Hugh Jackman's Coffee Brand Opened A Vegan Cafe In New York

Co-owned by actor Hugh Jackman, the coffee brand Laughing Man Coffee has opened a vegan café in New York City.

The new bar located in the Tribeca neighbourhood is called Laughing V. Visitors will find coffee drinks, homemade vegan sandwiches, vegan cakes, pastries, sweets, and more on the bar's menu. 

Laughing V was created by vegan Chef Lauren Evans, who lives in Tribeca. Lauren went vegan for the animals, but now it's the food that is her form of activism. As a true vegan foodie and animal lover, she has been veganizing her neighbourhood for years and advocating for more vegan options in the local restaurants. 

When she approached Laughing Man Coffee co-founders David and Barry Steingard were very receptive and asked her for more vegan suggestions. Then she created the whole restaurant-ready full vegan menu and impressed the entrepreneurs. As a result, she was invited to run a vegan coffee bar for them offering a shorter menu. 

Lauren's menu features healthier vegan versions of heavy dishes. She cooks for the guests using only unprocessed plant-based ingredients incorporating legumes, herbs and spices.  

At The Laughing V, the customers can enjoy her Tofu Caprese Sandwiches, Philly Cheesesteaks, Spicy Sweet Potato Sandwiches and Portobello Mushroom Wraps with Pistachio Pesto, homemade vegan palmiers, Linzer cookies and focaccias. 

The hot drinks menu features healthier beverages such as pink "matcha," which is actually a caffeine-free drink made with powdered dragon fruit, antioxidants, and no added sugar. The coffee bar has also a small shop offering some vegan staples such as cashew cheese, almond pâté, vegan pudding, popcorn and more.

Laughing V was warmly welcomed by the residents of the Tribeca neighbourhood, a place which didn't have almost any vegan diners until now. The bar sold out of its signature sandwiches within a few hours after opening.  

Peter Nussbaum, the founder of local charity Tamerlaine Sanctuary, rescuing animals from the food industry and the neighbourhood resident told VegNews: "When I moved here 25 years ago, egg and butter trucks were parked on this block every night."

"We were beyond excited to discover that an ethical vegan neighbour had opened a fully vegan café. I've already tried every sandwich on the menu, and they're all amazing."

Lauren is now working on more dishes to keep up with demand as well as developing the larger menu to offer as a pop-up dinner concept in the much larger dining space just next door to Laughing V.