There's a new vegan restaurant in town. Opening later this week is Maxwell Eaton's new "nutrients first," eatery and namesake restaurant, Max Well.
Eaton says his goal is to give his guests that food-related "aha" moment by combining nutritious, good-tasting organic food with a bit of knowledge about just why, exactly, these things are so healthy for you (and still enjoyable to eat). Max Well's "health-forward" approach to cooking (or not cooking, as they offer a lot of raw dishes and ingredients as well) is meant to maintain the integrity of the food, Eaton says.
Max Well offers such nutritious goodies as salads, proteins like lentils and quinoa, and power bowls, as well as homemade dressings and fresh juices. But whatever you've heard about vegan food in the past, don't let that intimidate you. You don't have to be a yoga instructor or originally from California to appreciate this type of food.
On the contrary, Eaton wants his restaurant to have a welcoming atmosphere, even for newbie vegans, vegan or vegetarian converts, or meat-eaters who may just want to add some vegetarian and healthy options to their diets. For this reason, he refers to his cuisine as "crossover" food, and gears it to be approachable even for those who might be unfamiliar with the menu. But whether you're a carnivore crossover or a long-term vegetarian, there is something at Max Well for everyone. "The food does a lot of the talking," he says.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held tonight, but the restaurant won't be fully serving until this weekend. Once they're up and running, come check out Max Well, Uptown on Magazine Street. Discover for yourself that food really can be both good and healthy.
Max Well is located at 6101 Magazine St. (504) 301-0510, maxwellneworleans.com.
