Restaurateur's Vision: All-Vegetarian Fast Food

	Where's the Beef?

When James Tu tells people he thinks most vegetarian food tastes awful, it might not sound like such a big deal.

The only problem, however, is the fact that Tu owns and operates one of the country's finest vegetarian dining spots: New York City's Zen Palate restaurant.

What's more, he's planning to take Zen Palate national and introduce a line of vegetarian fast-food outlets, known as Zen Burger, as well as start a line of prepared convenience foods under the name Fro-Zen, which will be distributed through natural-food markets like Whole Foods(WFMI Quote) and Trader Joe's.

Not bad for a former Wall Street money manager -- a profession most usually associated with more carnivorous types.

A Change of Plate

Tu, a native of Taiwan who came to the U.S. in 1993, originally became vegetarian only nine years ago, but then was quickly faced with a dearth of quality vegetarian dining alternatives.

"I looked around and I saw nothing except the Zen Palate restaurant," says Tu, which is notable to many New Yorkers (and even nonvegetarians) for its Asian fusion-style vegetarian food. ...