recommendations — Food

Next to Big Daddy’s Discount Meats south of Atlanta, lies a low-key restaurant- with high-key delicious food.

Mock Salmon Burger (jackfruit-based, non soy)

But really if you pull up and think you're at the wrong place- you've arrived!

Viva la Vegan offers a diverse menu of plant-based comfort food- from Philly cheesesteaks and shrimp po boys, to mock salmon burgers and cauliflower hot wings.

I’ve tried all four dishes mentioned, but this Friday was my first time going to the restaurant and eating the food fresh! We were on a Food Adventure/Mission Foodpossible for Rahkeen’s Birthday. The objective- get Rahkeen some good food in his belly from Atlanta and be back in time to teach hapkido in Gwinnett.

We ordered ahead of time, and by the time we arrived, the food was ready to go. As we waited in line, Rahkeen the Regular, chopped it up with Viva La Vegan’s owner, Chris. Rahkeen has seen Chris putting in work in the kitchen every visit he’s made there.

For the price, taste, and fullness factor- this spot is 100% reasonable and worth it. The mock salmon burger had a great burger-to-bread ratio, and the cauliflower hot wings had a kick that almost made you wish you weren’t sitting in a car with synthetic leather seats, with your mom who doesn’t like A/C, on a hot day in Georgia.

Almost!

10/10- would recommend!

Self Love Sunday. I love myself. Myself loves biscuits. Therefore, if I love myself, I will feed myself biscuits.

Since transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my go-to, warm, buttery, fast, and cheap biscuits at Martin's. Mmmm.

Thankfully, I discovered Dulce Bakery in Kirkwood. That’s where the beauty pictured above is from; but after my first bite, I could've easily mistaken its origin for Heaven.

I got the sausage, bacon and cheese with kale and cucumber (all vegan). My first bite of the sandwich washed away all my initial disappointment at Dulce's lack of egg that morning. The biscuit was so comforting- warm, soft and fluffy. The sausage and bacon were flavorful and surprisingly juicy. The cheese was sinfully melty and savory, while the greens gave it a fresh and very subtle crunch.

100/10, would HIGHLY recommend.

The bakery is small, perfect for getting together to catch up with an old friend- the reason I made my first trip to Dulce.

But if you do roll deep, there is a long bench inside where I'm sure the sweet employees could help accommodate a bigger party.

Note: I'm a health and wellness professional promoting holistic health, who happens to have adopted veganism. I neither believe that everything vegan is healthy, or that you should feel guilty for a meal that doesn't have an ideal ratio of macronutrients. An extremely restrictive lifestyle is not conducive to long-term success. With my general eating habits, physical activity, and simple love for delicious things- this biscuit took care of me as much as my kale salads do.