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You (Still) Can’t Trust Swingers.
64April 27th, 2011LA restaurants, swingersDear oh dear! Looks like we stumbled upon yet ANOTHER piece of vegan drama. Earlier today we received an email from Amanda Graham that we thought was an honest attempt to inform us about a misunderstanding, or inaccuracy, about the original post accusing Swingers restaurants of being lax in the disclosure of the ingredients in their “vegan” dishes.
Our policy is to immediately remove any posts that accuse us of inaccuracy, investigate the background and then issue an update as soon as possible. As soon as we received the email, we took down this post, and here’s the result of our investigation:
You cannot trust Swingers.
Why? Because Amanda Graham is confused, defensive and somewhat inconsistent with her defense of the restaurant she manages. Here are some facts, which we’ve taken great pains to verify tonight:
– TWO people have told us that they have seen tortilla packages with “Lard” as an ingredient at the West Hollywood location
– FIVE people have told us that servers have told them that the tortillas have been described as non-vegan by servers, again at the West Hollywood location
– A stunning SEVEN people have told us that the buns have been described as non-vegan by servers, again at the West Hollywood location
-We CALLED OURSELVES and verified on 3 separate occasions that the corn and flour tortillas (according to staff members) at the West Hollywood location were not vegetarian
– The receipts and ingredient labels (corn tortilla, flour tortilla, wheat tortilla, vegan cheese, sysco, and satisfaction produce) are all for the Santa Monica location (not covered in the original post) and cannot be proven as being from the particular menu items in question above.This, in addition to our extensive research before we posted originally, points a very, ahem, pointed finger at Swingers management and staff which shows that, at best they are serving vegan food that the servers and kitchen staff think isn’t vegan (and has erroneous labeling to boot) or, at worst, has systemic communication issues within its ranks. Here’s our email exchange, so make up your own minds. After all, at the end of the day, how can you trust a restaurant where the kitchen staff tell you that something is not vegan when the management allege that it is? Surely, there’s a much greater chance of the opposite being true.
Note that we were not planning to publish this complete email, but Amanda posted it to her Scribd account, so we felt that as it was in public we had to respond in a public forum.
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From: “Amanda Graham”
Date: April 27, 2011 4:27:43 PM PDT
To: “‘quarrygirl'”
Subject: RE: blog post on swingers dinerDear QuarryGirl,
This response comes on behalf of both Swingers locations and from our HQ office. For the most part, both Swingers locations order the same products from the same vendors. In the case of the items in question – we order the same products at both stores and therefore, all are 100% vegan.
In your article, you mention you called Swingers on two occasions both speaking to “a guy on the phone”. Since you do not identify this employee by name, we cannot speak directly to this “guy on the phone” to verify the validity of these conversations, much less what exactly was said.
Similarly, we cannot reasonably determine what customers have reportedly seen on our packages because they are not here to defend their claims. We can simply reiterate that we do not and have not carried tortillas containing lard for a long, long time.
As for the notion that there have been way too many incidents for this just to be a misunderstanding, we eagerly counter with the following examples:
Similar to the game of telephone, one misinformed person can spread bad information like a wildfire. Some of the comments below your article even suggested that there should be a class action lawsuit against Swingers for deceptive practices. Suggesting a lawsuit before anyone has determined the facts illustrates just how far information get out of hand, especially without all of the facts.
On the political front, 38% of Americans – according to a recent Gallup poll – believed that the President was not born in the United States – even though his birth certificate has already been provided. As this example illustrates, perception among the general public tends to carry far more weight than actual evidence.
In spite of all of that, we are willing to provide this evidence and would like to reiterate that we are protected – by law – against any claims that can be damaging to our business when such claims are made without factual basis and especially after facts have been clearly brought to light.
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
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Amanda Graham
General Manager
Swingers Diner Santa Monica802 Broadway
Santa Monica Ca 90401___________________________________________________________________________________
From: quarrygirl
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 3:08 PM
To: Amanda Graham
Subject: Re: blog post on swingers dinerhi there,
thanks for writing to me. i would be happy to post pictures of your ingredients on the site.
however, i just want to point out that i have called the beverly location (not santa monica) several times and was told repeatedly that both corn and flour tortillas contain lard and wheat do not. not just that, but a few commenters have reportedly seen “lard” as an ingredient on the packages themselves, AND were also told by the waitstaff that tortillas contain lard. do you know if the beverly location uses the same tortillas as you? this is way too many incidents for it to be just a misunderstanding.
also, if you have ingredients for your hamburger buns, could you send those as well? there’s a whole thread in the forums claiming the buns aren’t vegan. are they?
http://forums.quarrygirl.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=841
again, this thread appears to be about the hollywood location.
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On 27 April 2011 14:55, Amanda Graham wrote:
Dear QuarryGirl,
We are writing in response to your post entitled “you can’t trust swingers.” Your “investigation” is based on erroneous information from second-hand sources (that are unnamed), and alleged calls to one or both Swingers to verify said misinformation, twice referring to “a guy on the phone.” Perhaps your post ought to be retitled “You can’t trust QuarryGirl.”
With regard to your allegations:
(1) The soy cheese contains casein and is therefore not vegan.
(2) The tortillas contain lardThe soy cheese is purchased from Sysco and is called Tofutti Soy Mozzarella. The ingredients read: water, may contain one or more of the following oils (soy corn or palm), tofu, soy protein, carrageenan, maltodextrin, vinegar, corn starch, calcium phosphate, potato flakes, salt, potassium phosphate, non dairy lactic acid, adipic acid, soy, natural colors and potassium sorbate (added as a preservative). Please see below, we have included an excerpt from their website and attached a snapshot of the product, showing the ingredients stated above.
Soy Cheese | Tofutti
Tofutti makes delicious dairy free soy cheese; including mozzarella & American slices. Tofutti Soy-Cheese Slices® are a vegan alternative to regular cheese
The tortillas do NOT contain lard. We don’t know who your source(s) is/are, but they are simply incorrect. We order and have ordered from Diane’s Tortilla which are all vegan. Following this email are photos of our products packaging as well as copies of invoices that predate your “investigation”.
As a restaurant that has been in business for nearly 20 years (and vegan friendly from day one – long before it was mainstream) we take our jobs and food commitment seriously. In addition to taking every step to ensure we are compliant with city, county and state regulations, we work hard to serve our clientele honest food at honest prices. In view of the evidence we have provided regarding some of QuarryGirl’s unsubstantiated posts – we request that you post this entire e-mail, photos and invoices on your site.
In the future, if you – or any patron who questions the validity of our representation in serving vegan items – wish to produce a post discussing our restaurant, we ask that you take the time to actually investigate, rather than basing your post on a “guy on the phone.”
Respectfully,
Swingers Management
64 responses to “You (Still) Can’t Trust Swingers.”
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“On the political front, 38% of Americans – according to a recent Gallup poll – believed that the President was not born in the United States – even though his birth certificate has already been provided. As this example illustrates, perception among the general public tends to carry far more weight than actual evidence.”
Is she serious? What a crock of shit. Has nothing to do with the vegan or non-vegan ingredients of Swingers.
I bet she’s gonna be in a whole lot of trouble for this childish outburst.
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cannon12 April 27th, 2011 at 20:56
This is BS. Some guy from the kitchen brought out a package of tortillas to me while I was sitting at the counter at the Beverly restaurant and it said “Lard” very clearly as an ingredient. I saw it with my own eyes.
Fuck them.
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Yawn. I saw with my own fucking eyes that Swingers tortillas had lard in them. Read it on the ingredients and walked straight out. No amount of invoices can undo that.
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http://www.linkedin.com/company/committed-inc.
“Being the flagship Committed Incorporated store, Swingers continues to rock into the future with a plethora of tasty dishes, desserts and specialty items. Whether it’s vegan or standard diner fair, Swingers stands high above the competition.”
OMG. so lame.
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valleygurl April 27th, 2011 at 21:07
Swingers is crap since Jon Sidel sold it. He knew how to run a restaurant and make it work. I’m glad he went on to bigger and better things (like discovering the White Stripes).
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ElizaBeth April 27th, 2011 at 21:11
And where are the “vegan” tortilla ingredients?? did they send them to you in another email because they didn’t list them along with the soy cheese..
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Wow. Nice scare quotes, Amanda. And so many! You got a new widdle toy, oh yes you did . . .
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No Meat April 27th, 2011 at 21:18
So basically by constantly bringing up the “guy on the phone” think she is calling QG a liar. She is saying: You didn’t really talk to anyone at our restaurants who said that.
She is NOT saying, “I believe you that you called our restaurant but it turns out our staff tend to see words in ingredient lists that aren’t really there.”
Based on track records, I don’t expect many people to believe what she has to say or her motivations for saying it. To use her own (stupid) analogy, she is Donald Trump.
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Jennifer April 27th, 2011 at 21:23
Are the tortillas from “Diane’s” or “Diana’s”? My husband’s uncle owns Diana’s tortillas, so I can clear that one up with a phone call if needed.
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Perhaps one of your readers who lives in the area of this chain can request to see the boxes/packages/list of these items again and take a photo to show. Or at least talk to someone and get a name to speak to Amanda.
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Krysten April 27th, 2011 at 21:33
“Perhaps it should be titled ‘You can’t trust QuarryGirl.'”? What a bitch.
Writing assholeish responses doesn’t win over customers, vegan ingredients or not. When you have a restaurant, people are going to give you negative reviews. Responding like a prick isn’t going to help you any. Grow the fuck up.
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“I’m sorry if it’s not good enough for you vegans.” are you fucking serious?
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Krysten April 27th, 2011 at 21:38
Man, she can’t resist having the last word, can she? She’s an example
of the kind of people that make trolling fun. -
making ingredients available to customers is a pretty basic part of the restaurant business. it’s not difficult. look at the packages. animal products? not vegan, so vegan customers must substitute. no animal products? vegans are good to go. knowing and disclosing if certain ingredients are in certain products is not a difficult task at all. swingers’ management has simply made a shady business decision.
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meghan April 27th, 2011 at 21:46
Whoa guys. Let’s not get personal. Maybe the two branches are run differently. I’m sure they’ll show you the package before you order if you’re concerned.
I believe her that they are really trying and I also believe that sometimes they mess up at the weho location. I think it can be solved easily by saying “I’d like the Vegan Cobb Salad I think, but before you put in the order, could I just take a look at the package for the soy cheese?” I’ll bet the server will say “sure” and we can all go on our way.
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Charlie April 27th, 2011 at 21:49
God, Swingers, what a rookie response to this issue. Why be so such assholes? Amanda, are you a high school girl? The “game of telephone” analogy is just embarrassing.
I will never, ever go to Swingers again and will tell everybody I know to do the same, and tell their friends too. I hate your corporate identity and patronizing approach.
As part of the gay leather community in WeHo (as a vegan I wear pleather, of course) you will be seeing a lot less of us on Saturday nights.
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meghan, i understand what you’re saying, but i’d like to trust that when something is labeled “vegan” that i can actually eat it. i don’t want to look at the package of every ingredient of every dish i order at a restaurant. this maneuver is saved for restaurants that don’t claim to be aware what “vegan” is.
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how does this girl even know his birth certificate is real? what a terrible analogy.
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my girlfriend worked at the Beverly Swingers and she tells me that they would buy tortillas and buns from grocery stores all the time when they ran out as the headquarters would never buy enough supplies in case they went to waste. She says other shit about Swingers too. I’d never eat there as a result. And I’m a died in the wool meat eater.
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black0nblack April 27th, 2011 at 22:05
Honestly, the fact that Swingers among other restaurant owners accused of pulling the ole’ vegan switcheroo are so offended about a post on a blog that they mention their legal rights against slander is really flattering to you Quarrygirl because it means they consider your page big and important enough to be afraid when you tell people you don’t think they should eat there if they are worried about contamination.
I’ve been to swingers many times for late night b/c it’s open and there and the food was never amazing- it was good not great. the wait staff to my knowledge (at least for late night) has ALWAYS been stoned so the fact they tell you things aren’t vegan might also be attributed to them not wanting to spend time/energy finding and reading ingredients for a customer when it’s easier to just tell them to play it safe and not order the food in question b/c it’s not vegan. OR it really isn’t. either way like everyone has pointed out- unless you’re reading the labels on everything the restaurant has delivered yourself, you really can’t trust any place but your own kitchen.
Also maybe amanda should have done some of her own research before getting rude eg mani’s bakery.
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Amanda. Why, why, WHY would you write, and then publicize something so inane?
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I have worked in the Restaurant business for over 10 years… This is the lamest statement I have EVER heard!?
So because you “work hard”, you can scam your customers by providing the wrong information!? REALLY!?Listing accurate ingredients is one of the most basic restaurant (legal) expectations, not just to accommodate diets, but to even avoid injuries (such in allergies)…
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The Obama card? The OBAMA CARD?! Can we give that a name and file it next to Godwin’s Law?
Never eating there.
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Wow, those are some rookie emails.
As for the “Amanda Graham” who posted in the responses, no one is claiming that’s the REAL Amanda. Before going off, remember that. Anyone can sign this form as Amanda Graham. No need to be nasty.
#PMA
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Gauri Radha गौरी राधा April 28th, 2011 at 05:11
Okay, well, I guess hopefully they manage to figure out and provide a consistent/accurate ingredients list for their vegan items for those of us who are trying to stay on the vegan path.
Having this information on hand would be helpful. -
kelebek April 28th, 2011 at 05:40
Can you say red herring? Sigh…I hate when honest inquiry turns feisty. 🙁
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Gregalor April 28th, 2011 at 07:19
“The restaurant business is difficult and we do our best. I’m sorry if it’s not good enough for you vegans.”
I’m taking this as an admission of guilt.
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Gregalor April 28th, 2011 at 07:21
I already feel like enough of a fifth wheel at restaurants without being the kook who asks to see packaging, thanks.
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hatebeast April 28th, 2011 at 07:21
So they provided ingredient lists that confirm the stuff theyre serving is vegan, with invoices as well? I’d say that’s a little more solid than “I heard it from TWO people”. I’d bet if you’d go to the restaurant, they’d show you everything. Then you would be able to confirm the rumors you’ve heard. That would be a proper investigation and wouldn’t leave you open to accusations of libel/slander.
Having said that, it certainly sounds like they need to educate their staff better to avoid mis-communication. Swingers has never been known for their outstanding customer service…
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That was a really dumb tone for someone to take with a food blogger. Talk about destroying your own reputation…
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chroma April 28th, 2011 at 08:39
I’m not a vegan, but Swingers is for sure not to be relied upon. As a moderately observant Jew, I don’t eat pork, and I’ve been served bacon when I specifically asked not to have it.
They brought my dish back to me having just removed the bacon – the fat and taste were still on the plate. I can only imagine how annoying this kind of thing must be for vegans.
Also, one of the servers told me not to order the tortillas as they contained lard when I said that I didn’t eat pork (lard is pig fat, I think). Something is up at Swingers and I do hope this teaches them a lesson – I do really enjoy going there.
That email from Amanda was patronizing, though, and really poorly thought out. I like the way Quarry Girl tried to suggest it not be published!
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Shame on you Swingers. It was a misstep on your part Amanda, to email QG. For you to publish your emails will likely cost you your position within Swingers. You chose to represent Swingers with statements that reveals your lack of customer service training and basic common sense. I know if you were my employee running that location quick action would be taken to replace you. You did not graciously accept that PAYING CUSTOMERS did in fact have SERIOUS FOOD HEALTH issues at your restaurant. Every manager who deals with customers knows that you keep the PAYING CUSTOMER happy and investigate the problem till it is solved. Instead, with a quick stroke of anger you have alienated many, many PAYING CUSTOMERS. I’m sure your bosses and owners will not be pleased with you. We vegans are a social bunch, we love to be able to go out with our meat-eating friends and enjoy a great meal with a friendly atmosphere. As the general manager your training should have included how serious it is to misrepresent ingredients on your menu. You should know by now that the Vegan community scrutinizes restaurant menus. We are well-versed in asking the waitstaff lots of questions. We are not new at this. We deal with this ignorance every single day.
Bottom Line: You Blew It.
Your venue is now OFF THE LIST. And by list I mean ALL the vegan eatery lists-ya’ know all over the internet. You have started an avalanche. Once a restaurant gets this kind of publicity, you are branded for life. Swingers gives me a nasty taste in my mouth. Me and every single vegan/vegetarian in Twitter world and FaceBook.
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polish1 April 28th, 2011 at 08:49
HOLD ON A MINUTE. I have totally been told that the flour tortillas contain lard at the Beverly restaurant. I ordered a dish and the server said “if you’re vegetarian, avoid the flour tortillas as they have lard” and this was about 2 weeks ago.
Swingers may be buying lard-free tortillas going forward, but according to the server (tall girl, black hair, leg tattoos) who went back to the kitchen and checked the four tortillas contained lard. Open and shut.
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If a menu lists a certain dish as vegan, how HILARIOUS to think that anyone should in any way feel obligated to ASK TO SEE THE INGREDIENTS LIST ON A PACKAGE!!!!! Hahahahahahahaha! GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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There’s a reason that journalists are protected from having to disclose their sources. If QG disclosed to Amanda the names of employees who told her that the vegan food wasn’t really vegan, Amanda could just have those people fired and then tell the rest of the crew, “If it says vegan, it’s vegan, no questions asked, or you’re next!” She sure sounds like the kind of manager who would do that.
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oh vegans vegans vegans…we alienate ourselves. the way we demand everyone caters to our needs (read: the WAY we DEMAND) is the reason we have so few options. if i ran swingers i’d’ve thrown in the vegan towel after this debacle and said fuck. it. because we are clearly not worth it.
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Gregalor April 28th, 2011 at 15:48
I don’t care if they have vegan options or not. But don’t list things on the menu as vegan if they aren’t. By all means, don’t change the ingredients, but take the stupid “peace sign” icons off the menu and I’ll be happy.
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Even more reason for me to never again enter their asscrack of a restaurant.
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Rachel April 28th, 2011 at 16:26
How entirely immature. This woman really needs to grow up. A food blogger voicing a concern about the validity of labeling because of being told on several fronts (both employee and customer) from several people that many items listed as vegan are not so is something that should be calmly and thoroughly addressed. It should not lead her as a manager to just fly off the handle and alienate a customer base.
She’s absolutely right that “perception among the general public tends to carry far more weight than actual evidence”. And now the perception among the general public is that Swingers is managed by a woman with the attitude of a pre-teen girl who doesn’t give a fuck about her customers, or as she refers to them, “you vegans”. And her emails are the “actual evidence” to prove it.
Fuck Swingers. -
no one demanded swingers carry vegan options. if they decide to label something “vegan” it should be vegan. just like something labeled “kosher” should be kosher, something labeled “gluten-free” should be gluten-free, and so on and so forth. it was swingers’ choice to involve themselves in the vegan community.
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Carrie R. April 28th, 2011 at 22:40
Ok, is anyone actually talking to the staff in person? I love your blog, QG, but I feel like this is starting to sound like a lot of hearsay. I love Swingers and have been eating there (the SM location) since you first blogged about them in 2008. I’m going to go in tonight and talk to an actual person.
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Carrie R. April 28th, 2011 at 22:57
Ok, is anyone actually talking to the staff in person? I love your blog, QG, but I feel like this is starting to sound like a lot of hearsay. I love Swingers and have been eating there (the SM location) since you first blogged about them in 2008. I’m going to go in tonight and talk to an actual person.Ok, is anyone actually talking to the staff in person? I love your blog, QG, but I feel like this is starting to sound like a lot of hearsay. I love Swingers and have been eating there (the SM location) since you first blogged about them in 2008. I’m going to go in tonight and talk to an actual person.
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Amanda is a cunt. I’ve never been to Swingers, but I know plenty of meat eaters who love the place. I’ll spread the word to everyone I know to stop supporting this disgusting business.
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Valerie April 29th, 2011 at 12:43
hahaha sorry that just made me burst out in laughter and I had to announce it…
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Totally disagree
This has tuned into a witch hunt- It’s embarrassing (QG)
It’s seems it’s no longer about facts but who is going to get the most press..
this makes me sad..
I “personally” have gone down and looked at the packages and talked to staff at Santa Monica
I WILL CONTINUE TO EAT VEGAN AT SWINGER’S SANTA MONICA
You are not off my “list” Swinger’s – we are a socially connected community but no one has that much power to “ban” you off the list,
get real!
We also have the ability to form our “our own” opinions last I checked! I have made mine based on my own eyes, thanks. -
Gina Gem May 2nd, 2011 at 09:13
it was an analogy in view of what is going on in the world, why are you such a hater? She was making a point that just bc a bunch of know-it-alls say it’s so…. doesn’t mean it’s so! I’m a peaceful vegan, I’ve never been to Swingers but I’m inclined to go now. I cant believe how the vegan community crucified this place/woman AFTER she cleared it up listing the ingredients. Seems like they have ill-informed employees, I will give you that, or a disgruntled employee. Shame on the vegans that bashed this girl and yay for Swingers for taking the high road.
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Greg Scott May 2nd, 2011 at 09:15
it was an analogy in view of what is going on in the world, why are you such a hater? She was making a point that just bc a bunch of know-it-alls say it’s so…. doesn’t mean it’s so! I’m a peaceful vegan, I’ve never been to Swingers but I’m inclined to go now. I cant believe how the vegan community crucified this place/woman AFTER she cleared it up listing the ingredients. Seems like they have ill-informed employees, I will give you that, or a disgruntled employee. Shame on the vegans that bashed this girl and yay for Swingers for taking the high road.
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Greg Scott May 2nd, 2011 at 09:16
it was an analogy in view of what is going on in the world, why are you such a hater? She was making a point that just bc a bunch of know-it-alls say it’s so…. doesn’t mean it’s so! I’m a peaceful vegan, I’ve never been to Swingers but I’m inclined to go now. I cant believe how the vegan community crucified this place/woman AFTER she cleared it up listing the ingredients. Seems like they have ill-informed employees, I will give you that, or a disgruntled employee. Shame on the vegans that bashed this girl and good for Swingers for taking the high road.
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Carrie R. May 3rd, 2011 at 00:24
Well guys, I went to the Swingers in Santa Monica and everything seems to be as it should be. One of the managers brought out the packages of tortillas from Diana’s and an invoice from last month to boot.
Can someone who lives in that neck of the woods go to the West Hollywood store and see if they’ll do the same?
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Really? have you even read this, or just the few negative ones.
I am disappointed in all the hate I am reading hear. The restaurant HAS done exactly as asked and provided proof that the products ARE VEGAN… I’ve gone in, (SM) I’ve asked, and I have seen the labels with my own eyes.
Maybe they should take out a sky writing ad. No, they’d probably get blasted for that too.
Don’t ask if you’ve already made up your mind not to believe or are not going to listen to the answer.This whole thing has left a very sour taste in my mouth about this whole site. I will start looking elsewhere for my vegan reports.
Thank you Swinger’s- you still have my business.
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Gregalor May 3rd, 2011 at 08:33
Hey, geniuses: Going out and seeing labels for yourself is great and all, but you’re all going to the Santa Monica location. As far as I know, there’s never been any reports of anything weird at that location, and the evidence supplied by Amanda Graham were from the Santa Monica location as well.
All the people who saw labels for themselves at the WEST HOLLYWOOD location saw lard listed.
It’s obvious what’s going on here.
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QG –
Thanks for this exposé. Very important to know whether food is being sold correctly and honestly.
Isn’t there an easy way out of this back and forth “she said/she said?”
Why don’t you just go in there and ask to see the packages? Maybe even take a iPhone snap? (although they have a weird camera thing at Swingers).
I’m totally on your side with this (I would LOSE it if I found out a totrilla on a vegan burrito had lard in it), but I have to agree that the “guy on the phone” report isn’t reliable.
And while I totally agree that management is much more likely to LIE than a server, I also know (having worked in the food service industry) that a server is more likely to be IGNORANT (in the technical sense of the word) than management.
I knew a bartender once that thought tonic water and club soda was the same thing.
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Standup June 2nd, 2011 at 14:07
Yes he did. He co-owned it. Why would you jump to calling someone an idiot so quickly? Whether or not you were right? Look at what the internet has done to human relations. You’re obnoxious AND you’re wrong. Which makes you hilarious. Touche. Maybe you’re some kind of avant-gard post-reality-tv comedian whose brand of comedy is to make himself the joke. Bravo. Your life is the punchline. I tip my hat to you, sir.
franco_spinetti April 27th, 2011 at 20:56