Fed-Up Chef Breaks Down Deer Leg in Front of Vegan Protesters | Eater

"A Toronto nose-to-tail bistro run by chef Michael Hunter that became the focus of a prolonged dispute with local vegan activists after a staff-created chalkboard joke reading “Venison is the new kale.” Protesters led by Marni Ugar staged small demonstrations (about six people) with signs like “speciesism = discrimination = injustice,” arguing that even pasture-raised, hormone-free meat isn’t ethically superior to commodity meat and pressuring the restaurant to go fully vegan. Hunter initially tried to placate the crowd by advertising vegan dishes on the sidewalk board, but as the protests escalated — with demonstrators shouting “murderer” at arriving guests — he staged a provocative counter-demonstration by butchering a freshly killed deer leg in the restaurant window; police were called but no charges were filed. He later said he felt he had played into the protesters’ hands; Ugar offered to limit protests to once a month if he would post a sign acknowledging animal rights, and Hunter countered by offering to cook his vegan tasting menu for the activists and take them on a foraging trip. The incident drew media attention and, somewhat unexpectedly, led to a bump in reservations." - Greg Morabito