- Aug
- 19
Ann Arbor: Heaven on Earth for Vegetarians and Beer Lovers
Posted by Robin Soslow at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
I am not a cougar.
But when traveling, I rely on young guys to suggest the best places for good music, art, and vegan cuisine. One of them, Tim Adkins, assured me I’d find all three in Ann Arbor, Michigan—plus animal-friendly shops and microbrews good enough to convert wine snobs into beer connoisseurs.
Tim had a couple of tasty suggestions for vegetarian restaurants in town, which included Beezy’s local farm-to-table fare, Seva, and Earthen Jar.
All-vegetarian since 1973, Seva serves a wicked curried eggplant with tamarind-coconut-peanut sauce, North African couscous with grilled tempeh, lunch bargains, and weekend buffets. Earthen Jar is a mostly vegan, $4.99-a-pound buffet that includes authentic Indian, vegan mac ‘n’ cheese, and homemade desserts. Bonus points for its pamphlet, “How to Win an Argument With a Meat-Eater.”
Later, I dined nearby at Eve (you can make reservations online), famous for slow food with a French twist prepared by upcoming Iron Chef contestant Eve Aronoff. Here’s what to order: Thai Barbecued Tofu Napoleon, with macadamia nuts, seaweed, coconut, veggies, and mint.
Further proof that Ann Arbor has a lot to offer us vegetarians can be found a short drive south. Step into Mediterrano and you will be transported to a Greek villa. John Roumanis anticipated demand for healthy, delectable and inventively prepared plant-based foods, which have traditionally dominated southern European plates. So he embraces vegetarian diners. The EVOO is imported from his olive orchard in Greece, and the balsamic vinegar reduction beats melted chocolate in taste and texture. The chili-roasted portobellos and savory Turkish vegetable Burec are show-stoppers.
Beer-tasting is a cultural pursuit in this Midwest college town ringed by family farms, so we had to visit Arbor Brewing Company in the historic downtown center. Owners René and Matt Greff, both vegetarians, have made their brewpub natural, local, and sustainable all the way down to the chips and salsa. They choose suppliers who treat the land responsibly and animals humanely.
Late morning felt early to be drinking, but beer-tasting involves sips, not gulps. My top pick: Matt’s Sacred Cow IPA—beloved by “hopheads” for its rich flavor. Both Matt and René have tattoos of the brew’s logo: a bodhisattva symbol recast as a cow.
When you need a break from gustatory pursuits, other pleasures abound. Matthaei Botanical Gardens recharged my senses with plants, exotic and local. Smell the herbs in the edible garden (food again!), and catch a talk on eco-responsible gardening. Feel that 1960s vibe in comfort and with better acoustics at The Ark. Little Feat and Yid Vicious are among the August headliners.
Then bike off the calories—check out the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society for routes, group rides, and tips.
Posted to Travel | Posted to Tags: Ann Arbor, Robin Soslow, Travel, vegan, vegetarian
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Peter G says...
August 20th, 2009, 11:46 pm
How awesome that would be…..
A2 Writer says...
August 22nd, 2009, 10:45 am
As a proud Ann Arbor vegetarian, I agree wholeheartedly. Thanks for the great post!
Christy Summerfield says...
August 22nd, 2009, 11:51 am
As a practically life-long resident of Ann Arbor, I’m not surprised that you found so much to interest you here. It’s good to see an article that focuses on something other than the University of Michigan, (although Matthaei is part of the University), which so often dominates the national news concerning Ann Arbor, Thanks for the happy review of some of the terrific things about Ann Arbor.
Patti R says...
August 22nd, 2009, 11:57 am
You missed one of the best places to eat vegan - Chia Shiang. This is a truly authentic Chinese restaurant (don’t be surprised if you can’t read the daily specials!) and it has a separate vegan kitchen. They have so many different varieties of vegan dishes including tofu and three different types of veggie meats. Next time you’re in Ann Arbor, you must check it out! And of course there’s all of the Korean restaurants where you can eat vegan as well…
gina says...
August 22nd, 2009, 11:58 am
great article..but unfortunately, many of the best veg restaurants (not very many in metro detroit) have no wheelchair access!! can’t get into the earthen jar, and some others..bummer!
NUTM3G says...
August 24th, 2009, 3:46 pm
I wanna go.
viki says...
August 25th, 2009, 11:45 pm
Yes!! I live in burton and we look forward to our drives out to Ann Arbor we love the earthen jar!! and have been to seva for her birthday this year
if you want tea and a desert you should go to crazy wisdom bookstore it has a tea room upstairs a very serene atmosphere and the most wonderful vegan ding dongs!!!
Robin says...
August 28th, 2009, 1:06 am
Chia Shiang and vegan ding dongs - thanks for the suggestions…excuses for me to return there soon! And, that is a good point about the need for wheelchair access. Thanks, you all, and I’ll keep asking for vegan options on the road.