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Natural Awakenings Northwest Florida

Grazing: End of the Line Café not Just for Vegans

Sep 03, 2012 07:05PM ● By Kyla Stevens

Enjoying cuisine without meat, eggs, cheese or other animal byproducts doesn’t have to mean giving up taste. At End of the Line Café, in Pensacola, omnivores, vegans and vegetarians alike can experience myriad fresh, organic dishes that will please even the most carnivorous palate. The café is celebrating its 10th year in the Old East Hill neighborhood this month and has evolved from its origins as a small coffee shop into an eclectic restaurant for all ages.

Café owner Jen Knight designs new menu items each week, providing a diverse array of vegan appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts. For example, the Surfer Burrito boasts a massive spinach tortilla and coconut black beans. Also popular is the café’s selection of vegan meat substitutes, such as maple-hickory bacon or a tempeh tuna sandwich, with smoked Gouda cheese and spicy Dijon mayo on pumpernickel rye.

When asked about her views on veganism, Knight notes the obvious health benefits.

“You know what you’re eating, first and foremost. And you know what’s actually in your food. If I don’t know what it is, I don’t want to eat it, I don’t want to feed it to my babies and I don’t want to promote it,” she explains.

The café uses mostly organic products, including local produce, bread and fair-trade coffee. Espresso items, as well as some specialty drinks, such as the coconut milk Thai tea, are featured on the menu. A tasty selection of craft brews and wines is also available, including the incredibly dark and creamy organic Raven’s Eye Imperial Stout. “Our beer comes from small breweries, and we also have some organic beers. We do have some big name brands, but we try to support smaller companies that have their head in the game and are going in the right direction,” says Knight.

In addition to Wednesday’s Bluegrass Night and Open Mic Night on the second Friday of the month, End of the Line Café offers monthly cooking classes, as well as a Gourmet Raw Food Dinner at the end of the month. Knight prepares a gourmet, raw food meal that is presented course-by-course. The dinner is by reservation only and costs from $25 to $45 per person. She also offers catering services, including one-on-one consultations to fit the needs of any occasion.

Knight has been creating these monthly dinners for a little over a year. She says, “It’s just neat. It’s always on a Monday and we’re closed, so we don’t have the regular crowded foot traffic. People come in as couples or in groups; everyone can socialize, meet people and sit together. It’s really relaxed and fun.”

Location: 610 E. Wright St., Pensacola. For more information, call 850-429-0336 or visit EOTLCafe.com.

Kyla Stevens writes about healthy dining for NWF Natural Awakenings.

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