Crate, New Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant, Opens in Brickell

There's a new vegetarian/vegan restaurant in town with a twist – after hours, it turns into a lounge. Crate, located in MIami's Mary Brickell Village, delivers an eclectic menu from chef Christopher Baugh, originally from California, who has a vegetarian restaurant, Sage, in Ubud, Bali.

Baugh's seasonal plates include a lineup of burgers made with a mung bean, organic brown rice and roasted vegetable base that originated from Baugh's grandmother. "She raised me as a vegetarian and was an amazing cook, with dishes I still remember to this day," he says. "She made the burger with organic soy beans, which tasted nice but was hard on my digestive system." In his version, mung beans are high in vitamin B and the roasted veggies "give my burger a nice smoky taste. The rice/bean combo provides a great source of protein as well."

Also on the menu: Tacos and burritos with a choice of fillings that include jackfruit asada, made with fruit from Homestead's Paradise Farms. "I just love jackfruit so much, I decided to grow it in my yard at home in Bali, and was very surprised to be able to source it locally," he says. "I love cooking with jackfruit because of the amazing texture; you can bring out a lot of different flavors and its almost like pulled pork when cooked with the right technique. I ate it a lot while visiting India and throughout Indonesia, where it’s like a standard ingredient to use."

Don't forget the classic cocktails in local flavors: the CRATE Vice (frozen Piña Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri and Grenadine); Brickell Vice (Mango Daiquiri and Strawberry Daiquiri); Daisy Maria (Aguardiente Antioqueño and Lemon/Lime Soda) and Good Night Ladies (Gin, Aguardiente Antioqueño and Lemon/Lime Soda).