NEW YORK CITY the vegan traveler’s guide
2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS Who We Are Welcome to NYC Places to Dine | In Town Resources
WHO WE ARE Venture Forth was born out of the idea to combine two of life’s best things: traveling and food.
It is our strong belief that good delicious food is out there, in each and every city, being cooked fresh everyday and made with the best ingredients. By “good delicious food” we mean food that gives you what you need, real food, food that not only tastes good but also is also seasonal, grown ethically, clean, local and natural. We believe that a plant-based diet can be bold, exotic and full of flavors from around the world, because there is more out there than a good salad. So, if you are feeling adventurous and want to go on a full-out vegan-eating journey — read on. In this guide we will tell you where the best places to grab a chocolate lava cupcake, Vietnamese spring rolls and green lentil burgers are, all vegan by the way. We know being vegan while traveling can seem like a challenge — but it doesn’t have to be! Venture Forth makes it easier to travel vegan by providing you with each cities own listing of vegan, vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants at your fingertips. With Venture Forth vegans and vegetarians are no longer the odd-ones out, you don’t have to go hungry and live off of salads while abroad. Catering to the needs of vegans and vegetarians is our specialty and commitment. Each guide is designed to introduce you to some of the tastiest veggie food out there. For more information about Venture Forth’s mission, or if you have any questions regarding our travel guides, please do not hesitate to contact us at: VentureForth.com info@ventureforth.com 1-800-VENTURE
WELCOME TO NYC While NYC may be known for its cheesecake, delis and steak houses, it also caters to more than just meat-eaters. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and food stands that offer vegan-friendly foods, usually just as flavorful and appetizing as the meat versions. When you walk down the streets and into different neighborhoods, take the time to read the window menus because they often offer vegetarian friendly meals. While being vegan is another challenge, since avoid steak houses and seafood bars isn’t quite as hard as avoiding bakeries, pizzerias and ice cream shops, NYC is a good place to explore your options. In this guide we have tried to highlight some of the best vegan/vegetarian finds, so that you don’t have to work as hard to find some good eats while staying in the Big Apple.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
BABYCAKES Bakery • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 248 Broome Street, New York, NY 10002 212-667-5047 www.babycakesnyc.com
Vegans can dig their teeth into some decadent cupcakes at this bakery, which is all organic and doesn’t use any dairy, eggs, soy or gluten. BabyCakes also avoids using any nuts in their baking, except for coconuts (which is considered a tree nut). The red velvet organic cupcake or the frosted pumpkin loaf with vanilla frosting could tempt anyone.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
PEACEFOOD CAFE Bakery • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 460 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10024 212-362-2266 www.peacefoodcafe.com
PeaceFood Café is another great find for vegans in NYC Two vegans founded the café on the idea that peace begins on your place and that good food can spread non-violence. Their menu includes things like a raw pizza made of buckwheat, sweet potato and flaxseed crust, topped with red bell peppers, olives, onions, basil and a choice of sauces. Along with pizza, they also offer salads, sandwiches, panini, soups, vegetables and desserts. All desserts are baked in their kitchen without using dairy, eggs or refined sugar.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
SACRED CHOW Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 227 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10012 212-337-0863 www.sacredchow.com
Sacred Chow serves serious vegan food without being to serious about it. They use organic and kosher-certified ingredients, making everything taste fresh and lively. Their menu offers a variety of salads, panini and tapas. Their smoky home fries are a house favorite; try them with hot sauce if you are feeling daring.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
QUINTESSENCE Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 263 E 10th Street, New York, NY 10009 646-654-1823 www.raw-q.com
Quintessence is an oasis in Manhattan, serving exotic food with rare ingredients. Everything served at Quintessence is 100% vegan, organic and raw. Their mission is satisfying your appetite with food that is full of flavor and good for your health. They also have a variety of vegan desserts, including things like chocolate lava cake and homemade ice cream.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
PURE FOOD & WINE Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 54 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 212-477-1010 www.purefoodandwine.com
Coming from a kitchen that has no stove, the food at Pure Food & Wine is something short of a miracle. Everything at this chic restaurant is raw and vegan — from the Pumpkin Apple Crepe with Crimini Mushrooms and Caramelized Carrot Puree to the Hen of the Woods Tacos al Pastor, made of smoked guacamole, hearts of palm, fresh corn, guajilo crema fresca and pickled onions. Really, anything here is worth a try, so be adventurous and give something new a taste.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
BLOSSOM VEGAN RESTAURANT Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 187 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 212-627-1144 www.blossomnyc.com
Blossom offers all egg-less pasta and mock meats that actually taste pretty good. For vegans, Blossom is a gem — try the pan seared seitan cutlets, pistachio and pepper dusted tofu or the hickory BBQ tempeh. They get their ingredients from organic local farms and small distribution companies, to ensure customers are getting the freshest healthiest food available.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
CANDLE CAFE Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 1307 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10021 212-472-0970 www.candlecafe.com
Candle Café is an organic veggie café that has made it their mission to bring healthy food to the Upper East side of Manhattan. This café serves vegan dishes and offers an additional gluten-free menu as well. One favorite is the kale salad with artichoke hearts, radicchio, fennel, carrots and apples, tossed with maple-mustard vinaigrette and topped with capers. They also have fantastic appetizers, sandwiches and cocktails.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
CANDLE 79 Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 154 E 79th Street, New York, NY 10021 212-357-7179 www.cande79.com
Known as a premiere “vegan oasis” Candle 79 has delighted vegans and meat-eaters alike. It is the sister restaurant of Candle Café. They are dedicated to excellent vegetarian cuisine, comprised of a seasonal array of organic ingredients. With a huge menu including squash and wild mushroom spinach ravioli, stuffed avocado and porcini crusted tofu, there is no way you will not find something here you like.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
S’NICE Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 45 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10014 212-645-0310 www.snicecafe.com
This awesome little vegetarian café serves all sorts of casual veggie fare, like sandwiches and salads. Try things like the soy sausage sandwich made with broccoli, rabe and roasted red pepper or the roasted vegetable panini with arugula and goat cheese. They also have a good selection of vegan desserts, like muffins and cupcakes with flavored frosting.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
DIRT CANDY Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 430 E 9th Street, New York, NY 10009 212-228-7732 www.dirtcandynyc.com
Named literally after vegetables, this restaurant is know for its creativity and innovations. Although it might take some advanced planning to get in, Dirt Candy is worth the wait for any vegan or vegetarian who is looking for some food with flair. Feel free to request vegan or vegetarian versions of anything on the menu, helpful if you are dining with meat-eaters. Each dish is designed around specific vegetables, like Beans which consists of coconut poached tofu, sea beans, saffron sauce, long beans and Moroccan herbs and sizzling rice.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
ANGELICA KITCHEN Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 300 E 12th Street, New York, NY 10003 212-228-2909 www.angelicakitchen.com
Angelica Kitchen is one of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in NYC and many still consider it the best. Since 1976, Angelica Kitchen has been an East Village hub for those in search of fresh vegetarian food. Their menu features daily seasonal specials as well as their classic dishes like dashi and noodles, or the Si Se Puede salad with marinated beets and chickpeas. They also offer some great combo deals with a variety of choices for vegans.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
DIM SUM HOUSE Dim Sum • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 24 Pell Street, New York, NY 10013 212-577-7176 www.vegetariandimsum.com
Usually Chinatown consists of a lot of pork buns and friend dumplings, but at Veggie Dum Sum you can find the same dishes with a faux-meat twist. Vegetarian options like the mock shrimp dumplings or the spinach dumplings, satisfy that dim sum need.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
HANGAWI Korean • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 12 E 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016 212-213-0077 www.hangawirestaurant.com
Vegetarians and vegans looking for that distinctive Korean flavor without the sizzling tabletop meats can enjoy this K-town hideaway. Vegetarians can load up on flavorful dumplings, noodles and bibimbap. They also prepare spicy kimchi mushroom pancakes and gluten free organic kale dumplings with tofu. Hangwai also provides an entirely gluten-free menu. Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering, as it is a tradition Korean eatery.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
KAJITSU Kajeski • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 125 E 39th Street, New York, NY 10016 212-228-4873 www.kajitsunyc.com
Most certainly NYC’s only kaiseki restaurant to offer ancient Zen Buddhist vegetarian cuisine known as shojin, Kajitsu flavors are clean and subdued. The flavors may seem understated, but as the meal progresses more flavors emerge, creating a simple but seasoned meal. They offer set menus during lunch, like the Ichiju Sansai, $40, made of three seasonal dishes served with white rice, soup and house made pickles. For dinner there are four and eight course meals, which offer an assortment of tastings, with things like house-made soba noodles and matcha.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
TAIM Falafel • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 222 Waverly Place New York, NY 10014 212-219-0600 www.taimfalafel.com
Taim is a small falafel bar owned by a husband and wife from Tel Aviv who missed their street food from home. They food they serve is both tasty and filling — and they offer vegan options, marking them clearly on the menu. There are plenty of options such as the Sabich sandwich, made of sliced eggplant, fried to order with organic egg, parsley, hummus, Israeli salad, pickled cabbage, amba (mango chutney) and tahini sauce. Their smoothie bar also has great combinations like date, lime and banana or strawberry, raspberry and Thai basil.
PLACES TO DINE IN TOWN
TIFFIN WALLAH Indian • Vegan • Vegetarian $$$$ 127 E 28th Street, New York, NY 10016 212-685-7301 www.tiffindelivery.com
This Indian restaurant is the perfect place to quench the urge for Indian food, for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Start with a samosa chaat and then sample some of the curries and chutneys with options for vegans and vegetarians. They offer a fresh lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. on weekdays, with Indian usuals like creamy saag paneer and gobi masala.
RESOURCES
RESOURCES Venture Forth tries to offer as many opportunities to eat fresh local ingredients as possible. While new stores are popping up yearly, in this section you will find a list of current farmers’ markets, health food stores and vegan meetups.
RESOURCES
FARMERS MARKETS Looking for fresh fruits and vegetables? New York City has many farmers markets, large and small, offering a selection of fresh produce and numerous other products. Most farmers’ markets are open seasonally, although some of the larger ones are open year round. We try to provide the most accurate address we can find, along with additional contact information. Here is a list of some of the farmers’ markets in New York City. Union Square Greenmarket E 17th Street, New York, NY 10003 212-788-7476 Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. 97th Street Greenmarket 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Open year round on Fridays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. 82nd Street, St. Stephen’s Greenmarket 82nd Street between 1st and York Avenues Open year round on Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 79th Street Greenmarket Columbus Avenue between 78th and 81st Streets Open year round on Sundays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Abingdon Square Greenmarket Hudson Street and West 12th Street Open year round on Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Bowling Greenmarket Broadway at Battery Place Open year round on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Columbia Greenmarket Broadway between 114th and 116th Streets Open year round on Thursdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket 47th Street at 2nd Avenue Open year round on Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Path Greenmarket W Broadway between Barclay Street and Park Place Open year round on Tuesdays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
RESOURCES
FARMERS MARKETS Inwood Greenmarket Isham Street between Seaman Avenue and Cooper Street Open year round on Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tribeca Greenmarket Greenwich Street between Chambers and Duane Open year round on Saturdays, Wednesdays from April 2 – December 24, 8 a.m. –3 p.m. Port Authority Bus Terminal Greenmarket 42nd Street at 8th Avenue Open year round on Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Carroll Gardens Greenmarket Carroll Street and Smith Street Open year round on Sundays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fort Green Park Greenmarket Washington Park between Dekalb and Wiloughby Open year round on Saturdays, 8 a.m.– 4 p.m.
RESOURCES
GROCERY STORES Most grocery stores in the NYC area have vegetarian or at least “natural foods” sections that are vegan-friendly. The following list is only of local grocery stores that strongly cater to the vegan demand. Healthyfully Organic Market 98 E 4th Street, New York, NY 10003 212-598-0777 Stocked with all the essentials and a nice juice bar, Healthfully is a market where a lot of locals shop – even over Whole Foods. Veggie Monster 39-86 61st Street, Woodside, NY 11377 718-478-8880 www.aboutme/veggiemonster Along with being a whole food market, Veggie Monster also caters to those who eat all organic. Gary Null’s Uptown Whole Foods 2421 Broadway, New York, NY 10024 212-874-4000 This is the real deal when it comes to fresh organic juices — do not miss the juice bar. Whole Foods Market 95 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10002 212-420-1320 270 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007 212-349-6555 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019 212-823-9600 Whole Foods is a grocery store chain specializing in natural and organic foods. Some locations offer a café. Heath & Harmony 470 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 212-691-3036 This is a small independent grocery, but the staff are knowledgeable and the products are organic and natural. Sai Organics 3021 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102 718-278-1726 A fantastic organic market, with a good selection of gluten-free foods.
RESOURCES
MEETUPS Looking to make some new friends that share the same love of food as you? Maybe you should check out a meetup! The New York City Vegetarian and Vegan Meetup www.meetup.com/vegetarian-nyc If you are looking to try new vegetarian and vegan restaurants, if you enjoy the company of fellow vegetarians and vegans, you should check out this meetup group. Join them as they explore NYC’s vegan cuisines. NYC Vegan EatUP www.meetup.com/nyceatup NYC Vegan EatUP promotes connecting vegan communities around the NYC metro area and beyond. They have been a group for over 10 years, with more than 500 events and nearly 2,000 members. NYC Vegans www.meetup.com/nycvegans NYC Vegans is another channel for vegans to get support from other vegans, they want to help guide you through your dietary journey by going to screenings, dinner outings, business networking events, potlucks and multi-course meals.
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VENTURE FORTH ONLINE Check us out online for more information! Website: www.VentureForth.com Blog: www.ventureforthtravelvegan.wordpress.com
PHOTO CREDITS Shuttle Enterprise Flight To New York by NASA HQ Photo https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/7118799989/ CSA_Week17 by Christopher Paquette http://www.flickr.com/photos/chpaquette/3945966589/in/set72157619465877382 Skyline by Dino Abatzidis http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicshark/612862396/ Chocolate Cupcake, free of everything by Christa http://www.flickr.com/photos/christaface/3600033148/ Raw Pizza by Jeff Hills http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefah/3339382013/ Pasta 22/365 by Gravity_Grave http://www.flickr.com/photos/laureenp/4940633387/ Bruschetta by Pankaj Kaushal http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankaj/5591650622/ Breakfast: Frenchtoast by Fabio http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiomiami/4429622967/ Lotus Plate by Yesica http://www.flickr.com/photos/digiyesica/420342358/ Veganized by Nora Kuby http://www.flickr.com/photos/prideandvegudice/5243395790/ Chantarella Pasta by Blue Moon in Her Eyes http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluumwezi/7604771642/ Fried Seitan Sandwich by Mikehipp http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipperspective/8064535083/ Beans by Robyn Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/7862208306/ 12/365 Eating Well by Eunice http://www.flickr.com/photos/ejchang/11958344933/ Steve’s Dim Sum Birthday by Meng He http://www.flickr.com/photos/missmeng/5385179020/ Hong Kong Style Soup by InterContiental Hongkong http://www.flickr.com/photos/intercontinentalhongkong/5139379306/ Annie’s Café by Travelingmcmahans http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelingmcmahans/2728443084/ Taim by Robyn Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/2131702633/ Uttapam by Robyn Lee http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/2498595922/ Fruit Stand by Chuck Burgess http://www.flickr.com/photos/cb-photography/1678561546/ *All photos available under Creative Commons Attribution Licence