A Vegan Food Guide to Northern Italy
by: Kimberly Prokurat
An undeniable health trend in America today is veganism. It’s penetrating our grocery stores with dairy-free yogurts; our restaurants with meat-free burgers; and sparking conversations about the health of our planet and the human race on platforms as big as Netflix.
I myself am a proud vegan and prior to embarking on a trip to northern Italy with my university, I questioned how practical this health choice would truly be. I was convinced that endless, flavorless, limp salads and bread would be my fate in the lush, gorgeous land of margherita pizzas, cheesy raviolis and meat spreads. Yet, much to my delight, the vegan scene in Italy is just as strong as the one in the States. Actually, a lot of traditional Italian cuisine like breads, marinara pizza, and spaghetti marinara was accidentally vegan to begin with.
From Rome to Milano, “vegano” was my name and “niente formaggio” was my game. Italy easily accommodates vegans by little acts like willingly holding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese to hosting restaurants dedicated to entirely vegan menus. Whether its tiramisu and gelato or pizza and carbonara pasta, you don’t have to search far and wide for an authentic Italian vegan meal. Lucky for you, I already did the searching … and the tasting. Here are some of the best vegan meals I found across northern Italy and where to find them.
Rome
The BUFF
One recurring theme in Rome is the dichotomy of old and new. At The BUFF, that’s exactly what you’ll find. The owner is a Roman native who has spent years of his life living in New York City and Los Angeles, Calif. His menu is a direct reflection of his experiences with its seamless blend of both the popular food trends in America and the traditional food of Italy. What’s more is that all of the food used in this restaurant is farm-to-table and mostly organic. One bite of his wonderfully fermented baguette and you’ll be all in for the full course meal.
By using a mortar and pestle at the table, customers can experience hand mashing a flavorful guacamole salad with a drizzle of spicy extra virgin olive oil. Then indulge in a fragrant creamy risotto loaded with vegetables, or you can have a vegan burger with the seasonal vegetables of Italy if you find yourself in that American state of mind.
Pair all of this with the organic vegan red wine and finish off with fresh goji berries and chewy fruit dipped in dark chocolate for dessert, and you’ll have a vegan meal to dream about no matter where you go in Italy.
For the best gelato in town, go to Della Palma for its selection of vegan options among its 150+ flavors. It has eclectic and basic favorites with flavors like mint, strawberry, chocolate orange, pistachio, and hazelnut just to name a few.
Assisi
After exploring the breathtaking views by the outlook and shopping at each individually unique shop full of ceramics, boutique clothing, and gelato, mosey into Monnalisa Caffe Bistrot for a quaint sit-down dining experience.
This cafe is a breath of fresh air with an overwhelming amount of amazing vegan options on any given day. With fresh produce coming from local farms, a passionate staff, and a beautiful pastel interior, you’re likely to enjoy every second spent here. Not to mention, tea lovers can rejoice in its wide selection of teas and adorable tea sets – completed with a mini hourglass.
It offers the freshest, most mouth-watering vegan burgers and enough pastas, soups, bright smoothies, hearty salads, and endless sides to make any veg-head happy.
Florence
Treat yourself to a delicious and generously portioned salad at La Menagere in Firenze, Florence.
La Menagere nails the effortlessly cool, local, and trendy atmosphere anyone can appreciate by merging a lush flower shop, live music, and local kitchenware shop into the cafe seating. You’re sure to feel right at ease and ready to eat because of the small hints of nature speckled throughout and an English version of the menu. At this restaurant, you have all of your bases covered for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
Its vegan breakfast options cater to virtually any vegan coffee request with all coffees able to order with plant-based milks. It also offers vegan breakfast sandwiches, paninis, oatmeal bowls and parfaits. For lunch you’ll find a wide array of unexpected salads, sandwiches, and small plates.
For dinner, stop by Fuoco Matto for a taste of its incredible special pizza dough recipe. It’s chewy where it matters, crispy toward the middle, and the perfect base for a marinara pizza. If you have any room after your personal pizza, clean your palate with a helping of its fresh fruit for dessert.
Milan
It’s no surprise with the huge booming city that Milan is that it would have a plethora of vegan options. You’ll come across myriad cafes, smoothie bars, and upscale restaurants with vegan conscious menus.
If you’re searching for a fancy dining experience, you won’t be disappointed by going to AUUM. Its courses are artistically crafted with a substantial amount of colorful vegetables, sweet fruits, and exciting flavor combinations.
Its current vegan course consists of a nourishing carrot ginger soup, rich asparagus risotto, tangy horseradish potato cakes with chopped and sautéed vegetables and a delectable melon sorbet.
If you’re looking for something more casual but just as incredible, don’t hesitate to go to Dolce Vegan. At first glance, one can tell that this place is meant for real lovers of the vegan lifestyle. Between the “China Study” displayed in its front window, the minimalist interior, and the small, seasonal menu you’ll see that the real effort here is focused on the food and the simple message behind it; the cooks craft cruelty-free, sustainable, authentic, and outright delicious Italian food.
Start off with a variety of breads and a light salad with bruschetta and spiralized zucchini noodles. Then move on to its one of a kind waffle appetizer topped with sun-dried tomato puree, roasted vegetables and olives.
After that, meet the real star of the show: the pastas. Dolce Vegan offers vegan spins on classics like spaghetti, lasagna, creamy “bacon” carbonara and ravioli. All made with fresh pasta and vegan cheese and meat substitutes that are so similar to the real thing it will make you wonder if it’s truly vegan.
As if that’s not enough, experience true bliss with its tiramisu created with soy milk. It will leave you wanting about a million more.
What makes it even sweeter? You can get all of this for a next to nothing price tag.
Overall, the Italians have a real understanding of the potential of their produce in my opinion. Across the board were seasonal vegetables and fruits like watery zucchini, bright asparagus and flavorful pineapple crafted to blow your mind and please your taste buds.
One simply cannot deny the immense creativity required in making a delectable and authentic Italian meal vegan. This type of cuisine demands knowledge expansive enough to make a nut taste like cheese or a coconut have the same texture as a strip of bacon.
However, the real emphasis on Italian dining, whether vegan or otherwise, is on the company. Nothing screams this more than the long waiting time in between each course, the soft music, and intimate atmospheres. Whether you are vegan or not, whenever you stumble into this stunning land for your Italian holiday, take a look around at some things but make sure to taste everything. It surely won’t disappoint.