In Search Of….A Perfect Vegan Meal

Finding the perfect vegan meal in a town like Louisville is a task that could take me a long, long time. It’s not because of the environment – in fact, you may be surprised to learn Louisville is a pretty rad town for vegans – but because of what a vegan meal means. When a vegan sets off to find the perfect meal – one without cruelty to animals, seasoned just right, with the perfect company, and at the perfect time – there’s a lot involved. You see, vegans love food. We really do. And not in a “I can only eat ten things so I better love ‘em” kind-of way, but because we associate food with change.

Veganism is the lifestyle of avoiding animal exploitation, large or small, in any manner. At first glance, this seems limiting: no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no honey, no gelatin, no leather, no wool, and nothing tested on animals. Ugh! But, as vegans and those who meet them quickly learn, opening yourself up to veganism is a supremely rewarding way of living that often makes us incredibly more aware of the things we use, and the things we eat. Tomatoes aren’t just filling that go in between a burger and bun anymore; they’re a delectable dish that comes in different colors, flavors, and that we can grow in our own yard! Beans don’t line the chili for the meat – they are the chili – and they give us protein and flavor in a wholesome way that meat never could.

To vegans, food is the entry point, the doorway, to a more compassionate way of living. From there comes empathy, concern, compassion, fellowship, and joy that we can reach out to other humans and help prevent the suffering of animals. This almost always starts with food: every time we sit down to a 100% plant-based meal, we are activists.

Truth be told, vegans often eat more than their fellow omnivores do: more variety, at least, and sometimes just more food. It’s easy to get locked into the American food system of convenience, meat, milk, and potatoes, overlooking the hundreds of different fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and seeds that exist to feast upon. When’s the last time you had quinoa? How about swiss chard? Or coconut ice cream? Vegan meals with their supreme variety exist everywhere, even in Louisville. And while finding the perfect one may be an insurmountable task, here are a few places that made me really happy.

Addis Grill

(109 S. 4th Street)
is a name you probably haven’t heard unless you work downtown and enjoy ethnic food. Funny, as their lunch time rush is crazy – be prepared to wait if you go between noon and 1:00pm. As you may guess from the name (Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia), the food is Ethiopian, though a large Mediterranean section with falafel and gyros feature prominently too. My favorite dish is the Misir Alicha, a huge portion of lentils served on top of authentic injera bread. The bread is torn and used to scoop up the lentils which come alive with onions, garlic, and ginger.

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint

(2011 Grinstead Drive)
is a newcomer to the Louisville restaurant scene. But they have something that all the other pizza places don’t: Daiya cheese. What’s that, you say? Vegans don’t eat cheese! We don’t eat dairy cheese (and enjoy repurposing words), anyway. Melting Daiya on your pizza is the missing link between the vegetarians who want to be vegan, and those who exclaim “I could never give up cheese!” While Uncle Maddio’s doesn’t have the roots of other Derby City veterans, they certainly appease the vegans. A favorite of mine is the Simply Veggie with vegan cheese and extra grilled tofu.

Heart & Soy/Roots

(1216 Bardstown Road)
are also newcomers to the food scene, but their owner Coco is not. She founded Café Mimosa, Zen Garden, Zen Tea House, and now brings more all-vegetarian fare to Vietnamese-inspired cooking at these two new eateries: Heart & Soy serving fast casual street food, and Roots offering a more “fine dining” experience. Not only did Coco stick to her guns and serve strictly vegetarian food, she decided the tofu and soy milk would be made in house, the operation being encased in a giant class room in the middle of the restaurant. Eating here reminds me that you don’t have to sacrifice ethics for profit, and that some people care so deeply that they’re willing to go the extra mile to make healthy, quality food. The Vietnamese Sandwich is my favorite, along with the Spring Rolls and delicious vegan desserts.

Ramsi’s Café On The World

(1293 Bardstown Road)
What is there to say about Ramsi’s? Some of the best vegan food in Louisville resides here, and they’ve been doing it a long, long time. Dishes, servers, and décor have come and gone, but when you sink your teeth into the Seitan Parmesan Panini (again with the vegan cheese!), you’d wonder why a vegan would go anywhere else. Ramsi’s has hosted me and my friends and I too many times to count, and one of my personal favorites is the East Meets South Fajitas. The dish exemplifies the spirit of Ramsi’s: Mexican fajitas with vegan “beef” strips and rice, Indiana paratha bread, guacamole, and fresh salsa. And the food there only gets crazier on Sunday: the brunch from 10am-2pm is a vegan’s paradise where you will unequivocally eat too much.

Jamie’s 14k Cupcakes

(938 Baxter Ave).
You may wonder how a cupcake shop could contain an entire vegan “meal,” but remember that for vegans, it’s about replacing what was once an old, cruel tradition, with new, compassionate ones. The vegan cupcakes at Jamie’s replace the butter, eggs, cream, and milk with their vegan counterparts (made from beans and plants), so to bite into a chocolate ginger cupcake is one of the most delicious ways to effect change. Most people can’t tell the difference between the “traditional” cupcakes and vegan ones, and Jamie’s cupcakes make Wednesday (when 3+ flavors of vegan treats come out) the best day of the week.

Vietnam Kitchen

(5339 Mitscher Ave)
is worth the drive to the Iroquois Manor Shopping Center, tucked away off South Third Street in Louisville. Vegans have been coming here for years seeking the “mock duck,” a tasty meat alternative made from wheat gluten and spices. This authentic eatery also offers vegan egg rolls (quite rare!) with tofu, and various styles of “pho” – a large soup with noodles and various toppings. “VK”, as it is lovingly known by its patrons, is always packed, and provides a warm, intimate atmosphere for eating delicious plant-based meals. Vietnamese, like many other eastern cuisines, recognize the value of eating from the earth.

Dakshin

(4742 Bardstown Rd)
has one of the largest menus I’ve ever seen at a restaurant, but the word “vegan” is featured prominently in each section. My favorite is the Chennai Platter, a vegetarian combo featuring a gigantic lentil/rice crepe stuffed with potatoes. Often overlooked for closer Indian restaurants, my friends and I venture out to Dakshin for the authenticity, flavor, and the goofy Indian music videos displayed on the wall. Spicy food is the standard here, so be prepared, but extra rice and naan (flatbread) can help ease the heat.

Veganism is about the intention, not purity. Each time we sit down to eat a meal, we make a choice: we choose how the food we eat will effect our body, our conscience, and the land it came from. Vegans are always looking for the perfect meal, but we often find them when the realization comes that by eating, we are changing the world.

–Samuel Hartman

How to buy remedies online at best prices? In fact, it is formidably to find of repute drugstore. Kamagra is a far-famed treatment used to treat impotency. If you’re concerned about sexual disfunction, you probably know about dosage of levitra. What is the most substantial info you have to know about levitra doses? More data about the problem available at levitra dose. Perhaps you already know something about the problem. Usually, having difficulty getting an hard-on can be embarrassing. This disease is best solved with professional help, generally through counseling with a certified doctor. Your pharmacist can help find the option that is better for your condition. We hope that the information here answers some of your questions, but please contact physician if you want to know more. Professional staff are experienced, and they will not be shocked by anything you tell.