This weekend we were in Abbotsford, getting better acquainted with the city through food and drink. Given all the sweets we have had previously, we looked for something more healthy and clean. Our wandering eventually led us to the bright green exterior of Polly Fox cafe, better known for their gluten-free and vegan friendly goods.
A small hole in the wall, you order from the counter at the back and grab a seat to eat. They have a collection of cookies, muffins, bars, and loaves behind glass. However we were looking for something a lot more savoury, and paused on their full meal option. And thankfully we did too, we did not expect to find such an amazing vegan restaurant in downtown Abbotsford.
But first some coffee, we grabbed a small Bulletproof, based on its limited availability everywhere else. A Bulletproof coffee is a high calorie coffee, often drank in place of a meal. It features either organic grain fed butter or MTC oil (coconut oil) in place of cream or milk. It didn’t taste any different, but did leave a film over your lips.
The egg frittata is a easy breakfast option. Mushroom, onions, roast potato, sour cream, goat cheese, fresh chives, and cracked black pepper. Eggy and light, it ate like a quiche, minus the crust.
We had to try the Vegan BLT sandwich made with your choice of bread, from their vegan focaccia, vegan baguette, or vegan ciabatta bun. The sandwich promised bacon made from rice paper. I have never entertained such a notion, but clearly we have come a long way in meat alternatives. It was thick and crispy like bacon, although snapping a little harder than regular chewy bacon under pressure, when you bite down. As a whole, the sandwich was flavourful with the likes of the rice paper bacon, baby greens, peppered tomato, avocado, and sriracha olive oil. I just wished that it didn’t eat so oily. The olive oil dripped over your hand and drizzled down your chin. It would have been nice to have some of it on the side to dip into instead.
We were also hoping to try another one of their vegan meat options in the vegan chicken and waffles, but their waffle machine was acting up. It would have been fried cauliflower topped on a fresh made waffle with salted maple syrup and hot sauce. Thankfully the kitchen staff was willing to made an adjustment so that we wouldn’t miss out.
We would get said “chicken” over their vegan seasonal bowl with roast potato, broccoli, squash, pickled cabbage, chickpeas, and shredded carrot over long grain rice and lentils. All topped with candied pumpkin seeds and an herbed cashew drizzle. This was filling, and even more so with the cauliflower. So fragrantly seasoned the cauliflower had the spice and density of fried chicken. It added another level to the wholesome bowl. There were plenty of elements in this to keep things interesting bite after bite. A mix of crispy and soften textures with plenty of zing from the sauce. I would definitely grab another bowl, exactly as we had it here, if/when I return.
In short I didn’t take note of too many vegan options in Abbotsford, so am happy to have stumbled on this one, and be able to recommend it to anyone. A must try for vegans passing by. I just wish I took a chance on their gluten-free items as well, if it is anything like their vegan options I am missing out.
Polly Fox
33780 Essendene Ave unit 130, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2H2
(604) 744-1881
thepollyfox.com
