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The vegan Coney dog is to be among menu items at Chili Mustard Onions, an all-vegan restaurant to open this fall on 3411 Brush Street in Detroit.(Photo: Pete LaCombe)

A wienerloaded with mustard, onion and chili,it looksjust like a coney dog. But there are zero animal parts.

Same goes for the Big Mockburger an homage to the McDonald's Big Macstacked with patties, a cheese substitute,pickles, lettuce and a special sauce.

Pete LaCombe, 47, plans to open Chili Mustard Onions, a 100% vegan, Coney Island-style restaurant, by about September at 3411 Brush Street in Detroit.

He ate the real thing most of his life. But 4 years ago, after seeing a documentary about suffering animals, he and his family decided to stop consuming critters.

"When you see where it comes from, it's crazy," he said of meat.

Pete Lacombe, pictured here with his wife, Shellee, plans to open Chili Mustard Onions, an all-vegan restaurant this fall on 3411 Brush Street in Detroit.(Photo: Pete LaCombe)

Since the Facebook page went up, LaCombe said he's already hearing from angry carnivores.

"People say, 'What the (expletive)'s wrong with you hipsters? Leave the Coney Island alone,'" LaCombe said. "That kind of hate keeps me going. It really does. Because I'm striking a chord with everybody not just the vegans, but everybody."

Coney Island diners, where meat-based chili dogs are among meat-laden menu items,are a beloved part of Detroit life. But LaCombe claims his recipes are good enough to please people used to meat.

"They want something they love, but that they're not going to get heartburn from," he said. "I want to show people you can eat your favorite food but veganized."

So what's in a vegan coney dog? Organic spice and soy crumble, "to give it a little texture," are among the chili ingredients. The wieners areskinless,vegan, gluten-free Smart Dogs (which, according to theirwebsite, contain soy, evaporated cane syrup, pea protein isolate, tapioca starch and more).

The vegan "Big Mock," inspired by the McDonald's "Big Mac," is to be among menu items at Chili Mustard Onions, an all-vegan restaurant to open this fall on 3411 Brush Street in Detroit.(Photo: Pete LaCombe)

LaCombe said the chili recipe is his own, and he'll be using Smart Dogs, a store-bought Lifelight brand,until he starts making his own vegan hot dogs. The Big Mockwill use patties from Beyond Meat (made with pea protein, according to its website), cheesesubstitute fromFollow Your Heart(coconut oil, modified food starch, potato starch and more, according to its website) and a special sauce made with about six ingredients that LaCombe said tastes just likeBig Mac sauce.

The food, while cholesterol-free, isn't super healthy. The Big Mock has about 500 calories, LaCombe said, which is only about 63less than a Big Mac from McDonald's. Vegan desserts such as vegan bumpy cake and Hostess-style cupcakes are also to be served at Chili MustardOnions, where LaCombe will be head chef as well as owner.

LaCombe, of Grosse Pointe Farms,previously worked in automotive design. Inspired by the documentary film "Earthlings," which includes topics of animals suffering for the food industry, hewent vegan with his wife and daughter.

After developing recipes similar to meat foods he used to enjoy, LaCombe said he wants to share them with others.

"What I'm trying to do is eliminate the kale and tofu mess that's what vegans eat. Rabbit food," he said. "For me, it's all about animals first, health benefits and earth benefits second."

Contact Robert Allen: rallen@freepress.com. Follow himon Twitter @rallenMI .

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Detroit eatery to serve vegan Coney dog - Detroit Free Press