Vegan in Atlanta

5/8/2017

Last Thursday morning, at 4am, I rolled out of bed and to the airport. I had secured a nonstop flight from New Orleans to Atlanta for $34!!!!! The trick to getting reaalllyyy cheap airfare (as a regular citizen) is to check google.com/flights and to be completely flexible in your time and day of travel.

Old Friends (Rainbow Brite and Spark the Sprite)

For instance, I had the day off on Wednesday, but if I had left Wednesday instead of Thursday, the flight would have cost me $200 more. I loathe to book anything that requires me to wake up at a particular time, but I'll do it for $200 savings. I scheduled another $34 flight back to NOLA on Saturday. As you can probably guess, both flights were delayed, but I didn't care and made it there and back safely!

I had the best tour guide / host, who showed me all around the city. We covered the entire BeltLine, several times, so we got lots of excercise and also hit up a good number of thriving businesses butting up to the trail.

I was surprised by how nostalgically kitchy daily life was — pieces of memorabilia crowded shops, cafes, and even car dashboards, but in a genuine way. As opposed to evoking a desperate hipster yearning to feel something by idolizing relics of their newly and unwillingly abandoned childhoods, it felt as if these things just still happened, casually and a little surprisingly, to be around. Seeing these items in quotidienne situations gives a similar feeling to when you learn a celebrity is still alive and you didn't even realize, until that moment, that you assumed they were dead. At any rate, Atlanta in general feels artsy but clean, laid-back but ambitious.

The Crowned Dashboard Cavalry (aka Neigh-borhood Watch)

Once again, a highlight of my travels was discovering the many (many!!!!) vegan businesses and options around town. For Thursday lunch, we padded through uncharacteristically cold rain to arrive at Soul Vegetarian. The staff immediately knew we were first-timers, because we stood awkwardly at the front, waiting to be seated. It turns out you walk to the counter, pick up a tray, and get served cafeteria-style. You can order from a menu also, but there's something fun about getting your little tray and picking an entree and two sides. We both got the BBQ seitan with macaroni-and-cheese and cabbage, and a lagniappe of cornbread. We wanted to stop by Healthful Essence ("Soulful Caribbean Vegan"), but had to save it for another trip, as we were full up. Soul Vegetarian was so filling and delicious (best mac-and-cheese I've EVER had!), it powered our little legs for about 10 miles afterwards as we walked the BeltLine and looped through Ponce City Market, Krog Street Market, and all the neighborhoods in between. We were totally satisfied and not even hungry again until 11:30pm, when we discovered we were starving and made an emergency take-out call to Atkins Park, a trendy little bar/pub across the street from my host's house that served us a local roasted vegetable plate to die for.

Vegan Coconut cake at San Fransiso Coffee (676 North Highland Avenue, Atlanta). So many 100% vegan places, and so many vegan options at otherwise mainstream places!

Friday was FREEZING, but beautiful. I was getting used to accepting Atlanta as the tree-filled, nature-lover's paradise that it is (at least in certain parts). I was excited to see a vegan coconut cake at a San Fransisco Coffee, and we stopped in for an awesome lunch at the vegan Go Vinda's Cafe in Little Five Points. Dinner was at Herban Fix Vegan Kitchen — I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant! It's dressy and fun with wonderful service. I always support 100% vegan restaurants as much as possible, and that cuts out almost every "fancy" dining restaurant. While I love dives, sometimes I miss the ritual of eating at a fancy restaurant. Herban Fix is the PERFECT place to support a 100% vegan business while also getting your bougie fix!

Saturday morning, we stopped by Aurora Coffee. After coffee, it was time for a drive to the famous Vegan Dream Doughnuts. Although they opened at noon, the doughnuteer delivered them fresh at 1:30pm. Great doughnuts are like cheap plane tickets — you just gotta go with the flow and get em when they're ready! And they were a million percent worth the wait!! The doughnut maker said he learned to make them from his father, who learned to make them from a woman in Africa. The small storefront has an Ethiopian theme, and serves fresh juices as well as doughnuts. As a black-owned and operated business, it has a beautiful story, mission, and vibe.

We lunched just down the street at Viva la Vegan. Picture a small dining room with a window into the kitchen and three friendly faces at the window. Originally we were the only ones there, but when we finished ordering we turned around to see a stream of people coming in the door! One got a take out order, another family sat at a table, and another man ordered to dine in. More than a few of the people who came in while we ate seemed like locals and happy, satisfied regulars. We got the shrimp poboy with remoulade sauce, mozarella sticks, chicken & waffles, and kale salad. Everything we ordered was incredible (DEFINITELY get the mozarella sticks!!!!), and if I had more time in Atlanta, I would gladly spend multiple meals going through the whole menu and back again.