Hello Vegan Travelers!!
This past weekend took me on a lovely jaunt through Cape Cod, Massachusetts! It is a place much visited in my youth on family camping trips and day trips to the beach. Throughout my adult years, it had been quite difficult to find vegan fare anywhere on the Cape. Sure, the region is known for its seafood. Delightfully, these days it has become increasingly easier for vegans to fill their tummy here.

My Saturday was spent in Provincetown, the tip of the lower Cape. On the main road in town, you can find Karoo Cafe(www.karookafe.com) , a South African restaurant. This quaint establishment, while not completely vegetarian or vegan, does offer several vegetarian and vegan options. They provide outdoor dining also. I started my meal with an appetizer assortment of falafel, rice-filled stuffed grape leaves, samosas, and quinoa cakes. Each of the appetizers were neither too greasy nor too dry. Instead, they were perfect in texture and had their own, distinct flavorful taste. The portions were the perfect size so that you could sample each of them. The platter came with a a light brown sauce and a mustard sauce to complement the appetizers also. I then dined on Cape Malay Curry Stew which is made with a variety of vegetables and tofu in a coconut milk curry over rice. The curry sauce had a creamy richness and a wonderfully spicy taste. It was definitely filling and a bargain at the under $15 price!! I completely enjoyed this delicious meal!! Kudos to the Karoo Kafe for their tasty vegan meals!!

After my meal, I walked up and down the main road which is sprinkled with many gift shops, art galleries, restaurants, and entertainment venues. “Colorful” would be a word to describe this town. Brightly-colored, costumed performers paraded down the street. Taxicabs displaying vibrantly painted flowers on their side are roaming about town. Of course, no visit here is complete without wandering on the boardwalk by the ocean, dotted with boats on the horizon.

For a quick sightseeing tour of the town, I opted for the narrated bus tour. It showcased the popular attractions of the beaches along the shore, the downtown area, past the Provincetown library and town hall, various old churches, the Pilgrim Monument, Long Point Lighthouse at the tip of the region, and the Cape Cod National Seashore. Upon return to town, I paid a visit to the Whydah Museum on the Wharf, to peruse the pirate displays and memorabilia.

After a lovely afternoon had turned into evening, I had one more stop to make prior to leaving for home. The waitress at Karoo Kafe had informed me that a couple of doors down, at The Purple Feather(www.thepurplefeather.com), I could find vegan sorbet. So indeed there I proceeded! Sure enough, they DID have vegan sorbet!! They offered several vegan flavors including strawberry, raspberry, lemon, and mint. I chose strawberry. It was incredible!..very rich and fruity!!

Now it WAS time to go home. The ride back home to northern Massachusetts brought me past the Cape’s sand dunes and scenic shores.

Sunday, I went on yet another escape to the Cape!! This time I visited Falmouth, on the Upper Cape. This seaside town also has a quaint main street. My lunch was eaten at Laureen’s (www.laureens.com). It is not a vegetarian or vegan restaurant, per say. However, they have a special vegan menu. Diners can select from a Middle Eastern plate, a vegan lentil burger, or a vegetarian vegetable plate which actually is vegan. I chose the vegetarian/vegan plate. It consisted of corn and black bean chili over rice with a side of salad. It is usually served with brown rice. This day it was offered with white rice. It was a tasty meal!! The portion was a nice, large size for the $10 price.

After my meal, I walked up and down the main street, glancing at the shop names. Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Shop(www.benandbills.com) caught my eye, since they serve ice cream. Just as a fluke and to satisfy my curiosity, I went inside to see if they per chance may have vegan ice cream. I realize how rare it is to find vegan ice cream!! Much to my surprise, I noticed a sign in their ice cream display case that said “SOY”!! They actually sell a soymilk-based, VEGAN gelato!!! It was not your plain, boring, typical flavor either. It was toasted almond gelato. I ecstatically ordered some in a cup. It was absolutely DEEEEEEE-LICIOUS!! I have never, ever seen vegan gelato..anywhere!! They also serve a vegan, lemon sorbet.

While there was no time during my stay to visit Hyannis, it was fine.. I had been there many a time in the past. This town is known for its home compound of the American political dynasty family, the Kennedys. While there are no restaurants there with a vegan menu to my knowledge, there are dining options for vegans. I always eat at the Indian Pavilion Indian restaurant on Main Street(www.pavilionindian.com). The vegetable curries and rice dishes are suitable for vegans. The other towns on the Cape may present a bit of a problem for vegan diners. Again the best bet is to find a sandwich shop, Thai restaurant, or an Indian restaurant.

No visit to the Cape would be complete without spending some time at one of its beaches!! There are numerous beaches along the coast, too numerous to mention. You can’t go wrong, whether you are seeking a smaller, private beach, or a large one with miles of sand and shoreline. In my youth, my family would go to the West Dennis Beach. The town of Chatham, at the Cape’s elbow has a picturesque lighthouse as its landmark. The beach there is breath-taking and among my favorites. Old Silver Beach is a smaller, quieter beach along the upper Cape.

My Cape weekend brought me to some amazing vegan food and incredibly scenic landscapes!!

UPDATE- July 2011 : Laureen’s has closed their business. Its its previous location is now a Mexican restaurant. They make a very tasty and nutritious vegan burrito. The Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium told me that the almond gelato is currently not vegan. However, the strawberry and raspberry gelatos are vegan and made with soymilk. I enjoyed my strawberry gelato!