New Vegan Restaurant to Open in Twin Cities Area

Vegan fast-casual restaurant J. Selby—a name inspired by vegetable farmer Jeremiah W. Selby, who owned the plot which now houses the St. Paul Cathedral—is slated to open in Saint Paul, MN in November. The menu will be prepared by vegetarian chef Rick Berdahl and will be comprised of plant-based appetizers, sandwiches (a take on the Big Mac is in the works), desserts, and a dedicated brunch menu featuring fare such as scrambles, hash, French toast, and pancakes. J. Selby will also use items from neighbor vegan butcher shop The Herbivorous Butcher, most notably their All-American Breakfast Sausages. Owner Matthew Clayton was inspired to open J. Selby to create more vegan options for the underserved population in the Twin Cities area. “You know the story—a menu of meat, poultry, seafood, and some lonely Boca burger at the bottom,” Clayton told VegNews. “As a vegan diner, I felt like an afterthought on most places’ menu[s].” Clayton went vegan after following the Forks Over Knives plan and listening to animal activist Melanie Joy’s lectures on carnism. “It is clear that animal-based foods are an amazing stress on the environment, both from climate change and water consumption perspectives,” Clayton said. “It is also clear that the whole-foo, plant-based diet is optimal for human health.”