Sacramento is the latest US city to join Meat Free Monday – this time specifically in honour of Paul McCartney, who played the Californian capital this week.
The city council approved a resolution last week to adopt a Meatless Monday – MFM’s sister organisation in the states – and usher in a greener start to the week. “Sactown” joins other leading lights in the battle to curb America’s meat addiction, including the cities of San Francisco and Washington DC and South Miami, Montgomery County in Maryland, and schools in Los Angeles and San Diego. New York City is waiting to hear the outcome of a MFM resolution put forward last year.
The move came in advance of Paul’s two gigs in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday night. The MFM founder was the first act to play the newly opened Golden 1 Centre, as part of his One On One tour, and food outlets in the $500 million indoor arena added more meat free fare to the menu to celebrate the occasion.
Crystal Strait, chief of staff to the mayor of Sacramento, said: “One of the things we realised would be fun to do and exciting for the whole city was this resolution,” she said. “It’s super-cool that this city isn’t just giving [Paul] a swag bag, we’re doing something to celebrate something that is important to him.”
A number of restaurants have signed up to the attempt to help Sacramentans reduce the amount of meat they eat. At least 22 are reported to be rustling up special McCartney and Meatless Monday menus, with Evan’s Kitchen, in East Sacramento, offering dishes such as Maybe I’m Amazed Rice Crispy French Toast and The Lovely Linda – ratatouille-stuffed courgette flowers.
Nor is it the city’s only foray into healthier, planet-friendly food. October sees the Vegan Chef Challenge return to Sacremento for the sixth year. The month-long event is organised by Bethany Davis, who has also helped coordinate the McCartney menus.
She said: “Meat production and then dairy production alongside it are huge as far as deforestation and water use. People are designed more for a plant-based diet. It’s better for health. It’s better for the environment. It’s a social justice issue as well.”