Greetings, fellow vegan foodies! It's been a minute! This issue has crossed my mind for a while now and while dining out the other night, it came to a head, prompting me to write about it in the hopes of bringing attention to this very important matter! WHERE ARE THE VEGAN DESSERTS??? While I personally don't have much of a sweet tooth, I do enjoy the occasional sweet treat while dining out, especially if I can share it with that special someone. Being vegan shouldn't mean that desserts are off limts! Recently, we were having a lovely dinner at an upscale local mediterranean restaurant where they have several vegan appetizers, soup, salad and entrees, yet there was not one vegan or vegan-available dessert to choose from among an extensive dessert menu. Had there been one, whether a light, refreshing one or a rich, decadent one, we would've loved the chance to indulge. I cannot tell you how many vegan-friendly restaurants, some even with a separate dedicated vegan menu, (as well as some 100% vegan restaurants ) stop short of offering vegan desserts. It makes no sense whatsoever!!! As much as I'm impressed at how far restaurants have come when offering vegan options, I'm amazed at how they just don't consider vegan desserts, not even one! NOT EVEN A FRUIT CUP OR SORBET! Furthermore, it takes such little effort to come up with something that could potentially satisfy both vegans and non-vegans alike. We're already taking the time to enjoy a night out, living in the moment while spending our hard-earned money, so it makes sense that we would want the chance to enjoy dessert! The profit margin could be HUGE! Plant-based ice creams are readily available as are vegan cookies, donuts and cupcakes, which are all relatively inexpensive. What about some natural fruit sorbet or vegan gelato topped with fresh fruit and some non-dairy whipped cream? How hard is that to make or outsource? I bet most folks wouldn't even mind paying a premium for the pleasure of being served a delicious "health-conscious" dessert. Vegan desserts aren't just for vegans but for those who may be lactose intolerant or have certain food allergies. In addition, by offering a "healthy" dessert, patrons will have less guilt when ordering. WHAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY!
So... for all you passionate/compassionate restaurant owners/managers out there looking for ways to improve your business, why don't you start by offering VEGAN DESSERTS! You're welcome :)
