On Valentine’s Day, vegan restaurateur Ravi DeRossi will open three new restaurants in New York City for special ticketed dinner events. Under his vegan restaurant and bar company Overthrow Hospitality, DeRossi will launch vegan Southern and soul food concept Cadence, which on Valentine’s Day will offer a multi-course selection of dishes from Chef Shenarri Greens, including palm cakes, jerk mac and cheese, and Southern fried lasagna, along with wine from Black-owned wineries. Vegan Mexican concept Etérea from Chef Xila Caudillo will offer a multi-course dinner with dishes such as Corn Rib Elote, tamales, and cauliflower rancheros, along with a tequila-and-mezcal-driven cocktail menu. And lastly, vegan pasta bar Soda Club will offer a multi-course pasta-tasting menu by Chef Amira Gharib and sparkling wine on Valentine’s Day. On the same day, New York City plans to reopen indoor dining at 25 percent capacity, so the ticketed events will occur indoors.

DeRossi’s plant-based plan

In 2016, DeRossi vowed to transition as many of his then 15 restaurant holdings to be completely vegan to align with his own lifestyle. Since then, the restaurateur has removed animal products from his older restaurants Ladybird and Mother of Pearl, and opened new vegan eateries such as Saramsam, Avant Garden, Fire & Water, Honeybee’s, and Dollface. Restaurants Ladybird, Avant Garden, and Saramsam are also reopening on Valentine’s Day for one day only. After that, the restaurants will continue their hibernation until the spring.

Photo Credit: Overthrow Hospitality