Eating Vegan in West Village

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oul food gets the vegan treatment at Detroit Vegan Soul.

Owners Erika Boyd and Kirsten Ussery are hoping to have their business in West Village set up by August. Since 2012, these finalists in the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest have been catering, doing lunch delivery and working in pop-up shops.

The ladies dole out the healthy dishes while preserving the tastes people know and love.

Vegan food has had a bad rap for being bland and tasteless,” Boyd says, adding they have “a focus on flavor.”

Detroit Vegan Soul’s menu offers “catfish” tofu-cornmeal-dusted tofu seasoned with sea vegetables-plus a traditional soul food platter with mac and cheese and cornbread. They’ve even got seitan pepper steak.

“We’re providing something that’s familiar for people,” Ussery says. “Our food is a good bridge for people who want to … explore more plant-based foods.”

“It’s going to be one of those businesses that could transform a lot of things in terms of healthy living and neighborhood attraction,” says Brian Hurttienne, executive director of The Villages Community Development Corporation.

The café will be located at 8027 Agnes Street, Detroit. Visit them at detroitvegansoul.com or call 313-444-9402.