From the time I was a little girl, visiting my extended family in the Bronx, to living on the campus of Fordham University and on Arthur Avenue as a college student, I've always been struck by the sense of pride that Bronxites take in their beloved borough.
Cut to today, and a younger generation, the sense of dignity is still alive, as much as ever! And that brings me to Drea Smith, founder and creative chef of The Uptown Vegan in the Bronx.
Cut to today, and a younger generation, the sense of dignity is still alive, as much as ever! And that brings me to Drea Smith, founder and creative chef of The Uptown Vegan in the Bronx.
Drea Smith, Founder & Creative Chef at The Uptown Vegan (photo credit:theuptownvegan.com)
I had the pleasure of meeting Drea at the recent Bronx Night Market at Fordham Plaza, one of the many markets and festivals that she participates in throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, bringing her exclusive brand of vegan sweets and treats.
My palette can unequivocally attest to just how delectable her baked goods are from my personal experience in sampling a few - namely her vegan chocolate and sweet potato cupcakes. Exquisitely moist with rich and velvety frosting, not even the most discerning palette would ever guess these sweet goodies are vegan!
My palette can unequivocally attest to just how delectable her baked goods are from my personal experience in sampling a few - namely her vegan chocolate and sweet potato cupcakes. Exquisitely moist with rich and velvety frosting, not even the most discerning palette would ever guess these sweet goodies are vegan!
At The Bronx Night Market (c) travelincousins.com
So, how does an urban young lady, born and raised in the Bronx and educated at PS 95 and Walton High School, become a vegan chef with a burgeoning bakery business?
Well, her story starts out as a professional in the finance industry, when baking was merely a leisurely fancy. However, her friends didn't see her talent for creating amazingly delicious vegan desserts that way. In fact, they encouraged Drea to pursue her advocation as more than just a hobby, as they believed she had something special to offer to the public.
Taking a leap of faith is what this skilled, self-taught chef decided to do. In fact, she is very passionate about her mission to provide amazing vegan delights to all, and in her own words, "put to bed any misconceptions people have about vegan desserts and prove that you can have great tasting sweets, without the traditional animal-based ingredients like milk and eggs."
Well, her story starts out as a professional in the finance industry, when baking was merely a leisurely fancy. However, her friends didn't see her talent for creating amazingly delicious vegan desserts that way. In fact, they encouraged Drea to pursue her advocation as more than just a hobby, as they believed she had something special to offer to the public.
Taking a leap of faith is what this skilled, self-taught chef decided to do. In fact, she is very passionate about her mission to provide amazing vegan delights to all, and in her own words, "put to bed any misconceptions people have about vegan desserts and prove that you can have great tasting sweets, without the traditional animal-based ingredients like milk and eggs."
My amazing Vegan Chocolate Cupcake from The Uptown Vegan (c) travelincousins.com
Drea's commitment to providing yummy, sweet vegan goodness is equally matched by her devotion to the Bronx. As an online bakery and pop-up shop at expos, fairs and markets, this up and coming chef shared with me that when she is ready to open a store front for The Uptown Vegan, (which she hopes will be in the near future), it will absolutely be in the Bronx. Something Bronxites - vegan and non-vegans - will be blessed to have in their neighborhood!
For now, all orders are via email through her website.
For now, all orders are via email through her website.
Moist, not flakey and dee-lish! (c) travelincousins.com
So, what's new from The Uptown Vegan? Well, in addition to her current offering of vegan cookies that include Big Fat Sprinkle, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin and Snickerdoodle, Drea has created recipes for more than a dozen cake flavors for both custom cakes and cupcakes. Her new product endeavor includes vegan cinnamon buns and brownies. Wow, I cannot wait for these!!
Long gone are the days when vegans and those who enjoy a plant-based diet have a shortage of options! Thanks to chefs like Drea, the choices are just beginning!
-Elisa
Long gone are the days when vegans and those who enjoy a plant-based diet have a shortage of options! Thanks to chefs like Drea, the choices are just beginning!
-Elisa
RSS Feed