I’ve been going to the Winter Village at Bryant Park for years; there’s just something about the vendors in those little glass houses that surround the skating rink for the season that make it feel like the holidays are upon us.
In the past, I’ve made a point to bookend my visits with meals at establishments elsewhere in the city because I don’t recall there ever being much vegan and enticing on offer. And, let’s face it: like most things, I like to shop and people-watch on a full stomach. However, this year all that has changed. Maybe my vegan brain automatically dismisses non-vegan options as non-existent, but I do believe that there were even more vegan offerings than non-vegan this year. That’s a step in the right direction!
Old habits die hard, so I’d stuffed my face with Terri before visiting the Winter Village (sorry, not sorry). I share this only as a disclaimer as to why I wasn’t able to eat at full capacity. Don’t worry, I’ll be back.
The first vegan shop we came across was Raaka virgin chocolate.
Organic, vegan, made-in-Brooklyn, and brimming samples of luscious flavors: I could have spent the day here.
Check out all of their offerings (and go taste them in person if you can); I particularly want to introduce their coconut milk 60{ae720e0b436026f867bfa0c31185c2252a138f27e85f5f152ec5acc1c10a8cc9} cacao bar, as well as the maple & nibs 75{ae720e0b436026f867bfa0c31185c2252a138f27e85f5f152ec5acc1c10a8cc9} as new favorites.
I obviously filled up on chocolate, so I had no room for any of the savory vegan options at Soup for the Soul, which appeared all vegan and, judging by the menu, warming in both flavor and spice.
The pretzels at Chimney Cake – The Rolling Pretzel were vegan, but some of the toppings were not; just remember to double check. They also had soy and almond milk for your coffee and tea!
Two Tablespoons have been making the rounds (Madison Square Eats, Broadway Bites) and their bean and potato-centric menu looked positively drool-worthy.
Because it was so crowded, it was hard to get near Vegushi. It was easy to notice the striking similarities to another vegan sushi purveyor upon first scan of their menu, but I for one am glad to see more vegan sushi infiltrating the cruel and saturated fish sushi market.
Even Blossom Du Jour was in on the action: offering what seemed like their entire BDJ menu of food and dessert.
And, finally, we found This Pie is Nuts, which was the vegan option that had started a few friends and I on this trek in the first place.
Everything is organic, vegan, gluten-free, and locally sourced.
There were four flavors to choose from: purely pumpkin, chocolate mousse, coconut cream, and key lime: each presented as individual pie squares. These were our picks.
We agreed that the pies were pleasant, although subtly flavored. I’ll be sure to try the chocolate mousse next time; I don’t know what I was thinking (yes I do, I’d already eaten my weight in chocolate).
Whatever your tastebuds are craving, you’re sure to find something you’ll like amongst the vegan options at the Winter Village at Bryant Park. Please show them some love and hopefully other markets will follow suit on the regular!