Vegan Options Taking over Suffolk
by Alyssa R Griffin
Vegan options have always been troublesome to find in Suffolk county. From more choices in restaurants to full blown vegan menus, Suffolk’s vegan options are booming.
Food trucks and options are sprouting across the county. Nahmastay Vegan in Selden has only been around since 2020 starting only as a tent for baked goods, now providing tasty and plant based items to local vegans all over. Run by Aaryn Reid, this “Vegan food with flavor” truck is taking Middle Country Road by storm. “My Favorite part about being vegan and serving vegan food to the community is the look on their faces once they’ve tried my food. The love I put into it shows on their faces.” Reid said.
“We are passionate about plant-based eating and are dedicated to offering delicious and healthy vegan options to our customers,” their website claims. From Rib Bowls to Big Mac Fries, their menu is constantly changing for the enjoyment of the vegan community.
Being vegan herself, Reid understands the struggle to find options. “My family has been vegan for six years and I have to cook, it’s a must. I couldn’t find food in restaurants or already prepared meals at stores so I got in the kitchen and started whipping up things. I felt like my food was so delicious that I needed to share it with other people.” she said.
Reid has plans for expanding in the future including catering and teaching younger people about the vegan lifestyle and how they can transform simple ingredients into delicious meals.
“Veganism is my new norm so I cook the foods from my childhood and things that I’ve picked up along the way that make my soul smile. I love what I do and I just want to share that with the world,” she said.
Some vegan options are just starting to kick in. Currently on Main street in Patchogue, a new guest chef, Missy Domenchello, is taking on That Meetball Place and their customers. Also known as the Long Island Herbivore, Domenchello started only last summer and is already pushing through doors and cracking down on the lack of vegan options available in restaurants. She’s teamed up with the chef at The Meetball Place to bring new tasting options monthly for their “Vegan Pop-up Dinner” nights. “I never actually thought I’d be turning it into a business, like it is now,” she said.
Starting by building her brand through social media for the past year, she quickly made business cards and hit the streets going to every restaurant in Patchogue to promote her recipes and suggest how they can help change their menu. That Meetball Place took a chance on the Long Island Herbivore and began the planning.
“It’s definitely a dream come true to work inside of an actual commercial kitchen,” Domenchello said. With the high adrenaline style of cooking, Domenchello was ready to flip their menu upside down. From Asian inspired dishes to fall favorites, Domenchello is expanding their taste buds and introducing new and exciting vegan flavors such as pumpkin mac and cheese and hoisin bao buns for all of Suffolk County to taste.
However, it wasn’t always easy for the highschool teacher turned chef. It wasn’t always easy for the highschool teacher turned chef to gain converts.
“It’s definitely an obstacle getting people that maybe aren’t vegan or vegetarian to understand the positive impacts of bringing vegan food into an establishment’s menu. So it’s been somewhat of a challenge to get people to open up to that idea.”
As a four-year vegan herself, Domenchello has noticed a change in vegan options coming to Suffolk. But she says there is still a lack of variety coming from the restaurants. “Now seeing I can go on Doordash and see the first category option is “vegan,” I feel like it has definitely shifted quite a bit.” Despite these positives she explains that the options are mainly the same, causing people to eat the same foods every time. Many restaurants smack an Impossible burger on their menu and call it a day, while vegans are craving for more.
Another option for Suffolk County vegans are events hosted by Long Island Vegan Pop Up. These pop-up events showcase several vegan vendors including tents and food trucks. They not only serve food but also showcase art and feature special vendors. Several of these are held in Suffolk County, most recently on October 8 at the South Shore Mall in Bayshore. Admission is free and vegans from all over are welcome to come and bask in the numerous food options for them.
Not only vegans, however, enjoy vegan food. Skye Disilvestro is a Long Island resident who attended a vegan pop-up event in Suffolk County. She is a pescatarian and was attending with her sister and brother-in-law.
“My sister and her husband have decided to go vegetarian, so we’ve been trying to find different foods and things so when we heard about the Vegan Pop-up we were like ‘Oh this is the perfect opportunity,’” she said and she sat at the provided table with her nephew waiting for her food to be ready.
This is only the beginning for vegan options in suffolk. There are vegan pop-ups happening almost every month and the Long Island Herbivore has taste testing nights each month at the Meetball Place. Whether you’re vegan or not, go out and try the food, it just might change your mind.
Contacts:
That Meetball Place: https://thatmeetballplaceli.com/
Long Island Vegan Pop Up: https://www.instagram.com/longislandveganpopup/?hl=en
Nahmastay Vegan: https://nahmastayvegan.com/
