Happy Veggie: vegan Mecca with a big heart in Redondo Beach [RESTAURANTS]
Pam Cote, the owner, chef, and heart of Happy Veggie. Photo by Alyssa Morin Walking in the doors of Happy Veggie is like walking through a portal-one minute you’re in the parking lot of a South Bay strip mall, the next you’re in a simple, serene little alcove bustling with positive energy and old-school charm. Pam Cote, a beautiful, delicate Vietnamese woman on the verge of 70-years-old, rushes around the tiny dining room of about eight tables, greeting her regulars and insisting on refilling teas and refreshing rice papers. She is the sole owner, the chef, and the heart of this vegan Mecca. The kitchen is upstairs and Pam is up and down, delivering her dishes and running back up to finish the next round. Today she has the assistance of a couple of prep cooks upstairs, a sweet server, and an earnest busboy, but when she first opened the location six years ago, she had to rely on the kindness of friends and local students who worked for free. She spends her early mornings at farmers markets and the Asian grocers, her days meticulously prepping for service, and her remaining hours serving her loyal following; days that would tire someone half her age. The appeal of Happy Veggie is…
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