In my house, meat rules.   Although we’ve cut down a bit on the steaks, chops, and sausages, we still savor a good rib eye from time to time and indulge in a “downright bad for you” meatloaf on occasion ..

So, when I told my husband and daughter we were meeting out of town family members at a Vegan restaurant in Somerville, all I got was silence. Then, the questions. “Mom, will we get bread?” my food challenged 29 year old asked.  “No,”  I said.  “no animal byproducts allowed,” Of course I didn’t know  what the heck I was talking about but knowing I could keep this ruse going indefinitely. “What about wine,” she asked. “No liquor,” I replied. Watching her skeptical smile turn downward into a frown was, shall we say, devilishly fun.  And so it went.

Until we walked into “True Bistro,” a small,  friendly little place in Teele Square in Somerville. It’d   been two years since I’d seen my nephew so it was a heartfelt reunion. And it was great to meet his girlfriend, the Vegan perpetrator.  But the novelty of eating Vegan really took center stage as we visited.

It turned out there were rolls AND wine.  A relief for my daughter, but she was still suspicious.  The list of appetizers raised eyebrows. Kale cakes, corn crepes and cornmeal crusted oyster mushrooms  seemed  so…well, healthy compared to the calimari or corn chowder we might ordinarily order.  This would be the true test.

A nice gentleman walked over to the table when the small plates arrived. “You like mannicoti?”  “Sure,” I said, wondering why he cared.  “Well I guarantee these crepes will taste better.”  Ah, the owner.  Of course he would think that.  “We’ll be the judge,” I thought.

It turned out he was right. At least, that was MY review.   But it was Alyssa, the Queen of cheeseburgers,  who’d be the most difficult to win over.  And the true test would be her entre, the night’s special. Oddly enough, at 7pm there was only one serving left of the vegan spaghetti with UN-meatballs and it was no surprise she took dibs.

All of our meals were tasty but Alyssa devoured hers with meaty zest.  She loves food but seldom articulates why a certain dish wins her heart.  This time, however, she spoke of interesting flavors and unusual textures.

It was a small victory for healthy food. It was a moment of overcoming one’s prejudices.  And it was a reminder that if you’re reluctant to try new things, you may miss out on something very satisfying.