Smith & Daughters in Fitzroy is a new brand of vegan restaurant that’s winning over the meat eaters

BILL Clinton is a convert. So too is Google’s Larry Page. Even notorious ear-snacker Mike Tyson has changed his ways and has embraced a meat-free diet.

Man v Food host Adam Richman, famous for travelling across the United States eating the biggest burgers and rack upon rack of barbecued ribs, has reportedly dropped 30kg by adopting a plant-based diet.

It seems veganism, once the domain of hippies, then embraced by the hipsters, has moved from the margins into the mainstream.

But it’s not just male celebrities that are eating more vegan and vegetarian food. Typical Aussie blokes are starting to take to the cuisine too.

According to online restaurant booking service Dimmi, 46 per cent of all bookings at vegetarian restaurants across Australia last year were made by males.

This was a 24 per cent increase on the year before, while the total number of bookings at vegan and vegetarian restaurants increased 58 per cent.

Smith & Daughters in Fitzroy does vegan well. The restaurant, which opened last year on Brunswick St, is the No. 1 restaurant in Australia as voted for by Dimmi diners.

The Latin-themed vegan menu features such dishes as blood sausage and garlic prawns and tuna croquettes alongside more traditional vegetable fare.

“I think we offer a totally different dining experience, which is increasingly hard to come by,” chef and co-owner Shannon Martinez said. “Everyone’s had Thai, or Korean. But garlic prawns without prawns? That’s completely new for many people.”

Source:  Herald Sun - 17th April 2015