T
o the untrained eye, the average restaurant menu seems devoid of options for people seeking an animal-free meal. In reality, there are a plethora of delicious options, even for vegan people, who must avoid butter, eggs, and meat. Trust me: the world is your (vegan) oyster. In the Hamilton area there is an eclectic variety of vegan treats just waiting to be discovered. Love Mexican? Try Mex-i-can (107 James St N, Hamilton)! As their menu states, they will “veganize” any of their dishes by substituting the meat with vegetable sauté mix. Have a sweet tooth? Sestres Fine Pastries (191 Ottawa St N, Hamilton) selection of vegan fine goodies will satisfy it! You can even get a grilled “cheese” sandwich (made with non-dairy cheese) at Homegrown Hamilton (27 King William St, Hamilton).
Nicki Varkevisser
Kind Food 399 John St, Burlington This is the closest vegan restaurant to Hamilton, and oh boy, is it worth the trip. Kind Food has a simple menu that focuses on using healthy and organic ingredients. I shared their Rueben and a Buddha bowl with my dining partner. Both were very satisfying but the Rueben was just extra fantastic – the melted mix of Daiya (dairy free cheese), sauerkraut, Russian dressing and tempeh (a meat replacement made with fermented soybeans) even satisfied a regular meat-eater. Afterwards we couldn’t resist trying the delectable sweets displayed at the front. We ended up splitting the Mile High Brownie – a dark, chocolate-y brownie, layered with butter cream icing, chocolate ganache, and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It was one classy brownie – so much going on, but not too sweet…just perfectly perfect. We also sampled the lemon gem cupcake, which was fantastically fresh and yummy. What makes these desserts even more incredible is that they are vegan, gluten-free, have no refined sugars and still taste better than the average cupcake or brownie. Luckily for us Hamiltonians, Kind Food is moving their bakery to Locke Street (under the name of GFV Baking Co.). If you simply can’t wait for them to open, don’t worry, you don’t have to. Their desserts are now available at the East Meets West Thai Memory Bistro on campus! 25 King William St, Hamilton After perusing the menu with friends for India Village an embarrassingly long time, we decided to 370 Wilson St E, Ancaster go back to basics and order the most well Though it is not an exclusively vegan or vegetarian restaurant, India known Thai dishes. We started with the Village is a vegan dream for those who love big flavour. All of their “Vegetarian Lover’s Plate.” After one easy vegan dishes are clearly marked and their vegan holster contains “veganization” (asked for no egg), we got such treasures as chana masala (a popular chickpea dish), vegetable ourselves a fine assortment of appetizers samosas, and methi garlic roti (an Indian flatbread) that perfectly to try. We found the kabobs and fresh rolls complements the curry dishes. On this trip we chose the Bhindi a bit bland, the sauces delicious, and the Karahi – a medium spiced medley of vegetables including okra – spring rolls average, but crispy corn patties a crazy veggie I’d never tried before. The dish was topped with won our taste buds over and came out as a sprigs of fresh ginger – a taste that stood out amongst the blend favourite. My friends described the Mushof delectable spices in the tomato based sauce. The favoured dish room Tom Yum soup’s mingling flavours of the evening was the mushroom bhaji – savoury button mushas “cool” and “intense.” We also all noted rooms paired with onions and peas in a spiced tomato based sauce. We ordered this the large sheets of (what we later deduced one mild –medium spiciness, and the touch of heat was perfect. This is another reswas) lemongrass floating around in it. Lasttaurant to please all types of diners. Even for those who don’t like spicy food, India ly, the vegetarian Pad Thai (sans egg) was Village has plenty of mild options. Both locations are cosy, and can get busy – so a tasty and had the right tangy-sweetness. I reservation is recommended on weeknights. recommend this place to Thai lovers of all Notes: Ask for the roti (bread), unbuttered! sorts - great for omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike, but vegans have to fend Affinity for themselves because they don’t differ87 John St S, Hamilton entiate between the vegetarian and vegan Affinity is an all-vegetarian restaurant with a huge selection of clearly marked vegan dishes. dishes including the best faux meats in town. Though they have a dinner buffet, my Notes: When ordering vegan, double check ultimate favourite is ordering the Sweet and Sour Soy Chicken à la carte; nothing with your server that your dish can be beats a piping hot plate of tender faux chicken bits and veggies slathered in their made without dairy or eggs. Eggs can be tangy sweet and sour sauce. I definitely recommend Affinity if you want to satisfy a sneaky and find their way into a seemingly meaty craving in a meat-free way. They also have incredible dairy-free ice cream and vegan dish! a huge assortment of tea. ARTWORK BY NICKI VARKEVISSER
Volume 14, Issue 5 ▪ Incite Magazine ▪ 9