What do you picture when you hear of a “vegan empanada”? Do you have the same shock you would if you heard of a Philly Tofusteak? Or how about a lentil chorizo?
No one likes to give up the things they are used to eating, which is why many new vegans find the transition easier when they can still enjoy familiar tastes, sans meat.
But while most new vegans can eat plenty of delicious food at home, the real difficulty arises when eating out, especially in cities where the vegan community is feeble. Few restaurants offer vegan options, and those that do, offer vegetarian dishes that often contain cheese, a dairy no-no for vegans, and other faux-pas.
Fortunately for vegans and vegan curious in Orlando, Avenue A Eatery has taken on the role of Latin Food patron saint with its signature lentil empanadas and other Latin staples.
Owners Massiel and George Arias are the duo behind the eatery that’s been delighting vegans and non-vegans alike with their tasty creations sold at Orlando’s farmers markets and food halls.
“Orlando has allowed us to pursue a dream of ours,” said Massiel. “Growing up, food is what brings your family together, that’s how you celebrate, and when you decide to change your lifestyle and become vegan, it’s great that you can still offer tasty food that will bring you back to those memories.”
Originally from New York City and of Colombian parents, the couple always had a passion for food, especially George, who fantasized someday opening up his own restaurant. But it wasn’t until their careers in technology took them to Apple in California that George’s itch for food took a more entrepreneurial turn as he grew discontent with his job as a store manager.
After confiding in his wife about his desire to leave a comfortable job to finally open up a restaurant, the couple started planning.
“We knew we wanted to make food, we just didn’t know what,” said Massiel.
They relocated to Orlando to be closer to George’s 11-year-old daughter, A’mia, but continued looking into materializing the dream, just in a little more humidity. Now all they needed to find was the type of food they would make.
“When we changed our lifestyle and became vegan, it didn’t feel great for us cooking meat, and we couldn’t find any restaurants in Orlando that made Latin food, so we decided to do vegan Colombian food,” said Massiel.
The couple enlisted the help of Massiel’s mother, Martha, famous in her family for her delicious empanadas, and persuaded her to replace the meat with lentils. She happily complied and the Avenue A Eatery ‘nada was born, replacing the traditional empanada as Martha’s new favorite.
As George continued working a tech job, but also helping with the family business, Massiel started hitting all the farmers’ markets and food halls she could find with her lentil empanadas. The public loved her ‘nadas and she soon had enough money to enlist the help of her first employee.
“Colombians are the least likely to try our food,” she said. “But what’s amazing is when they do try it and they love it,” said Massiel.
After a year of “beta testing” their idea, Massiel and George have perfected their sazón and have even expanded the menu to include dishes from other Latin countries in consideration of Orlando’s varied demographics. They are looking to take their eatery to the next level by launching some of their products into retail and possibly getting a food truck.
“We joke around that we want to be the Panda Express of vegan Latin food,” said Massiel. Her proudest business moment to date? When her step-daughter A’mia was asked what she wanted to do when she grew up and she answered “Working on the family business.”