Foundation Grounds is a lively neighborhood coffee house with a lot of character. This establishment, located on a busy corner in Maplewood, is known for its fresh ground Goshen coffee as well as its varied menu.

But the coffee shop is making a few changes to its menu in 2011. I spoke with owner Pedro Abbate, who was eager to share details about the new items rolling out over the next few weeks.

"We're getting ready to revamp the menu for the new year," Abbate said. "We're going to add a few more vegan selections to the menu."

One such selection? The Lacy. This uniquely-named sandwich starts with fresh organic tomatoes, basil, pesto, parmesan, melted brie and spinach before being topped with olive oil. For $8.49, customers can enjoy The Lacy with their choice of sides. Foundation Grounds offers fresh fruit, chips or a side salad as an accompaniment for their entrees.

Another new item will tentatively be called the Madahoocheese. Named after local band Madahoochi, this vegan delight will contain cheddar, parmesan, marinated red onions and spinach.

"The members of Madahoochi are regulars here, so we thought it would be neat to name a sandwich after them," Abbate said.

Customers looking for old favorites will have to look no further; along with the new additions to the menu, Foundation Grounds will continue to offer favorites such as the Funky Chicken Sandwich ($8.49) and the Honey Cardamom Latte ($3.99).

Foodie Finds this week:

• Planet Sub just opened a new location in the Maplewood Commons shopping plaza. Check out this chain's wide variety of tasty subs, ranging from the Classic Italian ($8.49) to the Tijuana Taxi ($8.49)—this sub, with roast beef, American cheese, jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo is sure to satisfy your appetite.
• Maplewood is full of interesting and unique convenience stores. Check out one of my favorites: The Economic Shop. This store specializes in Central and South American products and is known for its wide variety of snacks, spices and cheeses.
• If you overindulged during the holiday season, head to the Mid-County Family YMCA in Brentwood to shed some of those holiday pounds. During the entire month of January, the membership fee is waived, so hop on that treadmill and get moving.