Vge Cafe Preps For Opening

Vge Cafe owner Fernando Peralta spent this week testing recipes for the 's anticipated soft opening next Thursday, April 26.

A number of people who had emailed him asking about an opening were invited in this week to help taste some of the food. On Thursday, he had samples of several soups, a "mac and cheese" dish that was made with gluten-free pasta and a cauliflower-based sauce, a cheesesteak made with seitan and caesar salad with homemade vegan dressing.

"I think people like it," Peralta said. "I keep pushing people not to be too nice."

Part of the process involves experimenting with recipes and adjusting them to the new restaurant's equipment, he said.

"There's a balance between being nutritionally sound and being appealing," Peralta said. "Our goal is to make it easy to eat healthy and/or vegan."

Vegetarians and vegans don't have many options in the immediate area, though Ardmore now has some eateries that cater to that, he said.

In addition to the homemade vegan foods, the restaurant will also offer Bryn Mawr-based all-natural New Hope Fountain sodas, featuring drinks made with pure cane sugar.

All plates, bowls, utensils and soda cups will be compostable, Peralta said.

Vge Cafe, located at 845 Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr, will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.