Hue Cafe and Apothecary, A Vegan Restaurant That Will Surprise!

Story by Bryen Glass

The 4410online.com will always try out new establishments, evaluate the food, decor, atmosphere, customer service, and uniqueness. Out of fairness, we try to report our experiences without giving a recommendation.

We discovered a new vegan restaurant called Hue Cafe & Apothecary located at 10210 S. Dolfield Road in Owings Mills, Maryland. I'm not much into "vegan food", or any food that is a substitute for the real thing. However, I try to be optimistic about trying new foods, or experiences. We were certainly in for a surprise.

The Food.

To start off, we ordered the Hue Wings, Street Taco Box, black garlic mac, savory greens, banana pudding, and Lady Hibiscus Tea. It all sounds good, but what does it look like and more importantly, how does it taste? Let's start with the Hue wings. The "wings", made of cauliflower were breaded, deep fried with a flavorful light sweet & tangy sauce. With the skyrocketing price of chicken wings, I could easily ditch buffalo wings for this dish. The Street Taco Box with Chesapeake shrimp flavor was equally delicious. The box came with two grilled flour tortillas, was stacked with fresh, crunchy cabbage/slaw, with a nice hint of cilantro. The black garlic mac was good considering it was as close to real cheese as you can get. Of course, garlic makes everything taste good. The savory greens were just that - savory. This blend of collard greens, mustard greens, and kale absolutely scrumptious, perfectly seasoned, and tender. I would visit this establishment strictly for the greens. The banana pudding was a creamy, sweet dessert topped with shortbread cookies, which was different from what I'm used to, but nonetheless very tasty. The Lady Hibiscus Tea was an excellent choice. It's described as tea infused with hibiscus flower with pineapple, apples, and lemongrass. Delicious and sweet with a mouthwatering aroma. Just out of curiosity, I took a bite out of the flower that garnished the drink. Apparently, it smells better than it tastes.

Atmosphere & Decor

The atmosphere of the cafe was comfortable, well lit, warm and inviting. I loved the color scheme, and large lettering on the menu. The place was bursting with colors, and beautiful contrasts.

Customer Service

Still dealing with COVID-19 restrictions, we decided to eat in since most patrons were picking up and taking out. We seated ourselves near the window where we can get a good look of the entire cafe. Since this was our first time visiting the cafe, we had quite a few questions regarding the extensive menu. The staff were pleasingly pleasant, and patient with all the questions. They were also very knowledgeable about the menu items. They actually appeared to enjoy working there.

The Apothecary

If you've never heard of the word, apothecary, you're not alone. I had to look it up. It's basically an old term for "pharmacist". An apothecary is a person who prepares and sells drugs, or compounds for medicinal purposes. In this case, medicinal herbs. Customers who visit Hue's Cafe & Apothecary will find a large array of herbs from medicago sativa to rumex crispus. These commonly known roots, and herbs are available along with other commonly known roots, and herbs such as glycyrrhiza glabra, and verbascum thapsus. Just kidding. You've probably never heard of them, well neither have I. No problem, there's a couple of expert herbalists on the team, available to answer your questions, and make recommendations for all your needs.

The Team

According to information obtained from their website, the team is Ejama McNeill, Chef Aaron McNeill, Alyssa Dennis, and Sean Rose.

Ejama McNeill, also known as MAMA HUE is a certified herbalist, doula, and nature enthusiast.

Mama Hue’s dedication to wellness has proved monumental in not only supporting her loved ones, but many others in her community. Through her rigorous research and passion for health, the self-made woman birthed Hue Apothecary. Her organic approach to herbalism ensures that her offerings of customizable and unique herbal blends do not lose the authenticity that mass retailers are not always able to provide.

Chef Aaron McNeill has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked his way up from busboy to director of operations for Marriott USA, Bold Foods, & Darden. Chef McNeill has also owned and operated Bold Catering since 2009. Chef McNeill credits his wife, Ejama McNeill, for introducing him to a more holistic lifestyle and ultimately the two created Hue Cafe & Apothecary.

Alyssa Dennis is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and clinical herbalist. "Her clinical practice is centered around continuing the vibrancy of the peoples medicine that utilizes nutritional therapeutics and the contemporary practices of Gaelic, Chinese, Ayurvedic & other European medical traditions."

Sean Rose is a clinical herbal therapist. He earned his master's degree in Clinical Herbal Medicine from Maryland University of Integrative Health. Sean is a mental health advocate who uses "herbal remedies, lifestyle and dietary adjustments, and other tools and strategies to support mental health from a holistic perspective."

Recommendation

I know we said that we wouldn't make any recommendations, however, if you are ever in the area, or want to try something new and fresh, drop in and try it. I think you too will be pleasantly pleased.

Hours of Operation

The Hue Cafe & Apothecary is open Monday - Saturday from 9am - 9pm. It is available for dine-in, take-out or delivery.

Hue Cafe & Apothecary

10210 S. Dolfied Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21117

443-352-3006

https://huecafebaltimore.com

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