What eating vegan means, how it works day to day, what to watch out for – and what a vegan dinner on the lake looks like.
Pleasure, not sacrifice
In 2026, eating vegan no longer means restriction – it's a conscious choice for health, animal welfare and the climate that also opens up a culinary variety that surprises many people. Whether at home, on holiday or for a special occasion: plant-based cooking has found its firm place at the heart of our society.
On request, Striga Constanze offers vegan and vegetarian menus for couples and small groups – as a romantic date, as a candlelight dinner at sunset or as a meal on the lake during a private boat tour on Lake Maggiore. So anyone who thinks vegan food and romantic experiences don't go together is in for a pleasant surprise: from street food at the market in Stresa to a multi-course dinner on the deck of a traditional gaff cutter – eating vegan today ranges from simple enjoyment to fine dining on the water.
A vegan lifestyle consistently excludes all animal products. That means not only meat and fish, but also milk, eggs, honey, gelatine and numerous other ingredients found in a surprising number of foods.
The difference from vegetarian is clear: vegetarians avoid meat and fish but still use dairy products, eggs and often honey. Vegans, on the other hand, avoid all animal products – including in processed foods and drinks.
In everyday life this might look like this: a vegan breakfast can be porridge with oat drink and fresh berries, a vegan dinner a creamy vegetable risotto or a hearty lentil bolognese with pasta. The choice of recipes keeps growing, and even classic dishes can be given a plant-based twist.
What many people don't know: drinks like wine or desserts like panna cotta can also contain hidden animal ingredients – such as gelatine, milk powder or animal rennet in cheese. This is exactly what responsible providers like Striga Constanze pay attention to when putting together vegan menus on board: every ingredient is checked, plant-based alternatives are chosen deliberately, and transparent information on every course is available on request.
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+ €20 p. p.Private tourBackground
The reasons for a plant-based diet are diverse – and go far beyond personal preference. More and more people in Germany and worldwide are consciously choosing vegan dishes:
Striga Constanze responds to exactly this development: we deliberately offer our guests vegan menus – not as a stopgap, but as a complete, delicious experience on the water.
Switching to a plant-based diet doesn't have to be radical. Small changes in everyday life are often enough to increase the share of vegan dishes step by step – without stress and with plenty of enjoyment.
A vegan breakfast can be as simple as overnight oats with oat or soy drink, fresh fruit and nuts. Vegan rolls with hummus, avocado or nut butter also make a filling start to the day. Plant-based drinks – oat, soy or almond – have long been staples in every supermarket. Add vegan alternatives to yoghurt and cheese, which taste more and more convincing.
Quick recipes make getting started easy: pasta with tomato-lentil sauce, an aromatic chickpea curry or roast vegetables with hummus are on the table in under 30 minutes. Roast vegetables provide fibre as well as vitamin A and vitamin C. A proven approach is the "building block" method: grains or quinoa combined with pulses, seasonal vegetables and a tasty sauce make a balanced plate. Quinoa, by the way, is a complete protein and contains all essential amino acids. If you want to ease in slowly, start with one or two "vegan days" a week.
Nuts, fresh fruit, veggie sticks with a dip or vegan cereal bars – healthy snacks on the go are easy. The choice of vegan options in bakeries and supermarkets is growing steadily. Important when shopping: check the ingredients list, as milk powder, whey, egg white or gelatine hide in a surprising number of products.
Nutrients
A balanced vegan diet should include pulses, vegetables, nuts and whole grains – then it supplies the body with most of the important nutrients. Some, however, deserve special attention:
If in doubt, nutritional advice or a conversation with your doctor is recommended to check your individual supply.
Romance
The trend is towards conscious couple experiences: instead of just going out to eat, more and more couples are looking for special moments – a candlelight dinner under the open sky, date nights with meaning or short breaks centred on shared values. Vegan food and romance go perfectly together, because good food in a special atmosphere connects – all the more when both know that no animal had to suffer for it.
On Lake Maggiore, where the beauty of nature between mountains and lake provides the perfect setting, such an experience becomes unforgettable – especially aboard the Striga Constanze.
Traditional gaff cutter, red sails, just your group. 3, 4 or 7 hours.
from €490
for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request
Imagine: the gaff cutter glides into a quiet bay, the sun sinks behind the hills of Piedmont, candlelight flickers on deck. Plus a multi-course vegan menu that leaves nothing to be desired.
Possible courses could be: antipasti with marinated vegetables and olives, stuffed courgette flowers, a creamy risotto with seasonal regional vegetables, and for dessert a fruity sorbet or a vegan panna cotta made with coconut or cashew. The dishes are prepared with local, seasonal ingredients – a piece of Italian tradition, interpreted the plant-based way.
Individual wishes are of course taken into account: whether a completely vegan menu, gluten-free options or an alcohol-free aperitivo – you can specify everything in your enquiry. Simply note "vegan catering requested" in the enquiry form or via WhatsApp.
On request, Striga Constanze offers vegetarian and vegan catering for all tours – from a light aperitivo to an elaborate multi-course menu. Every boat tour is private: up to 8 guests sail at a fixed price, up to 12 on request, with no strangers on board. Vegan options suit couples just as well as groups of friends, hen parties or small family celebrations.
Concrete scenarios: a 4-hour tour with a swim stop and a vegan aperitivo – bruschetta with tomatoes, olives, vegan focaccia – or a 7-hour tour with a visit to a restaurant on land that offers vegan options. If you like, combine the meal with a trip to the Borromean Islands or a detour along the picturesque shores of Stresa and Pallanza.
Important for planning: the 2026 season has already ended, reservations for 2027 are possible now. The season starts on 1 March 2027 – it pays to enquire in good time.
Holiday
Eating vegan while travelling is getting easier and easier – especially in a holiday region like Lake Maggiore, where Italian cuisine is naturally rich in plant-based classics. Lake Maggiore is Italy's second-largest lake, 66 km long and up to 10 km wide, with an area of 212.5 km². Its shores stretch from the south of the Swiss canton of Ticino into the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy – an area of mountains and valleys that tempts with a mild climate, breathtaking landscapes and culinary tradition.
In the towns and villages on the lake, visitors find numerous eateries where vegan dishes are easy to get: pasta al pomodoro, minestrone without parmesan, pizza marinara, grilled vegetables or sorbetto for dessert. The region offers fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit in a variety that makes the culinary heart beat faster. Locarno, the warmest town in Switzerland, and Ascona, one of the most famous resorts on Lake Maggiore, offer excellent gastronomy alongside culture and history.
The lake itself, whose Latin name is Lacus Verbanus, is surrounded by nature and history: there are over 1,000 km of hiking trails around Lake Maggiore, and the Val Grande National Park – one of the wildest in Italy – is just a day trip away. Popular water sports are surfing, sailing and water skiing, and bungee jumping is possible at the Verzasca dam in the Valle Verzasca. The Borromean Islands are a popular sight – Isola Bella is home to the 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo. Monte Verità near Ascona is also a popular destination, and the Sacro Monte di Ghiffa is one of the region's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Letting your gaze wander over the water, you discover a paradise for water sports enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Nearby Lake Orta is also worth a detour. More ideas: Lake Maggiore sights.
Ordering in Italian: Simple phrases help when ordering in Italian: "Senza formaggio" (without cheese), "piatto vegano, per favore" (vegan dish, please) or "senza latte e uova" (without milk and eggs). If you'd rather not struggle through menus and language barriers, you can opt for organised experiences – such as our boat tours with a vegan menu arranged in advance.
Other providers
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just your group
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Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
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Private tourIn 3 steps
Planning a vegan experience on the water is easier than you think. Three steps to an unforgettable evening:
Choose a suitable tour on striga-constanze.com – whether the honeymoon highlight, the sunset tour or the candlelight meditation. Booking is via a no-obligation enquiry form or WhatsApp at +39 333 3802 383 – no shopping cart, no automatic booking. Simply write "vegan catering requested" or "vegetarian menu" in your message.
The skipper or contact person usually replies within 24 hours. Together you tailor the menu: Mediterranean or light, gluten-free or with particular favourite ingredients, suited to the occasion – be it an anniversary, a marriage proposal or a birthday. Small details like a favourite vegan wine, alcohol-free drinks or special dessert wishes are also discussed.
The couple or group simply comes to the agreed meeting point – the home port of Laveno-Mombello or another departure point by arrangement. Striga Constanze takes care of shopping, preparation, setting up on board and service. And if the weather doesn't cooperate: free rebooking, so your vegan dinner is sure to happen.
There are many hotels and restaurants on Lake Maggiore – but a vegan dinner aboard a sailing boat is something fundamentally different. What sets Striga Constanze apart from an ordinary restaurant visit:
The whole Striga Constanze belongs exclusively to your group – no other guests, no noise, just you and the lake.
A slowed-down experience with the sound of wind and water, red gaff sails and a real sailing feeling – enjoyment with all your senses. More about the boat.
Not just "one option at the edge of the menu", but a menu tailored entirely to your wishes as part of the experience.
3, 4 or 7 hours, combinable with a swim stop, meditation, the exit game or an island visit – you set the pace.
Fixed price per tour from €490 for up to 8 guests together (up to 12 on request) – ideal for splitting the cost in a group. Elaborate vegan menus are priced individually.
Our vegan offer on the water appeals to very different people:
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
Here we answer the most important questions about vegan catering on our private boat tours.
Yes – on request we can plan vegan options for aperitivo, snacks and complete menus, whether on a 3-, 4- or 7-hour tour. It's important to mention the wish in your enquiry so that shopping and planning can start in good time.
Next step
Eating vegan is pleasure, not sacrifice – and a vegan date or dinner on the water is an experience that stays in your memory for a long time. Whether as a couple, with friends or with family: Striga Constanze makes your plant-based experience on Lake Maggiore possible – personal, exclusive and entirely to your wishes.
Send us a no-obligation enquiry via the contact form or write to us directly on WhatsApp at +39 333 3802 383. Just give your preferred date, the tour length you'd like and the note "vegan catering". We usually reply within 24 hours and advise you personally on the menu and the course of the tour.
The 2026 season has ended – reservations for 2027 are possible now. Season start: 1 March 2027. We look forward to your enquiry.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
