‘Bad Vegan’ and the Real Story Behind Pure Food and Wine

"Opened in 2004 as a raw-vegan fine-dining destination in Gramercy, this glamorous, three-dollar-sign restaurant made plant-based food feel glossy and scene-y rather than granola — candlelit garden seating, a yoga-sleek bar crowd nursing signature cocktails like the Master Cleanse Tini, and frequent celebrity diners. The menu highlighted items such as spicy Thai lettuce wraps, zebra tomato-and-zucchini lasagna with pistachio-basil pesto, and cauliflower couscous with pickled Persian cucumbers and cultured tree-nut cheeses, earning praise for making health food feel fashionable. Originally a collaboration between two chefs with backing from a prominent restaurateur, ownership later consolidated under the co-owner and the business was profitable for years. The operation ultimately unraveled after the co-owner became involved with a con man who convinced her to hand over account access and large sums of money; staff suffered repeated missed paychecks, employees walked out in winter 2015, and the restaurant closed permanently that spring after roughly $1.6 million was moved out of business accounts. The pair were later accused of fraud and went on the run, were eventually found, and the co-owner pleaded guilty, served a short jail term and probation, though she has since said she might one day revive the concept." - Rachel Sugar