El Nuevo Mexicano is the newest Chicago restaurant to boast an extensive vegan menu after working with MFA. After seeing MFA’s hard-hitting new documentary Farm to Fridge, detailing the plights of farmed animals in the United States, Maria Rodriguez, owner of El Nuevo Mexicano, swiftly adopted a vegetarian diet and contacted MFA for assistance in adding vegan options to her restaurant’s menu.
“Some things change your views, other things change your life,” explains Rodriguez. “Farm to Fridge did both for me.”
Nearly 100 hungry diners enjoyed crispy flautas, sizzling fajitas, cheezy quesadillas and more at El Nuevo Mexicano’s vegan menu launch party to benefit MFA. With the help of Daiya vegan cheese, Upton’s Naturals seitan and a mix of fresh vegetables and grains, the new options have won over vegan and non-vegan Mexican food enthusiasts alike.
Encouraging mainstream restaurants to add delicious vegan dishes to their menus not only makes vegan dining more convenient, it also helps expose vegan foods to those who may have never tried them before. Rodriguez says several of her staff and customers have taken an interest in veganism since she added the new menu items.
“We have received more comments and compliments than anything we have ever offered on our menu – and we continue to receive encouragement every day,” says Rodriguez. “We hope our continued support of compassionate food choices will encourage our non-vegan customers to take notice.”
MFA works with restaurants around the country to expand their vegan offerings – helping to bring vegan eating into the mainstream one restaurant at a time. We’ve also made it easy for people everywhere to encourage restaurants to expand their customer base by adding vegan options to their menus.
Visit our Vegetarian Dining Campaign page for tips and advice on expanding the vegan options at restaurants in your area.
To find vegan-friendly fare in nearly any city around the world, visit VegGuide.org
