VeganMoFo and DC VegFest are coming this September

Ready to represent vegankind in DC

VeganMoFo 2013

VeganMoFo, the Vegan Month of Food, returns this September 2013. This former Post Punk Kitchen and blogging event has turned into a social media extravaganza. And rightly so. It's a month-long celebration of the vibrant community of vegan foodies that exists across all platforms and the Universe. Cue the trumpets.

I've participated twice in the past and it was a blast! This year my theme will be smoothies because I've had so much fun blogging about them so far, largely thanks to Crazy Sexy Kitchen. That means I've placed this blog into the Healthy/Whole Foods blogroll group. How cool is that?

My favorite thing about VeganMoFo is finding inspiration in what other MoFo'ers are posting. I can't wait to see what everyone cooks up. I'm going to be on the look-out for fellow blenders and DCites. And I'll be Instagram too, following the #VeganMoFo action.

DC VegFest

And if September wasn't cool enough, DC VegFest is happening on Saturday, September 28th, 2013. Hosted by Compassion Over Killing, this one-day, free festival promotes veggie food in the nation's capital. I didn't get to go last year and it has moved to a cool outdoor location, Yards Park, convenient to Navy Yard Metro. The lineup of speakers looks great. You can even meet the Shannons, our August VegCookbook authors, and see them do a cooking demo. The festival runs from 11am to 6pm.  

  

#100 = Mexican hot chocolate pop

Isa Chandra Moskowitz and The Post Punk Kitchen recently released their PPK 100 for 2012. (The 2011 version of this now annual list is here.) These 100 items are a vegan celebration and would make an awesome bucket list. Once again, the list includes some crazy new food ideas (kale mojitos!), a few rediscovered classics (like composting and pickling), and mouth-watering culinary finds (someday, LA's Vegan Beer Fest, someday). This year the PPK gang left the final slot empty for the people. I'd like to suggest filling #100 with this swoon-worthy vegan treat available at DC's Pleasant Pops shop.

Originally a farmers' market stand and food truck operation, Pleasant Pops opened their Farmhouse Market and Cafe in September. Located at 1781 Florida Ave NW, the tiny Adams Morgan shop has a coffee bar vibe with many patrons permanently parked with their laptops. The café has light offerings and to-go food items, including Soupergirl soups, Uncle Brutha's hot sauces, and other local favorites. It's a great shopping spot for slow food gifts and quick take-out items. I recommend taking the item below.

Vegan Mexican hot chocolate pop

Pleasant Pops specializes in paletas, traditional Mexican ice pops. They have diverse flavors listed on a chalkboard in helpful dairy and non-dairy columns. The vegan Mexican hot chocolate flavor naturally caught my eye. This pop is the bomb. The decadent popsicle is spicy, peppery, bitter, and sweet, just like Mexican hot chocolate should be. I enjoyed this ice cold pop in the dead of winter but I can't wait to revisit the pop shop come warmer weather. And try some of their fruity flavors. I do hope that this hot chocolate flavor is an all-season menu item.