Sister initiate Sophie Lapaire,
San Jose,
California, U.S.A. (Originally in English)
The
Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Vegetarian House
in San Jose, California is not just the most outstanding vegetarian
restaurant I know of, and I have tried many, it is a home away from
home, where friends and family gather to celebrate special occasions.
It is also a place where people come to recharge their batteries, a
welcome reprieve from the business of the world. Guests come in stressed
and leave refreshed, and that is a much more than a typical restaurant
can offer.
Among the many reasons the Vegetarian House is so popular is the
friendly but discreet staff members, who radiate a peaceful atmosphere
because they meditate four to five hours a day. I swear that it also
must be one of the cleanest restaurants on earth, since the cooks
all wear hair nets, masks and gloves, as if they were going into surgery!
Maybe they are, in a way -- serving a subtle bit of Master's energy
in every bite.
Before it became the Vegetarian House, the restaurant was called
Paolo's and was a famous Italian eating place in the 1960s, patronized
by celebrities and political personalities. We also discovered that
it was a favorite rendezvous for John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.
The cellar was reserved for the president's private parties. We now
hold daily group meditation sessions there.
Although we do some advertising, most people hear about the restaurant
from friends who love to recommend the place; it is very charming
to watch. We have local regulars, but many do not mind driving several
hours to eat there. It is comforting to walk into the restaurant to
see that the majority of the customers are not disciples.