Desert Shores has vegan-friendly options like Marche Bacchus and Americana, but the crowned jewel in this vegan line-up is Rooster Boy Cafe. The cozy cafe open for breakfast and lunch serves a variety of vegan options, plus there’s Chef Sonia El-Nawal at the helm and she’s always willing to whip up some made-from-scratch vegan eats, even if it isn’t on the menu.
El-Nawal’s illustrious career spans continents. A pastry chef and baker, she’s worked for some of the most well-known chefs of the past three decades, like Jean Georges Vongerichten. So, trust us when we say when you go to Rooster Boy, you will have a happy belly filled with vegan goodness.
There are only a couple inherently vegan dishes at Rooster Boy Cafe. The quinoa salad with garbanzo beans, aleppo pepper and avocado is one of them. Typically, for restaurants to be on Vegans, Baby, they must have three … however El-Nawal’s creativity and passion for the dishes she prepares won us over. Plus, she can tweak quite a few dishes and make them vegan.
If you’re at Rooster Boy for breakfast, you’re smart. The shakshuka taps into potatoes instead of egg (you’ve got to tell her you’re vegan) served in a gorgeously flavored spicy tomato sauce with cumin, cilantro and harissa served with a freshly made — and served piping hot — pita bread that’s the best we’ve ever had. It’s easy to clean the plate thanks to the pita which lets you mop up every last flavorful bit of sauce.
As we mentioned, El-Nawal is always eager to create vegan dishes, and her almond flour pancakes served with berries is a must.
She’s also got s secret menu item that you’ll want to try (we loved it so much we even mentioned it in our Vegans, Baby Bite) — the Middle Eastern manaish. It’s puffy pita covered with a blend of gorgeous spices.
Did we mention she also offers daily specials? Yup. She does. And, they’re wonderful. What are you waiting for?
2620 Regatta Dr., 89128, 702-560-2453, Tuesday – Sunday: 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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