Looking for vegan or gluten-free options in Lafayette? Try Karma Collective | Food finds

Have you thought about plant-based eating or searched for healthy alternatives to your favorite snacks? Look no further than Karma Collective in Lafayette. From vegan soups and entrees to gluten-free cakes and breads, the Karma Collective is redesigning the way you think about food.

Founded by Bethany Sanchez and Brittany Duplantis in 2018, the Karma Collective offers clean, plant-based and gluten-free nutrition. Sanchez came up with the concept after visiting the local farmers market and making connections with other women.

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"This entire collective was birthed out of a bunch of single moms at the farmers market," Sanchez explains. "It started in Lafayette, I had two friends that I would regularly see the market they really inspired me—Henna and Melodie.

"Mel owned Evolve Juice and Henna had BiBi's Patisserie. On one end there was gluten-free, healthy, farm-to-table baking. And the other fresh pressed cold organic juices. I just fell in love with the idea! We would always talk about, you know, there has to be a way to get a shop, there has to be a way to put it together. So, one day I was like, 'Let's do it.'"

Sanchez opened the Tribe Collective as a hub for small businesses. At their height, about eight chefs worked out of their commissary kitchen from a host of small restaurants and pop-ups. BiBi's Patisserie and Evolve Juice were also housed within Tribe Collective.

Community involvement was essential for the Tribe Collective. Known for hosting events in the building and around Lafayette including yoga, urban gardening, and poetry nights.

After nine years the Tribe Collective merged with a local macaroons bakery and officially became Karma Collective. Duplantis functions as head baker for Karma Collective— a role she has found purpose in.

"I started as a dishwasher, I was asked to fill in for a baker one day" Duplantis explains. "They needed a batch of brownies and I made them...they were better than the normal bakers. That feeling was great!"

Some staples the restaurant offers are their daily soups, fresh bread and desserts. Other items include sold by Karma Collective include sea moss, cold press juices, king cakes, lemonades, power bowls and custom cakes.

Karma Collective's mission is to make high-quality healthy food accessible to all. Some of Lafayette's most popular pop-up restaurants can be found at the Karma Collective, including The Northside Vegan and Vegan Angel. Karma Collective is a certified gluten free restaurant.

The restaurant is located at 104 E Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette. They are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday- Saturday. For daily updates and specials visit them on Instagram www.instagram.com/karmacollectivelaf.

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This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Karma Collective in Lafayette offers vegan, gluten-free options