In a southern Italian town renowned for its wealthy meat and seafood dishes, it might surprise some people today to know that Naples also is household to an astonishing amount of vegan and vegetarian dining places.
Those people options operate the gamut from juice bars to food items stalls, cafes and dining places dishing up salads, sandwiches, burgers and pastas. But handful of offer you the upscale dining experience of Cavoli Nostri.
Situated in the Santa Lucia community, Cavoli Nostri gives a cautiously sourced, organic menu that includes vegan and vegetarian interpretations of Neapolitan favorites these as pasta alla Genovese and experimental fare this sort of as baked purple potatoes and friarielli broccoli.
Emphasis is positioned not only on the use of fresh new in-year vegetables and fruits, whole grains, seeds, legumes and meat substitutes but also on skillful combination of the ingredients into complex dishes offered with artistic flair.
On a latest go to, two friends and I started off our meal with a range from Cavoli Nostri’s tapas and starter menus. The Spanish patatas bravas, or spicy potatoes, proved to be deep-fried potato chips served with a creamy rossa dip.
The chips have been heat, frivolously salted and plentiful. The dip had a mayonnaise-like regularity and flavoring and colour reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing.
Spiciness lovers would be unhappy, as there was no warmth to the dip, but the appetizer was a crowd-pleaser at our desk.
We also ordered bite-size, deep-fried rice balls, identified as arancini in Italian, which arrived sitting on particular person swimming pools of a velvety mushroom sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
The moist and frivolously seasoned arancini offered a excellent base for the sauce, which packed a taste punch.
On a different stop by, I’d be tempted to order every single appetizer yet again but in all probability would experiment with options, this sort of as polenta squares with wild mushroom pate.
For our initial training course, we selected pappardelle with mushrooms, lasagna Neapolitan and the Ceylon sliders, a barbecued jackfruit sandwich.
It was in this article that Cavoli Nostri enable us down. Irrespective of the beautiful serving plates and generous portions, the foodstuff was too chilly to take pleasure in.
To be reasonable, we have been there on a Sunday, when Italian family members abide by a time-honored tradition and assemble for lunch, so it is most likely 1 of the busiest and most busy days of the 7 days for eating places.
It also appeared that there was just just one server for far more than a dozen tables. We hence didn’t carry the faux pas to our harried waiter’s focus, picking out as an alternative to soldier on.
The lasagna showcased large noodles, vegan ricotta cheese and sausage and beef meat substitutes. The marinara was rich and flavorful, but one particular of my close friends identified the meat substitutes unappealing and wished that the cafe available a simple cheese-only version.
The pappardelle was perfectly cooked with a creamy sauce brimming with mushrooms, but due to the fact the dish arrived practically chilly, the sauce experienced congealed, generating it inedible.
The jackfruit sandwich was chewy with a frivolously spiced, tangy sauce. Although it also was served lukewarm, one particular of my close friends said she’d purchase it all over again, especially if the bun have been total-grain. In all, she pronounced it a “delight.”
Cavoli Nostri redeemed alone with our 2nd program, which highlighted legume balls with a “revisited” ragu and friarielli. I uncovered myself wishing that I’d ordered this dish initially.
It arrived piping incredibly hot. The legume balls had been covered in a rich tomato sauce, when the friarielli was very well-cooked, its bitterness contrasting nicely with the sweetness of the tomato sauce.
We were being enticed by the vegan tiramisu but in the long run made the decision to skip dessert because we were being too comprehensive right after the appetizers and entrees.
Whilst the cold food items was a disappointment, the rest of our meal was fulfilling. I’d go back again for tapas and a glass of organic and natural wine. 
Cavoli Nostri’s determination to fresh new, enjoyment and experimental cuisine would make it a standout and a ought to-test for vegans and vegetarians seeking to scale up their eating experience.
Cavoli Nostri
Address: Via Palepoli, 32, Naples, Italy
Hours: Monday via Saturday, midday-3:30 p.m. (lunch) 7-11:45 p.m. (evening meal) Sunday, midday-4:30 p.m. (lunch) 7-11:45 p.m. (supper)
Selling prices: Appetizers and tapas, 5-13 euros pastas, 9-10 euros second classes, 9-14 euros soups and salads, 7-8 euros desserts, 4-6 euros. Organic and natural wine and juices also are out there.
Data: On the net: cavolinostriveg.com Mobile phone: +39 081 1948 5739
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