vegan delights @ cafe evolution

i had a great saturday and the lovely weather was just the cherry on top of it all.

we visited the emily dickinson home/ museum in amherst. i didn’t know anything about emily dickinson’s life, so i found the tour very interesting and informative. tom even said it was inspiring. tom’s aunt also gave me a mini tour of amherst, which is a gorgeous college town with lots of history.

in the evening, we headed over to northampton, which is my favorite town in western mass. the main street is full of hipster cafes, artsy shops, indie record stores. i’ve been dying to try out a vegan cupcake and i knew northampton would have a few choices. after a little googling- we decided to have dinner and dessert at cafe evolution.

here’s a little info from their website:

Cafe Evolution features the best vegan food in the Pioneer Valley. Our regular menu features Soups, Sandwiches, and Salads along with cafe favorites like Peanut Noodles and Chili Burritos. We also feature specials from Chef Heather Bergeron, whose hearty dishes are the talk of the town. Our decadent Vegan Baked Goods are legendary in Western Massachusetts, and we are currently adding gluten free and sugar free options!

the decor was a bit eclectic with mismatching secondhand furnishings, but their menu was nothing but solid. they have so many yummy sounding items, it was hard to choose just one. i was about to order a noodle dish from their regular menu when i peeped the words “sweet potato curry” on chef heather’s menu and immediately changed my mind.

the sweet potato curry was served along side their “organically groovy green salad” with japanese carrot dressing. the salad was SO fresh- and i loved all the textures in it (i need to buy sunflower seeds!). and the curry- O-M-G…it was just incredible. creamy, comforting and the perfect blend of savory and sweet tastes. i didn’t read the description of it on the menu and i ate so quickly that your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the ingredients. there are obviously sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and i think dates in it…i have no idea what the creamy topping is- i thought it was yogurt until i realized yogurt is not vegan. it doesn’t matter though- i would never be able to recreate such perfection at home anyway 😛

tom had a fakin’ bacon grilled tempeh sandwich with organic corn chips on the side. he finished his plate so i’m guessing it was pretty good as well 🙂

i was absolutely stuffed from my dish which meant no room for vegan cupcakes. but of course i got one to go! 🙂

i’m so so glad i tried out cafe evolution and will be on hunt for a similar vegan spot closer to home (any recommendations?). my only regret for today is that i didn’t get in my yoga! i could still do it now but i’m having trouble staying awake as i type this so i fear i would crash during downward dog 😦 oh well, i’m not going to dwell on it! hope you’re all enjoying your weekend as well!