From Michelin-star dreams to mugshots, here’s the wild downfall of vegan queen Sarma Melngailis.
Alec Baldwin has a cameo in this documentary series.
This is the best true crime doc I’ve seen on restaurant fraud.
Trailer for “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives”
Watch “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives”
You can watch “Bad Vegan” on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/81470938
It’s a Netflix Original so it should stay there.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: /34100 (Users); 88/100 (Critics)
Release Date: March 16, 2022
My Review of “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives”
The Setup
What happens when a famous vegan chef gets caught up in a crazy mix of crime, lies, and the promise of eternal life?
Sarma Melngailis, the owner of NYC’s Pure Food and Wine, was once a big name in vegan dining. Then she stole nearly $2 million.
The Netflix doc “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.” is directed by the doc animal Chris Smith.
Smith is one of my top 10 favorite doc directors.
He did “American Movie” (which I rank 96/100!); He did “Mr. McMahon” (91/100) for Netflix; “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” (90/100); “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond”; and 100 Foot Wave. .
Smith also Exec Produced “Tiger King” (I rank that 95/100).
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
Sarma’s husband, Anthony Strangis, convinced her he could make her dog León live forever.
Yes, really.
A Dream Gone Sour
Pure Food and Wine wasn’t any old restaurant.
I’m talking the most popular vegan eatery in the world.
It was a hotspot for celebrities like Alec Baldwin and Woody Harrelson.
People loved Sarma’s vegan menu, and she was seen as a leader in the food world. But behind the scenes, money problems were growing.
Then Anthony Strangis showed up.
At first, he was charming. Soon, he was making odd demands.
He convinced Sarma to take money from her business for his bizarre promises. One of those promises? That her dog, Leon, could live forever if she did what he said.
Things spiraled. Sarma’s workers didn’t get paid. Investors had no clue what was going on. Pure Food and Wine closed, and Sarma’s name was ruined.
By the time police caught her and Anthony, they were hiding in Tennessee, eating Domino’s Pizza.
Lesser-Known Gems
This story is wild, but there’s even more when you dig into the details:
- Strangis’ Past: He’d been in trouble before, including conning an ex-wife.
- Creepy Control: Strangis’ promises sounded like cult tactics. He used words to control and confuse Sarma.
- Workers Speak Out: Sarma’s former employees share their side. Many stayed loyal to her, even when things got bad.
- Baldwin’s Connection: Alec Baldwin met his wife, Hilaria, at Sarma’s restaurant. He also flirted with Sarma online before meeting Hilaria.
- Behind the Scenes: Director Chris Smith used emails, court files, and interviews to build this complex story.
How Did It Get This Bad?
Strangis didn’t just appear and ruin Sarma’s life overnight. He started small, earning her trust by sharing her love for her dog, Leon.
He then began asking for small favors, like helping him out with some cash. These “tests” grew bigger and weirder.
He said they were part of a secret mission, and Sarma had to show her loyalty.
He even convinced her to believe he was part of a powerful organization. Strangis claimed he had to protect her from enemies she didn’t know about.
Sarma describes feeling trapped, like she was constantly being tested.
Meanwhile, Sarma’s staff bore the brunt of the fallout. Many stayed at Pure Food and Wine because they believed in her vision.
One heartbreaking detail is how the workers organized to cover shifts and keep the restaurant running—even when their paychecks bounced. Their loyalty makes Sarma’s betrayal feel even sharper.
Alec Baldwin and a Missed Opportunity
Alec Baldwin’s connection to the story is oddly entertaining. He wasn’t just a customer; he was a fan.
He even mentioned Sarma on Twitter, saying her restaurant was one of his favorites.
The doc suggests he once showed romantic interest in her.
Later, he met his future wife, Hilaria, at the restaurant. It’s like Pure Food and Wine had a gravitational pull for drama.
Strangis’ Strange Methods
Strangis wasn’t a genius conman, but his methods were shockingly effective. He preyed on Sarma’s emotions, especially her love for Leon.
He’d vanish for days, leaving cryptic texts about missions and promises of unimaginable rewards.
One former friend of Sarma noted how Strangis manipulated her by mixing truth with outlandish lies.
The scene I was most creeped out about was where Strangis tests Sarma’s loyalty by asking her to wire tens of thousands of dollars to a random account. She complied, hoping it would end the chaos.
Instead, it pulled her deeper.
The Ending and Its Fallout
The doc doesn’t wrap everything up neatly.
Sarma served time but is now out of prison, and she’s trying to rebuild her life. Strangis’ fate feels less satisfying—his light sentence doesn’t quite match the destruction he caused.
But “Bad Vegan” leaves you with questions. How could someone so smart fall for such an absurd scheme? It’s a story of love, power, and manipulation that’s as messy as it is fascinating.
Wrap Up
I’d say “Bad Vegan” is a top doc about how even smart, successful people can end up in unthinkable situations.
If you love true crime or crazy boyfriend/girlfriend real-life stories, you’ll like this one.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc