“I want people to fall in love with food, not just as a culinary taste, but as an intellectual taste that will stimulate their health by living a better quality of life not just for themselves but for their loved ones.” –Hakin Alexander, Owner of Vegetarian Restaurant by Hakin
Vegetarian Restaurant by Hakin was born out of Isaiah 40:13—But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Owner Hakin Alexander saw the critical need to bring quality ingredients and fresh, natural food and drink to the community. He wanted to create a healthy living school for those who have never shopped at Whole Foods and a community oasis to those who find it difficult to find satisfying, tasty vegetarian cuisine in South Florida.
The business model is built on home cookery, recycling and sustainability. Hakin, who graduated from Miami’s premiere Design Architecture Senior High school and spent a decade working in construction and design, used scrap pieces, junkyard finds, warehouse scraps, and discarded items to build the restaurant.
He wanted the environment to represent his mission of promoting economical living habits that aided the earth in its optimal performance. He wanted people to come and dine in a place that is not overwhelmed by the cacophony of microwave beeping and dissonant music and underwhelmed in customer service and quality cuisine.
The restaurant serves as a culinary refuge from fast food franchises and industries that focus primarily on satisfying the flesh as opposed to satisfying the spirit. The menu, which is defined by the spices and staples of the Caribbean, is accessible to all palates and thus the restaurant wants to play its role in fighting morbid obesity, child hood diabetes and all the ubiquitous societal afflictions born out of poor physical and spiritual diets.
The restaurant also features a fresh market. Clients can find seasonal fruits like mangoes and avocadoes while choosing from an array of fresh herbal, vegetable and fruit drinks. They can also find vegan and vegetarian snacks and treats that aren’t accessible in the community. In other words, the venue has become a vegetarian depot.
Hakin is excited about enlightening guests about the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle and the teachings of Christ through his unique service. He was on a goal to create a culinary experience where people can smile, look into each other’s eyes and be excited about what they’re putting into their bodies. He has done so and hopes to expand his service to include healthy lifestyle workshops and more.
