Staff of Life Vegan Cafe / Kara's Kitchen and Bed and Breakfast in Cherokee AL

This entry is photographic documentation of my first visit to Staff of Life Vegan Cafe, also know as Kara's Kitchen. In the small town of Cherokee AL, hidden inside this early twentieth century mansion called the Easterwood House, amazing vegan foods are carefully crafted and served by kind and welcoming people.

The Easterwood House in Cherokee AL was originally built in about 1905 on a 12 acre lot as a wedding gift from Dr and Mrs William Cross to their daughter and son-in law Mannie and Herbert Harris. Now it is a bed and breakfast with most of the first floor being used as dining rooms and kitchen for Staff of Life Vegan Cafe. The house is amazing with large rooms, tall ceilings, and wood detailing everywhere.

The smokey smell of fireplace and home-cooked foods made the old mansion feel like home. The air was a bit chilly in some areas, but the fireplaces were alive and warm in the two front rooms.

Soothing jazz guitar music played as I appreciated the beautiful mansion and the view of the pond through the window. There was a wait time of about 20-30 minutes. Hand-crafted food made from scratch takes some time. Everything at Staff of Life is vegan. The chef is talented and experienced with knowledge of not just vegan food but also nutrition.

Black Bean Soup

To start the meal, I warmed up with a huge bowl of steaming hot Black Bean Soup. They seem to have been perfectly seasoned with mild chili spices and onion with a drizzle of olive oil. This was the best black bean soup I can remember eating. I know black bean soup is usually good, but the flavor was absolutely perfect.

Black Bean Soup at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe in Cherokee AL

 

Sweet Potato Biscuit with Vegan Sausage 

The Black Bean Soup came with a sweet potato biscuit and vegan sausage. The biscuit was softer but tastier than expected. The vegan sausage was mildly spicy and slightly crisp. The flavor and texture was enough like real sausage to please any vegan, but meat eaters would notice the difference. This was very good for such a simple side item. I would have wanted another, but I knew more delicious plant-based foods were about to come out of the kitchen.

Sweet Potato Biscuit with Sausage at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe in Cherokee AL

Double Decker Chicken Sandwich

The main dish for my day was the Double Decker Chicken Sandwich with Fries. The two "chicken" fillets were actually triple battered, hand-crafted seitan. They were double stacked on a bun and covered in three hand-made sauces with tomato and lettuce on the side.

 

Double Decker Chicken Sandwich at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe in Cherokee AL

This was fantastic! The textures and flavors were all so varied and harmonious. The consumption of this dish was joyous. Vegan food this good is a very rare treat in this part of the country. I highly recommend this plate of heavenly food as a guaranteed winning starting point for new visitors to Staff of Life Vegan Cafe. This will please any person with a normal, functioning sense of taste.

Butter Pecan Cake

The meal ended with this slice of vegan Butter Pecan Cake. This was also made from scratch. The flavor and texture of this cake was more like a traditional cake than any other vegan cake I've ever had. This was perfectly sweetened, very sweet but not as sweet as normal cake. This cake was loaded with pecans. I'm no longer a huge fan of sweets, but this cake was amazing!

Butter Pecan Cake at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe in Cherokee AL

 

I shared this meal with a member of my family. We were able to split each part of the meal. During the last half of the meal, the chef came out to meet us. Talking with her was like being with family. She was very kind, friendly, relaxed, and welcoming. After the meal we were able to walk around the mansion, study the art and antiques, and chat again in the lounge near another warm fireplace. 

Everything was very clean and neat, which is not always possible in places of this age. I inspected the dishes, bathroom, and most of the public rooms. The mansion does show its age in places, but it's very clean.

 

The price for this meal was much more than I would usually pay. But this was all hand-made food from scratch, prepared by a real chef with decades of vegan cooking experience. And the environment was unforgettable. There is a fair expectation to pay more for real food, especially food this good. There are a few lower priced items on the menu, such as chili dogs and soups. I'm not sure why the talented chef is not more regionally known. I'm hoping to help spread the word.

 

Vegans, vegetarians, and herbivores have dozens of menu options at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe. While eating at this quality level may not be financially possible for some people, I do recommend a visit. Save up some money and have a special day, or spend the night there and wake up to the smell of vegan sausage and gravy.

My lunch at Staff of Life Vegan Cafe was excellent. I hope to return soon.