The Louisville vegan community, long underserved, now has a new option, BENEDICT’S GARDEN CAFE (1519 Baxter Ave., 479-7777). The spot — which should be of equal interest to healthy-food eaters of all types — is spacious and modern, but homey, with bright green walls and three eating areas flanked by comfortable couches, perfect for sipping coffee. Benedict’s offers more than 10 different choices, each a fair-trade, organic product.
A few breakfast items appear on the menu, ranging from a tofu scramble to vegan biscuits and gravy ($6.50 to $7), as well as a case full of fresh muffins and pastries. Lunch and dinner choices take up a larger portion of the bill of fare. Recommended for carnivores, reformed or otherwise: nachos ($5), vegetarian chili ($3), salads and a few sandwiches made just with veggies (you can even request dairy cheese).
The Asian tofu sandwich ($7) is filling and flavorful. Served on a baguette, it’s topped with pan-fried strips of tofu, a light sesame peanut sauce, sprouts, tomatoes and lettuce. All sandwiches are served with a choice of side dishes that include seasonal fruit, seasoned potatoes, kettle chips, vegan potato salad or vegan macaroni and cheese. The potato salad is a delicious treatment of new potatoes with a hint of mustard, but a word of warning: Order it in a separate bowl or it will make your bread soggy.
The cold soba noodles ($5) will satisfy most appetites without the heaviness that usually accompanies pasta dishes. Soba noodles are made from buckwheat, a gluten-free grain, and are served with dipping sauce and tofu with nori flakes — a common garnish for Asian noodle dishes made from edible seaweed. The flavors are light and the cold noodles easy to eat on a hot summer day.