Everyone from Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Iron Man (Robt Downey Jr) to Gisele Bundchen (SUPERmodel, author, and wife of TB) and Ellen Pompeo (lead actress from Grey’s Anatomy) is saying bah bye to meat and dairy it seems.

Now, I’m not a vegan, but I def don’t eat meat or poultry any longer and am thus forever on the lookout for tasty meat-free eats outside Providence and Pawtucket. I mean, sometimes I’m out and about in the Newport area (or South County, or East Bay) with friends or on my own and have to settle for the appetizer section of a menu or a garden salad and tons of bread. And don’t even get me started about restaurants that insist on adding bacon to anything and everything from soup to nuts. (Can you NOT?)

Happy then to report that I have a new spot in Middletown to rave about. Let me be so bold, also, to say that this place is a cause for celebration for any fellow plant-based fans out there or flexitarians (keep seeing this term more and more, it’s for anyone who still eats meat but does so a lot less frequently) or those giving this 21st century way of eating a whirl by adding a Meatless Monday into their weekly rotations.

Sprout and Lentil Vegan Kitchen is just up the road from The Power Of Juice at 796 Aquidneck Avenue. Like June Love’s English Bakery, however, it’s situated in a strip of stores situated behind another strip of storefronts, which means, unless you’re looking for it specifically, you will probably pass on by. (Hums lyrics to “Walk On By” written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for Miss Dionne Warwick…)

I met the owner, vegan chef Carmen Foy, the other day and was impressed with the sheer variety of eats and treats available. She had a number of snacks (from prepacked ones - like Shri Bark - to freshly made cupcakes with frosting), soups (we bought a large mason jar of her lentil soup and it was outstanding and in case you wondered not at all salty), sandwiches, and burgers. (Speaking of which, I can’t think of a better time to jump on the meatless burger train. Across the board, the ones we have now are quite yummy and so many are such fabulous dupes that they might very well fool the most enthusiastic carnivore in your circle!)

Everything’s available to carry out too, so it’s the perfect way to give yourself the gift of a night or two off from having to stress over what to cook for dinner, not to mention the drudgery of clean up. I’ll definitely go back for soup (pretty sure there’s an incentive for bringing back your empty jars) and more the first chance I get!

*Sprout And Lentil Vegan Kitchen is located at 796 Aquidneck Ave, Unit 3, in Middletown, RI.