As a lactose intolerant person, one of my favorite activities is ignoring this key component of my health and satisfying my dairy-based cravings. For a while, I thought there was no solution to my undying love for all things cheese other than popping a Lactaid and hoping for the best; then I met my best friend. He introduced me to the wonderful world of veganism, and though he hasn’t completely converted me, I have been able to (mostly) commit to a limited animal- product lifestyle by choosing vegan alternatives. The best part of the journey has been finding foods that taste almost exactly like (or sometimes better than) their dairy-based alternatives. However, diet changes do not come without their own obstacles.
Maintaining nutrition from dining hall food can be challenging, and dietary restrictions make it even harder. Fortunately, Vassar caters to vegan individuals by always serving vegan options at Root. However, as is common in all sections of the Deece, Root is not always a hit. My default when I do not feel like taking a chance, particularly on the weekends, is ordering takeout—but there are not always diet-friendly options. Enter a hidden gem of the local Poughkeepsie area: The Plant Palate.
The Plant Palate was founded by Poughkeepsie local Anthony Taylor in an effort to demonstrate flavor-rich foods made of plant-based ingredients. Taylor went vegan immediately after watching the documentary “What The Health.” He eventually shared his recipes with family members and coworkers, and after an overwhelmingly positive response, decided to begin taking orders. Thus, The Plant Palate was born. My positive experiences with the business and Taylor’s story have become a key part of my motivation to continue pursuing a vegan lifestyle and find other fan-favorite recipes that can be veganized. If you find yourself in a similar situation, The Plant Palate is a great place to start!
As of now, the business does not have a brick- and- mortar location. Instead, all food is delivered by Anthony Taylor himself! Placing an order is quick and easy: Menus are posted to Instagram every other Monday, and the deliveries are made the subsequent Sunday. I recently tried the mac and cheese, empanadas and short ribs. As a long-term fan of mac and cheese, I was thrilled to find an arguably better option that—get this—does not hurt my stomach! The flavor profiles of the empanadas and short ribs were also reminiscent of an oh-so-cherished home cooked meal. I think I just found my favorite Sunday comfort food.
If you find yourself experiencing the Mondays and needing something to look forward to, I definitely recommend checking out The Plant Palate.