Eating vegan in DFW doesn’t have to mean getting caught in a Spiral

[Guest guest]

Most conversations about vegan dining in DFW begin (and end) with two words:

Spiral Diner. That's because it's the only all-vegan restaurant in North Texas.

(Hey, you live in the heart of cow-eating country.) But what's a vegan supposed

to do if he wants to expand his culinary options? Consider these non-Spiral

Diner suggestions to satisfy your vegan jones.

 

1. Don't turn up your nose at the mainstream.

 

Vegan dishes can be found in the least expected places. The Dallas-based Genghis

Grill chain ( www.genghisgrill.com), which has nearly 20 locations through the

Metroplex, is praised by many for its vegan-friendly options. Sweet Tomatoes (

www.sweettomatoes.com), the national salad-and-stuff chain that recently opened

in Arlington Highlands, also offers up a couple of vegan options, including Thai

peanut and red pepper salad and vegetarian harvest soup.

 

2. Call ahead (and be willing to drop a few extra bucks).

 

Chefs at high-end restaurants are almost always willing to cater to oddball

dietary restrictions — many of them love that sort of Iron Chef-style challenge.

(Lanny Lancarte, of the Fort Worth haute Mexican gem Lanny's Alta Cocina

Mexicana, is particularly beloved by vegetarians for the menus he's able to

conjure up.) Call a few days ahead, explain your needs and restrictions, and

come equipped with a credit card — and chances are you'll be enjoying a gourmet

meal made expressly for you.

 

3. Skip ahead to dessert.

 

Sublime Bakery ( www.sublimebakery.com), the Fort Worth shop in Country Day

Plaza, has vegan cupcakes ($39 a dozen) that are, well, sublime — even for

vegan. We also suggest the sugar-free linzer tartlettes ($3 each). For that

price you can feed an entire vegan colony. (All vegan cakes need to be

special-ordered; call 817-570-9630.)

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