The lone and lovely female judge of America’s Next Great Restaurant, Lorena Garcia, is making vegetarians who fly from the Miami International Airport a little happier and less hungrier.

Garcia, a former lawyer now turned celebrity chef, opened a restaurant in the Concourse D area of the airport that serves a variety of vegetarian-friendly options, including a veggie burger that’s doing great.

Garcia spoke to NBC Miami about her new venture, Cocina, which features mouth watering dishes like the Roasted Portabello, a sliced portobello with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and pesto sauce on ciabatta bread.

The online menu doesn’t list the veggie burger, but Garcia says it’s there.

“They’re all coming out great, really,” Garcia said of the most popular dishes served at Cocina. “Our dishes need to be easily made, since it’s at the airport.”

A survey done by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found that the majority of airports do serve something healthy and plant-based. In its 2009 review of airports, PCRM said of Miami International Airport: “Just 28 of the 39 eateries at Miami’s airport offer travelers a low-fat, cholesterol-free entrée. But healthful options do exist, including the vegetarian rolls at Sushi Bar and the vegetarian platter or the black beans and rice at Bongos.”

Besides offering healthy, plant-based items, Cocina also prepares many items daily from scratch.

Possibly Related Posts: