VEGAN VANCOUVER
Chinatown’s Kokomo serves up seriously good food
If you’re walking in Vancouver’s Chinatown and you happen to spot a crowd of glowing-skinned, fit and probably tattooed millennials, chances are you’ve just found Kokomo.
The petite eatery at 611 Gore Ave. boasts a steady stream of eatin and take-away diners, many of whom look like they’ve come for a serving of post-workout grub after a sweat session at a nearby gym.
But while it’s the cool crowd and the colourful decor of the intimate eatery that may cause you to pause at the entrance, it’s the promise of healthy vegan fare that will likely have you sticking around. And ordering.
“Kokomo is an inclusive experience that fuels the community through body, energy and heart. It is a place (where) people connect inward through nutrient-rich food, and with each other through a warm environment that fosters good vibes,” says owner Katie Ruddell.
“We offer accessible, healthy food that meets you where you are at in your day, whether it is postworkout, on the way to work or at lunch.
“Our mission is to share the energy of summer with our community, connecting with them where they are at in their daily lives.”
But besides a cool hangout spot for hip locals, Ruddell also wanted to provide Vancouver vegans (and the vegan curious) with a new tasty dining option that is “nutrient-packed and full of flavour and depth.”
“Both vegans and meat eaters will be able to relate to the product offering,” Ruddell says of the menu. “Everything is served in a bowl and is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free, making it an easy choice on the go.”
The uncomplicated menu, which is etched on pretty pink walls, includes macro bowls, acai bowls, salad bowls, and more, as well as cold-pressed juices from The Juice Truck and kombucha on tap (yes, on tap) from Hoochy Booch.
“I’ve been working (on Kokomo) for three-plus years, continuously evolving and shifting to what it is now, based on what I believe Vancouver needs in this moment,” Ruddell says.
To help create the colourful bowls, Ruddell, who formerly worked in brand strategy for Lululemon, tapped local chef Mark Singson (formerly of AnnaLena).
Singson’s kitchen creations include a host of healthful ingredients designed to make you feel as good after you’ve eaten them as you do choosing to eat them. (Cruelty-free, you get me?)
The Kokomo Acai bowl features blended acai, house-made raw granola, mint and coconut, while heftier eats such as the Vida Macro bowl layer ingredients such as brown rice, warm black beans, tomatoes, spicy pickled carrots over a bed of fresh greens. The Hemp Caesar is out-of-this-world delicious, thanks to a special blend of hemp and sunflower seeds mixed into a creamy dressing.
Singson and Ruddell also dreamed up “powerhouse” smoothies, including the aptly named Power Malt, with banana, almond butter, cacao, hemp seeds, chaga mushrooms, medjool date, cinnamon and walnut milk.
Ruddell says that while sourcing local ingredients isn’t the restaurant’s main mission, the menu will reflect seasonal changes that mimic the availability of local healthy fare.
“The beauty is that when local produce is in season, our bodies are in need of it,” she says. “For instance, earthy squash and veg in the fall, refreshing raw fruit in the summer.”
So which Kokomo bowl is proving to be the most popular?
“The Coastal Macro bowl is Vancouver’s favourite bowl right now,” Ruddell says. “The flavours are relatable — similar to sushi with notes of ginger, edamame and brown rice. It is packed full of nutrients and isn’t your average salad, with brown rice, greens, fresh veg, roasted squash, marinated tempeh (see recipe), pickled cabbage, edamame hummus and Thai ginger dressing.”
The eatery also boasts a Canadian exclusive by way of the Australian frozen treat, Cocowhip.
“Cocowhip is a refined-sugarfree vegan soft-serve made with coconut water and bio-fermented coconut powder,” Ruddell explains.
But all the good food in the world wouldn’t be enough to attract diners. Thankfully, Ruddell says there’s been a significant uptick in the number of Vancouverites who seem to be declaring themselves, or at least trying out, the idea of going green.
“I think people are taking a higher level of responsibility when it comes to the choices they make for their body and their environment,” she says of the vegan boom. “They recognize they have a choice, especially as the vegan product offerings around them increase.”
Ruddell says the city still has a way to go, however, before we can officially label Vancouver a vegan’s paradise.
“We are on the right track, but there is still lots of opportunity,” she says.
“It’s so unique to see how all of the vegan retailers and restaurants are joining forces to elevate Vancouver. The vegan community has come together to celebrate the movement.
“Vancouver is constantly introducing new fitness studios and has the ideal environment for active lifestyles, but I don’t believe our food offering has caught up yet. It’s definitely picking up momentum, though.”
Our mission is to share the energy of summer with our community, connecting with them where they are at in their daily lives.