Vegetarian Soul Food

Hey, vegetarian food is good for the soul. I’ve been veg my whole adult life and it is such a part of me that I really can’t imagine any other way. Vegetarianism is good for the animals, good for me and good for the planet. This made it all the more challenging when I made the conscious decision to move back to the South to raise my kid.  The South is the land of the carnivores. It just is. It’s odd to me, even in progressive communities, to find a lack of consciousness around the food we eat. Yes I generalize when I say, that even among the locavore/organic movement here, the assumption is that people eat  meat. I don’t get it.

Anyway, moving on to the positive message I have!  There are two restaurants I visited recently that really deserve a shout out for their veg offerings to those of us who would travel far and wide to have those delicious options. I’m not a food critic, and not even a foodie really, I just like a good meal with a good vibe.

The first place I visited, the Bottletree Cafe, was chosen in part due to a suggestion by Mount Moriah and in part because we were due a visit to our friendly neighbor Birmingham. It’s a combo bar and restaurant, and from all accounts, a really important music venue.  I hope to have more experiences at the Bottletree in the near future for all those reasons.  Oh, and for these other four reasons: Homemade Black Bean Burger, Viking Funeral (look it up), Tofu Peanut Butter Pie, and the best cup of coffee I’ve had in months.  Bonus:  you can peruse some original art displayed up front, ready to take home with you. It’s like an eat-in Etsy store. So, check it out. Go on, now, it’s close and the experience makes for a great date night.

The second is a lot closer to home, and it’s one my lady introduced me to via some very special take-out lunches. Dulce Vegan is located in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta. EAT HERE PLEASE.  The homemade soups are amazing and the sandwiches are nuancy with yummy greens and crusty bread. Wowza. I’m not exaggerating when I say their balsamic marinated tofu sandwich with walnut pesto and their chickpea, lentil and curry soup changed my life. My Southern life for sure. So I thank you, Dulce Vegan, for injecting delicious, fresh vegan tastiness into my life.  I do love this joint and wish them all the success they can grab.

So hey, we all gotta eat. Put some soul into your food and some food into your soul. Go veg.

Illustration credit: Matt Groenig