Dan's Papers - May 16, 2008 - Viva la Vegan! Great Eats on the East End

Vegetarians actually have it easy. Most restaurants can easily offer a cheesy, but meat-free, meal. Veganism, which eschews all animal products, including milk and eggs, is where it gets tricky. But if you know where to look, there are some great options for vegan meals on the East End.

For brunch, lunch or dinner, Babette's in East Hampton is key for East End vegans. With a number of options, it's great for a more upscale - and a bit pricier - sit-down vegan meal.

For lunch, Babette's offers an Asian wrap with Thai peanut sauce and either tofu or tempeh; the California, an avocado and tomato sandwich; and a Tempeh Ruben. Just be careful, because the soy cheese, which has milk-derived casein in it, isn't vegan. The lunchtime menu also features some dinner favorites, including the Lentil Walnut Burger and the Proud Dragon Bowls - steamed veggies, peanut sauce, brown rice and tofu or tempeh.

For dinner Babette's offers Pompadom Crusted Tofu, with braised artichokes in a tomato saffron sauce and Almond Crusted Tofu, with roasted baby beets. Ordered without the casein soy cheese, the Creole Casbah - garlic mashed potatoes, kale, succotash, pecans and barbecue tofu - is vegan. And all the side dishes, including the BBQ tofu and sweet potato fries, are vegan as well. Also, give their homemade tofu ranch dressing a try.

If you're looking for a more ethnic dining experience, Sen Spice in Sag Harbor, an Indian restaurant, has a separate vegetarian/vegan menu. At reasonable prices, many of the curries available on this menu are vegan or can be made vegan. While the curries are tasty, be diligent. If it looks like it might be dairy, ask the waitress before digging in, as on at least one occasion the chef accidentally cooked a meal marked "V" (for vegan) with cream.

Yama-Q in Bridgehampton is another great place for a vegan dinner. You can order vegan miso soup as well as Agedashi Tofu (without the bonito flakes) or Vegetable Tempura as appetizers before ordering your meal. It also has many options for a proper entrée, including a simple vegetable stir-fry with tofu (made with incredibly fresh veggies), a hearty vegetarian stew or shiitake crusted tofu in spinach sauce. Specials, which change daily, always include at least two vegetarian options that are likely vegan, and a few desserts can be veganized, just ask.

For a more casual meal, eat in or take out, any self-respecting vegan must check out Provisions in Sag Harbor. A natural market that also has an organic café, this is a great place for a casual meal. For breakfast, try the tofu scramble wrap. For lunch, or an early dinner, vegans can order the east/west wrap (a grilled tofu wrap with veggies and miso dressing), a black bean burrito (minus the soy cheese, which has casein in it, and with the tofutti sour cream), the baby Buddha (a brown rice bowl with steamed veggies) and a tofu/veggie stir-fry. There's also a tempeh reuben, but again, the soy cheese has casein.

If you're all the way out in Montauk, Joni's menu is easily at least 50% vegan, if not more. If you get there for breakfast, you can order the scrambled tofu wrap or the homemade organic waffles, or simply order a bagel with tofutti cream cheese.

For lunch there are even more options. Many of the soups offered are vegan. Order the Zen Rabbit wrap without the goat cheese, the Hail Caesar! or the Grateful Veg with tofu rather than chicken, the Thai Me Up! (a gingered tofu wrap)or the Buddah Burger. Joni's also has a vegan and non-vegan soy cheese, so feel free to order the quesadilla, minus the chicken, of course, or to add cheese to any of the wraps. Also, any of the smoothies can be made with soy milk. Enjoy your food while sitting at one of the outdoor tables or take it to go.

Directly on the other side of Joni's is Naturally Good Foods and Café, with a tiny grocery store attached to it. You can order breakfast or lunch here. Its many offerings include homemade soups, various wraps, baked goods and more.

Wild by Nature in Hampton Bays is a large natural foods market akin to Whole Foods. Its prepared foods section is also a great place to take out a vegan meal. They have tofu cutlets, a tofu loaf, vegan vegetable lo mein and a variety of vegetable dishes. In the bakery, several of the cookies are vegan and if you're lucky, there might even be a vegan brownie available.