A field guide to Newtown s growing vegan mile
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Photo: Jessica Matino
Across a two-block Newtown strip that s punctuated by pawn shops and vape stores, restaurants are doing the kind of business other eat streets can only dream of. It s King Street s vegan mile and it s becoming more popular by the week. The vegan community is a very passionate crowd, says Peter Martinez, who opened the plant-based Vandal Taqueria on the southern end of King Street 12 months ago. I thought we would be stuffed when COVID hit, but people immediately embraced the restaurant and supported us over lockdown like I couldn t believe. I ve run venues for 25 years and I ve never seen enthusiasm for a restaurant like it.
Working in an industry that is experiencing rapid growth, I often get a preview of the latest products, trends, and technology in the plant-based realm. With an eagerness to get 2020 in our rearview mirror, and looking ahead to what we will be eating and drinking for health and wellbeing in the plant-based space in 2021 and beyond, I thought I would share my Top 10 Plant-based Food Predictions for 2021.
Bye Bye, Plant-based Burger, we’re moving on!
Note that not all plant-based options below are equally healthy. As always, if you made your own burger at home from mushrooms and lentils, it would be healthier than a burger made with coconut oil at the store. Of course, no surprise there and the same will usually apply to the list below.