So Abalos learned to make delicious, healthy whole foods sans
Fast-forward to now, and Plant Theory is her newest culinary labor of love. The recently opened eatery and vegan boutique, located at 744 Sixth St. in South Beach, is an oasis for conscious consumers.
"It's a café and an artisan market. We have so many different small vendors. You wouldn’t be able to buy this stuff at Whole Foods or Publix. I searched for those all-vegan, organic companies," she explains.
Abalos developed the entire menu herself. The selections run about 50/50 raw versus cooked. Cooked items include a tempeh Reuben ($14), with melted vegan "
The spot also serves breakfast. Items include the missing egg melt ($8), with tofu and cheddar "
Don't miss Plant Theory's cold-pressed juices and local kombucha — on tap. Kombucha ice-cream floats ($10) are also an option. "We use two local Florida organic microbrewers. The exciting thing is that the flavors are always changing depending on what is in season. Also the same thing with the ice "
The spot also has a lounge-style area where customers can hang out and talk. It's stocked with games (Twister, Scrabble, Monopoly); card decks (tarot and animal cards); and even instruments. "Sometimes we have impromptu musical jam session by customers," Abalos says. "We're really focused on community."
For South Beach residents — particularly those who are causeway-averse — Abalos wanted to create something with neighborhood appeal. After all, most of the 305's vegan eateries are in other parts of the county.
Abalos is already looking at a franchise model and considering expanding to other areas. With the rise in popularity of plant-based foods, it's no wonder.