for you AT&T, as this happens to me frequently, have a person greet all customers and pre-screen them to see if they can be assisted or if they need to call a special number which is not available to the public unless specially requested after standing in line for an undetermined amount of time. 

My conclusions: AT&T and North Georgia restaurants are evil. EVIL!!!!!