A new pasture for plant eaters

Roseville just got another vegan restaurant. The Vegan Plate at 1821 Douglas Boulevard opened in December 2018, and I spoke with one of its three owners, Jean Gonzalez, back in September as they were renovating the space. “I have a lot of [vegan and vegetarian] friends who have a hard time eating out,” she said, and added that she wanted Vegan Plate to be a solution. Gonzalez said she went vegetarian herself and was transitioning to vegan at her doctor’s recommendation to better manage her polycystic ovary syndrome. Proportionately, Vegan Plate’s menu is mostly Asian-influenced—Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Filipino—but it’s all over the place, globally with American, British, Italian, Mexican. We’re talking bibimbap, stir fries, drunken noodles, wontons, ramen, fried rice, buffalo cauliflower tacos, lumpia, soy fish and chips, pasta, pizza, burgers, cheesecake, gelato. And smoothies and boba tea. The indecisive diner will face a challenge choosing. But it’s nice to have the luxury of choice.