What's the best way to turn the masses on to the vegan lifestyle and show them how delicious food free of animal products can be? Open a vegan cafe and bakery. That just what Emily did. The new vegan eatery, located at 4901 Springarden Road in the Stone Mansion,just along the border of the Mt. Washington neighborhood, opened its doors Nov. 1.
"I'm a vegan and we have our dessert business, which is a 100 percent vegan. We really do it for animals and people's health and the environment it's just a much better way to live your life. The vegan lifestyle is great," says Emily.
The cafe features a menu filled with breakfast and lunch favorites as well as backed goods from Emily's line of vegan baked goods, heretofore only available at Wegman's, Whole Foods, Roots Market, the Health Concern and other local grocers.
"I try to have everything that a normal bakery would have, so that people aren't afraid to try it. That way its easier to convince people that veganism is tasty. I want people to think 'Oh! Veganism is an option,' because they've had something at our cafe."
Guests won't find a menu filled with tofu and other plant-based meat substitutes. "I think we have tofu written once, but most of the time we just say 'Bacon, egg and cheese,' because we want people to feel comfortable ordering," she says.
The kitchen is open from 6:30 am to 2 p.m., serving up breakfast and lunch specials that include a variety of sandwiches, and even a Philly Cheesesteak.
Emily hopes that the cafe will become a gathering place for vegetarians and vegans to meet one another as well as local community memers.
Source: Emily
Writer: Walaika Haskins