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By Katie Hussong

To say that this summer was busy would be an understatement. Planning a crazy beautiful do-it-yourself wedding for my sister, graduating from nutrition school, starting a culinary nutrition program, and working two jobs was maybe a little too much to take on at one time. With the wedding over and school settling into a comfortable rhythm, I finally have the time to write about my recent trip to the truly great Great Sage restaurant.

Great Sage Interior Photo Credit – Liam Gideon

WHO, WHAT, & WHERE?

If you live in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area and are even the slightest bit of the plant-based persuasion, you’ve probably already heard of Great Sage, an all-vegan restaurant with lots of heart, located in Clarksville, MD. And if you haven’t, let me assure you – it’s worth the trip. Allow me to set the scene. A modern, yet comfortable dining room welcomes you in. Knowledgeable, attentive servers and managers appreciate your coming in and are more than happy to answer any questions and make individualized suggestions. And the food – oh, the food! Let’s get to that.

Great Sage Crabcakes

FOOD & DRINK

Every single thing on the menu is vegan. Every. Single. Thing. And there are about 25-30 items on each of their three different menus – one for lunch ($6-$13), dinner ($8-$19), and even a brunch ($6-$13) menu. And there are always seven to ten desserts ($3-$8) available – and a variety of delicious cookies and cupcakes up front on the bar. Speaking of the bar, Great Sage offers a full bar with organic wine, beer, and spirits.

Roasted Vegetables Provencal

Their produce is locally sourced, from Sharp and Lancaster Farms, as well as Tuscarora, an organic growers cooperative serving the Washington, D.C. metro region and other Mid-Atlantic markets. Incredibly, a whopping 95% of Great Sage ingredients are both organic and free of genetically modified organisms (GMO)! They even use all organic cooking oils, both rice bran and extra virgin olive oil. Great Sage offers menu they describe as “vegan with flair”. Their recipes are chef-created, inspired by cultures of the world and based on all organic ingredients. It is truly a treat to be in the company of like-minded folks, eating delicious food, and enjoying the unique experience that is Great Sage. From start to finish, we had not a complaint. And here, my friends, is the evidence.

Adult Mac & ‘Cheese” Baked casserole ‘au gratin’ with rigatoni, sun-dried tomato, pepperoncini, cannellini beans, cauliflower, spinach, basil and white truffle in our creamy vegan mornay sauce. This one’s a decadent, comforting dish – perfect to share among the whole party.

MORE THAN FOOD

Great Sage is more than an awesome vegan restaurant. It’s got heart! And this shines through not just in the diner’s experience, but also through the establishment’s various special events. While they are officially closed on Mondays, they do open their doors for special pre-fixe dinners and socials, as well as benefit nights for animal welfare non-profits or health organizations. Dr. Neal Barnard, President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), for example, has spoken there – as well as Matt Frazier, the “No Meat Athlete”.

Green Lentil And Green Chili Burger Corn meal crusted vegetable burger made with green lentils, green chilies, red onion, cilantro, quinoa and roasted corn. Topped with chipotle aioli, shredded romaine, green chili cashew ‘cheese’ and crisp tortilla strips. Served on a toasted Kaiser roll with rosemary-roasted potatoes. This was my favorite! I want one of these right now, actually – so delicious!

‘Creamed’ Spinach Crisp There’s a slightly different variation of this one on the current menu, but I really loved this bundle of deliciousness!

There’s a real community feel at Great Sage, one both plant-based and omnivores alike can appreciate. Check their events calendar for upcoming unique events, like the upcoming Fall Social and Singles Mingle, a night of music, games, food, and drinks. (I joined their Facebook page to stay in the loop.) Other regular special evenings include Gluten-Free Wednesdays, with GF lunches and dinners alike and 10% off for all teachers. On Thursdays, you can catch enjoy live music from 8-10pm – as well as half price bottles of wine all night.

Chocolate Lava Cake Warm chocolate cake with a molten chocolate truffle center topped with vanilla ice ‘cream’ and hot fudge. We almost didn’t get this guy – but boy am I glad we did. We all shared it (there were six of us) – and it was the perfect end to a delicious meal.

Katie Hussong is a health coach, registered nurse, and teacher – and the founder of Gratitude Wellness. It is her passion to help big-hearted people build lives of health, happiness, and purpose – without deprivation or restriction. If you are sick of being sick, and ready to feel more alive, live your vision, and tap into your purpose, then she’s your girl. From start to finish, she’s with you. Learn more about Katie’s one-on-one coaching, market tours, and work. Find her on Facebook  and follow her on Twitter and Instagram under ‘katiehussong’.