So I’m once again at a conference and they come to the
“you’re on your own” lunch break. I head
to the parking lot not sure what I’ll do, amid a freezing rain down pour and a
growling stomach. Fellow attendees are
nice enough to invite me to join them.
We pile into the RV and head for the Catfish Hole.
In ordering such things as green beans and fried okra, I don’t
ask the right questions. Turns out the
green beans are cooked with bacon, and the batter for the core contains
eggs. Sigh. Perhaps it was wishful thinking. The corn on the cob is delicious – just be
sure they don’t dip it in butter prior to serving.
I space about taking a photo of my plate upon arrival, and
given the missteps in my ordering vegan, it’s hardly necessary, but here’s my “after”
shot.
 |
| One okra nugget left. Corn on cob was yummy nostalgia. Contraband hushpuppy front and center. |
As you can see, I enjoyed the
repast. The pickles were also a vegan option, and I
might have ordered a baked potato – naked of course, or its cousin, an order of
fries. I could have gone for the dessert
of mandarin oranges as well. Lots of
options. I just have to be a little
creative and inquisitive.
And then there was that complimentary plate of hushpuppies. They’re fried balls of fluffy cornbread that
are made with eggs. The Catfish Hole is
known for these little bites of crispy fried heaven and I down two of
them. Delicious. When you’re the face of veganism, sometimes a
little compromise gets you a lot of cooperation and appreciation.
But the luncheon is anything but a loss for the vegan
cause. The questions I do ask start a
conversation around the table about why I’ve adopted this lifestyle. I’ve found the conversations about the plant-based
diet are much more pleasant these days than in years past. Or maybe I’ve mellowed. People seem genuinely curious and respectful,
rather than argumentative and obsessed with whether or not I am getting enough
protein. Times have changed.
The management is equally receptive, gladly answering my
questions about ingredients (belated though they might have been) and one of
them even offers to pass my business card on to a vegan relative. I couldn’t ask for a more pleasant
experience all around.
The Catfish Hole
4127 West Weddington Drive
Fayetteville, Arkansas
479-521-7008
www.thecatfishhole.com
