Meat off the menu at Ottawa’s CityFolk Festival on Friday at Morrissey’s behest

Morrissey has asked vendors not to sell any meat products Friday night as he headlines CityFolk. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

It’s the third night of CityFolk Festival in Ottawa but some may be left asking – where’s the beef? Or even, where is the meat all together?

Headliner Morrissey, a vegetarian, requested vendors not sell any meat during the day he performs—meaning many have had to change up their menus.

At Moonshine BBQ Smokehouse’s food truck, the pulled pork poutine has been a big seller at the festival, according to owner Melissa Beaver.

“Normally we serve poutines with pulled pork and brisket and wings,” she explains. “You know, just those really meaty things from a smokehouse that you always expect. Today we’re actually pivoting a little bit.”

That pivot comes after CityFolk says Morrissey requested that no meat be served on the grounds at all, so she and the other food vendors have a vegetarian menu for Friday only.

She says that means “no types of meat, no gravies and including meat or anything like that.”

The smokehouse says they’ll be serving up items like mac and cheese, jalapeno peppers and a custom poutine.

“We created a vegetarian gravy for tonight,” she says. “So, still with our twist of that smoky flavor and those spices and stuff like that, but just with no meat all.”

This request may be unusual, but Beaver says they had a heads up.

“Honestly, we were informed before I was signing the contracts to come onto this, so we knew about this for a while,” she explains.

The Manchester-born Morrissey, now a solo artist, is best known as the frontman for The Smiths, but he’s also known as an animal rights activist.

CityFolk Executive Director Mark Monahan says festivalgoers can expect to have their bags checked as well for any contraband meat products like you would for alcohol.

“It’s something we’re doing to accommodate him and his crew, and we’re excited about having him here,” he says.

Monahan says it’s not the first big ask from an artist. Someone once asked for single use plastics to be banned on the grounds.

“It wasn’t possible to accommodate,” he says. “This was not honestly that difficult to accommodate. Everyone has been on board. And we’re hoping that people will accept this for the evening and tomorrow, they can come and have some chicken”.

Beaver says the items on the specialized menu will be comparable to the cost of her usual items, so she won’t be taking a loss.

“We’re here to have a good time, serve some good food. That’s all that matters to us,” she says. “As long as everyone is having a good time.”

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