A fixture in Warwick, NY since 2012, the name of this vegan café, consciousfork (sometimes referred to as Conscious Fork), invokes the idea of making a conscious decision at the proverbial fork in the road.
Vegan grilled cheese with apple; curried red lentil soup
That’s just what Kim Gabelmann had to do some years ago when she opted out of a successful yet stressful corporate career. A juice retreat changed her life, restored her well-being, and set her on a new path at her own fork in the road.
The café’s tagline — “Nourishing the mind, body, and soil” — speaks to this eatery’s connection to the nearby Black Dirt Region. Famed for its fertile farmland, it’s where some of the produce used in the café is grown.
Tofu Scramble with onions, carrots, red bell pepper, herbs and spices
over brown rice and greens
Everything’s made from scratch: It’s a point of pride that everything served in the café is made from scratch. Most menu offerings are gluten-free or can be made so on request, for example, sandwiches on amazingly good gluten-free bread. consciousfork is also answering the growing demand for plant-based catering and special orders with a kitchen expansion.
Catering for special events: Vegan weddings, baby shower brunches (featuring plant-based quiches, scones, parfaits, and more), corporate events, and more are just some of the events that can be catered by the consciousfork kitchen. Call or e-mail for more details.
consciousfork®
Kimberly Gabelmann, owner, founder; Kelly Hance, chef
14 Railroad St., Warwick, NY | 845-988-KALE (5253)
Web: consciousfork.com
Conscious Habitat®
16 Railroad St, Warwick, NY | 845-988-WELL (9355)
info@conscioushabitat.com
Web: conscioushabitat.com
consciousfork is a warm and inviting space trimmed with lots of bright green and artwork by local artists on display on the walls. The rotating exhibitions are part of what has made this café a community hub. Its homey vibe will indeed make you feel right at home!
A companion vegan spa: The more recently launched Conscious Habitat® spa, right next door to the café, is a serene venue to consider hosting them. It’s ideally located for residents of New York’s Orange County and northern New Jersey.
A heartwarming DIY ethos permeates the consciousfork kitchen, where chef Kelly Hance (left; that’s Kim on the right) prepares fresh and lively plant-based fare. Coconut, almond, and hemp milks for smoothies are house made, as are sauerkraut and pickled vegetables.
All breads are baked from scratch on premises, including sourdough and gluten-free. Delectble gluten-free sweets including muffins, scones, and macaroons are also part of the daily fare.
Sunflower Pesto Zoodles —spiralized zucchini noodles with sunflower seed pesto
As the café passed its seven-year mark, the customer base expanded, making it a regional destination. You can call the food plant-based or vegan, but the bottom line is that it’s delicious and hearty. Bowls are quite popular, and include the Far East, Unfried Rice, and the Sunflower Pesto Zoodles bowl shown just above.
“We love to grow our base of non-believers who become steady customers,” notes Kim. Non-vegan men, especially, are skeptical at first, then surprised by the heartiness of the food. Kim calls the top-selling Tex-Mex Bowl a “gateway” to vegan dining. “The guys love it!”
The Mediterranean bowl, featuring baked falafel, quinoa tabbouleh,
and hummus with tahini sauce over greens.
Garden Veggie sandwich, with avocado, red cabbage, tomato, shredded carrots,
cucumber, red onion, romaine, and dijon vinaigrette
Avocado toast prepared in a variety of ways is a daily special —
This one features radish sprouts, red onion, chia seeds and pink sea salt
on gluten-free bread
Other popular menu items include seasonal soups (Kelly makes three different kinds each day), generous sandwiches, avocado toast, and fresh juices.
A signature sandwich, “Kim’s Reuben” combines sauerkraut, avocado and hummus on sourdough bread — but looking at the sandwich menu, you may find it a challenge to choose one over another!
A selection of vegan GF macaroons
Breakfast is served all day! The tofu scramble bowl is shown near the top of this post; and just above, the breakfast sandwich: Tofu scramble with onions, carrots, bell peppers, and herbs and spices on haus made sourdough bread. You can also choose from haus granola and hot oatmeal. And there’s an array of fresh smoothies and juices to start your day off right.
This is just a small taste of all the yumminess to choose from. Keep in mind that there are daily specials to choose from as well. See the full menu here.
There’s more to consciousfork café …
Yes, vegans are allowed to drink! consciousfork serves beer, wine, cocktails muddled with fresh herbs, and juices spiked with spirits.
consciousfork offers a guided juice cleanse. How it works: you come in every morning to pick up your prepared fresh juices for that day in mason jars. It’s a popular health re-boot that customers can do for 3 days to a full week.
Conscious Habitat, as mentioned above, is a spa launched in April of 2019 as a sister business to consciousfork. Located next door to the café, it’s a space for self-care and preventative health. The spa offers massage, reiki, health coaching, holistic facials, infrared saunas, and much more. Guests can enjoy day retreats or individual services. More about Conscious Habitat coming soon!
More about Warwick, NY: Is consciousfork a destination? Absolutely. But if you’re already making the trip to Warwick, NY, you may as well make a day of it and explore the indoor and outdoor recreational pleasures. Warwick is located in the Southwestern part of Orange County, New York, not far from the New Jersey border.
- Explore Village of Warwick Tourism.
- If you’re taking the kids, here’s a helpful listing of things to do on Mommy Poppins.
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