I was fortunate enough to get to spend a gorgeous day in St. Joe last week bumming around town with my mom, catching up.

A must on our agenda was a meal at the new Mason Jar Cafe. I’d heard from several area health foodies that the restaurant had great vegan options and I know the owners from the local food scene.

The hype proved worthy. The restaurant, located in the 210 Water Street building, is the perfect addition to the Benton Harbor Arts District. It has an open kitchen concept and a minimalist cafe feel. The patio is huge and quite pleasant.

The best part of the Mason Jar is it’s creative, conscious menu. You’ll truly find something for everyone here including vegan, gluten free paleo and locavore. Owner and chef Abel Martinez said that he’s really trying to use as many local ingredients as possible and is working hard to keep all allergen ingredients separate in the kitchen. Having a kitchen manager who understands the importance of those dietary needs is key to happy diners of all sensitivities.

Chef Abel’s local, from scratch details are evident in innovative dishes like gluten-free Zucchini pancakes, French lentils, and more. Breads are from bakeries in Kalamazoo, and we were served the first plate of local strawberries at the end of our meal. I could taste that the ranchero sauce on my vegan Huevos Rancheros was house made, as was everything from lemonade to salad dressings.

I highly recommend making your way to The Mason Jar as soon as possible. It’s a great brunch spot, and the only place in town I know of where you can get a vegan breakfast served until 3 p.m.

Kat Barry, a St. Joseph, Michigan native, is owner of Kat’s Hot Cakes vegan catering, and co author of “The New Chicago Diner Cookbook: Meat Free Recipes from America’s Veggie Diner.” She also develops recipes for eHow.com, where you can find over 30 of her vegan instructional cooking videos. She is also a certified yoga instructor. Kat currently resides in Chicago, and in her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, sampling local spirits, listening to live music, and getting outdoors. Follow @katshotcakes on twitter. Kat can be reached via email at: kat@katshotcakes.com.