He is a teacher, a computer scientist, a photographer, a competitive organic rose gardener and a cooking instructor. Barman, 46, also is president of the Triangle Vegetarian Society and responsible for what has become the nation's largest vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving feast, which will be held for the 10th year at Parizade in Durham.

For those who may not know, vegetarians and vegans do not eat animal products and vegans also exclude dairy.

Since the fall of 2005, Barman, who is a vegan, has undertaken an interesting challenge: to never cook the same dinner for his wife, Sangeeta. As Barman wrote on his Web site: "We weren't together every night, but since fall 2005, we've shared most dinners. I think I can keep up the unique creations through spring 2006 -- maybe beyond!" Well, it's September 2008 and Barman hasn't run out of vegan inspiration yet.

How long have you been a vegetarian?

"Most of my life, not all of my life. ... I used to eat meat periodically. My parents never have eaten meat. It was always clear that something was not good about it or not kosher about it. So for example, if I ate meat, I'd have to then wash my hands and my lips with soap. Just like in the Jewish tradition, there are certain things that are considered ritually unclean, and so meat is considered unclean. My mom didn't allow meat in the house. Once in a great while, we'd pick up a hot dog from outside, then we'd spread newspapers on the floor and I'd sit on the floor. In my first year in college, I did eat meat. ... Then in my second year in college, we had to get apartments. So I went grocery shopping, that's when I saw the meat in the grocery store. That's different -- you clearly see it's a dead animal. I said to myself, 'This is yucky. It's kind of disgusting. Why does the animal have to die? We're perfectly fine without doing that.' That's when I became a vegetarian."

When did you become a vegan?

"I moved here like in 1992, I think, and joined the Triangle Vegetarian Society, which I've now been leading for most of the time since I've been here. I learned even more about veganism. So I took over the group. I wasn't a vegan. I was a lacto-vegetarian. Most people of Indian background who are vegetarian are lacto-vegetarian and they eat plenty of dairy products. I understood the arguments. When I'd give talks, I'd promote veganism. But I'd always be honest and say, but I'm not there yet. Many people were saying, 'You will be vegan.' I'd say, 'I don't think I will. I like my cheese and all.' But I was cutting back. The arguments made good sense. I researched them: whether for your health or the environment or the animals. So I was giving it up. I wasn't eating so many dairy products. In the end, I was eating almost none. I just gave them up. I've been vegan probably six, seven years. Everything people said about veganism turned out to be quite true."

What was that?

"Anecdotally, everybody I know who has become vegan tells me they don't get sick anymore. I used to routinely get two bouts of flu a year, every single year. At least one would be bad; I'd be out of work for like a week. Ever since I gave up dairy products, I haven't been [sick] once."

How challenging is trying never to repeat a meal for your wife?

"It's easy. It's fun. I have so many new ideas."

Are there meals she wants repeated?

"She does. She complains about that some time. ... I think she'd like me to make risotto again. I've made risotto a couple different ways. I will make risotto again, just a completely different way."

To read Barman's blog, go to http://dilipdinner.blogspot.com/

To learn more about the Triangle Vegetarian Society, go to www.trianglevegsociety.org/

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