Eateries cater for vegans
Don’t despair in the festive season if you have a special dietary requirement. Hamilton has a host of vegan options. After being informed that having meal choices as a vegan is not common, the team at Hayes Common decided that no vegan friend would miss out at the cafe and restaurant.That’s why Hayes has put all its vegan options on a separate menu. From breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, you have a range of choices all free from animal involvement. The superfood bowl with mango, turmeric, banana, coconut yoghurt and coconut chips, is a sure way to kick start your morning, but if you’re arriving later, the smoky beans with avocado, crispy potatoes, vine tomatoes and harissa is a must for lunch. With a seasonally designed menu, you can rest assured that vegan eaters here are privy to all the same benefits as non-vegans when it comes to eating fresh. There’s nothing worse than missing out on a delicious treat because of your dietary requirements, but thanks to Duck Island there’s no reason vegans need to go without. The famous icecream store has a generous selection of icy treats made with coconut cream instead of milk, with flavours such as roasted cherry and coconut chip, or strawberry, coconut and kaffir lime. Sorbets are vegan friendly too, or try one of the shakes or floats, which can also come veganstyle, and see for yourself why there are such rave reviews about this place. Banh Mi Caph is another Hamilton eatery where vegan visitors don’t have to worry about being stuck for choice. A separate menu allows a meal here to be different each time you visit, with everything from spring rolls to savoury pancakes and noodle soups available animal-product free. The menu follows a similar direction to the eatery’s ‘‘street staple’’ offerings, where tofu or mushroom is swapped for the animal protein. And avocado lovers will be pleased to hear there’s a new banh mi on the block; packed with beetroot, smashed avo, fresh coriander, tomato and cucumber – it’s all a vegan’s dreams come true. is the answer to Hamilton locals’ call for more organic, spray-free and alternative produce and homewares, as well as those musthave ingredients for the vegan who wants to cook at home. Bulk bin nuts and grains sit alongside fresh fruit and vege, and even the chiller contains Nice Blocks and tubs of Little Island icecream – all of which are vegan treats. From popcorn to sauerkraut, fresh bread to avocados, Wholeheart is a little store with big ambitions to make eating healthy easy and exciting.
A large range of vegan chocolate is also a big seller, as are the specialty nut cheeses. If vegan guests are coming for dinner, pick up a jar of the new Ceres Organics egg-free vegan mayonnaise, or a can of jackfruit, which is quickly becoming a hit as an alternative to meat in burgers, tacos and rolls, to wow them with your slick kitchen skills.
Discover more neat places around town at neatplaces.co.nz and download the free and offline Neat Places smartphone app.