Going Vegan at Blossom in the Big Apple

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I had never heard of Blossom before however apparently many vegan and vegetarian friends in the Big Apple love it and so, how could I refuse when they suggested I check it out.

First off, I eat meat — organic and sustainable of course — but I do eat meat. That said, I’m a huge fan of heavy plant-based diets and we eat a lot of salads and vegetables regularly as well. It’s hard to find a great vegan restaurant that delights the taste buds for meat eaters, so it’s nice when you find a gem.

Blossom Restaurant

Dining at the Ninth Avenue location of Blossom

Blossom Restaurant with 2 NYC Locations

Introducing Blossom Restaurant, which has a location on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea and on Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side, the latter being the main location owned by Ronen Seri although apparently the entire franchise is owned by Ronen and Pamela Elizabeth.

So, what did I think as a meat lover? First off, my favorite of the lot was their sweet potato with baked eggplant and a walnut-lentil stuffing. It’s hard to go wrong with sweet potato cooked in anything quite frankly, but this dish was a stand-out.

Blossom Restaurant

They have a number of fun specials on their menu, so they swap things out depending on the season. Other fun call outs go to their Risottos and Gnocchis. While they may be a tad on the rich side, they’re heavenly and worth every bite.

We love that they very clearly mark all gluten free, nut free and soy free items on the menu, making it that much easier for those with food allergies.

My friend Noah is a huge fan of this restaurant and raves about the gluten free risotto with roasted butternut squash, eggplant, kale and toasted pumpkin seeds.

We went for a plate of Butternut Squash Gnocchi with spinach, basil, red and yellow tomatoes, beets, chives and roasted pumpkin seeds in a cashew sauce and their Pistachio and Pepper Dusted Tofu (so divine), which they serve in a root veggie crepe, with lemon truffle emulsion (loved this) and a frisee in a red beet vinaigrette. This was a tad lighter than the others as well.Blossom Restaurant

Blossom Restaurant

Above, the Butternut Squash Gnocchi at Blossom which is both soy and gluten free

 

Blossom Restaurant

Sweet potato with eggplant, walnut lentil stuffing, coconut peanut curry, grilled collard greens, parsnip chips (YUM!!) and a horseradish creme drizzle

We also opted for a couple of salads so we could get an idea of their ‘green’ offerings. Four were available on our menu the night we were there in late January: Tuscan Kale, Baby Beet, Quinoa and Caesar. We went for kale and beets (below), both of which were exquisite and worth trying.

Blossom Restaurant

Tuscan Kale Salad at Blossom, with sliced green apples, roasted cashews and dijon tahini dressing

Blossom Restaurant

Baby Beet Salad with mache & pea shoots, walnuts, cashew ricotta and tossed in a spicy mustard vinaigrette

I loved the dark and quaint ambiance in the Chelsea location. I understand the Upper West Side is much larger, so probably a better option if you have family in tow or want to book with a group, whereas the Chelsea location is a bit more intimate and great for a romantic evening out for two or dining with a close friend.

Blossom Restaurant

Chelsea location on the left and Upper West Side on the right

Below, you can get an idea of the inside of the Chelsea location.

If you want to go for small bites opposed to full course mains, they also have options like Maitake Mushrooms with Babaganoush and Micro Pea Shoots, or fun starter plates like Crispy Artichokes, Raw Zucchini Rolatini, Cashew Cream Ravioli (I so want to try this next time), Spinach Cappelletti, Cape Cod Cakes made with Hiziki seaweed and tofu, and Trumpet Mushroom Scallops made with creamy polenta and spinach in a porcini (one of my faves) mushroom reduction.

Blossom

Even less hungry? Then, go for a few of their dishes from Snacks & Sides, which include things like Fried Pickles (yeah, I know…hard to resist right?), Garlic Kale and Butternut Squash, Escarole & Gigante Beans, Israeli Couscous, Spinach and Truffle Mashed Potatoes.

If carbs are not your thing since many of the mains do include potatoes, you can ask for salad or veggie instead of….or just order a couple of salads to share.

If we make it back again, I’d love to try their Rigatoni in Porcini Cream. Heavy I know, but with a nice wine to cut the richness, I’d be in heaven all night. They make this dish with shallots, leeks, broccoli rabe, pistachio gremolata (delish, right?), truffle oil, caramelized fennel and onion jam crostini.

Their wine selection was reasonable with both options by the glass and bottle, ranging from around $44 to $60 on the high end, so nothing on the list will break the bank. We were surprised and thrilled to find such reasonable wine prices and they included wines from Argentina, Italy, Napa and Carmel Valley in California (we know these regions very well) and France. They offered a Sparkling Cava Castellroig Brut NV from Spain and a Cotes Du Rhone Rose from France.

Their whites included Sauvignon Blanc/Sancerre from France, a lighter Fiano Acante from Italy, a Riesling from Austria and a kosher Chardonnay from Judean Hills, Israel. While I’m not kosher, it’s rare to find a kosher offering on such a small menu, so kudos to them for the addition.

A dessert lover? They’ve got you covered as well. Bring on the cream, coconut and chocolate I say.

Blossom Restaurant

Two thumbs up!! We would definitely return. This is an easy choice if you’re vegan, but if you are a meat lover, try something a little different next time you’re in the Big Apple — you may just be surprised. For more details, visit their website.

DETAILS:

Blossom Restaurant in Chelsea
187 9th Avenue
(212) 627-1144
Blossom on Columbus
507 Columbus Avenue
(212) 875-2600 
http://www.blossomnyc.com/
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Note: we were hosted by the restaurant, but all opinions are entirely our own.
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