"Sorry, We're Open."

From the street, patrons are greeted by a “Sorry We’re Open” sign, giving the initial down with the man, support local, live outdoors vibe. Upon entering, a neon pterodactyl is mounted behind the register while a vinyl Elvis hangs crying on the left. A lot of their decorations have been found at yard sales or picked up at thrift shops. Family members add their own vibe to the place with the one of a kind pieces they add to the walls and ceiling.

If you have spent any time around the Near South Neighborhood area, you probably have heard of Grateful Bread/Freakbeat Vegetarian. Grateful Bread is a cash/check only family run restaurant located in the Near South Neighborhood at 1625 South 17th Street.

This week, between bites of Cheese Scones and Moroccan Tomato Soup, I picked the brain of Cheyenne Flotree, front of house of this hip local joint.

What’s in a name?

Grateful Bread was the initial bakery started in 1992. Cheyenne’s explanation began with, “ Well, my mom was kind of a punk, and my dad was a hippie.” Cate Flotree sold baked goods with the help of her husband for several years. With the quippy name play reference, the Flotree parents sound like they were “Dead Heads” in their day. In 1998, the bakery moved into a brick and mortar storefront, adding macaroni and soup to the menu. It was during this time they also added Freakbeat Vegetarian to the name helping possible patrons understand the establishment offerings.

How is Grateful Bread/Freakbeat Vegetarian different than other local shops?

Cheyenne believes the café stands alone. While being completely vegetarian definitely sets the shop apart from others, Grateful Bread also has a different vibe than many local hot spots. The menu is inspired by southern soul food with influences from India and Morocco. Cate Flotree scours various recipes looking for inspiration for new menu items.

From the quirky décor to the daily menu change, Grateful Bread is definitely in it’s own league.  The menu and potential shop closing dates can be found on the shop’s facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grateful-BreadFreakbeat-Vegetarian/312793177888

Not sure what to try? The Lunch Room macaroni reminds me of homemade, but better. Moroccan Tomato Soup has the perfect amount of kick with a peanut undertone. Do not skip out on the baked goods! I always get a Classic Cheese Scone or cookie offered for the day.

Honestly, it’s all good. ☮ ✌

Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.

Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.

That is the mantra of Maggie Pleskac, owner of Maggie’s Vegetarian Café located in the Lincoln Haymarket. Maggie is one of the founding members of Slowfood Nebraska. Maggie’s passion for organic eating was discovered when she was living in California. When she returned to Lincoln in the late 1990s, she decided to try to bring California’s fresh organic eating back to Lincoln, and in the process, support Nebraska producers. The result was the opening of her small restaurant in July 2000.

Upon entering the cafe, a sign reads, “Know your farmer. Know your food.” Maggie takes this to heart, utilizing products from local producers year round.  Some of her local sources include Jisa Farmstead, Dutch Girl Creamery, Branched Oak Farm, and Wise Oven Bread.

“Food is never inert energy. Although we pluck it from earth or its mother plant, prepare it or cook it, food holds and irreplaceable and complex set of memories that inform the vital functions of the body, mind and spirit.
–Maya Tiwari”

Although small in size, Maggie’s is mighty in flavor.  In September 2012, Food Network Magazine voted Maggie’s Avocado Melt Wrap, “The Best Sandwich in Nebraska.” After trying several of the wrap options, I have to agree with Food Network Magazine, the Avocado Melt Wrap is vegetarian heaven in your mouth. The wrap uses fresh avocado, Jisa Farmstead cheddar, provolone and mozzarella cheeses, roasted sunflower seeds, onion, fresh tomato, mixed greens, and house made Herb Mustard Dressing to create an experience unlike any other.

You can visit Maggie’s Monday through Saturday from 8am to 3pm. If you don’t get off work before 3pm, you can always find a few of Maggie’s wraps or baked goods served down the street at The Mill coffee shop.

“Food is never inert energy.  Although we pluck it from earth or its mother plant, prepare it or cook it, food holds and irreplaceable and complex set of memories that inform the vital functions of the body, mind and spirit.”  –Maya Tiwari

Photo by EpSos

Love on the Run

The following is a guest post by David McGee. David is a native of Omaha, but has been in Lincoln for nearly 15 years and now calls it home. He is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he majored in Nonprofit Administration. David works for the State of Nebraska in the Purchasing Department and also covers University of Nebraska athletics for cornnation.com as a writer and photographer. He has been actively involved at Grace Chapel for nearly his entire time in Lincoln and during the spring and summer months spends many evenings playing in various recreational softball and volleyball leagues. He is also on Twitter at @dpm917. David talks mostly about sports so if that isn't your thing, you've been warned.

Love on the Run: Spreading the Love in Lincoln

This Saturday, February 7, join in on the love spreading! From 10:00am to 6:00pm, Porridge Papers will be hosting the 8th Annual Love On The Run Event. The event is open to everyone, so come early and enjoy! For more information, check out Love On The Run on Facebook.

Support Local Everything!

My Agenda: Supporting local everything is really important to me. As a new transplant to Lincoln, I am interested in searching for good local spots. Not the stores you see in a strip mall, but the small businesses that may go unnoticed. These businesses usually have the most interesting story, and the owners are people who love what they do. I can often walk in and the owner is the one working the desk ready to share their passion with me.

Home & Closet

My first find was mentioned to me by another recent Lincoln transplant. We had a great time scouring the racks and checking out the one of a kind furniture pieces. Home & Closet is a small shop dedicated to quality vintage clothing and furniture. You can find it at 1356 South 33rd Street. They are open from 11-6 Monday thru Friday, 10-6 Saturday, and 12-5 on Sundays.

Home & Closet opened its doors in the spring of 2013. The space is packed with great vintage clothing and furniture finds. The vintage clothing covers mod 50s, 60s, and 70s styles for men and women. If you can’t find that perfect high waist plaid skirt, look no further.

On Sundays, Home & Closet gives a 15% discount on their furniture. The furniture is definitely the gem of this shop. The pieces are changing constantly and they range from Modern to Victorian and everything in between. 

For my first local find, I would recommend Home & Closet as a worthwhile spot to check out in Lincoln!