UNAPOLOGETICALLY VEGAN
We have customers from all walks of life,” says Werner. “From vegans to those who are curious to try vegan living and explore food that doesn’t rely on animal products.”
The Fussy Vegan is an unapologetically vegan food store, and it was Werner’s own lifestyle change that inspired the restaurants. “Being vegan is a shift that happened in my life when I decided to no longer contribute to the violent treatment of animals. I’ve always loved food, and when I began excluding animal ingredients from my diet, my love was reignited. This gave me the push I needed to step into my lifelong dream of opening a food store that created awareness around veganism.”
PACKED FULL OF FLAVOUR
One of the biggest misconceptions about vegan food, says Werner, is that it’s boring and tasteless. “Vegan food exists in many cultures and all the ingredients we use to flavour our meals – like herbs and spices – are by default plants.”
The Fussy Vegan menu has plenty of enticing options that could win around even the most steadfast of meat eaters. You’ll find favourites like boerewors rolls, burgers and buddha bowls, all of which have the traditional proteins swapped out for a delicious vegan alternative. Werner’s personal picks are the toasted tofu mayo sandwich and the breakfast burrito, made with tofu scramble, seitan-based bacon, salsa, sriracha, black rice and avocado.
Interestingly, the tofu used across the menus is organic and made in-store. “Tofu is such an amazing form of protein and is extremely diverse in terms of its uses, and by making our own tofu it gives us a consistent, quality product that our customers love.”
And love it they do. The Fussy Vegan has been voted Johannesburg’s Best Vegan Restaurant in the Best of Joburg Awards for two years running. “This is such a privilege for us, especially following the turbulent years of the Covid lockdowns. Like many food businesses we are still finding our feet after the pandemic and are now dealing with load shedding. However, we’re extremely grateful to still be here and excited for what 2023 has in store for us.”
Keen to introduce more plant-based foods into your diet?
Here are Werner’s tips:
Start small: Swap out your dairy for a plant-based alternative that you enjoy. Oat milk is by far the most sustainable option and, personally, itís my favourite. The local vegan cheese market has also exploded and most of the big retailers now stock it.
Research recipes: Find a few recipes that you enjoy. It helps to build up a repertoire of easy recipes that are nutritionally balanced and delicious.
Be kind to yourself: Itís not about being perfect but rather about creating a sustainable lifestyle that you are able to maintain.
