Let me start off by saying what this post was supposed to be about. It was supposed to be a raving review of Miami Juice's amazing veggie burger and the incredible soy cheese they use that melts, oozes and stretches shockingly like the real thing. I was going to gush and praise this awesome vegan cheese and wonder aloud why other vegans haven't discovered this incredible product yet, because it was sooooo good and way, way better than Daiya. I was prepared to heap endless praise on Miami Juice for having one of the best veggie burgers anywhere based on this amazing vegan cheese alone.
But alas, it was not to be. Because after gorging on this wonder burger I did some research on the soy cheese in question and discovered it's actually not a vegan cheese at all. It's called Soy-Kaas (you've probably seen it in the cheese/ dairy case at Whole Foods and other health stores) and it deceptively resembles a dairy-free cheese substitute. But nah, it's just another cheese product altered to remove lactose, leaving the vital dairy components - most prominently casein - intact.
Upon learning this I felt an acute sadness, having been duped into believing there was a vegan cheese was out there that perfectly replicated the melty, oozy qualities of the actual stuff. And I was also kind of miffed that Miami Juice didn't explicitly state on the menu their soy cheese wasn't vegan - it's kind of important information, since most of the people who would opt for soy cheese are probably vegan.
Besides the cheese debacle, I really can't recommend much else about their veggie burger. The patty was rather thin, made of various bits and chunks of vegetables like peas and carrots, and was strongly flavored with a particular, earthy seasoning that made it reminiscent of Thanksgiving stuffing. It was edible, but at over $10 after tax, not really a burger I would recommend.
What I do recommend is a short trip to their small but near-comprehensive mini-market, which is a like a natural foods supermarket compressed into 80 square feet. They carry a fresh produce case, frozen/refrigerated items and three aisles of natural food products, including a whole aisle of protein/ granola/ chocolate bars. I was happily surprised to find this treat: an Organic Nectar Milk Chocolate Bar made from cashew milk. As any vegan knows, vegan milk chocolate is a tough commodity to find, especially one that tastes good. These particular bars, made from creamy, fatty nut milk promise to replicate a real dairy chocolate bar. The catch? 5 bucks for a 1.4 oz bar. That's kinda hefty, but worth it if you want to a experience some vegan chocolate bliss.
Miami Juice also boasts an extensive veg-friendly menu of sandwiches, salads, pizza and smoothies, and I especially heart the #57 Smoothie wth dates, cashews and soymilk. So if you're in the mood to get your natural eatin' on or splurge on some serious vegan chocolate, Miami Juice has all the goods. Just skip the veggie burger and don't let the soy cheese fool you.
