Plant-based Adventures: Kentucky
Food options: 4/5
Restaurants visited: girlsgirlsgirls Burritos, The Social Vegan, Corto Lima, Sage Garden Cafe, The Kitchen Table, Half-Peach Bakery & Cafe, Shahar Cafe
Surprisingly, I found so many food options in Kentucky. I stopped at as many places as possible between Louisville and Lexington. I’m almost ready to book another trip to try the places I skipped.
girlsgirlsgirls Burritos had a full menu of vegan and gluten-free options. I started with fresh tortilla chips with red chili salsa. Then, I ordered the Vegan Taco Salad Crunchrap loaded with veggies. It was packed with flavor, super crunchy, and very filling.
Vegan Taco Salad Crunchrap
I scanned the menu at The Social Vegan and checked a few reviews before arriving. That led me to ask some questions about ingredients and specifically about pickles that weren't on the menu but looked delicious in photos. They were kind enough to answer my questions and even make some fried pickles for my to go order.
fries, buffalo cauliflower, and fried pickles
The last place I expected to find a vegan pizza was at the Jim Beam Distillery. The Kitchen Table menu was full of comfort food, and the staff was very accommodating. I decided to create a pizza with veggies - wild mushrooms, roasted garlic, and smoked onions - which definitely hit the spot.
Mushroom Pizza
I ordered these gluten-free and vegan jackfruit empanadas at Corto Lima to go. Once I returned to my hotel, I added the cashew crema and Yucatan sauce. Once tasting everything together, the pineapple added some sweetness to the smoky flavors.
Jackfruit Empanadas
I had dessert before lunch, and that was the best decision of the day. I'm not the biggest chocolate fan, but the peanut butter pulled me in. It was light and crunchy without being too sweet and didn't spoil my appetite before lunch. I will certainly have to try to recreate this at home.
Peanut Butter Crispy
Now, I’m not the biggest fan of sweets, but I couldn’t miss a stop Half-Peach Bakery & Cafe. This spot was great because able to the three of us split a few desserts - Strawberry Cake, Banana Pudding Poke Cake, Biscoff Cheesecake, and a Ginger Cookie.
I squeezed in one final stop before heading to the airport. I made it just in time to beat the crowd at Shahar Cafe and get a to go order. I had the crispiest fries and a heart-shaped pastry to wrap this Kentucky food adventures.
Heart Pastry