New Harlem restaurant, Seasoned Vegan, offers new take on soul food

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Brenda Beener is all about sharing her love and her love for vegan food.

"Our definition of soul food is food prepared with love and comes from the soul," she said. " It's the food you love, veganized."

She and son Aaron just opened their Harlem restaurant, Seasoned Vegan, and they are committed to the community.

"We want to be the beacon. That's why our slogan is what it is," said Beener.

So if you love what we'll call traditional soul food, you'll find it here -- mac and cheese or ribs -- and all vegan.

They also have Lousiana-style crawfish made from burdock root. "It looks like crawfish and when we're done with it it tastes like crawfish," said Beener.

She starts by sauteeing garlic, onions and peppers and then the seasoning begins. All seasoning is organic and all in there are about three dozen spices in this mix.

She remembers "mom telling me, 'you stay right here by the stove'. They'd be extremely proud of where I'm at now."

And her customers are pleased as well.