Yes, lively political conversation is usually as close as the next table, posters for animal and women’s rights are in clear view, but mostly people come from all around to eat their good food and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere.
There’s no cash register and no waitressing. Place your order with a woman seated behind a desk after making your choice from the blackboard menu. Enjoy your food either in their comfortable dining room or on their patio in good weather, and bus your own table when you are through. Things are a little different here. It’s evident from the moment you step inside the door. This is a feminist vegetarian restaurant.
In the mid-1970s, a number of women felt the influence of feminism strongly enough to put their beliefs into effect, by starting feminist businesses. They were among them. They wanted to create a feminist community for men and women that was self-sustaining. A lot of feminist bookstores were cropping up all over the country, but, Selma had always been interested in cooking and the way that food seemed to bring people together. So, opening a restaurant seemed the logical choice.
Their vision included offering ethnic foods, they wanted to serve food that represented a diverse group of people from all over the world. They also didn’t want to use meat, as they don’t believe in exploiting, dominating or eating animals. From their first cookbook, The Political Palate, “Feminism is not a part-time attitude for them; it is how they live all day, everyday. Their choices in furniture, pictures, the music they play, the books they sell, and the food they cook all reflect and express their feminism.”
Two of the original collective members still provide the foundation for Bloodroot today. They are Selma Miriam and Noel Furie. They look forward to meeting you.
