Plant-based food in the Southern Gulf Islands

With shockingly few exceptions, you’ll find something deliciously vegan and vegetarian on just about every menu in the Southern Gulf Islands. And notably, we are serving up more than just a sad bowl of chips and guac or a plate of fries. There may not be an official poll, but we are willing to bet that the Southern Gulf Islands have a higher per capita number of plant-based food lovers than elsewhere in BC, and this preference for veg has translated directly onto our menus. Combined with our growers and makers, we are quite literally spoiled for options.

For the vegans and vegetarians planning a visit, here are just a few of the many, many options you have waiting for you on your next trip.

Galiano

On Galiano, Crane and Robin serves up a menu chock full of hearty vegan options, including a Coconut Corn Chowder, Curried Cauliflower and Potato Sandwich, and the famous Crane and Robin House Salad. More than an after-thought side salad, the Robin House is a hefty bowl filled with roasted yams, curried chickpeas, and green pea hummus, topped with a miso-dijon vinaigrette.

Salt Spring

Any restaurant with a Plant-based Charcuterie Board knows how to please a vegan crowd — and Salt Spring Wild Cider always has a memorable one. Think smoked tofu, cashew spread, pickles, and preserves, all served with gluten-free crackers. 

But for a more substantial option, we recommend their Apple Curry, with warming spices, apples, and pineapples, served over fluffy jasmine rice. Or why not try their ever-filling Rice Bowl, featuring a rotating lineup of local seasonal veg?

If the words organic, vegetarian, and gluten-free are music to your ears, you’ll need to plan a pitstop at the Salt Spring Saturday Market to find . No added sugars, no preservatives, just real good food from wholesome plant-based ingredients.

Everything on their menu is a winner, but you can’t go wrong with a warming bowl of Curry and Rice or a Tandoori Tofu Wrap Sandwich.

Pender

Always a local favourite, Vanilla Leaf Bakery serves up a seemingly never-ending lineup of freshly baked goodies for their vegetarian customers. Scones, cinnamon buns, and other sweets are always on the menu. 

But if you want more of a meal, we’d recommend grabbing their Vietnamese GF Rice Wrap for lunch or their daily Veggie Sandwich. And not to be forgotten are their giant vegan Jamaican Veggie Patties. Prefer a sit-down restaurant experience? Coffee + Kitchen at WOODS on Pender focuses on comfort food dishes with the freshest ingredients possible and some of the best vegetarian pasta and pizza this side of the Georgia Straight.

Mayne

Vegetarians will find fantastic falafel and pakoras at the island’s favourite local hangout, The Montrose Local. All veggie meals come, of course, with a side of board games. Or check out the Farm Gate Store‘s made-to-order deli, where the plant-based burritos are not to be overlooked.

Written by Jessica McKeil