Mon 19 Sep 2011
DC VegFest This Weekend: Win $10 to Spend at the Fest!
Posted by capitalspice under Eat Local, Food News and Gossip
[47] Comments
Here at Capital Spice, we’re big fans of the concept of “eat and let eat.” The fact that we helped bring Meat Week to Washington doesn’t mean we’re anti-vegetable. So we were excited to hear about DC VegFest, a free opportunity for everyone from themost stringent vegan to the most confirmed carnivore to experience some of Washington’s best vegetarian options in one place.
DC VegFest will take place this Saturday, September 24th, from 11AM to 6 PM at George Washington University’s University Yard. They’re gathering more than 70 exhibitors, including food vendors, retail outlets and non-profits to show just how good veg-friendly living can be. They’ve also put together an impressive line-up of special guest speakers, including vegan chef and author Isa Chandra Moskowitz, NBC4 anchor Wendy Rieger, and Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle.
We were especially impressed by the list of food vendors who will be selling their vegetarian and vegan-friendly products at the festival. They include obvious local favorites like Bread & Brew, Amsterdam Falafel Shop and Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats, but there are fifteen more ways to satisfy your hunger. Check out Cafe Green, Vegan Treats Bakery, Burrito Bandits, Saveur India, Bakeshop, Nourish Market, Mojo Juice, Curry Mantra, Dama Ethiopian and Pastry, Sweet & Natural, Everlasting Life Cafe or Sunflower. Or check out two of the hottest (and most fun) trucks on the mobile food scene – the Fojol Brothers will be on site with their offerings from Benethiopia and Merlindia!
And that’s where things get good for you. To help spread the word about DC VegFest, the organizers – including the Vegetarian Society of DC and Compassion Over Killing – arranged a media preview event last week. We couldn’t make it to the event, but they were good enough to send us a package with information and a number of giveaways that included $10 in DC VegFest bucks that are valid at any of the food stands listed above.
We want to give these VegFest bucks to YOU. You’ll be able to sample $10 worth of veg-friendly fare for free – couple that with the free admission and you’re looking at a great way to spend a Saturday that works with any budget. All we ask is that you take a moment to answer one simple question:
What’s the best vegan or vegetarian dish you’ve ever eaten?
Share your tastiest meatless meal in the comments section and you’ll be entered to win $10 in VegFest bucks. You can enter between now and 11:59 PM on Wednesday, September 21st. We’ll pick a winner at random and contact you Thursday to arrange pickup.
With so many delicious dining options (we can vouch for at least four of them), it’s going to be difficult to choose just what to use the VegFest bucks on. We hope you’ll plan to stop by DC VegFest this Saturday, whatever your personal diet. It’s a great introduction to the robust DC vegetarian scene and a welcome reminder that meatless eating can be delicious no matter how often you do it.
I absolutely love grilling eggplant on a charcoal grill, I’ve used it for everything from pasta to dips. You just can’t buy that flavor.
Eggplant Potato Zucchini Moussaka with pine nut cream sauce. It’s delicious and also from Veganomicon, a cook book whose author will be doing a cooking demo at the DC VegFest.
Vegan Handmade Gnocchi with Cashew Cream Alfredo! The very best kind of comfort food and cold weather dish.
Thanksgiving 2005, first real holiday after a big breakup. I reluctantly went to dinner with friends at The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga Canyon, CA (I live in DC now, btw). We were so late that they were out of pumpkin pie by the time we ordered dessert. The only remaining dessert that sounded good was the vegan tiramisu. It was so good that all of my friends were jealous. I had to guard it against their eager forks. I have no idea how they made it or what they put in it, but it was pure heaven that no other vegan dessert has ever been able to match or beat.
Just last night I made a quinoa stuffed acorn squash dish that was delicious!
My favorite meatless meal has to be vegan soulfood…Vegan Mac n’ cheese, greens spiced to perfection, and vegan fried “chicken” or a no-meat loaf. Maybe end the meal with a sweet potato pie topped with vegan marshmallows!!! The possibilities are endless
My first veg thanksgiving was great! Home made tofu turkey with stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato pie, and an apple crumble with vegan ice cream.
Wore a tie dyed tshirt, too.
I have many great vegan meals both locally and when travelling and am always falling more and more in love with being vegan and am in my 4th year of being vegan. My favorite meal though was probably when we first tried Boca chickn patties (the vegan ones) – fried in a pan and dipped in some vegan bbq on a bun – it was at that moment that I knew I could find vegan foods that satisfied the things I previously loved (crunch/texture) but didn’t have what I didn’t (meat) – in fact that night not only did my vegan daughter and vegetarian daughter love them but my omnivore husband and son jumped in and ate their fair share!
I’ve always been a fan of Isa’s (veganomicon) Chickpea Cutlets w/ the tangy mustard sauce and a side of mashed potatoes.
There’s so many great vegan meals, it’s hard to pick just one!
Coconut, corn and black bean soup. By far, my favorite food.
cookies and cream cupcake at sticky fingers
Any curry
Homemade: Dreena Burton’s Moroccan phyllo rolls with balsamic maple sauce.
Restaurant: The Mitch tofu club sandwich at Spiral Diner in Dallas/Ft. Worth.
shakshuka! so yummy!
Vegan eggplant parm with homemade marinara, topped with daiya and nooch!
Anything with chickpeas or kale! Chana masala…yum!
My boyfriend made some incredible vegan pumpkin cookies over the weekend, but my favourite thing is vegan taco night. cheers me up, keeps me full, happy colours, etc! AI AI AI!!!!
Sweet potato and spinach enchiladas.
Vegan Bolognese Sauce over spaghetti.
The sauce has been a family favorite for generations, and once I adapted it to my vegan lifestyle, it was even better.
Java Green: “Chikn’ Java Sandwich” and “Veggie Tuna Fruit Wrap”.
Pasara Thai: “Spicy Eggplant with Tofu” and “Ginger Broccoli with Tofu”
Karma: Chickpeas and Eggplant dishes.
YUMMMM!!!!
BBQ Seitan, lettuce, tomato and onion on a toasted sourdough roll. Or chickpea “crab” cakes.
I absolutely LOVE the spicy garlic eggplant with Chik’n that my Chinese restaurant offers. It’s hot, sweet, savory, and immensely satisfying. Plus, it’s cruelty free so I’m doubly happy with it!
My favorite vegetarian meal would have to be vegan pesto made with local garlic scapes, toasted sesame seeds, spinach and a bit of nutritional yeast. AMAZING.
My friends let me into their vegan dinner club with some trepidation, I think because they know I worship at a butter-sculpted idol of Paula Deen. After months of tentative bites, they finally won me over with what sounded like the scariest dish of all: Smoked tofu. I was mentally prepared to hate it but eat it politely, but the cherry wood flavor, topped with pesto and a sun-dried tomato, really did taste delicious. In fact, I ate four servings. Whoops.
Congratulations, vegans. Operation: Get Lindsey to Eat and Enjoy Tofu was finally successful.
Butternut squash stew! mmmmm… fall
My all-time favorite meatless meal is Sweet Potato & Black Bean enchiladas! The Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites cookbook has a great recipe for a burrito variety. Yum!
Homemade: curry of pumpkin, butternut squash and carrots with chickpeas (yes, it’s very orange) and Harissa sauce.
Restaurant: good Channa Masala (chickpeas)
black bean enchiladas with guacamole! and some spanish rice on the side
I love curry with sweet potatoes! My mom usually puts in potatoes, but I suggested using sweet potatoes because I do not like the taste of potatoes. And, voila! It was amazing because the curry was a little bit sweeter without using any sugar. The curry went purfect with brown rice, which was mixed with glutinous brown rice.
Blackened tofu from Balasia in Emmaus, Pa. I liked it so much, I served it at my wedding reception!
My most recent Fall favorite is a simple roast of seasoned broccoli spears and a handful of brussels sprouts! Going to make some more now!
My mom is a vegetarian, so I have had the opportunity to try some pretty…strange things. My favorite is her tofu romano. I had it before I even had the chicken version. When people say tofu is gross, I tell them to try something like this!
WARNING: this meal is very addicting.
quinoa salad:: with organic black beans, tropical mango, vibrant red pepper and chopped fresh cilantro. i scrape cubes of avocado and put on the top in my bowl then i grab rice vinegar to sprinkle over! yeah this is vegetarian protein powerhouse!
Mastering vegan mozzarella sticks was my finest vegan moment.
Mark’s Kitchen in Takoma Park has the best vegan breakfast.
My favorite vegan meal is creamy vegan mac n’cheese, with a side of southern-fried tofu and some collared greens. There are so many delicious “cheese-less” sauces out there to put on pasta! Mmm…
Best dish I’ve ever eaten in my life (always been a vegetarian) is probably spanakopita by my mother! And ironic because we’re not Greek, we’re Indian
roasted veggies with teriyaki tofu scramble, it’s way too good and very versatile with whatever you have in the fridge!
Panang tofu from Thaitanic in DC!
When I went vegetarian I was fortunate to have a Vietnamese restaurant down the street in the Central District in Seattle. They had one menu that was red with meat options, and another that was green with identical items but all were vegetarian, meat substitutes. It was the best way to beat a meat craving and they were so yummy. My favorite was the sample platter that came with a number of different “meats” and veggies cooked on skewers and then you could soak your own rice paper and add rice noodles and fresh basil and roll up a fresh spring roll. then, of course there was a yummy peanut sauce for dipping. ohhh my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
This is super tough. I love vegan desserts and the raw chocolate cheesecake at Cafe Green is by far one of my faves pre or post veganism. For savory, it’s the Tofu Burger with extra sauce from Soul Vegetarian in Atlanta GA or the Tofu Tender Wrap from Savananda in Decatur, GA…..and their almond chai cookie with green tea cream filling that has been discontinued for years so I only have memories. Pick me so I can fill the void with something else.
Chickpea curry with tomato, peas, sweet potato…all mixed with brown rice. Courtesy of the nomeatathlete.com Mildly obsessed with it!
Aloo Gobi!! WONDERFUL Indian dish made with cauliflower, potatoes, peas, tomatoes, cilantro and spices. YUM!
I love my Raw Coconut Curry Soup with Cauliflower and Sprouted Mung Beans!
roasted garlic & olive oil couscous and tofu sauteed with garlic & soy sauce!!!
Thanks for the suggestion, Kelli Anne! Unfortunately your submission came in after the deadline, so we couldn’t consider you for the VegFest bucks but we hope you plan to attend and enjoy anyway!
ahhh. i read this at exactly 11:59. the best vegan meal i ever had was the vegan pizza at cruzer in la!
That’s okay, Freddie. The deadline was actually 11:59 Wednesday night, so you missed it by a whole day. But we definitely appreciate your suggestion and will add it to our “to do” list for the next time we’re in Los Angeles!