The Peak

Made in delicious company

By Jenny Shutek

Location: 1876 West 1st Avenue Vegetarian and Vegan Options: Yes Omnivore Options: Yes Hours: 11:30 a.m. to variable closing time, Monday to Sunday

“Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” This quotation is proclaimed against a backdrop of tomato-paste red walls in Kitsilano’s Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., and it is a philosophy to which this restaurant clearly adheres.

I only have rosy reviews here. The relaxed atmosphere, the unostentatious, foodie artwork, and, best of all, the rustically delicious food make Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. an ideal culinary destination for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike. Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. has a hip, fresh, and unpretentious environment. The walls are adorned with still-life paintings of vegetables, fruits, and dairy, as well as quotes and flatbread facts. You can watch your flatbread pizza or grilled sandwich cooking in the large brick oven; the flames add a dash of danger to your gastronomic adventure, which is always enjoyable.

Attention vegetarians: here, you can find vegetarian food so satisfying that you will not notice the absence of meat in your meal. Take in the low-key, relaxing atmosphere, and notice the tantalizing aromas wafting from the brick oven. The menu offers such vegetarian-friendly options as sun-dried tomato and goat’s cheese pizza, fresh basil and blackberry salad, and organic hand-cut pasta. My lunch was simple and scrumptious: roasted baby zucchini, sun-dried tomato hummus, roasted red bell peppers, and tomatoes on wonderfully crusty bread (where commercial sandwiches often fall flat) cooked in a brick oven.

Not only does Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. deliver on the savoury items, but it also presents some delectable desserts. My palate was blissed out with the house favourite dessert: two warm, moist triangles of chocolate brownie with whipped cream, house-made vanilla ice cream, cubes of orange, and a refreshing sprig of mint finished with a drizzle of blackberry coulis. For us vegetarian foodies, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. has been kind enough to do some of the legwork, using a handy-dandy tomato symbol to indicate vegetarian menu items that can be made vegan by requesting that the cheese be omitted.

A final nod should be given to Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. for its philanthropic tendencies and environmental conscience. Tuesdays are days on which 10 per cent of food sales go to organizations in the Kits area. Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. also raises money for its annual School Retrofit Program (this money goes toward making a local school more energy efficient). Many items on the menu are locally produced and organic, and this restaurant composts, uses biodegradable packaging, and installed low-flush toilets all in an effort to operate in a sustainable fashion.

This health-focused, strict vegetarian gives her full endorsement to Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. It is a fantastic place to go for a lovely lunch or satisfying dinner. Take time to read the quotes on the wall, enjoy the art work, and take pleasure in socializing with friends and family over comforting, nourishing vegetarian cuisine.