The Kitchen Table
I have heard really great things about San Rafael’s neighborhood Italian restaurant, The Kitchen Table, so I was excited to try it out. I knew I was going to be eating with a table of omnivores, so I scanned the menu online before heading over so that I wouldn’t need to spend 15 minutes trying to figure out what was vegan once I arrived. Turns out, only the side dishes are vegan.
Despite having an extensive pasta section on the menu, there is no vegan pasta. So, I asked our server if perhaps they could make one of the pastas vegan (say, pasta with tomato sauce?). Our server said no, they couldn’t make a vegan pasta (perhaps they use egg in their pasta- fair enough), but that the chef was willing to make a vegan entree upon request. Okay….what would the vegan entree be? (I was trying to debate between combining 3 side dishes as my main, or eating an actual main dish). After checking with the chef, she came back and said it would be black rice with peas and arugula. HUH? That was literally the base of the fish dish, but without the fish on top.
The side dishes consisted of sautéed greens with shallot (arugula on this night), roasted romano beans with lemon and mint, french fries and broccolini (hold the parmesan cheese). The only other option would be to veganize the fig (hold the blue cheese) salad. There were zero vegan appetizers, but they did have some pan fried shishito peppers and marinated olives in the “bites” section above the appetizers.
My table mates ordered an appetizer of maitake mushrooms and polenta (butter, cheese) with a mushroom demi glace (beef/veal stock). The maitake mushroom looked meaty and roasted to perfection! So when the server came to take our order, I asked her if the chef could please put maitake mushrooms on top of my black rice and pea base. Thankfully, the chef agreed to do. so, and my dish was absolutely delicious!
I was so disappointed by the total lack of vegan options on the menu. Italian food includes so many delicious vegan recipes! If the chef is “willing” to make a vegan dish, then why not print that on the menu? Having plant-based options on the menu that are well-conceived would actually drive people to order them- helping to slow climate change and reduce animal suffering. And improve diners’ personal health!
There are no vegan desserts to choose from, so you will need to go home for your sorbet. :)
My quest for #ONEVEGANENTREE continues. Sigh.
