Chalk this one up to pure rumor, but when Ellen DeGeneres opens up her new gourmet vegan eatery in Los Angeles, the menu served might just have a bit of guidance from a certain former President of the United States.

Grub site Foodista has a source that says the comedian is interesting in Bill Clinton's opinion on what might appeal to the masses. The 42nd President of the United States, who in 2010 was crowned by PETA as their "Person of the Year", has elevated awareness of the vegan scene since embracing the all-veg diet due to health concerns.

“Bill loved cheeseburgers, fried chicken, and turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. But now he eats much healthier,” the source told Foodista. “He eats more fruits and vegetables, and he loves soups so much that he makes his own cream of asparagus. Ellen sees Bill as the poster boy for veganism, so she’s asked for his input on the restaurant’s menu.”

As I reported late last month, DeGeneres, wife Portia De Rossi, Chrissie Hynde, and film producer Steve Bing are partnering on the new venture. The yet-unnamed eatery will be located on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley and will feature a menu created by vegan chef, Tal Ronnen.

It was also revealed in an AP article this week that DeGeneres and De Rossi are investors in The Veggie Grill, a vegan/vegetarian chain out in California. This is the same establishment that provided all of the delicious vegan grub behind-the-scenes at the Clinton Foundation’s “Decade of Difference” benefit. So it seems they may already have some experience in making a successful eatery come together.

Look for all this talk to become reality (hopefully) sometime in 2012.

Source: Mother Nature Network