Vegan says restaurant ban same as excluding ‘Muslims or women’
The vegan community now has beef with a Perth chef, saying they have been discriminated against after the restaurant banned all vegans.
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A notorious animal rights activist has erupted at a celebrity chef after he banned all vegans from his restaurant following an ugly spat with a customer.
Head Chef of Fyre restaurant in Perth, John Mountain, announced on Monday that “all vegans are now banned” from the restaurant.
“Sadly all vegans are now banned from Fyre (for mental health reasons),” he shared on social media.
“We thank you for your understanding. Xx.”
Vegan activist Tash Peterson, known for her public protests, told 7News the ban was a form of “discrimination”.
“This chef is clearly upset by a valid complaint and then to discriminate an entire group of people, I don’t see it any different to banning Muslims or women from a restaurant,” she said.
“He’s obviously quite triggered by veganism and I think it’s maybe a defence mechanism for his own guilt.”
The spat started when a vegan customer called ahead requesting a meal that suited her dietary requirements, to which Mr Mountain agreed.
Unfortunately, he was not working the evening the woman attended and had forgotten to tell his Sous-chef about the special order.
The woman was plated up a “$32 bowl of vegetables”, later taking to private messages to air her grievances with the restaurant owner.
“My only option was the vegetable dish … it was okay but not that filling … and I was shocked to see it was $32,” the complainant told the restaurant in her direct message.
“I think it’s incredibly important nowadays that restaurants can accommodate everyone and to not be able to have actual plant-based meals shows your shortcomings as a chef.
“I hope to see some improvements in your menu as I have lived in Connolly for quite some time and have seen many restaurants come and go from that building and none of them last.
“If you don’t get with the times, I don’t hold out faith that your restaurant will be the one that does.”
Mr Mountain hit back at the woman directly before announcing the ban.
“Thanks for your negative review … please feel free to share your s**tty experience and I look forward to not seeing you again,” he said in the message.
“How very childish. You and all your vegan mates can all go and enjoy your dishes in another venue. You are now banned.”
The chef said part of her complaint was justified, but the woman took it too far.
“Look, I said I would accommodate her, and I didn’t … but she made the complaint personal.”
Since taking the fight public, Fyre has been flooded with one star reviews, which Mr Mountain said “really hurts the business”.
Mr Mountain has also received plenty of support from flesh-eating fans, many of whom have left five star reviews for the restaurant despite never having attended.
The chef told 7 News that he has since threatened the complainant with legal action.
“F*ck vegans,” Mr Mountain said told 7News.
“I’m done. At the end of the day, it’s not what I want to do, they can f**k off.”
Mr Mountain, a celebrated chef who has worked with Marco Pierre White, said offering up “gnocchi” and “vegetables” to the customer had been his “only shortfall”.
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Originally published as Vegan says restaurant ban same as excluding ‘Muslims or women’
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