CLTRE. vgn jnt in Virginia Beach
My friend Katie (one of my many friends named Katie) has been requesting I have some vegan representation on my blog and Instagram. Katie, a longtime vegetarian and vegan of almost two years, can finally be happy with me after my visit to CLTRE. vgn jnt.
I’m a member of Yelp Coastal Virginia’s Elite Squad, which means that I get special perks from local businesses every now and then. The most recent perk was in conjunction with CLTRE. vgn jnt, a vegan café in Virginia Beach. The perk entitled me to one free waffle with my choice of three toppings.
Typically, before I eat anywhere, I diligently research the menu to decide what I want. This time, since vegan food is new to me, I was feeling spontaneous. I went in with an open mind and a near empty stomach.
About CLTRE. vgn jnt
Noticeably devoid of vowels, CLTRE. vgn jnt is located in the Kemps River Crossing shopping center, which is near Regent University and The Founders Inn. According to a WTKR story, Luvenia "Luv" Hankins opened CLTRE in 2018 in an incubator space. The café closed in March due to COVID and reopened in mid-September at the new location.
CLTRE. vgn jnt – Yelp Elite Perk
The eatery has a cozy vibe that encourages you to stay a while. The warm, friendly atmosphere made me decide to dine in instead of ordering to-go.
When I got to the counter, I let the cashier know that I was redeeming my Yelp perk. She told me I could pick three of the toppings listed on the chalkboard menu beside me. The first one I picked was cinnamon apples, my favorite topping for literally anything. I knew I wanted to add a cream cheese drizzle but was stumped on what my third choice should be. Without hesitation, the cashier recommended the granola, after making sure I didn’t have any nut allergies. I always trust the opinions of the employees. I also ordered a cup of sweetened ginger peach black tea and took a seat.
CLTRE has a few seating options, including a few tables, high top chairs at a bar against the wall and two couches beneath a tapestry. The walls are adorned with eclectic art that emphasize CLTRE’s objective of cultivating a unique experience. A specially curated Spotify playlist was the perfect background music for light conversation or, in my case, reading today’s paper on my phone.
It didn’t take very long for my food to come out, especially with a takeout order and another dine-in order ahead of me. When I picked up my food from the counter, I stopped to ask the woman handing it to me a question, prefacing that I know basically nothing about veganism or vegan food. I knew that vegan food was plant based and could not include any animal byproducts.
“What makes vegan waffles different from regular waffles?” I asked.
She explained to me that CLTRE’s vegan waffles are made with spelt flour and oat milk. After a quick Google search, I read that spelt flour is an ancient wheat that is higher in protein and has fewer calories than all-purpose flour.
While writing this post and doing a bit more research on CLTRE’s Facebook page, I’m pretty sure I was speaking with Luv, the owner, but masks make it hard to tell. I always think it’s pretty cool to see restaurant owners upfront and with “the people.”
The first thing that hit me was the sweet aroma of the cinnamon apples. I didn’t know what to expect of the waffle, but I knew it’d have to be good since it was topped with the apples. As I admired the perfect drizzle of cream cheese, it occurred to me that this was probably not a cream cheese icing I’ve had before. I couldn’t tell you what CLTRE uses for their cream cheese topping, but it has the exact same consistency and taste as the cream cheese I’m used to.
The waffle itself was soft, easy to cut and stayed together as I treated myself to bite after bite. Admittedly, I was a little concerned about how the texture would be, but it was as light as a “regular” waffle.
While I wouldn’t typically go for granola, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it on my waffle. I really think Nutri-Grain Bars scarred me as a child. This granola wasn’t excessively crunch and had some shredded coconut and sliced nuts in it. Once I stirred it in with the syrup and cinnamon apples, I had an unbeatable combination.
I plan on going back to CLTRE sooner than later to try more of the plant-based menu and open my palate up to more culinary adventures. I’m eager to taste a vegan breakfast sandwich next!