Harmony Plant Fare
From Findlay Market patron, to employee, to now business owner, Harmony Plant Fare’s Alex Nager made it his personal mission to bring delicious vegan meals and deli items to Cincinnati. Alex, a Cincinnati native, had worked for several local businesses including some right here at Findlay Market, Taste of Belgium in 2009 and Dojo Gelato in 2013.
At Taste of Belgium, Alex ran their outside catering and special events. He would also take items from there to sell at local farmers markets. “That was when Taste of Belgium was only located at Findlay Market, so I felt like half my job was evangelizing the market and promoting it as much as we were promoting the waffles.”
When Alex first met his girlfriend, Bridget, a long time practicing vegetarian, and now co-owner of Harmony Plant Fare, he was still consuming meat and dairy. “We started transitioning a little bit more and giving up diary, and I noticed my breathing got easier and my allergies kind of subsided,” said Alex. “I was like, ‘Oh, I could do this full time!’ and that’s when I started to get more creative and come up with more recipes and different things for sauces, marinades, flavors and other ways to elevate.”
Alex and Bridget began travelling, changing their diet, and seeking out interesting vegan spots around Cincinnati. “We started looking around and there wasn’t a lot going on,” said Alex. “I thought, ‘Well, it hasn’t come to Cincinnati yet. Maybe I should be the one to do it.” Before opening Harmony Plant Fare in the fall of 2019, Alex started selling different sauces and dips at local farmers markets. From there, he began creating new ways for people to eat more vegetables.
“I wanted to step it up, so I put together a menu and started working on things like vegan cheeses,” said Alex. “That’s when we started making sandwiches and paninis, and that’s when I started at Findlay.”
Harmony Plant Fare can be found inside the market house with an abundance of deli classics with a vegan twist. “A lot of people hear “vegan”, and shy away,” said Alex. “Don’t be scared! We are always happy to share a sample and a smile.”
Published July 2021