Pure Food and Wine, a now-defunct vegan restaurant, hit the New York food scene at just the right time.... From the onset, it generated buzz, catching the attention of food bloggers. Behind the venue was co-founder and owner Sarma Melngailis.... A native of Newton, Massachusetts with degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the prestigious Wharton School, she worked at a couple of investment firms before changing gears and enrolling in culinary school....