MINNEAPOLIS — 28 Harker journalism students enjoyed dinner at Ethiopian family-owned vegan restaurant Lulu EthioVegan Cuisine located in downtown Minneapolis.
The moment I stepped into the small brick building, a strong, pleasant aroma of spices and Ethiopian coffee greeted me. Though the seating area was small, the simple but sleek design of the tables and counters made the environment seem more spacious.
Co-owner Gelila Ephrem was one of the many staff that welcomed us warmly when we entered. Ephrem opened Lulu EthioVegan Cuisine with her parents in early November 2023 a few years after becoming vegetarian in seventh grade because of her disgust regarding the meat industry and its mistreatment of animals. Her belief inspired her mom to become vegan and later open a vegan restaurant inspired by Ephrem’s family nickname, Lulu.
During the long process of creating a new business, Ephrem and her family faced difficulties with finding ways to incorporate veganism into traditional Ethiopian cuisine…