So where did I eat this ‘vegetarian’ potato soup?

Thanks to several co-workers who lead a meatless lifestyle, I’ve become a lot more sensitive to the tribulations that local vegetarians and vegans must endure in Kansas City restaurants. Even though I still eat meat, I find myself asking questions in dining venues that my vegetarian friends might wonder about. Are the refried beans cooked in lard? And speaking of lard, what about the biscuits — or the pie crust?

Recently, I dined in a new upscale restaurant that offered, as the potage de jour, a bowl of potato soup prepared with caramelized onions. The waitress raved about the soup. “It’s not a vegan soup,” she informed us, “because it’s made with cream. But it’s a wonderful vegetarian soup.”

For some reason, I didn’t trust her.