Most of the produce grown in Auroville is organic, so look for Auroville fruits and vegetables. PTDC and PTPS both have special sections with organic produce and dry stuff. Its important to check or ask if you are particular that its organic.

Bon Appetit in Pondicherry is great for all kinds of organic dry provisions both Indian and imported. If you want those special ingredients that aren’t easily found here, you are likely to find it there. 2/16, Ambour Salai, Chetty Street Cutting, Pondicherry – 605 001 Tel : +91 413 2338165 Email : bonappetit@auromail.net
www.bonappetit.co.in

They have a new Branch in Ediyavanchavadi next to the Freeland Bookstore. Bon Appetit now also has organic vegetables coming 3 times a week. Email them to order or to be on their mailing list to know what they have.

Orgoland in Pondicherry is a great place to get organic fresh produce and they also stock some dry produce. For the fresh produce its better to give an order a few days in advance. They provide vegetables mainly by order. If you happen to drop in you may get some left overs. They are closed on certain days and do have timings that change so call before you go.

Orgoland is under Penguin Xerox. As you enter MG Road, at the second left you will see a big sign for Penguin Xerox. Just below there is a green colored tiny shop. That’s it! They are only open till 5 pm and not open every day so call before going and preferably order your vegetables in advance.

Tel: 6451011

Nilgiris in Pondy now has an organic section. Nilgiris is located on Mission street, soon after JN street if you are going from Auroville.

Energy Home in Pondicherry is on Chetty Street (between Mission Street and Canal (Arbour Salai). Its very close to Bon Appetit. They do have a few organic dry provisions so ask what is organic. They also have some interesting things like ragi, bajra sevai, all kinds of flakes and herbal coffees and teas as well as a range of health books and healthy sweets. Energy Home also serves as a restaurant with raw vegan meals, all kinds of milks and milk shakes based on coconut milk, and loads of cooking ideas for healthy meals. Do note that they add honey to some of their dishes- so let them know your preference.

Mother’s House, an ashram guest-house in Pondicherry serves healthy vegan lunches. Booking is essential. Call 2220337 at least a day before or early morning of the same day. Regina who runs it is also a health food and exercise enthusiast.

Diksha often sells fresh vegetable juices and wheat grass juices at PTDC.

SHARAN sells vegan cheeses, sandwiches and spreads at the Auroville market.

Chandani’s Restaurant at Solitude – serves a vegan organic fresh from the farm lunch every day, and booking is essential at least early on the morning of the day you wish to go. Just let them know you want vegan incase they have used ghee somewhere. They don’t usually use it. 2622068.

Satchitananda at Kottakarai near the Ganesh Bakery serves delicious raw began set meals on weekdays and Saturdays. Check beforehand for Sundays and evenings. Dinners are served in the season. Call 7639655833

Giovani at Windarra farm has a vegan cooking class every Thursday. The produce is often picked fresh from the farm. The groups are small. If you cannot join for the class you can still reserve for the dinner the same evening by calling in advance. Call 8940871895 to reserve or email terrasoul@auroville.org.in

There is an Ayurvedic Centre run by Dr Rajesh and his wife Deepa just opposite La Ferme. They serve delicious, cooked vegan meals with very little oil. Advance booking is needed and should be at least before 10am on the day you wish to eat. Call Deepa 9442144061 for booking a lunch. (Call Rajesh 9443344061 for Ayurvedic treatments).

Monika Maku of Zen + makes delicious vegan superballs, and also other vegan delights like salads and fruit salads on order. They use mostly organic ingredients too. They also do a lovely vegan meal with advance notice in their place in Acceptance. They also do some vegetarian meals so do specify what you want. They need a few days advance notice – call Monika – 8930761230 or email monikamaku@gmail.com

PTDC also provides plenty of vegan options on certain days – hummus, delicious vegan cakes, baked falafel and more. If you want you can ask Solar Kitchen office for their whole menu with labels on what is vegan or what is not.

Besides these, you can find plenty of vegetarian options in La Terrasse but you must check what is vegan. Roma’s Kitchen will let you know all the dishes that they can prepare vegan if you ask, and Visitor’s Centre has a regular vegan salad and could veganise the healthy plate but its important to stress that it should be vegan or you may end up with something you don’t want. They also serve vegan pizzas. The New Creation Pizzeria has a vegan pizza and also may have vegan pastas and are happy to let you know what’s vegan. Much of the food in Aurolec Cafeteria is vegan but, again, ask. Well Paper Café has a few vegan selections. Farm Fresh often has a vegan cake. The more you stress that you want vegan the more options we will find, so its all up to you. Both the Auroville Bakery and Ganesh Bakery have vegan bakes often. You will also almost always find something vegan at all Auroville eateries, just ask to make sure it’s vegan.

More and more non Auroville restaurants are also vegan or vegan friendly. Both Kofi Bar and Swadishtha at Kuilapalayam on the main road offer many vegan possibilities. This list is definitely not exhaustive. Auroville eateries are changing all the time and getting more and more vegan friendly.

Sadhana Forest is an amazing sustainable vegan community which accepts volunteers in exchange for accommodation. It’s a great place to learn about lots of vegan options and they have a tour of their sustainable community every Friday, which is followed by a movie and dinner, open to all and free. (You are welcome to make a donation). The movies are usually listed in the News & Notes or you can call and ask. 2677682 / 2677683/ 2902655.