New Vegan Comfort Food Cafe Opens in Upstate New York

A new vegan comfort food cafe, Secret Vegan Cafe, has opened in Upstate New York, specializing in Dutch and American comfort food staples with a vegan twist. Owned by Dutch immigrant Kim Hoedeman, the cafe offers diner classics like cheeseburgers, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches. The idea to open a vegan cafe stemmed from Hoedeman and her husband going vegan in 2017 and realizing the lack of options for vegans in terms of comfort food bites.

Hoedeman drew inspiration from her native Netherlands for the menu, incorporating veganized versions of classic diner staples such as bitterballen (mushroom nuggets), burgers with fries, salads, and more. The cafe's ambiance is marked by a tree of life design on a wall and a menu board featuring various offerings. Additionally, Hoedeman has launched her own brand, Vegan Junk Food, in 2019 to bring vegan bitterballen to bars, restaurants, and caterers in New York City, catering to those looking for vegan comfort food options outside of the cafe.