72 VegNews HOLIDAYS 2019
LOS ANGELES is a vegan foodie’s
heaven. From next-level food trucks
to upscale candlelit dining, there’s
something plant-based for everyone in
the City of Angels. But in 2018, Brooklyn
transplant Tara Punzone decided there
was something missing from the vegan
food scene—authentic Italian fare—and
she was ready to fill the niche. It was
only a matter of time until Punzone, a
veteran chef and culinary director of
some of the best plant-based restaurants
in New York City and Los Angeles,
opened an eatery of her own, and she’s
hit the nail on the head with West
Hollywood’s Pura Vita.
The one-year-old restaurant
specializes in classic southern Italian
dishes, and has already cemented its
place as a favorite among locals, critics,
and celebs. Located on glitzy Santa
Monica Boulevard, the small, dimly lit
space serves a full house almost every
night, and the clientele is as diverse as it
is passionate about the food. Old-school
Italians, young Angelenos with hip
haircuts, couples on dates, queer folk,
social media influencers, businessmen,
drag queens, and families all huddle at
tables, animated conversation filling
the air while sharply dressed waitstaff
buzz about with trays of food. Before
even a plate of olives can be ordered, it’s
apparent that this place is special. “Pura
Vita is a space where people come and sit
at the bar and talk to each other, laugh,What happens when a Brooklyn-born, old-school Italian goes vegan, becomes a chef,
moves to Los Angeles, and opens a plant-based restaurant in West Hollywood?
In the case of Pura Vita, it’s pure magic.
by RICHARD BOWIE photos by OLIVER BARTHenjoy the food and the wine, listen to
great music, and simply share the love
and positive energy,” Punzone says. “It’s
all about community.”Vegan beginnings
Punzone dreamt of having her own
plant-based restaurant since going vegan
at age 12. With a family background
in food (her grandparents owned a
neighborhood market and sandwich
shop serving hungry New Yorkers lined
around the block), Punzone’s life has
revolved around quality, from-scratch
meals for as long as she can remember.
Huge dinners were the norm for every
occasion, from birthdays to funerals to
Sunday family get-togethers. But afterFrom West Hollywood, With Love
vegEATS