Amaranthus, a plant-based eatery at the River Market in New West, is now serving wine, beer, and cocktails along with its vegan and vegetarian menu items. Co-owner Alejandro Diaz says it’s the first establishment to have a liquor licence in an open food court/market setting in B.C.

Look for a lot of local love on the new drinks list.

For wine, there’s Haywire Pinot Gris and Narrative Merlot Cabernet Franc, both from the Okanagan Valley.

Kolsch comes from Vancouver nano craft brewery Doan’s, while a dark lager is by New West’s Steel & Oak Brewing.

Cocktails are built on Odd Society Spirits’ East Van Vodka, Wallflower Gin, and Prospector Canadian Rye Whisky (made of Northern BC rye). Some have a few drops of Ms. Better’s Bitters, a Vancouver-based company that also makes “Miraculous Foamer”, a vegan alternative to egg whites for silky sips.

Run by the same team behind El Santo, also in New West, Amaranthus recently introduced a vegan "cheese" board. Featuring nondairy selections from Blue Heron Creamery, the plate also has tomato relish, carrot hummus, and focaccia crostini.

Other popular menu items include fried Brussels sprouts, which are topped with a poached egg, caramelized onions, and gremolata and sit atop a base of pumpkin-seed hummus; and 
poached egg, gremolata, pumpkin seed hummus, caramelized onions; and roasted butternut squash risotto with sage and grana padano. 

Order the Amaranthus veggie burger, with blue cheese and blueberry barbecue sauce, and $1 goes to the New West-based non-profit Impact Parkinson’s Centre.

Amaranthus is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.