This past Spring Break, I was fortunate enough to spend a week in Paris, France, visiting friends and going on a total gastronomic tour. I’ve been to Paris a few times before, so my travel to-do list always includes tried-and-true favorites, as well as exciting new spots.
One of my friends in Paris, Sasha, also has a food Instagram. She’s tuned-in to all of Paris’ vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free/organic spots. Last time I visited her, we spent Sunday morning at the Marché Bio de Raspail: an organic, open-air farmers market that operates once a week. The organic produce and products were so fresh and reasonably priced!
After spending the day catching up at a quaint matcha café, Sasha suggested we transition to dinner at one of Paris’ best-known vegan restaurants: Hank.
Hank is 100% vegan, plant-based, cruelty-free, and optionally gluten-free. Their website discusses the ways in which their employees found Hank; be it animal-consciousness, health, or the desire to promote sustainability.
Hankburger and Hankpizza are the two restaurants in the family. Both locations feature varied menus that include seasonal, as well as traditional, flavors. After walking miles around the city, it was a tough choice between pizza and burgers (both is going to be my move next time). In the end, Sasha and I chose Hankburger to cap off the day.
The Burger
Having seen Hank burgers all over Instagram, I couldn’t contain my excitement at finally trying this insta-famous meal- not even when the man next to me rolled his eyes at my food photography acrobatics (anything for good lighting!).
I ordered ‘La Rockeuse’: it included a vegan bean patty topped with a savory and creamy fig sauce, arugula, and pickles, inside a whole wheat bun. Sasha opted for ‘Le Touriste’- a chef’s choice option- on a gluten-free bun and crispy, thick-cut fries.
The atmosphere at Hank is rustic and unpretentious. Sasha and I claimed a wooden table upstairs, which had a great view of Le Marais. (I think I found our exact table!) In Europe, waiters rarely rush you off the premises. It was great to relax while we ate and be totally immersed in the experience.
In a city where indulgence is such an inevitability, Hank was a refreshing reprieve from rich, decadent meals. Knowing that Hank values ethical treatment of animals, sustainable food practices, and health made it even easier to enjoy our delicious meal.