Fruition Vegan Kitchen

I am honestly starting to lose count of all the new vegan and vegan-friendly spots opening around Boston these days! Something I never thought would EVER happen, And I am beyond thrilled about it!

But none of them are quite like Fruition Vegan Kitchen.

And why’s that?

Though many a plant-based restaurants now exist around Boston, almost none have that “mom and pops”, home-cooking kind of feel that I love. And Fruition Vegan Kitchen in Medford is LITERALLY the mom and pop team of Bob and Lisa Bouley. Not to mention, their adorable vegan kids are also getting in on some of the High Street storefront action as well.

A tiny, no-frills, take-out joint, Fruition is an eclectic mix of entirely homemade vegan eats, that range from delicious comfort foods, to ethnic dishes I’ve never even heard of before. No stranger to the healthy eating restaurant scene, they both have been involved in other health-food locales such as Vej Naturals in Malden and another in Vermont. Both being vegan themselves for well over a decade (which, shockingly is not always the case with some restaurant owners), they are skilled in all things nutrition. I literally could have talked to Lisa for HOURS about plant-based health, organic products, GMO’s, sustainable food and farmer’s markets. She is a wealth of knowledge and everything one could hope for when it comes to having a friendly face behind the counter. And that’s truly, what I love about this place. That they aren’t just there to feed you. Of course, that’s super important. But you’re also going to connect with them on a much grander level. They are there to connect to the community, to nourish people both with their food and with their passion for what the story is behind the food.

But yeah…the food is incredible.

And one of these days I will go to a vegan spot and order the healthiest salad on the menu. But I am forever requesting the most carb-heavy and gluten and soy loaded item most places have. And that was definitely the case here-and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Because really, you can go anywhere and get a decent salad. But when Mongolian BBQ sandwiches are on the menu, you get the Mongolian BBQ sandwich.

Which actually came recommended by Bob and Lisa’s younger daughter. Who shared with me, all her fave dishes at Fruition. She’s also a fan of their buffalo tofu sandwich and their Moqueca bowl (tofu simmered in coconut milk with veggies and brown rice). Which oddly enough are the most requested dishes here among patrons, too. With falafel sandwiches and gyros, to a plethora of comforting soups and savory lentil bowls, you’re going to see a lot of creative dishes here you won’t find anywhere else. What I really admire is their dedication to doing everything homemade as possible. From their dressing to their cheese and even some of the “meats”, they aren’t using fake processed crap you find at most plant-based eateries. Sorry Daiya, but you are not welcome here. Or in my kitchen for that matter.

And can we talk about the portions for a quick second?! My unreal sandwich, which was the perfect blend of spicy and sweet, fed me for nearly three days. And even though it was heavy on the gluten and soy, I was shockingly not sick or even overly full, which usually happens just a few bites into most sandwiches similar to this one. I also had a decadent, smoky chipotle tomato soup which was out of this world.

Bob has an attitude and a passion for vegan cooking that’s similar to mine. Though neither of us have a formal background in cooking, our love for healthy eating and serving people delicious, plant-based meals fuels our drive to get creative in the kitchen and make coming up with new ideas fun and interesting. He seems like he’s always working on new meals to offer and in addition to bowls, soups, sandwiches and baked goods (which sadly, were out of stock while I was there), smoothies and some raw food may be in the near future.

Whether you’re looking for an awesome take-out dinner or to stop in to talk all things health-related with these two inspiring owners, get to Fruition Vegan Kitchen as soon as you possibly can!

Check out their menu here