Stumptown Coffee Founder Goes Vegan

Stumptown Coffee Founder Goes Vegan

Coffee entrepreneur Duane Sorenson eschewed animal products, is drinking juice instead of alcohol, and works as the lead barista at forthcoming Portland-based eatery Holiday—a mostly vegan restaurant he formerly operated as meat-centric pizzeria Roman Candle.


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Duane Sorenson, founder of company Stumptown Coffee, recently adopted a plant-based diet. In line with his new lifestyle, the entrepreneur is in the process of re-launching his Portland-based restaurant Roman Candle—which was known for its pizzas and meat-centric sandwiches—as a mostly plant-based, gluten-free eatery he plans to rebrand as Holiday. “I’ve never felt better, and I can’t stop talking about it,” Sorenson told local media outlet Portland Monthly about his new lifestyle. “I’m high by drinking juice. I kind of went down the rabbit hole.” Holiday will serve mostly dishes such as sweet potato hash, Buddha bowls with pea-based tempeh, and smashed avocado toast topped with shaved vegetables. Holiday will also feature an extensive juice menu, and the restaurant will employ an in-house mushroom forager. Sorenson plans to challenge guest chefs such as Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese, Andy Ricker of Pok Pok, and Michelin-starred chef Matt Lightner to create plant-based dishes for Holiday. The restaurant still serves Stumptown Coffee and Sorenson can be found working behind the counter. “I’m working three days a week,” Sorenson said. “I’m on the schedule. I’m the lead barista.”

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