DWV: Dining While Vegan at Susty's Cafe

My husband Mark and I really like food.  Really.  Often times, people may assume veganism to be so strict that it must be impossible to fully enjoy all types of delicious cuisine.  No cheese means no lasagna, right?!?  No eggs means never having a warm hearty, scrambled dish for breakfast?!?  These fears can sway even the greatest health-conscious, animal lovers from considering going free of animal products.  I can assure you that these fears do not have to be a reality.  Vegan versions of all types of foods and dishes exist, including lasagna and scrambled eggs.  Not only can we put together these tasty meals at home, but, when we eat out at the right place, we have found that some of the usual meat and dairy comfort food favorites can evolve into a cruelty-free replica that would rival, and even beat, the original.  Dining while vegan can, admittedly, mean doing battle with the old grilled vegetable plate (GVP), but it can also mean walking out of a restaurant feeling quite full and pleasantly satisfied, pleased that you've made good choices for yourself, the planet, and animals.

Susty's Vegan Cafe in Northwood, New Hampshire is one of those places.  Northwood is a quaint town located about halfway between the state capital, Concord, and the seacoast.  The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant reflects its surroundings, simplistic and natural.  You sit where you want and there is generally one server for a little over a handful of tables.  The tables and chairs are plain wooden sets, with splashes of bright color on the walls.  It's not fancy, which can be somewhat refreshing; the focus is left on the food, which ranges from sandwiches to dinner entrees.  The Cafe is about an hour trip from our home in southern NH, but for an all vegan menu, and the scenic, picturesque drive through quaint farming towns, it's worth it.  

Mark and I have visited Susty's on two occasions now, and we have not been disappointed.  The first time, he ordered the seitan pot roast with gravy, and I chose the ginger garlic broccoli and tofu stir-fry.  I think my stomach just growled as I remembered that stir-fry.  It was absolutely fantastic, freshly made with a slightly spicy yet sweet ginger sauce, all settled over a pile of brown rice.  The portion was so generous, that I savored it again at lunch the next day.  Mark enjoyed the vegan pot roast, but found the gravy (yes, vegan!) a bit too salty.  He was eager to try something new next time.

For our recent second visit to Susty's, we began with the soy fritters, which came with a vegan tartar sauce.  The fritters were breaded and fried with herbs for some light flavor.  The texture was fairly bready on the inside, not mushy or chewy like simply fried tofu, as I would have expected.  The tartar sauce was also light in flavor and seemed to include a vegan mayonnaise substitute, like Veganaise, in the ingredients.  Amazingly, this was the small portion!  Mark wondered aloud how big the large could be.    

For the meal, I ordered the tofu scramble, a dish which most blogs and cookbooks tout as a staple for many vegans.  I have admittedly never made a scramble at home (gotta get on that!) but have ordered it at other restaurants and really enjoyed it.  I'm a huge fan of tofu, so pleasing me with veggies and tofu is admittedly not too difficult.  Susty's was no different, but there was an extra something special; I couldn't get over just how scrambled eggs-like the tofu and veggies tasted.  It even looked remarkably like scrambled eggs mixed with veggies.  The dish had a great combination of herbs, and the vegetables were crunchy fresh.  The vegan buttered wheat toast on the side rounded out a light and tasty "breakfast for dinner" entree.       

The star of the night, however, was Mark's dinner, the summer squash and kale lasagna special.  OMG.  I'm not sure I can begin to describe its deliciousness.  Mark, in fact, was sure that it had been made with real cheese; I had to remind and assure him that all of Susty's items are vegan.  I tried a bite and could understand his disbelief.  The ricotta, which I'm guessing was likely made with tofu, tasted creamy and cheesy, just like dairy ricotta.  Along with marinara sauce, there was also a vegan cheezey sauce drizzled on top.  The sauces had incredible flavor and each bite just melted in your mouth.  Mmmmmmm.  It was so good that his side of corn on the cob sat ignored until the lasagna was gone.   

As Rip Esselstyn says in the film Forks Over Knives, "Real men eat plants!"  Even Air Force vets!

                                                        I think he liked it.

If you are ever in New Hampshire, I would absolutely recommend checking out Susty's Cafe.  The staff and other patrons are very welcoming and friendly, and the opportunity to choose a tasty meal from an entire menu of vegan options should not be missed.  We will no doubt visit again very soon!