The Hippie Chickpea began as a beloved Montpelier restaurant, serving fresh, delicious meals made from scratch with high-quality ingredients. Today, they offer some of the most popular and well-known items from their original menu in our Grab and Go. 

Founded by Vania Muraco and co-owner Vince Muraco, The Hippie Chickpea opened its doors in Montpelier in 2018. They found a location where their vision for a fresh, from-scratch food business could take root—and for five years, the restaurant flourished. 

Then, in 2023, the devastating flood changed everything. The Hippie Chickpea was unable to continue operating from its downtown location, prompting Vania and Vince to rethink what the business’s next chapter could look like. 

After three years of reorganizing and rebuilding, The Hippie Chickpea has found a new path forward. The business now operates from a newly designed production kitchen, where they make some of the most loved items from their original restaurant menu: falafel, tahini sauce, and herb sauce. 

At the heart of The Hippie Chickpea is a simple philosophy: use the best ingredients possible to create food that is both healthy and delicious. Their products are made in small batches with organic ingredients, and their falafel, tahini sauce, and herb sauce are all vegan and seed-oil free, using avocado oil instead. 

Their falafel is also wonderfully versatile. It can be enjoyed cold on a salad or reheated in a toaster oven or air fryer. For the full Hippie Chickpea experience, Vania recommends pairing the falafel with the tahini and herb sauces—the three complement each other perfectly. 

Looking ahead, they are excited to continue developing delicious foods and products to share with the community. New ideas often begin right at home, where they cook every day and experiment with new ingredients and recipes. 

From a much-loved Montpelier restaurant to a new production kitchen, The Hippie Chickpea continues to evolve while staying true to what made it special from the beginning: thoughtful ingredients, delicious food, and a commitment to sharing good food with the community.