Edible Michiana

Popularity of vegan cuisine reflected on restaurant menus

• Photo by Andrea Monzo

  Water & Wheat Café is a vegan restaurant that serves plant-based comfort foods. Clockwise from top left: BBQ “bacon cheeseburger” (smoked butternut squash “bacon”; beet, eggplant and wheat burger; butternut squash and potato “cheese”); hibiscus lemonade; jack of the sea cake (panko-encrusted jackfruit); grain bowl; smoked butternut squash soup; sesame BBQ cauliflower; and Italian “sausage” and peppers (cannellini bean and wheat “sausage”).

• Photo by Andrea Monzo

  Josh Musinski, chef and owner of Water & Wheat Café in Coloma, MI, prepares heart of palm “calamari.” After he removes the center of the hearts, he will slice them, brine them in salt and seaweed, then deep fry them. The final product mimics the taste and texture of fried calamari.