New vegan soul food restaurant with
a Caribbean twist opens in Jamaica
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Chef Holando Shaw and
several elected officials celebrated
the opening of Real
Veggie Cafe with a ribboncutting
ceremony in Jamaica
on Sunday, May 2.
When the original soul
food restaurant closed, and
Shaw took the opportunity,
partnered with the original
owner and turned the eatery
at 106-13 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
into a vegan restaurant.
On the menu is mac ‘n’
cheese, collard greens, plantains,
candied yams and
other items. Fried cauliflower
and mushrooms replace
traditional fried chicken.
All menu items are seasoned
with a Caribbean
twist, served soul food style.
The Jamaican-born Shaw
shared he started experimenting
with plant-based
dishes using traditional
Jamaican sauces like curry
and jerk sauces, which
are vegan-based, creating
healthier food options.
“We wanted to tackle the
whole concept of food insecurity
and bring healthier options
to the neighborhood,”
said the chef, who donated
sustainable and healthy food
Assemblywoman Vivian Cook, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Chef Holando Shaw and Councilwoman Adrienne Adams
celebrate the grand opening of Real Veggie Cafe. Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
Chef Holando Shaw speaks at the grand opening of his restaurant Real Veggie Cafe.
TIMESLEDGER | Q 12 NS.COM | MAY 14-MAY 20, 2021
options for seniors, first responders
and families in
need during the pandemic.
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards said
the new, post-COVID normal
should also include healthier
restaurant options and
adopting a healthier lifestyle.
“When you look at who
died during this pandemic,
it’s very clear that a lot of
folks we lost, we lost due
to access to health care,
but also underlying conditions
that many of our
community residents have
faced going through disparities
in many different
areas across the borough,”
Richards said.
He was excited to see that
a vegan restaurant opened
its doors in south Queens,
which he called a blessing.
“These are the communities
where we need to see
health care prioritized. But
also the mindset of us taking
some personal responsibility
and putting the
onus on us as well to sort of
adapt to a new healthier eating
lifestyle,” the borough
president said.
Councilwoman Adrienne
Adams, whose district borders
the vegan cafe, said it
was amazing to see what
can be done and called the
eatery a welcome addition to
Jamaica.
“To have establishments
like chef Holando, who is
bringing Real Veggie Cafe
right here to south Jamaica,
it’s going to be so impactful
for so many people. We’re
looking at the students, the
residents that are going to
be able to partake in their
neighborhood. Healthy eating,
what the borough president
just said, it’s so good.
We need more establishments
like this,” the councilwoman
said.
Looking forward to the
fusion of Jamaican flavors
and plant-based soul food,
Adams joked, “My husband’s
a vegan. Maybe I’ll be converted,
too — who knows?”
/NS.COM
