photo from Bloom Kitchen & Co.

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: www.vrg.org/restaurant

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Bloom Kitchen & Co., 300 Oxford Rd., Unit 200, Oxford, CT 06478

Their aim is to serve vegan food that is convenient and delicious. Slider choices are Florentine Grilled Cheese Slider with Cheddar, spinach, tomato, and fresh pesto; grilled Hot Dog Slider with sauerkraut and smoky relish; crispy Chick’n & Waffle Slider with maple syrup; Portabella Mushroom; Burger Slider featuring red pepper, pesto, and spinach on ciabatta; Farmers Market Slider with grilled squash, tomato, and pesto on a crusty roll; and many more. There are Classic Cheese, Margherita Pizzas, and more. Fry Baskets include Crispy Chick’n Tenders and also Golden Fishless Filet & Fry Basket with fries, slaw, and tartar sauce. Bloom Bowls include Caesar and Southwest Salads. Latin Inspired Handhelds offer cheddar Quesadillas with guacamole and salsa; Loaded Southwestern Nachos with black beans, queso sauce, and salsa; cheddar Burrito; or Rice and Bean Bowl–both with brown rice, black beans, and Pico de Gallo. Kid’s Korner offers Grilled Cheese, Cheeseburger Sliders, or Chick’n Tenders. Side selections are Regular or Sweet Potato fries, Onion Rings, Mac and Cheese, fried Sweet Plantains, or Garden Salad. Desserts include Milkshakes or Ice Cream Cups made with your choice of oat-milk or coconut cream base and chocolate or vanilla flavor, Brownies, Jumbo Cookies, and rotating Specials. Note they also have a drive thru!

Stephanie’s Vegan Bakery and Café, 1436 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

Menus don’t get much more diverse than at Stephanie’s Vegan Bakery and Café. There are several Mexican-inspired items, such as tacos, quesadillas, and empanadas (all featuring plant-based “meats” and “cheeses”), as well as wraps, salads, and vegetable soup. For breakfast, there’s a variety of burritos, bagels, and toasts with plant-based “eggs.” There’s even a signature sushi roll! Then there’s the bakery: breads, cakes, and assorted pastries galore to delight the palette. Located not far from Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.

The Plantisserie, 7316 NE 2nd Ave., Miami, FL 33138

The Plantisserie’s eclectic cuisine includes Latin American, Thai, Indian, French and Italian cuisine. They proudly proclaim their use of organic ingredients and many dishes are gluten-free. Food is buffet style and priced by weight, unless you order on their website where individual Main portions are available. Breakfast offers Carrot Lox Bagel with organic homemade cashew cream cheese, everything bagel, marinated smoke carrots, dill, red onion, capers, and lemon as well as Tropical Overnight Oats (GF) with organic oats, chia seeds, pineapple, apples, nuts, oat milk, shredded coconut, and mixed nut butter to note a couple of options. Some Sandwich selections include Provence Sandwich featuring kale, cornichons, Pate Faux Gras (Lentils and Mushrooms) and aioli, as well as Tuscany Sandwich of roasted zucchini, squashes, spinach, tomatoes, and pesto. There are all sorts of Salads too. Have fun with their abundant list of imaginative Mains! Quinoa Fungi Risotto (GF) showcases cremini mushrooms with a seasoned coconut cream base. Veggies Coconut Curry (GF) offers broccoli, carrots, onions, garlic, ginger, coconut milk, jalapeño, and shredded coconut. There’s also, Jackfruit Ropa Vieja with Black Beans, seasoned Lentil Meatballs with Puttanesca Sauce (GF) both with Basmati rice as well as Chickpeas Masala, Green Curry Potatoes, and more! Two more of their popular dishes are Lasagna (GF) *No Pasta crafted with almond ricotta, eggplant, zucchini, onions, garlic, tomatoes, capers and Kalamata olives and Shepherd’s Pie (GF) featuring Beyond Meat crumbles, potatoes, raisins, olives, and more. Hope you’re not full because there are happier decisions to be made and Desserts to be savored! Besides Banana Bread, Carrot Cake, Brownies, and Cookies, some of the treats by Pamela Wasabi are Tiramisu Slide with GF double chocolate cookie crust, cold-brew, cognac, cacao, and more. Or, smile and say “Cheese” for her GF Guanabana and Strawberry, or Passion Fruit Cheesecake Slides. Creations by Raw Chef Carla include: GF Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Tart, GF Raw Matcha Donut, GF Raw Twix Bar made with sprouted buckwheat, all sweetened with maple syrup and dates. Home Sweet Earth offers Vegan Alfajor de Dulce de Leche—Dulce de Leche sandwiched between shortbread cookies.

The Veggie, 7504 Hwy. 72 W. A5, Madison, AL 35758

Vegan southern cuisine with a variety of dishes. Try The Cluckster or the Smoky Impossible Bowl!

Vegan and Vine, 502 E. Thunderbird Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85022

This family-owned restaurant is located in the Moon Valley area. They offer indoor and outdoor seating with a shaded, pet-friendly patio. Besides their regular menu, Brunch is available Saturdays and Sundays. Savory options include an innovative twist on Avocado Toast combining radish, apple, cucumber, and black sesame seed. Chilaquiles feature house made tortilla chips, salsa, black beans, tofu scramble, avocado, and crema. There are also house-made Biscuits and Gravy, Breakfast Pizza, Tofu Scrambles with veggies, and beans for Kids and Adults, Kids Pancakes, and more. Sweet selections are Yogurt Parfait with berries and Granola, Berry Pancakes, powdered sugar Beignets with berries and chocolate ganache, Crème Brulee, (coconut milk-based) with fresh berries and Apple Protein Bowl with peanut butter, chocolate chips and shredded coconut. Small Plates include Hearts of Palm Ceviche marinated in cilantro and lime, with house-made chips, Crispy Cauliflower, deep-fried, with buffalo sauce, house ranch, house gorgonzola, and celery and carrot shavings, or sautéed, chili-sauced, Spicy Garlic Edamame to note a few. Some Sides to Share are Brussels Sprouts with garlic, shallots and balsamic glaze, Mac & Cheese featuring Penne, edamame, and house made cheese sauce, or Wild Mushrooms in a seasoned, sautéed mix with vegan butter. There are also various Fries, Soups, and Chili. Salads include Waldorf, Caesar and others. Some Sandwich possibilities are Portobello Sandwich with roasted red peppers, truffle aioli, and mixed greens, Cheeseburger, Veggie Sandwich with hummus, and more. Entrees include Tacos and Pizzas, such as Margherita, Supreme and others. For Kids, there’s Baked Mac N Cheese, Chicken Tenders, Vegan Quesadilla, etc. Desserts include the sweet brunch items plus Bakers’ choice of Cookies and Cupcakes. The Market offers Prepared “Grab and Go” Vegan foods, vegan wine and fresh pressed juices.

Vujee Vegan, 4701 Meridian St. N, Huntsville, AL 35811

One of the restaurants located inside the Fountain, a collective shop containing multiple restaurants near Alabama A&M University, Vujee Vegan serves up veganized versions of classic comfort food. If you stop by, make sure to try Nashville Hot Chick’n Sandwich and their waffle fries with the secret sauce! They are also active on Instagram @vujee_vegan