The Orion Online

Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Online Exclusives

Nov. 17, 2008

Thanksgiving came early to campus with the help of the Environmental Action and Resource Center, and the feast gave students a full stomach to start their day.

But this Thanksgiving meal came without a fresh, oven-roasted turkey. In fact, it came with no dead animals at the table.

Instead, EARC students came to Selvester's Cafe-by-the-Creek from 11 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m. carrying aluminum serving dishes full of Tofurkey.

The annual Tofurkey Feast was held Monday. Members of EARC served up mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls and Tofurkey for about 300 people, said Gavin Dixon, group president.

"This was a chance to show people there are alternatives to eating meat," he said.

The meat industry can be a very damaging environmentally, Dixon said. However, by holding events like the Tofurkey Feast, students are given a chance to learn about the industry and have other options besides meat.

"We like to show people that there are ways to eat good food and healthy food that's not meat," he said.

The event brought swarms of people throughout the day and students only had good things to say about the turkey replacement.

Senior Eric Fontanella tried Tofurkey for the first time and was surprised to find it tasty, he said. He would even eat it again.

"I thought it was pretty good," he said. "To me it wasn't gross, but it didn't taste like turkey. It was unique and I can't really compare it with anything."

Some students who have had Tofurkey before came to get a meal before class.

Senior Paul Dolfini's brother is a vegetarian, so Tofurkey is a normal dish on Thanksgiving, he said. This was his first time at the feast, and he said he thinks that the Tofurkey tasted just like the one from home.

"It's right on," he said. "It has good flavor, but I wouldn't say it taste like turkey."

Dolfini has never been a big meat eater and has grown up with tofu, he said. He enjoys it, but prefers other tofu-based products.

"If I had to choose, I'd rather cook tofu as something else," he said. "But I still like it."

Senior Jessica O'Donnell said she found Tofurkey to be delicious and has had it almost every Thanksgiving, she said. She thinks Tofurkey is flavorful.

"Regular tofu doesn't have any flavor compared to Tofurkey," she said. "It doesn't have the consistency of meat and a nice flavor."

Unlike other students, O'Donnell said she thinks it taste like turkey, and its consistent flavor makes it good to eat.

Whether the Tofurkey tasted like the real thing or not, empty plates and full bellies were all that the eye could see. Even if not everyone liked it, Dixon said he couldn't be happier that students came to try a tofu turkey.

"Everyone thinks tofu is white and gooey," Dixon said. "They don't realize it's how you prepare it that really makes it worth eating. It's nice to see people willing to try it because it shows an open mind."

Raelene Willis can be reached at
rwillis@theorion.com

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