Cape Town is a wonderful place for vegans – or anyone simply following a plant-based dietary lifestyle for reasons of personal health and/or environmental impact.
This is the opinion of Dylan Barbsy, the co-ordinator of the South African Vegan Society (SAVS).
“There’s a fast-growing demand and restaurant owners are wise to it,” he says.
November marks World Vegan Month, with World Vegan Day celebrated annually on November 1. Veganism, or plant-based lifestyle, is a term used to describe a way of living which seeks to exclude as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
SAVS, an organisation which offers support to vegans around South Africa, hosts a number of social and outreach events throughout vegan month.
Mr Barbsy, who co-ordinates the Cape Town chapter of SAVS, says as part of the outreach events, they have hosted a picnic in the park at Ardene Gardens in Claremont, and will also have a space at Streetopia in Observatory on Saturday November 26.
Masala Dosa in Long Street, has an exotic, healthy and tasty menu with a dedicated vegan option. Owner Riyaz Mir says India has the biggest vegan market, and their cuisine and simple menu incorporates the vegan-style cooking.
In honour of Vegan Month, Smak Deli in Bree Street has introduced vegan tacos to their menu. Chef Katia Scherf says when they opened the eatery in February, they did not initially consider including vegan options.
“We learnt what people in the city wanted to eat. For our deli, we had two vegan items – a vegan banana bread and date balls which are raw and sugar free.”
Col’Cacchio Pizzeria in Hans Strydom Avenue also recently launched a vegan pizza offering. A post on their Facebook page reads: “Due to the overwhelming support of our new vegan pizza offering our stocks of vegan cheese are running low at a startling pace.
The CapeTowner contacted the head office for comment, but they did not respond at the time of print. Other restaurants and eateries in the city centre that specialises in vegan food are: The Plant Cafe in Buiten Street, Raw and Roxy in Bree Street, Planet restaurant at the Mount Nelson Hotel, and The Hungry Herbivore in Orphan Street.