The five-month-old restaurant has at its heart a philosophy of kindness – kindness to the earth, to animals, and to the human person, body and soul.
Misha Dhupelia, one of the restaurant’s three co-owners, said when she moved from being vegetarian to being vegan four and a half years ago, she quickly realised that Joburg’s vegan options were limited.
A conversation with friends Grant Nash, a former 5FM DJ, and Marnus Broodryk, both passionate vegans, the well-timed availability of a space in Greenside, and a sense of adventure soon led to the opening of the eatery.
“We wanted to create a place that felt as ‘normal’ as possible,” said Dhupelia.
“Think comfort food… We wanted to offer meals that people know and love, only these are plant-based. We want people to realise that they’re not missing out if a meal doesn’t contain meat.”
While the trio hope the eatery will help grow the veganism movement, patrons needn’t worry about aggressive proselytisation.
“If patrons ask us about veganism, we’ll share ideas, and help with tips, recipes, menu plans, and suggested shopping lists. We want to take the guess work out of it,” she said.
The restaurant also hosts screenings of films that deal with the cause.
Dhupelia said the restaurant’s two menus catered to vegans new and old.
“The daily menu is more for new vegans, as it features more regular, everyday foods, while our specials menu changes every two weeks,” she said.
“It’s seasonal, and many of the dishes are things we’re experimenting with. There’s always something new to try.”
The two most popular dishes on the regular menu are crispy tofu with ginger peanut sauce, and chimmichanga (spiced Mexican red beans with hummus, avocado and non-dairy cheese).
Speaking about the restaurant’s motto, Kindess, Dhupelia said the philosophy was an “easy thing”.
“We want to be kind to the earth and to animals, and we know that smiling is contagious,” she said.
“We make kind, compassionate meals, and we hope the kindness will extend. It has a domino effect, and can change people for the better.”
Details: Conscious108, 108 Greenway, Greenside; 011 646 7250; www.conscious108.co.za
Thinking of going vegan? Here are some tips from Conscious108’s Misha Dhupelia:
* Give up the foods you don’t like first:
It’s easy to give up things you don’t like, so start with those. If you don’t like red meat, give it up before you give up fish or chicken.
* Find your balance:
Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet. There are plenty of meat-free options out there, but just because it’s meat-free doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
* Eat cleverly, eat regularly
Because plant-based foods are more easily and quickly digested, vegans may find it easier to eat smaller meals every two to three hours. Using a menu plan can help with this.
