Chili Pot (new restaurant)

As for us vegetarians, Louisville has a wide choice of restaurants with fine vegetarian options--more than I'll ever visit and try. This city has an exciting culinary scene, in general (in my opinion), and is VERY veggie friendly. So if the Chili Pot offers only meat options then I still wish them good luck and cheer the fact that they are adding yet another dimension to our local cuisine scene.

Vegetarians are a minority and for most establishments aren't the clients paying the bills. Any restaurant can survive without catering to vegetarians but the opposite is not true.

On an average busy day we will have several requests for an " off " the menu request for a vegetarian dish or a vegan choice. We always have vegetarian selections available but of course will honor requests if applicable.
If I am talking to a client about a large reception I always inquire about guests needs when it comes to a vegetarian or vegan selection, usually there will be someone on the client's guest list with a preferance. If it is a served dinner or a buffet we will make sure all guests needs are honored.

And we are speaking of an establishment out Preston near Outerloop, not exactly the progressive area of town. And curiously thinking, would Leah S patronize Chili Pot if they did offer veggie chili???? (not sure where she resides but my logical instincts are guessing it's no where near Preston/Outerloop)

We went today. Yippee! I had the white chicken chili and a grilled cheese. Hub had the green pork and a cheese dog. It was delicious - I think it might have been the best white chicken chili I've had. Rich, just spicy enough, tender white chicken. Jeff gave raves to the green pork. And it was a very good grilled cheese (and he liked his dog - Nathan's).

We talked a bit to the owner and she pulled out copies of these old pictures of Okolona from the 1910's to 1980's. She's going to decorate with them. Jeff loved them since he grew up there.

For sports fans there are a ton (ton) of televisions and it seems like a good place to get chili and watch a game.

I give them a highly recommend. Very casual, but clean and friendly. Oh - and they have a drive thru!

Geez, guys.

We eat out a lot.
We eat out all over town. (And I deliver wedding cakes all over town.)
We even eat in Indiana.
And yes, I go to Okolona many days because there are a couple of stores out that way where I regularly shop.

And we are speaking of an establishment out Preston near Outerloop, not exactly the progressive area of town. And curiously thinking, would Leah S patronize Chili Pot if they did offer veggie chili???? (not sure where she resides but my logical instincts are guessing it's no where near Preston/Outerloop)

I live 5 minutes from Chili Pot. Guess I'm out of luck at finding any place around these parts; maybe Taco Bell is open!

As for us vegetarians, Louisville has a wide choice of restaurants with fine vegetarian options--more than I'll ever visit and try. This city has an exciting culinary scene, in general (in my opinion), and is VERY veggie friendly. So if the Chili Pot offers only meat options then I still wish them good luck and cheer the fact that they are adding yet another dimension to our local cuisine scene.

James,
Not sure where else you've lived, but Louisville is pretty tied for worst on the places I've lived. It ties with West Lafayette, Indiana. Metro population 100,000 (when the students are in town). The other cities (Chicago, Portland OR, Tucson, and Santa Barbara CA) all blow Louisville away for vegetarian selection and friendliness.

Not to say you can't go out, but it is no fun to have to grill servers (who often have not much of a clue) and then to wonder how much meat may have mingled into your dish because the restaurant also serves meat. I've found chunks of meat in my "vegetarian" meal here in Louisville, and been served meat chili after ordering vegetarian chili (discovered after it was in my mouth). Not fun. And NOT vegetarian friendly experiences. (no desire to name names). I know some places are more responsible than others, and it is appreciated. But I also know how stuff flies around in a busy kitchen.

Simply put, Louisville doesn't have vegetarian restaurants. I know Zen Garden. Any others? Heck, even the coffee shops serve meat here.

I support Chili pot, but think they'd do well with a veggie option (probably cheap cost of goods sold also).

I know demographics vary, but here are some stats:
"The just-released “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times (vegetariantimes.com), shows that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. Approximately 0.5 percent, or 1 million, of those are vegans, who consume no animal products at all. In addition, 10 percent of U.S., adults, or 22.8 million people, say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet."

Seems like a 13.2% boost in sales would be looked at kindly by any business. The survey was scientific and used more than 5000 people.

Vegetarians are a minority and for most establishments aren't the clients paying the bills. Any restaurant can survive without catering to vegetarians but the opposite is not true.

That's true, but in the case of chili, it's relatively simple & inexpensive to serve vegans/vegetarians. The only ingredient that wouldn't already be in your arsenal is the meat substitute (e.g. soy crumbles). In other words, there's simply no reason not to serve vegans/vegetarians in this instance. Not only that, but vegans/vegetarians tend to do a lot of research about restaurants in an area before they spend a day there & standing out as one of the few restaurants in an area with a vegan/vegetarian item or more would increase your chances of receiving their patronage. You must also consider the close proximity of Southern High School. Veganism/vegetarianism has been a fad or trend, for lack of better words, amongst high school & college-aged students for over a decade now. You must also consider the close proximity of other local establishments that may attract vegans/vegetarians. If there's a vegan/vegetarian in Brooks, Hillview or Shepherdsville, there's a really good chance that he/she is going to take Preston Highway to go to the Jefferson Mall & dozens of other establishments.

Note: I live 10 minutes South of this restaurant, in Bullitt County & I was a vegetarian for 5 years. I went to Bullitt Central High School where there were a lot of vegans/vegetarians, many of which live in Louisville now. Bullitt County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. They may not have Wild Oats or Whole Foods Market (yet), but they do have Kroger, Meijer & Wal-Mart in close proximity & I often see people purchasing vegan/vegetarian products when I'm in those places. I know quite a few people from Bullitt County that shop at Valu-Market on Outer Loop as well. I think that people from Louisville tend to overlook the fact that many people from Louisville as well as people from states that are more progressive than Kentucky move to Bullitt County because of cheaper real-estate as well as employment. I used to work for a company in Bullitt County that brought in people came from Chicago, Houston & New York.

Heck, even the coffee shops serve meat here.

Does that mean because you don't consume meat that coffee shops shouldn't serve meat?

I know demographics vary, but here are some stats:
"The just-released “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times (vegetariantimes.com), shows that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. Approximately 0.5 percent, or 1 million, of those are vegans, who consume no animal products at all. In addition, 10 percent of U.S., adults, or 22.8 million people, say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet."

Seems like a 13.2% boost in sales would be looked at kindly by any business. The survey was scientific and used more than 5000 people.

Sayings sales would increase 13.2% because of the above statistics is obviously not a valid/logical statement for various obvious reasons. I can prove this with the opposite statement:
Nimbus, your sales will increase 87% if you start serving meat.

As for us vegetarians, Louisville has a wide choice of restaurants with fine vegetarian options--more than I'll ever visit and try. This city has an exciting culinary scene, in general (in my opinion), and is VERY veggie friendly. So if the Chili Pot offers only meat options then I still wish them good luck and cheer the fact that they are adding yet another dimension to our local cuisine scene.

James,
Not sure where else you've lived, but Louisville is pretty tied for worst on the places I've lived. It ties with West Lafayette, Indiana. Metro population 100,000 (when the students are in town). The other cities (Chicago, Portland OR, Tucson, and Santa Barbara CA) all blow Louisville away for vegetarian selection and friendliness.

Not to say you can't go out, but it is no fun to have to grill servers (who often have not much of a clue) and then to wonder how much meat may have mingled into your dish because the restaurant also serves meat. I've found chunks of meat in my "vegetarian" meal here in Louisville, and been served meat chili after ordering vegetarian chili (discovered after it was in my mouth). Not fun. And NOT vegetarian friendly experiences. (no desire to name names). I know some places are more responsible than others, and it is appreciated. But I also know how stuff flies around in a busy kitchen.

Simply put, Louisville doesn't have vegetarian restaurants. I know Zen Garden. Any others? Heck, even the coffee shops serve meat here.

I support Chili pot, but think they'd do well with a veggie option (probably cheap cost of goods sold also).

I know demographics vary, but here are some stats:
"The just-released “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times (vegetariantimes.com), shows that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. Approximately 0.5 percent, or 1 million, of those are vegans, who consume no animal products at all. In addition, 10 percent of U.S., adults, or 22.8 million people, say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet."

Seems like a 13.2% boost in sales would be looked at kindly by any business. The survey was scientific and used more than 5000 people.

Nimbus,
First, I've traveled and lived in many parts of the world and speak several languages--so I understand where you are coming from. I'm not referring to vegetarian restaurants per se, but rather restaurants with a variety of vegetarian options. Sure, I would prefer more places like "Zen Gardens," but I am also a realist and realize that most Louisvillians like meat. Louisville is what it is, as is Chicago, Portland, etc. No sense in comparing. If that were the case, I'd just move to Paris and chuck my vegetarianism out the window! (well, I'm not sure, but would be tempted)....Anyway, I can eat Indian buffets, vietnamese pho, falafels and hummus, bim bi bop, pasta and pizza, rice and beans, and specialty dishes in places like 3rd St Cafe, Zen Garden, Mayan Cafe, Ramsis, etc., etc.,.....hence more places than I'll ever visit. There may be more veggie friendly places, but I enjoy a certain "je ne sais quoi' about Louisville that includes the good with the bad. Heck, I'll take my veggie options here in Louisville with my beautiful house in a park-like setting, than a cold, warped-floor, dinky apartment in Brooklyn!

Heck, even the coffee shops serve meat here.

Does that mean because you don't consume meat that coffee shops shouldn't serve meat?

I know demographics vary, but here are some stats:
"The just-released “Vegetarianism in America” study, published by Vegetarian Times (vegetariantimes.com), shows that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults, or 7.3 million people, follow a vegetarian-based diet. Approximately 0.5 percent, or 1 million, of those are vegans, who consume no animal products at all. In addition, 10 percent of U.S., adults, or 22.8 million people, say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet."

Seems like a 13.2% boost in sales would be looked at kindly by any business. The survey was scientific and used more than 5000 people.

Sayings sales would increase 13.2% because of the above statistics is obviously not a valid/logical statement for various obvious reasons. I can prove this with the opposite statement:
Nimbus, your sales will increase 87% if you start serving meat.

Brian, it is a potential boost in sales. But you must admit you're throwing out that clientele. And perhaps much more (such as a described, when the whole eight-top goes elsewhere due to one person's dietary restrictions). I think you gain significantly by accommodating a significant chunk of the population.

My sales are primarily drinks. So yeah, meat or no meat is pretty irrelevant in my biz.

And the comparison you made fails because you're comparing omnivores, who eat both meat and non-meat, with vegetarians, who eat only non-meat. If you were comparing vegetarians and carnivores (who eat only meat) it'd be closer.

(I love how defensive omnivores get. Hee hee. I almost didn't post )

Oh, and saying that even coffee shops serve meat here tells you a bit about how non-veggie friendly our city is. I once found an employee frying up a hamburger on my grill here. She had brought it in herself. Right during business hours, on the clock, customers right there. Amazing. (the wall staring at her says "Ray's is 100% vegetarian). She couldn't understand why she shouldn't be doing that. We still have a long way to go here in Louisville. That's all I'm really saying

Makes sense James. Fully understand.

Not really being defensive Nimbus, I Iean near vegetarian a large portion of the time. Just pointing out an illogical statement that sales will increase by 13.2% if an restaurant establishment offers vegetarian choices compared to not offering vegetarian choices because the population is 13.2% vegetarian or near vegetarian.

But it can be accurately applied to your coffee shop since you offer food. Would your food sales increase 87% if you offered meat? I kind of doubt it, even in the progressive Highlands.

I think some folks might be missing the point that the owner may not want to serve a veggie chili. Perhaps they dont feel like they can stand behind that product,especially if they have no prior knowledge of veggie cooking. This kind of goes back to the why serve shit beer at your restaurant discussion.

The discussion that has veered of topic has nothing to do with the owner or their strategy. But if they'd like to chime in so be it.