A new plant-based restaurant that will soon be taking root in River Market hopes to become a destination from foodies from across the region and to help folks with Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
Alejandro Diaz, who opened on New West's Columbia Street in 2015, is getting set to open in New West in the next few weeks.
The River Market in New Westminster (Lindsay William-Ross/麻豆传媒映画)
鈥淢ost plant-based restaurants are on Main Street,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e want to create something where it becomes a destination.鈥�
Like El Santo, Amaranthus will focus on local products.
鈥淲e are going to be working with local farms. It is going to be plant-based, but we are going to try and elevate the experience,鈥� Diaz said. 鈥淓verything is going to be plant-based. There is going to be some dairy, but basically everything is going to be local.鈥�
So, what鈥檚 on Amaranthus鈥檚 menu?
鈥淲e don鈥檛 really want to say much. It鈥檚 comfort food, but an elevated type,鈥� Diaz said. 鈥淥ne of the things that people are loving is the veggie burger.鈥�
The restaurant鈥檚 menu is being overseen by El Santo chef Sam Fabbro.
鈥淲e have been doing some tastings. It鈥檚 a little more than they were expecting,鈥� Diaz said of feedback. 鈥淧eople were expecting something very basic, but I think what Sam is doing, he has a very nice menus.鈥�
According to a write-up from the restaurant, amaranthus (more commonly known as amaranth) is an ancient plant used for its grain. The name was selected for the restaurant because of its historical significance, nutritional values and beauty.
鈥淲e see it as more than a name, but as a metaphor for our plant-forward menu and beautiful location coming together to make a timeless experience with great food,鈥� said the write-up about the restaurant. 鈥淲e are a vegetable-forward, feel-good restaurant built from the root up, for our beloved community. Our mission is to create honest food that highlights great ingredients in a welcoming space, and we cannot wait for you to enjoy it.鈥�
While El Santo鈥檚 charity-of-choice is the Canucks Autism Network, Diaz was struggling to decide on a community partner to support with Amaranthus. That all changed after a chance encounter with Michael J. Fox, an actor known for his meaningful work for Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
On a recent Saturday, a man walking with a cane came into El Santo with two women, but they didn鈥檛 have a reservation and the restaurant was packed. Diaz felt bad that he didn鈥檛 have a table for them but managed to make space for the trio.
鈥淚t was Michael J. Fox. I had no idea it was him. I felt bad turning him away. We moved things around 鈥� we try and do that for people,鈥� he told the Record. 鈥淧eople came and asked, 鈥業s that Michael?鈥� 鈥淢ichael?鈥� I had no idea. I like to go and talk to all the tables, and yes, it was Michael J Fox.鈥�
The encounter was a bit of an 鈥渁ha moment鈥� for Diaz, who decided Amaranthus would support Parkinson鈥檚. Diaz, whose mother-in-law has Parkinson鈥檚, believes the cause is a perfect fit for Amaranthus, which will feature healthier menu.
鈥淚 have seen how my mother-in-law has changed over the years, and it was also a life-changing moment to see Michael,鈥� he said in a press release from IMPACT Parkinson鈥檚. 鈥淚 immediately contacted IMPACT to see how I could help.鈥�
IMPACT Parkinson鈥檚, a New West-based non-profit, provides assorted services to people with Parkinson鈥檚 and their families. Plans are in the works to create more awareness about the disease in various ways, such as including an item on Amaranthus鈥檚 menu where a portion of the price goes to IMPACT Parkinson鈥檚, and having an annual fundraiser to support the centre鈥檚 programs.
鈥淚 always believe that when the community gives to you, you can give back,鈥� Diaz said.
