MIRAMAR, Fla. – A vegan lifestyle can be hard to transition, but one place in South Florida is hoping to make it easier for you.
It’s called The Krazy Vegan— and was created by a local radio personality.
Alex “Big Lip” Chisholm is changing the food game with The Krazy Vegan, who just opened their second location in west Miramar to help others transition into the vegan lifestyle and bring plant-based comfort food to South Florida.
“First of all, I’m vegan and if you listen to me on the radio, you know I’m crazy,” said Chisholm.
Chisholm told Local 10 News a health scare was the motivation behind changing the way he eats— which led him to create a new place for vegans.
“The thing that most people don’t understand is how do you make it taste like this and everything is plant-based—like the cheese, the bacon, the bread has no milk, and you lose absolutely nothing,” he said.
The Philly native has made South Florida his home for more than 25 years and is bringing culture to his food.
“We have our Philly cheesesteak, which is also our biggest seller,” said Chisholm. “That’s the one dish that I put so much time into it, with the peppers, the onions and the vegan cheese.”
“The menu was filled with ‘Krazy’ names and even crazier flavors,” he said. “I put my own spin on what Krazy means.”
The vegan restaurant is also known for its Krazy Kowboy, which has onion rings, vegan bacon, vegan cheese, BBQ sauce and their signature krazy sauce.
Chisholm says the business wasn’t created overnight.
“I spent a lot of money on food too,” he said. “I messed up a lot of food, but we came up with the recipe and then before we even opened, we had people come and try the food. We got a lot of feedback and after that, the Krazy Vegan was born.”
“Does it surprise you when people come to support your business, some of these celebrities?” asked Local 10 News reporter Alexis Frazier.
“You know what’s really surprising, and what I really appreciate is that they don’t want anything for free,” said Chisholm. “They come and spend their money and go, ‘You know what, we want to support your business, we want to support a black business,’ except Omarion, he didn’t pay.”'
Foodies will also be able to check out the restaurant’s “Wall of Krazies.”
“Anybody can be on the Krazy wall, but notable people go in color and our regular patrons go in black and white. I must tell you, you’re going in color right here,” Chisholm told Frazier.
“You have Warren Sapp and Wyclef Jean,” he said. “Wyclef could not believe it was a plant-based burger. You also have Lamar Jackson.”
Regardless of whether you make the wall or not—Chisholm says his restaurant is worth a try.
“I’ve created a safe place for people who have that negative connotation about vegan food, where they think they have to eat cardboard or something,” he said.
Chisholm also plans on opening a food trailer in Wynwood Gardens soon.
For more information on The Krazy Vegan and its menu, click here.