VEGNEWS.COM^ VegNews 69
Ellen Kanner, author, journalist, and
vegan advocate, has added Planta South
Beach to the long list of things she loves
about living in Miami.Cocktails outsell cold-pressed juices,
with creative mixology like kombucha
mojitos and charcoal bourbon sours.
Sorry to break it to you: the activated
charcoal in that slate-gray sour will not
suck the booze out of your bourbon, but
the mint from your mojito does come
straight from the rooftop garden. So
do most of the herbs, edible flowers,
chilis, tomatoes, and cocktail garnishes.
Planta sources practically everything in
its Bloody Mary from the garden, aside
from the vodka. Locally grown, lower
carbon footprint, sure, but more to the
point, the flavors sing.
Sweet on South Beach
Planta South Beach has the clean lines
of the Toronto mothership, with high
ceilings, indoor plants, and black-and-
white tile, but has an unmistakable,
tropical feel all its own. Large plate-glass
windows and a central skylight flood the
space with Florida sunshine during the
day and set it aglow at night. The vibe,
too, is distinctly South Beach—high-end
but not stuffy. Diners rock tattoos,
form-fitting clothes, strappy sandals,
and designer sunglasses.
Servers are helpful, upbeat, and
refreshingly honest; they will praise the
$15 avocado toast—mashed and sliced
avo, olive oil, lemon, pickles, and flaky
sea salt on filone bread—but aren’t shy
about steering you toward something
more unique. Forget the avocados.
Order dessert.
A swirling tower of soft-serve ice
cream in a crystal glass makes for
a cool finish to any meal. Flavors
change based on the kitchen’s mood,
but if the activated charcoal is on
offer, don’t hesitate. The charcoal
imparts a barely-there smoky note
and turns the coconut-almond ice
cream an intriguing shade of gray
not to be missed, while a fairy dust of
toasted coconut, crunchy (honey-free)
honeycomb, and crushed candied nuts
sweeten the deal.
The brunch-favorite banana
bread doubles as a dessert—given its
temptingly gooey texture and alluring
flecks of chocolate—especially when
slathered with the house jam and
cultured cashew butter. If the order of
five cauli tots seems slight, this offering,
presented in three massive slabs, will
make up for it.
Don’t rush out after a decadent dinner
and whichever sinfully sweet dessert you
have the pleasure of tucking in to. Take
a moment to enjoy the atmosphere, the
music, and the relaxed conversation as
the evening wears on. People flock here
because you don’t have to be famous or
vegan to get into Planta South Beach,
just be into fresh food and a happening
vibe. Planta is serious in its commitment
to plant-based, but pulls it off in an
atmosphere that’s pure party, and
everyone’s invited.