Newspaper Page Text
The Maroon Tiger
Friday
Ffat
September 6, 2002 Page 8
Rubani Trimiew
Features Editor
Nestled in the heart of
Atlanta's West End, amidst
a unique blend of history,
poverty, and encroaching
real estate development lies
an establishment that serves
as a healthy alternative in a
market oversaturated with
saturated fat and lacking in
sufficient vegetarian
choices.
The Soul Vegetarian
Restaurant at 879 Ralph
David Abernathy Blvd. of
fers a completely meatless
and dairy free menu.
This is a reflection of
the restaurant's He
brew .Israelite staff
and ownership and
in order to under
stand the origins of
Soul Vegetarian's
unique taste, a brief
description of their culture
is necessary.
Hebrew-Israelites are a
group of Blacks
that believe
they are descen
dants of the Bib
lical Hebrew
tribes, of which
some dispersed
throughout the
African conti
nent.
Following
this lineage
through the
slave trade,
they profess Awning
that many black Americans
can indeed trace their ances
try to the Hebrew people of
the Old Testament. Circa
1969, the groups spiritual
leader, Ben-Ammin, suc
cessfully brought a group
from America, first to
Liberia and then to Israel
were they have resided in a
peaceful community for
the last 30 years. Many of
the believers, however,
still live in the United
States.
Hebrew Israelites
follow a strict interpreta
tion of Old Testament
scripture, especially in
matters of health, culture,
and a general way of life.
This explains the
restaraunts vegan theme.
To quote Genesis 1:29:
barely touch on the other
services that the Soul Veg
etarian establishment can
amuy enjoys meal.
offer.
Adjacent to the restau
rant is a boutique. Thebou-
She believes that the
importance of Soul Vegetar
ian and the boutique itself is
in their ability to "display
somebody's culture...and
give others an opportunity
to express themselves in a
way contrary to the main
stream."
This seems to be the
philosophy of the establish
ment as a whole and is re
flected in Soul Vegetarian's
other services.
A "relaxation spa"
offers many of the stan
dards expected in a spa such
Soul Vegetarian: Food for
the soul... and much more
"I give you every seed-bear
ing plant of the earth and
every tree that has fruit with
lisplays array of attractions.
seed in it. They will be
yours for food. (NIV)"
According to that par
ticular exert, mankind was
originally meant to live a
herbivorous existence.
Upon entering the res
taurant, the patron's
tique specializes in
Afrocentric and Hebrew
styles of clothing and acces
sories. All of the clothes are
made by the Cignon
Company and are
100% natural cotton,
linen or fine Jordanian
silk.
They come in
many colors and pat
terns and are perfect
for those that prefer
the feel of natural tex
tures and original de
signs. An attendant at
the Boutique named
Diroriyah (which
means 'God has given
liberty and freedom') ex
udes a personality and natu
ral charm that are nearly as
colorful as the dresses,
headwraps and jewelry that
regularly adorn her slight
frame.
as facial cleansers and
baths, sports medicine help,
and even an expert in reflex
ology.
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It would be a surprise
to most people, however, to
be offered a more extreme
manner of cleansing. The
specialist in the spa,
Khanyah, focus her efforts
OF
olifactory is sublimely noti
fied of the delicious food
that awaits him. A common
claim made by people that
shun vegetarian dining is
that meals without meat
lack sufficient flavor and
spice, but at Soul Vegetar
ian, a variety of soups, sand
wiches called Megedeens,
and steamed vegetable spe
cialties serve to satisfy the
palate.
In addition to solid-
food, the diner also serves
its famous Ice Kream, a soy
based type of dessert that
leaves no aftertaste and
doesn't cause gas like most
dairy products. Also, an ar
ray of fruit smoothie blends
can be purchased at a stand
in the back of the restaurant.
These offerings, however,
on 'holistic cleansing,' or
colonics, advertised with
the promise for a "gentle ir
rigation of your colon."
According to a pam
phlet in the spa, colonics
not only remove toxic
waste from the body,
but they also can cause
weight loss, eliminate
constipation and make
one feel a whole lot
healthier.
If all of this
wasn't enough, there is
a barber shop and a
braid parlor next store
and a natural food mar
ket across the street. So
whether one seeks the
satisfaction of a great
meal, a beautiful set of
clothes or African artifacts,
fresh fruits and vegetables,
a haircut or braids, or sim
ply a clean and efficient co
lon, the Soul Vegetarian ex
perience will suffice.
KNOW ANYONE WHO BELONGS HERE!! E-MAIL US ®MTIGER# MOREHOUSE.EDU
4-A-L-L
SHAMEH