Vegan Victuals: The Blog |

[Vegan] Heaven Isn’t Too Far Away

Last time I was at 3 Brothers, the very vegan-friendly pizzeria on Long Island, I was floored. This time, with the arrival of their comprehensive vegan menu, I was positively giddy. Not to be over-dramatic, but 3 Brothers is, quite possibly, vegan heaven on Earth. The thing of fairy tales and folklore. The many pages of the pizzeria’s exclusively vegan menu options were overwhelming. We stared at its pages in awe and indecision, kind of confused.

Here exists an eatery charmed in timing. In October, when I first reported on their inclusion of Daiya to their menu, I knew I had discovered a gem. Soon thereafter, the New York Times had published an article in their regional section, exposing the masses to the vegan magic happening behind their counter. [Of course their ridiculous science column op-ed piece promoting omni-mythos was soon to follow, written, disappointingly, by Natalie Angier, the science writer who had charmed and fascinated me with her previous work. Luckily, the Discerning Brute and Vegansaurus responded with logic and reason.] Two months or so later, on the evening of my second visit to 3 Brothers, I sat amongst a whole dining room of vegan parties, in the satisfying reward of feeling at the proverbial home… in my hometown.

Let us get to the food, starting at the beginning. Any good Italian joint knows that a basket of fresh-baked warm bread is a must. But at 3 Brothers, you can get a ball of vegan margarine to smear too. It was a little detail but important. The act of which was strangely nostalgic and pleasing on its own, the soft distribution of that fat, the bottom-heavy sturdy silverware it seems only restaurants get to have., the red neon afterglow of “Pizza…Pasta”.

Enter heaven: Vegan. Mozzarella. Sticks. Who would have believed it ever so? Huge, sturdy and thickly-breaded sticks oozing with hot, melted vegan mozzarella. I would have traveled cross-country for them but needed only to travel the Cross Island Parkway. They were amazing. Again, I was so confused. Not to sound like one of those “it’s actually not bad”-omnivores but how could they be that good?

Satiety already being triggered, my seitan cutlet roll was delivered at the last moment. It was enormous. Delicious, tender house-made seitan wrapped in vegan mozzarella and fresh, buttery dough, delivered with a generous pool of marinara for dipping. Perfection.

Now: Take a look at the 3 Brothers all-vegan menu online and let me know when you want to go. A place like this needs to be shared.