Vegan at the Alchemist Café & Elixir Bar in Modesto

Hand holding a vegan Margarita Flatbread in front of Alchemist Café & Elixir Bar in downtown Modesto.

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The Alchemist Café & Elixir Bar opened this Spring in an old home-turned-business space in downtown Modesto. There are two bedrooms converted into intimate dining spaces, and the main room serves as a hangout with a cash wrap and kitchen access.

The idea began as a mobile mocktail bar after founder Candace quit both bartending and drinking and found a lack of creativity in the alcohol-free space. After a meeting with the café’s property owner, the mobile bar transformed into a kava café, offering elixirs, treats, and a menu full of fresh finds that make you feel as good as they taste.

Everything on the menu at the Alchemist Café can be made vegan or gluten-free (if it isn’t already). From parfaits to loaded toasts and cheesy flatbreads, there’s a dish for every time of day and craving. They also source local ingredients from farmers and bakers, such as One Hot Mama’s Salsa for their vegan “Taco Tuesday” specials.

I visited this weekend with my friend Jessica of One Hot Mama’s Salsa for dinner. We shared two plates to start: Roasted Carrots and Cauliflower Bites, both of which are vegan as-is. The cauliflower bites were tossed in a tangy, umami sauce and topped with tomatoes and greens. The carrots were cooked perfectly with just enough snap, and topped with a vegan yogurt sauce, walnuts, paprika, and rosemary. Both dishes are light and savory.

For my main, I had the Margarita Flatbread, made vegan. The flatbread is prepared with local Nama’s Kitchen Sourdough, then topped with a roasted garlic and tomato sauce, mozzarella (vegan available), cherry tomatoes, arugula, lemon zest, and dairy-free oregano pesto. This was delicious. Sour and tangy bread loaded with my favorite flavors, what could be better? After trying this, it will be hard to order something else!

I previously visited Alchemist Café for Taco Tuesday and tried both tacos available: tofu and locally grown KH Mushrooms. They’re loaded with black beans, veggies, and your choice of One Hot Mama’s Salsa, assembled in corn tortillas. The tacos are filling and tasty, and I have put in our request to make them a week-round menu item as I know many have been asking!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Alchemist Café, take a look at their upcoming events and plan to stop in for a bite or tea. The Alchemist Café is usually closed on Sundays, but on the first Sunday of the month, they offer “Sunday Service” where you can tend to the garden within, using a holistic approach to self-care. Their next Sunday Service is on August 2nd from 10 am- 2 pm, and you can find more information on their Instagram page.

The Alchemist Café will be included in my upcoming segment with Caravan Cody on Good Day Sacramento on Wednesday, August 12th, where we visit some local spots that offer vegan breakfast options and are doing wonderful things for our community. Tune in at 7 am for the spotlight on the Alchemist Café and more!