Monday, June 24, 2019

Vegan on the Road: Salt Lake City

My friend and I went to three different vegan restaurants and a vegan ice cream parlor in SLC. I was surprised to find such a thriving vegan scene there! I failed to take photos of the food, but I wanted to share where we went and what we tried.
Zest Kitchen & Bar: (all vegan and gluten-free) We had their off-beat brunch, including hazelnut pancakes with basil-CBD syrup and whipped cream, and breakfast tacos with chickpea omelet and sausage. I particularly liked the pancakes - you wouldn't have known they were gluten-free. The place was a little trendy for my taste, but I liked it.

The Vertical Diner: (all vegan, some GF options) Traditional diner food, vegan style. They do all-day breakfast and have your usual greasy spoon fare, like buffalo tenders, burgers and fries, nachos, etc. They also have a bar. My friend had the wok bowl with rice noodles (the best of the vegan options) and loved it. I had buffalo tenders, with biscuits and gravy (because there will never be a time there's vegan biscuits and gravy on the menu and I don't order it - don't judge). I also tried their delicious carrot cake for dessert. I love this place. I would've gone back for our next meal. Boltcutter: (all vegan, some GF options) Oh, my. The menu us mainly Mexican food and booze, and both were spectacular. We sat at the bar and watched Mack, the bartender create beautiful drinks with creative garnishes, and were enticed to try the pineapple margaritas. They really complemented the spicy buffalo cauliflower we had for a starter. Then I had their quesadilla, with housemade cheese and sour cream, stuffed with spinach and black beans. It was amazing. Monkeywrench: (all vegan, some GF options) Right next door to Boltcutter is Monkeywrench, an all vegan ice cream shop. They serve cashew-based ice cream and vegan desserts. I had a scoop of blueberry lemon, and my friend had rocky road. I took with me a cranberry orange biscotti for the next day's breakfast, and a brownie for a snack on the plane home. All were perfect.