Our Yummy Date Story Destination To G-Zen in Branford, CT is where we went for a well nedded double lunch date with friends. We have been due for a date for quite some time and have been looking forward to going on a double date with our friends. They offered to take us to G-Zen in Branford, CT and we couldn’t wait to experience this full vegan/vegetarian and raw restaurant.
Our Yummy Date Story Destination To G-Zen in Branford, CT offers a full vegan/vegetarian & raw foods menu that is entirely plant-based and sourced from the freshest ingredients available that are organic, sustainable and local whenever possible. Executive Chef Mark Shadle is a culinary Olympic gold winner and has more than 25 years of experience in the natural foods movement and vegetarian cuisine.
Our Yummy Date Story Destination To G-Zen in Branford, CT was a 30 minutes drive from home and it was the perfect day for a lunch date. G-Zen is sophisticated yet relaxed and located in the charming shoreline town of Branford CT. Located only minutes from downtown New Haven, the restaurant has become the choice for many seeking sustainable, organic and vegetarian friendly food along the Connecticut coastline.
The restaurant represents the vision of Chef Mark Shadle and Chef Ami Beach Shadle. Together they take the concept of “Farm to Table” to a whole other level, by growing the organic ingredients, serving them fresh at the restaurant and then composting everything at their sustainable farm. Both Mark & Ami are both deeply in the power of a plant-based diet and have both have adopted this vegetarian & vegan lifestyle for more than 20 year along with their family.
Founded in 2011, G-Zen was named “Top Ten Upscale Vegan Restaurants in America” by SHAPE magazine. In 2013 G-Zen was featured in Travel + Leisure magazine’s “Best Vegetarian Restaurants in USA.” The menu changes daily and the most inspired chef’s creations find their way on to the large handwritten chalkboards. The wine list presents many select wines from small family owned vineyards, many of them using organically grown grapes and sustainable practices.
Once we entered the restaurant, we fell like we were entering a different world with the delicious food smell already inviting us from the street. After we met with our friends, we couldn’t wait to get started. On Saturdays is G-Zen popular Buddah Brunch with their menu ranging from healthy cocktails, homemade soups/starters, fresh salad, smoothies to their regular lunch items and specials.
Our friends recommended their out of the world G-fries made with their hand-cut sweet potatoes and house-made smoked hickory ketchup for starters. I couldn’t resist and also ordered their Vegan Bruschetta made with fresh heirloom tomato, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil & topped with our vegan
mozzarella toasted on our fresh baked organic bread.
The starters already sold Hubby and I and we couldn’t wait for our lunch orders. Hubby ordered the Pure Radiance Salad made with a hearty scoop of their live, raw, sprouted nut pate over organic field greens,shredded carrots, beets, topped with raw carrot ginger dressing or their organic apple cider & garlic vinaigrette & topped with cashew Parmesan. Their curried live/raw pate is made from sprouted organic nuts & seeds, Medjool dates, spices, fresh cilantro, raisins & a hint of exotic curry.
I opted for another starter as my lunch in their G-Zen Dim Sum Plate with Steamed vegetable dumplings, fresh spring roll with shredded carrots, daikon & cabbage & assorted vegetable tempura with a fresh ginger tamari mirin sauce & spicy cilantro peanut sauce. The other couple also ordered the Pure Radiance Salad and oatmeal vegan pancake and it tasted as delicious as it sounds.
G-Zen is considered a zero waste restaurant and composts 100 percent of the food waste material & biodegradable take out containers at the owners farm in Durham CT called Shadle Farm. All glass, batteries & other materials are completely recycled. In 2013 G-Zen received the impressive “Natures Plate Award” from the Natures Conservancy and was named “Connecticut’s most sustainable restaurant” in honor of all of their sustainable business ethics, commitment to serving organic ingredients, supporting local farmers and composting programs.
We are already planning our next visit with our girls because we could not stop talking about how amazingly fresh everything tasted. G-Zen is well deserved of being named Top Ten Upscale Vegan Restaurants in America and Best Vegetarian Restaurants in USA and the fact that it’s based in Connecticut brings so much pride and it was totally worth the drive.
