#vivopizzaandpasta #vegan #veganisnotscary #orecchiette For the second time, I went to VIVO Pizza + Pasta with my brother. I really wanted pizza but the only vegetarian pizza I could veganize I had already reviewed. Veganizing any other pizza on the menu would have entailed removing several toppings, which would have made it pointless and undesirable for me.  Instead, I ordered pasta and it may have been the only vegan item on the menu. It was Orecchiette con Rapini for $22. It had orecchiette pasta (one of my favourites), rapini, olive oil, garlic and chili flakes. The pasta was perfectly al dente (perhaps a bit too al dente, but not for me) and I liked that the rapini was cut into small pieces. There was just the right amount of oil and garlic. It locked chilli flakes, so I added some spicy oil to it (refer to the second photo). Not knowing whether or not the cook would add cheese to the pasta before it would be served to me, I asked for absolutely no cheese.  I was still hungry, but comfortable / content, after eating this. I could’ve had another serving, but opted not to. I lose my mind when it comes to good Italian food!  Like many Italian restaurants, this one is not very vegan friendly. Plant-based cheese and plant-based meats are not offered. Until they change this, I will not be a regular customer here (it was my brother who wanted to eat there). I’ll poke them again. But I do recommend this pasta if you go. 
