What began as a humble food blog managed from a riverside farmhouse in upstate New York is now a rustic, full-service plant-based kitchen in Virginia Beach. The Hilltop market, dubbed Callicoon Kitchen, opened for business in August 2020 as a healthy brunch and lunch spot. Its menu delivers a host of international, plant-based plates ranging from a Grilled Asian Tofu sandwich and Artichoke & Chickpea Crab-less Cake Sliders to the more familiar Farmers Market Salad and Lentil, Swiss Chard and White Bean soup.
Callicoon Kitchen’s, the Classic Black Bean Burger, gained fame long before making its Coastal Virginia debut. While blogging and sharing videos from their home in Callicoon, Ron and Elizabeth Badach were approached by ABC’s The Chew to share their expertise in curating a 100% plant-based diet, in what proved to be as pivotal moment in the Badachs’ journey to promoting a life of sustainable and healthy eating.
Callicoon visitors can enjoy a sit-down meal in the Kitchen’s wood-paneled dining room or along the restaurant’s umbrella-flanked patio. For diners on the go, Callicoon Kitchen serves up nutritious grab-and-go options from their refrigerated Marketplace. Choose from a selection of flavored beverages, fresh fruit, salads, sandwiches, dips, and decadent sweets like fresh-baked cookies or a Giant Double Chocolate Brownie.
For breakfast, sink your teeth into a Country Tofu Scramble, Southern Comfort Breakfast Patty crafted with maple sweet potato, black eyed peas, collard greens and quinoa, or enjoy an early morning spin on the classic black bean burger with the Black Bean Sunrise Sandwich garnished with fire roasted salsa and fresh guacamole.
Learn more at CallicoonKitchen.com
CORRECTION: This article has been updated from the print version to reflect a correction to owner Ron Badach’s name, which was incorrectly listed as “Rob” rather than “Ron.”
Grace Silipigni
Grace Silipigni is an elementary school Spanish immersion teacher based in Virginia Beach and a regular contributor to Coastal Virginia Magazine, covering a wide range of topics such as health and wellness, education and learning, food and drink, happenings and events, travel and getaways and more.
