[baarn] Fellini restaurant exposed: what I saw in their cooler + violates worker's rights!

[Guest guest]

I can't speak to the claims being made about where Fellini Restaurant buys their animal flesh and secretions, and I don't know what personal issues people are having with the owner, but I think it's worth pointing out that my husband and I are vegans who patronize vegetarian and vegan restaurants most of the time, but we eat at Fellini Restaurant for no other reason than it serves wonderful, delicious, inspired vegan food. We never, and I don't believe the hoards of vegans who flock to his restaurant, went there because of whatever the menu said about the eggs or animal flesh. We were never under the illusion that we were supporting anything other than a meat/dairy restaurant and are well aware that this is the trade-off when we decide to go to a non-vegan restaurant. Even if his menu didn't say anything about what kinds of eggs he buys, we'd STILL go to his restaurant, because we weren't kidding ourselves about what the restaurant serves and how the animals suffered to get there. To attack a non-veg restaurant based on ethics seems odd considering that we all know it contributes to cruelty by virtue of not being vegan.

 

Having said that, my husband and I will continue to eat at Fellini Restaurant (I highly recommend the parsnip/apple soup!), and I encourage anyone who has questions about the restaurant to speak with the owner directly. I, personally, think it's important to work with non-veg restaurant owners to encourage them to make the most compassionate choices for their restaurant - and who knows? - maybe even become a vegan restaurant some day!

 

With respect,

Colleen

 

---------------------Colleen Patrick-GoudreauFounder & DirectorCompassionate CooksP.O. Box 18512Oakland, CA 94619510.531.COOK (2665)colleenhttp://www.compassionatecooks.com

 

Compassionate Cooks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people to make informed food choices and to debunking myths about vegetarianism through cooking classes, nutrition workshops, farm animal sanctuary tours, and cooking DVDs. --------------------- Join our mailing list http://www.compassionatecooks.com/join.htmCheck out our vegetarian cooking DVD http://www.compassionatecooks.com/video.htmRegister for our vegetarian cooking classes http://www.compassionatecooks.com/reg.htm

 

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Emily

; baarn

Tuesday, September 27, 2005 3:10 AM

[baarn] Fellini restaurant exposed: what I saw in their cooler + violates worker's rights!

Fellini restaurant in Berkeley is not what they claim to be. I recently worked there for a short time, and was shocked at what I saw in the walk-in cooler. The owner, Jeff Davis, says "All egg dishes are prepared with free-range eggs" (quote from their website, http://www.fellinirestaurant.net/brunch.html). That is a complete lie. I saw that they get their eggs from a battery egg farm operation. Free range chickens can roam outside and engage in natural nesting and foraging behaviors. This farm is not like that- the hens are kept in battery cages, at least 6 or 7 confined to one small cage. Fellini restaurant also purchases poultry from the farm that was recently investigated by East Bay Animal Advocates. Check out the website, http://www.free-range-turkey.com/default.html for details of the conditions and photos of these poor birds lives. Jeff has been told about the "true" conditions of this farm, and has still not changed his supplier. I hate to bring personal business to the group, but I feel people must also know this, and be aware of the restaurant they supporting violates workers rights and labor laws. They make employees work a full 7 or 8 hour shift with no break. They are also not wanting to give me my paycheck for the hours that I worked there. The owner, Jeff, is not the nice, local small business owner that he portrays himself to be. Rather, he is a sleazy, low-life person with no ethics or principles that takes advantage of his customers and employees. I strongly urge everyone not to give any more business to Fellini. There are many other restaurants out there that have great food, and treat their employees and customers in a respectful and ethical manner.All beings tremble before violence. All fear death, all love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?-Buddha The question is not, can they reason? Nor can they talk? But can they suffer? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being? The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes..." Â -Jeremy Bentham