Lunch downtown goes vegan

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

During First Friday on Nov. 7, a new lunch spot in downtown Scranton will debut, and it will offer many lunchtime favorites like soups, salads, chicken wings and sandwiches like BLTs, barbecued pork and turkey clubs.

But that turkey club won’t be your typical turkey club, because it’s 100 percent vegan, as is all of the luncheon fare at Eden, a vegan caf�. The new Adams Avenue restaurant is owned and operated by Lackawanna County native Christian Pilosi, a vegan for more than a decade.

“I know myself, being vegan, it’s the kind of thing that if people don’t know about it, they’re reluctant to try and I understand — I was there once, too,” Pilosi says. “It all just happens to be vegan but tastes like what you’d normally recognize.”

Pilosi’s interest in the lifestyle began after he read some PETA material on animal rights and fur in a local library.

“It wasn’t really about food at all. I looked more deeply into it, and I always had pets, so I decided to make a connection and make that change myself,” he explains.

While vegans and vegetarians share many of the same beliefs, vegans do not use any animal products at all, be it food like eggs and dairy, clothing or other products. (Some variants of vegetarianism do allow eggs and dairy.)

Of course, like with any lifestyle diet, there are misconceptions, and Pilosi has heard them all over the years.

“‘Where do you get your protein?’ and things like that. That’s such a misconception — there’s protein in so many different vegetables, as well as soy products,” he says. “I work out every day, or try to, so that misconception of scrawny little vegans is kind of not the case. Anyone can eat unhealthy, no matter what type of diet you have.”

The positives outweigh any misconceptions Pilosi sees.

“You aren’t eating any cholesterol whatsoever, very little saturated fat, so the health benefits, I think, are huge,” he explains. “I wasn’t always vegetarian or vegan, so I really had to push myself. I used to eat McDonald’s a couple times a week for lunch, and I could just feel the difference so quickly when I made the change.”

Pilosi’s path to Eden started out years before he went vegan. He worked in the kitchen of three local nursing homes and as a short order cook in two restaurants as he put himself through college, where he earned a business degree.

“Basically, this is my life’s dream,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to open a vegetarian restaurant, and I have the cooking background before and the business background in between, so I’m kind of pulling it all together to bring what I’m bringing on Friday.”

Samplings from Eden’s menu can be tasted at First Friday, which runs from 6-9 p.m. The photography of Rachel Dare will also be on exhibit. Following the event, Eden’s hours will be Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Pilosi hopes to eventually expand to breakfast and dinner.

“I want to start kind of slowly, get people used to it, get people to come in, and then see where it goes,” he says. “Before we found the location, I had thoughts about a full-scale restaurant/bar at one point, but to be honest, I’m glad it ended up being a lunch place to start with. That can come into the future — it’s good to get onto your feet, especially with something that niche and kind of new.”

Eden is in the former location of the Soup Man, within walking distance of Courthouse Square and the University of Scranton.

“This spot fell in my lap. I wanted to be downtown because of the lunch crowd and colleges, and I’d been looking for quite some time,” Pilosi says. “It’s the perfect spot. I love the street that I’m on.”

Pilosi sees a lot of things happening in Scranton, which is why he feels the time is right for Eden.

“I think Scranton is becoming more progressive, it’s building up. … I just think it’s ready for this type of niche, and from the MySpace page alone, we are getting such a great response from people all around the area and all walks of life.

“Different places are looking for something new for lunch to try, and I know I’ll make it great and as long as people give it a try, they’ll be back. I want to make it comfort lunch food for everybody.”

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Eden, a vegan caf� (344 Adams Ave., Scranton), opening

celebration Friday, Nov. 7, 6-9 p.m. as part of First Friday. Features food samples and the photography of Rachel Dare. Info: myspace.com/eden_cafe, 570.969.1606.