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A culinary tour through the spiritually diverse neighborhoods of North America and guide to finding God on the menu.
As a teenager, I attended an American Baptist Church for a few years in my quest for existential meaning. One of my favorite things about attending this small congregation was the monthly communion. No stale crackers and dry wine at this church! Instead, we broke loaves of sweet Hawaiian bread accompanied by grape juice. I remember gathering with the other youth after the sermon and polishing off any leftover bread on the communion trays. Surely, food is integral to most religious groups in one way or another, including that neighborhood Baptist church. But some groups make food a central aspect of personal cleanliness, morality or evangelism and make their sacred offerings available to the public. Read on to find out where to indulge your taste buds in a bit of divine dining. Hare KrishnasThe International Society of Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, as the Hare Krishnas are properly known, believes that food, or "prasadam", offered to God (Krishna) before eating, acquires a spiritual property beneficial to its consumer. Whether or not you agree, you won't be disappointed at the vegetarian Indian and American buffet offered at restaurants around the country. Most restaurants are located next door to a temple, so go next door, slip off your shoes and wander on in to get the full experience. Govinda's Vegetarian Restaurant 3310 Southern Dr. Efland, NC (336) 373-8809 Govinda's Restaurant 5462 S.E. Marine Vancouver, BC (604) 433-7100 Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet 270 W. 8th St. Eugene, OR (503) 686-3531 Govinda's Natural Foods Vegetarian Buffet & Dinner Club 3764 Watseka Ave. Los Angeles, CA (310) 836-1269 Govinda's 1899 Mendocino Ave. Santa Rosa, CA (707) 544-2491 Govindas Vegetarian Cafe 1408 South Street Philadelphia, PA (215) 985-9303 African Hebrew IsraelitesAccording to the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, a black Jewish group, Biblical guidelines dictate a natural diet and lifestyle free of drugs and processed foods. Their Soul Vegetarian restaurants offer a menu of healthy soul food and sugar-free deserts that leave everyone coming back for more. Their restaurants are always packed! You won't be evangelized here, but the folks are always friendly and are more than happy to talk about their religion and offer you a book or two when asked. Source of Life Juice Bar & Deli 9185 Central Avenue Largo, MD 20743 (301) 324-6900 Soul Vegetarian South 3225-A Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC (843) 744-1155 Soul Vegetarian on Wheels 200 North Duvall Street Tallahassee, FL (850) 575-9342 Soul Vegetarian Restaurant 879-A Ralph Abernathy Blvd. SW Atlanta, GA (404) 752-5194 Soul Vegetarian International 652 North Highland Atlanta, GA (404) 874-0145 Soul Vegetarian East 205 E. 75th St. Chicago, IL (773) 224-0104 Soul Vegetarian Restaurant 2606 Georgia Ave. NW Washington, DC (202) 328-7685 Chinmoy CenterFollowers of Sri Chinmoy eat a vegetarian diet to rid their body of negative "animal consciousness" and to absorb the positive and pure qualities of plant foods. Their menus offer international and American favorites and the pastel restaurants are mostly hand painted with inspirational sayings from Sri Chinmoy such as "Let us eat and drink according to the need of the body. Let us love and give according to the need of the soul. Let us reveal and fulfill according to the need of God." Annam Brahma 84-43 164th Street New York, NY (718) 523-2600 Victory's Banner 2100 W Roscoe Chicago, IL (773) 665-0227 Ananda Fuara 1298 Market St. San Francisco, CA (415) 621-1994 Jyoti-Bihanga 3351 Adams Avenue San Diego, CA (619) 282-4116 Consciousness Blossoms 3390 Tampa Road Palm Harbor, FL (727) 789-1031 Silence-Heart-Nest 3508 Fremont Place N Seattle, WA Many other religious groups operate restaurants, from the more mainstream Seventh Day Adventists, whose restaurants can be found in most major cities, to the followers of the spiritually eclectic female Master Ching Hai, so keep an eye out or check your local phonebook. Happy eating!
The copyright of the article A Taste of God in Alternative Spirituality is owned by Jolinda Cary. Permission to republish A Taste of God in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
May 7, 2006 7:02 PM
Jolinda Cary :
May 19, 2006 10:02 AM
Judy M Merrill :
2 Comments
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