Sometimes you aren’t that hungry when eating out. But it’s time for a meal. That was the case on a recent visit to Dixie Dharma. This wasn’t such a bad thing, though, since they have a good selection of side items. And everything is vegan/plant-based.
Restaurant: Dixie Dharma in Orlando, Florida
Dishes: Crispy Brussels, Cheesy Homies, Kitchen Sink Cookie
Reading: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
I arrived at a good time with what turned out to be a short line at the counter and a half empty dining room. This place fills up fast. And the line only grew during my visit, eventually snaking out the front door.
Everything on the menu looked good, and I knew the servings for the plant-based main dishes were pretty big. Plus, the dessert case next to the counter was full of yummy looking sweets and cookies and humongous donuts.
I wasn’t super hungry after an earlier big breakfast, even though I was eating after the usual lunchtime rush. I decided to make a meal of side items with a cookie for dessert. There are about 8 different smaller sides to choose from. While I’d have liked a plant-based Tiki Tako, they were out. So I ordered the Crispy Brussels, plant-based and dairy-free, the vegan Cheesy Homies, and a vegan Kitchen Sink Cookie.
Place your order then sit and wait for the chef/server to bring it to you. There’s no number system, they just call your name and you raise your hand.
If you like Brussels sprouts, you’ll probably love these. Most people do. That lovely roasted Brussels smell hits you when the server/chef sets them down in front of you. Each little cabbage is cut in half. I can’t tell if they are roasted or air fried, but each is browned on the outside and fully cooked.
They are tender throughout, even the large ones. I tasted the salt and maybe some garlic. I’m not sure what the marinade is. It isn’t balsamic vinegar and I’m not sure they even use olive oil, which is the most common way to roast Brussels. It’s almost as if they are roasted in a browned vegan butter.
The vegan Cheesy Homies are cubed potatoes cooked with cheese sauce and a drizzle of a hot sauce on top. It tasted like it might be Texas Pete, which is a milder hot sauce than Tabasco. There was also a slight tang to the cheese sauce, almost like orange juice. Or maybe it was lemon juice. A lot of vegan cheese sauce recipes call for a little lemon juice. But they have a few dishes on the menu with an orange BBQ sauce, so maybe there’s a splash of that. If I order them again, though, I’ll ask for no hot sauce on top. It didn’t really add to the dish and I rarely eat it.
There is a lot of cheesy sauce on the potatoes. And it is pretty cheesy in texture. You almost can’t taste the potatoes.
And then the food item I came here for – the vegan Kitchen Sink Cookie. It’s like a chocolate chip cookie with pecans and pretzels. The cookie dough tastes nutty, as if there were ground pecans in the dough. Besides also having the pecan halves and pieces in the cookie and on top. This cookie is a perfect blend of salt and sweet. And a perfect balance of chewy inside and crunchy crust.
Dixie Dharma is a funky cafe with a mix of tables and chairs and booths, plus outdoor picnic tables in front. On my visit a female jazz singer crooned on the radio. If you’re looking for a lively spot, Dixie Dharma is for you. I would have liked to hang out and read for a while, but it was a bit too chaotic for that. Maybe if I’d been outside.
A solo diner can find seats when it’s not too busy. One long area of side by side tables looked a little imposing to me. For eating and reading I would have felt fine seated at the long tables in the middle of the room, sharing the tables with other diners. But because I wanted to take photos of my food, I wanted a little more privacy than the communal tables provided. Happily a couple left a clean two top booth just as I turned to find a seat.
Can I make these at home? I’ve made roasted Brussels sprouts, cooked them in the air fryer, and sautéed them. But I’m not sure how these are seasoned. So maybe I can make a close approximation to the Brussels.
For the Cheesy Homies, I know how to make vegan cheesy sauce like this, and if you buy vegan cheddar cheese it is even easier. So I could make my own at home and season it more to my liking.
And yes, I can probably also make the cookie at home. And one day I might. But then I’ll have way too many cookies!