In 2018, Republican Senator Ted Cruz promised that barbecue would be banned if his Democratic opponent, Beto O’Rourke, was elected to the Senate in Texas. Back then, the reasoning was around a barbecue tofu giveaway People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hosted at a re-election event.
“I’ve got to say, [PETA] summed up the entire election,” Cruz said at the time. “If Texas elects a Democrat, they’re going to ban barbecue across the state.”
The Texas Senator then doubled down on X (formerly Twitter). “We were glad to welcome [PETA], but it illustrates the stakes [at] the election,” Cruz posted. “If Beto wins, BBQ will be illegal.”
O’Rourke lost that election by a narrow margin, and Texans could rest assured that barbecue could continue to be legally served across the state.
But with the 2024 election cycle underway, are Republicans warming up to a new kind of barbecue?
Brothers Barbecue
Republican National Convention embraces meatless barbecue
In May, former President Donald Trump was at a rally in Waukesha, WI, where he told his supporters that he would be open to trying vegan—which he pronounced “vay-gan”—food for the first time.
Known for his meat-centric diet of hamburgers and steaks, Trump revealed his intention after bringing onto the stage Shana Gray, owner of Milwaukee restaurant Gray Jett Cafe, where each item on the menu can be ordered vegan.
“It’s supposed to be really good,” Trump said on stage. “I’m not into this vegan stuff, I must say, but I’m gonna have to try this.”
The 78-year-old Republican also assured Gray that he would return to try her food. “When we come here in a short period of time, into Milwaukee, we’re gonna come and try that vegan food,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m going to like it.”
Trump and his supporters did return to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention this week, and Gray Jett Cafe had a prime vendor spot.
At the RNC, the restaurant offered a BBQ Brisket sandwich made with jackfruit, along with a Sweet Heat Chikn Sandwich, among other options.
How did RNC attendees like the vegan food? “We’ve been very well-received,” Jolie Brox, from the café, told The Independent. “A lot of people are asking questions.” Brox revealed that the vegan brisket sandwich was a top seller, with Gray Jett Cafe selling out of the item across several days.
“I am unique in my Republican circles,” one RNC attendee, a jackfruit fan, said.
“It gets a bad rap … hippies and liberals and people on the left,” a RNC worker said about vegan food. “But when you go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, nobody cares what party you’re with.”
It is not immediately known if Trump made good on his promise to try vegan food for the first time at the RNC. However, Gray, a Trump supporter, handed out flyers at the event to promote “The Controversial Vegan,” a forthcoming podcast she was inspired to launch after receiving backlash for various reasons, including statements Urban Milwaukee reports she made about migrants.
Vegan barbecue for all
Plant-based barbecue is delicious no matter where you land on the political spectrum. If you’re ready to head out on your own campaign trail to try some of the plant-based barbecue that the US has to offer, here are three must-hit spots.
Southern Fried Vegan
1Southern Fried Vegan
California
A beloved pop-up that travels nationwide, Southern Fried Vegan brings its slow-smoked barbecue pork, barbecue beans, brisket, fried chicken, and savory mac-and-cheese to eager customers from San Diego to Sacramento.
BBQ4LIFE
2Sandwiches by BBQ4LIFE
Boise, ID
Proof that great vegan barbecue can be found in unexpected places, Sandwiches by BBQ4LIFE offers smoked tempeh sandwiches slathered in barbecue sauce and paired with vegan potato salad.
Southern V
3 The Southern V
Nashville, TN
An authentic Southern-style plant-based dining experience, the Southern V menu features barbecue favorites like the Cookout Burger, loaded with dill pickles, barbecue sauce, and cheddar cheese. For those looking to try jackfruit as a meat stand-in, the BBQ Jackfruit Sammich will hit the spot.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
