What’s the one thing that maple hot sauce glazed boneless wings, a sun-dried tomato and arugula omelette, and pasta alla vodka all have in common?

They are 100% vegan.

Or at least they are at Lulu Green’s Plant-Based Cafe in Southie.

I know what you’re thinking. I do.

How can you make a chicken wing without chicken? An omelette without eggs? Creamy pasta without milk or cheese?

But with a little magic, clean ingredients and a generous amount of seasoning, you can pretty much make a plant-based version of anything.

WHICH CAME FIRST – THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? OR NEITHER? 

Growing up, Mary Lattouf considered herself a “junk food junkie.” Her parents had a garden and they prepared healthier dishes. But you know the saying, you want what you can’t have…and Mary wanted McDonalds. At the time, she wasn’t necessarily craving a plant-based burger with vegan cheese on a pretzel bun from her future plant-based restaurant. But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

After college she learned to value how food made you feel versus how it made you look. Mindful eating became her bread and butter.

She went on to get certified in plant-based nutrition through Cornell University and served as the Healthy Eating Program Director at Whole Foods Market.

Lattouf saw a gap in the dining-out space that lacked an inclusive, dietary-restrictive-friendly experience with healthy, whole foods. The dream that had lived in the back of her mind since she was 18 years old suddenly came to the front.

“I wanted to create a place where people could have a great meal that just happens to be vegan.”

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART (OF PALM) IS  

Lattouf and her sister Nada opened up Lulu Green 6 weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down.

Within that short span, they were able to form relationships with their customers who quickly turned into regulars. And get this – most of their customers aren’t even vegan!

While most restaurants took a pause, Lulu Green didn’t have that option. Fearing that if they did, they would never reopen, the sisters built on the momentum from the strong opening and provided Southie with good, healthy food.

“It was important to us to be able to be there for the community,” Lattouf said. “We [stayed] open to provide people with healthy food during a stressful time.”

Five years later, they are still redefining plant-based cooking while being good to the planet and making people happy, all the while having something for everybody at the table.

“If you feel like you want to be indulgent, you can. If you want to eat super clean, you can,” Lattouf said. Maybe that means digging into the popular mushroom short rib or the avocado toast. But no matter what your dietary preference is, just know that the food being served to you is of the highest quality.

No artificial coloring or flavoring is used – even their cocktails are clean! They make their own grenadine with pomegranate juice! There are no preservatives, trans fats or GMO foods. All dressings, dips and sauces are made from scratch and every leafy green is cut themselves as opposed to buying bulk precut in a bag.

THERE’S A FIRST TIME (AND MEAT SUBSTITUTE) FOR EVERYTHING

Now, for those of you who might be a little skeptical or hesitant to try a crispy chicken sandwich that doesn’t actually have any chicken whatsoever in it, it’s all about baby steps.

Lattouf recommends experimenting and trying different things. Why not start with tofu? She claims it’s probably not what you would think it tastes like in your mind. In fact, it’s all in the preparation and can pretty much taste like anything depending on the seasoning.

“You need to layer flavors, especially in vegan cooking. [With] animal foods, you get the creaminess from fats,” Lattouf said. “You have to work a little harder to layer in the flavor because you don’t have that natural fat from the animal protein.”

If anything, it just means your meal was made with even more love!

Speaking of love, Lattouf brought her mother to brunch one day. She ordered the omelette and said, “I didn’t know you guys started cooking with eggs.” Lattouf’s response?

“We haven’t!”

Be sure to stop by Lulu Green Tuesday-Sunday for brunch, lunch, dinner or a quick drink (be it coffee, a protein shake or an espresso martini) at 246 W. Broadway in Southie.

For a glimpse into what your brunch could look like, check out this video made by a local food content creator.