• 5
• Vegan marvel near Little Washington

I knew my spouse and I would be passing through on the interstate at lunchtime and I checked Happy Cow just in case, not really expecting any listings along our rural route. What a happy surprise to find Fortuitea Cafe. Fortuity indeed! Off the beaten track, to say the least. The food was outstanding in both taste and presentation. It soon became clear that the chef is talented and imaginative, probably even brilliant. I was much intrigued to find French onion soup on the menu, a favorite of mine in the days when I ate dairy but it's been more than 25 years since I've had a taste. My expectations weren't high -- I thought it might be interesting to see how "mock" French onion soup would look and taste. There was nothing mock about it. One of the all-time best French onion soups I've ever had, if not THE best. Incredibly satisfying. We went on to have the Mexican black bean hummus wrap and the tomato and mozzarella panini. Both beautifully presented and delicious. The chips were unusual and very good. A highlight was meeting and having a low-key, warm conversation with the chef, who made a brief foray out of the kitchen to chat with the clientele. I wish I'd gotten his name. I assume he's the owner or co-owner of the restaurant. If this place were near my home I'd be a frequent guest. It's a real treasure.