From the Editor

Jack McLaughlin, Editor-In-Chief

Nice to Meatless You

If you kill bugs, you’re a bad person.

I’m kidding, but I do have a problem with killing insects indiscriminately. In theory, I understand the idea that a human life is “worth” more to other humans. I mean, it would be hard to exist as a species if we didn’t at least kind of like each other. I understand this, but I can’t really bring myself to subscribe to it.

What I don't understand is the scale. It feels arbitrary and incomplete. What about our species makes our lives worth more than a bird or a frog or a cat or a spider? Is there a point system I’m missing?

Hopping up the food chain from the insects, things have always been a little more interesting to me when it comes to eating animals, or I guess, not eating animals. I was a vegetarian for years. Not the strictest, mind you, but a vegetarian nonetheless. I do eat meat today, but I opt to eat vegetarian when I can, still.

Sure, I would like to go green again someday, but I’m not perfect. I also understand that death is part of the natural order of life, and it’s something that has to happen, so I’m not inherently against eating animals. I do believe that if you eat something, you should watch, at least once, on whatever platform you can, the entire process of how an animal goes from life to death to food, because it doesn’t feel right to partake in something (like eating a steak) while ignoring the steps it takes to achieve it (however unsettling they might be).

All of this is to say it gets endlessly complicated when it comes to food, and I’ve feel like I’ve floated contradictions more than once.

But hey, no matter where you stand, you know what? We’re here to let you in on a little secret: It’s the year 2023. Meatless options are really, really good, and Columbus is full of them. I remember the first time I tried falafel, wondering how plants could taste that good. And the more I’ve done, the more I’ve learned the answer is this: pretty easily.

In the Spring 2023 issue of Stock & Barrel, we’re taking you on a mouth-watering tour through some of the city’s best meatless options, and all of them stand toe to toe with their meat-containing counterparts. Because it doesn’t matter where you stand, even if you’re skeptical, keep an open mind, it won’t be hard to find something new you’ll love.

So let’s put those fly-swatters down and pick up those salad fingers. Let’s get plant-powered.