PETA urges Publican to serve fake meat

PETA urges Publican to serve fake meat
The Publican in Chicago. Flickr/Steve Browne
PETA urges Publican to serve fake meat
The Publican in Chicago. Flickr/Steve Browne

PETA urges Publican to serve fake meat

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The recent skirmish between PETA and the Publican (and Publican Quality Meats) took a new turn Friday when the animal rights group called on the restaurant and butcher to serve fake meat.

Earlier in the week the Publican team wrote a thoughtful online response to PETAs anti-meat billboard that went up across the street. And Friday the group sent an official response back.

Related: Do vegans hurt their cause when they target sustainable butchers?

PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk said the Publican team “opened the door for a respectful conversation about what we eat, and now PETA is hoping it’ll open the door of its restaurant to Chicago’s many vegetarians and vegans.”  Specifically, the letter asks the restaurant to add a “vegan, faux-meat dish to the menu.”

The Publican responded Friday afternoon by saying: “As an organization it is our priority to be inclusive to all. Publican Quality Meats’ menu always features a variety of vegetarian and vegan options featuring high quality ingredients and thoughtful execution…One favorite on Publican Quality Meats’ current menu is the Squash Tartine with roasted squash, squash and goat cheese puree, kale, sunflower seeds and pomegranate dressing. We look forward to a continued positive relationship.”

Monica Eng is a WBEZ producer and co-host of the Chewing the Fat podcast. Follow her on Twitter at @monicaeng or email her at meng@wbez.org