2 minute read
EVERYBODY EATS No meat? No gluten? No problem
NO MEAT? NO GLUTEN? NO PROBLEM
SUNFLOWER DINER
Advertisement
PHOTO BY HAYETTE BOURAS
BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN
Asheville is home to numerous restaurants that serve awardwinning meat and seafood meals, but its lineup of establishments that specialize in vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other allergy- and diet-restrictive foods is similarly strong. From businesses that exclusively serve alternative items to eateries with menus that accommodate all types of diners, there is more than something for everyone.
• Now in its 10th year of operation, nationally lauded Plant — most recently named by USA Today as one of the top 20 vegan restaurants in the country — maintains its status as a favorite among vegan and omnivore diners alike with its array of flavorful dishes. The restaurant touts itself as being “90% organic, often local and mostly gluten free,” and most items can be prepared soy-free with advance notice. The five-course chef’s tasting menu includes “limited-availability ingredients, secret preparations, dishes in development and staff favorites.”
• Also tapped for USA Today’s top 20 list of vegan restaurants is Rosetta’s Kitchen, a downtown staple for nearly 20 years. Rosetta’s keeps the vegan goodness flowing with hearty entrées, generously filled sandwiches and toasted house-made cornbread that could double as a dessert. Round out your order
• Grounded in a commitment to local and seasonal foods,
Posana offers a 100% gluten-free menu of fresh, innovative dishes made from ingredients sourced at Asheville-area farms and the restaurant’s own organic garden.
• A second-generation Italian-American, chef Anthony Cerrato has crafted a mostly gluten-free menu of hand-made pastas, pizzas and classic Italian entrées and desserts at his downtown eatery, Strada Italiano. Although meat is served at Strada, there is a range of vegan options, including lasagna made with Beyond Meat Bolognese, almond ricotta and housemade marinara.
• Nestled in a corner of West Village Market in West Asheville,
Sunflower Diner offers a 100% vegan menu of breakfast and brunch options. Cozy up to the counter or grab one of a handful of tables and enjoy creative twists on biscuits and gravy, nachos, Philly cheesesteak and other comfort foods in addition to vegan staples, including a tempeh Reuben, breakfast burrito and rotating waffle dishes.
• Strolling West Asheville or the South Slope in search of gluten-free alcoholic beverages? Urban Orchard Cider Co. has taprooms in both neighborhoods to satisfy those specific desires, as well as 32-ounce crowlers and growlers for at-home imbibing. The West Asheville location also offers a small menu of diet-sensitive, locally made snacks and dips.
Fun Fact
In 1918, as the Spanish influenza spread, sickbeds were in dire need. Here in Asheville, the Masonic Temple offered its rooms to those infected, including members of the city’s African American community.
