Veganism is on the rise, as are the array of dining options in the neighborhood. For longtime herbivores or those new to the dietary movement, B’Gabs Goodies is a tasteful refresher in plant-based dining.
Located at the corner of 57th and Blackstone, B’Gabs “focuses on whole plant-based nutrition,” said owner Gabrielle Darvassy.
Every meal is made fresh, and the sensory experience when you walk into the eatery is calm and refreshing. A mix of potent aromas, jazz music, and a bright “hello” from someone in back of house greet you at the door. The walls are filled with abstract paintings by artist Fanta Celah, and adjacent to a cozy dining space is a collection of herbs and holistic products such as chloride-free toothpaste and aluminum-free deodorant.
B’Gabs first opened in Woodlawn’s Experimental Station in 2011, with Darvassy running the eatery with her two sons, her husband, and her mother. “We wanted to offer this quality (food) to our own community as options were very limited (in Woodlawn),” she said.
But her foray into veganism began much earlier. In a 2018 interview with the Hyde Park Herald, Darvassy attributed her recovery from pregnancy-related blood clotting to a change in diet and adoption of alternative medicine. “I was sick many years ago, and I used raw veganism to cure myself. And I did cure myself… because food will do that,” she said.
In 2015, Darvassy moved her operation—and an expanded menu—north to 57th Street.
Today, every item is soy and gluten free, and “we also specialize in alternative diets, such as raw, juicing, and alkaline,” said Darvassy. Offerings include jackfruit nuggets and raw buddha bowls filled with sweet potatoes, mushrooms, chickpeas, and zucchini. There’s also an array of substitutions for popular fast foods such as nachos, burgers, and Philly cheesesteaks.
“I do food you can emotionally identify with, because for many people raw and vegan food is so far out there,” Darvassy said in a 2012 Herald interview. “What I really care about is people eating (healthy) food… I am so sick and tired of (the community) not having a choice.”
B’Gabs Goodies, 1450 E. 57th St. Wednesday-Thursday, Sunday 11am-3pm; Friday-Saturday 11am-6pm. (773) 256-1000. bgabsgoodies-100666.square.site/