Black Owned Vegetarian Restaurants in Baltimore!

Julia Cavallo
Jul 31, 2020
3 min read

Black Lives Matter.

I’ve been doing my absolute best to uplift the Black community and support Black businesses as much as possible. With my recent decision to move to Baltimore, MD to pursue my MBA at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, I am on the lookout for some great vegetarian and vegan shops!

Black performers have set an amazing example and in many ways have influenced a huge up-tick in vegan and vegetarian food consumption among others in the Black community- an increase of 7% since 2016! (Reiley, p. 4). Here’s how: representation and encouragement.

· Eight out of 10 of the Wu-Tang Clan identify as vegan or vegetarian.

· In support of the Green Print Project, Jay-Z and Beyoncé offered one fan free concert tickets for life if they adopted a vegan diet.

· On his 21st birthday, Jaden Smith, opened a pop-up vegan food truck in Los Angeles called “I Love You Restaurant” to feed the homeless healthy and nourishing food.

· Cardi-B introduced many to the vegan shopping market by partnering with Fashion Nova.

After some research on the area, I found a few Black-owned vegan/vegetarian restaurants I can’t wait to try!

1. Flight American Fusion Restaurant and Bar

Offering both vegan food and meat, Flight American has items like vegan beef and broccoli, ribs and curry chicken. It can be very hard to find restaurants who not only make dishes without meat, but also cater to vegetarian protein! I’m super excited to try the Vegan Thai Chile Wings. Flight American Fusion is located in an area with extremely diverse culture, which they celebrate and share through food. Local artists also have the opportunity to showcase their work throughout the building!

2. Gangster Vegan

I absolutely love the message this restaurant stands for. Quoted from their website, Gangster Vegan says,

"Gangster Vegan Organics is redefining what it is to be "Gangster". Influenced by a culture that glorifies Gangsters, Violence, And Drug Dealing, kids are being brainwashed at a rapid rate. We are committed to making it "Gangster" to eat healthy, to spread Love, to be Kind to one another and the earth. We live in food deserts, surrounded by fast food and convenience. We have to actually "Gangster" our way through all of the poison, just to find access to Real Food. We created the Brand, to create access to Real Organic Integral Unprocessed food to every community. We are here to plant seeds for the future. Compassionate eating with Peace and Love."

I really look forward to trying their famous juices and wellness shots, especially “The Blueprint”, which has Cucumber, Celery, Lemon, Granny Smith Apple, Chlorella, and Spirulina.

"The Blueprint"

3. With Love Co.: A Plant Based Sip and Eat Joint

With Love Co. offers a plant based, gluten free, and soy free menu. From lentil burgers to raw lasagna, this plant based sip and eat joint has so many delicious options! Pre-veg life I was a huge fan of PF Chang’s lettuce wraps, so I can’t wait to try With Love Co.’s seaside lettuce wraps with one of their cold-pressed juices.

One last thing, before you go. Breonna Taylor needs justice. FIVE months ago, police officers without a warrant entered her home during her sleep and shot her 8 times, taking her life. Her and her family have still not been given justice. Sign the White House petition asking for the following:

1. Fire, charge, and arrest John Mattingly, Brett Hankison, Joshua Jaynes, and Myles Cosgrove. Suspend their pensions.

2. Attorney General of Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, must conduct a transparent investigation of the Louisville Police Department.

3. Pass Senator Rand Paul's bill, federally banning no-knock warrants.