One might think that the recent lettuce shortage and skyrocketing prices for the leafy green would have a particular impact on vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
But a recently opened Niagara-on-the-Lake shop shows that’s not necessarily true. Plant No. 01, which opened a few months ago, did so intending to show the public vegetarianism and veganism are much more than following a rabbit’s diet.
“We never want to be known as a salad place. We want it to be known as a place where you get a good, hearty, protein-packed, delicious meal,” said Lindsay Bernacci, who runs the Westwood Court restaurant with her mom, Carolyn.
Both Carolyn and Lindsay have long leaned heavily on plant-based diets, Carolyn became a vegetarian 47 years ago. And during that time, she kept running into the same problem when out for a meal.
“I’ve had one too many experiences at restaurants where I’ve asked for the vegan option, and basically, it’s a salad. And I can’t even have the salad because they don’t have a dressing that’s animal free,” she said.
The timing was merely coincidental, but Plant No. 01 is proof that vegetable-based diets don’t have to be difficult even when the price of lettuce is astronomical. Both consumers and restaurants have had to deal with increased prices and lettuce shortages recently, which is being blamed on a hotter than normal growing season in California.
Some restaurants have had to stop offering salads altogether.
Fortunately for the Bernaccis, the shortage hasn’t had a huge impact as they’ve just carried on offering their vegan options of shepherd’s pie, empanadas, and cheesecake (perhaps Carolyn’s favourite).
One of the reasons they don’t have a lot of leafy greens is part of the Bernaccis raison d’être. In addition to showing you can have delicious, well-rounded meals without using animal products, they also have the mandate to waste as little as possible. Given the short shelf life of leafy greens, they’re judicious with how they use them. When they do, it’s often more kale and spinach.
For those out there looking to keep up their vegetable eating even as lettuce is hard to find, Carolyn and Lindsay say you have to be creative and also remember that much like with meats, how you season and cook vegetables is important.
“As soon as you learn how to cook vegetables properly, they taste delicious,” Lindsay said.
In addition to the retail store, Plant No. 01 also offers wholesale and catering options. They also provide some grocery-type options at the store. Carolyn said they’re open to working with local businesses looking to increase their offerings of vegan foods.
Often times, Carolyn said, a lack of vegan options in restaurants is often just a case of lack of capacity. She hopes their business can help ease that. For more information on the business, visit plantno01.ca.