DCVegEats

When I want tapas, I tend to go to Jaleo, but Tom Sietsema can't stop raving about Del Mar, so I had to check it out.  This isn't the first place which comes to mind for a vegetarian.  A self-described "Coastal Spain" restaurant, which includes a plethora of seafood and charcuterie on the menu (along with paella, of course) they have tapas, which is your only choice as a veggie.  They do try, however.  On their two pages of tapas offerings (one is traditional tapas, the other is seasonal choices) there are several items with a green leaf.  NOTE -- this doesn't mean the item IS vegetarian, it means it can be MADE vegetarian.  And that is an important distinction.  I told my server I was a vegetarian and she worked to guide me to good choices.  There was an epic fail, but I will get to that later.  I got a pressed juice (Organic Liquid Gold) and two of the seasonal tapas selections and one traditional one.  There was the Ensalada de Naranja, a blood orange, red on

Hate to write about this place because it has been getting a bit crowded on the weekends and I'd kind of like to keep it to myself.  In the burgeoning northeast area of DC is Union Market, a really "local" food hall which well covers the huge variety of ethnic eating options found in our delightfully diverse city.  On a recent visit I was able to have an Indian dosa, a Central American empanada and a French crepe.  They share space with Korean tacos, Japanese sushi, Israeli street food, Bibimbap, Ethiopian favorites and southern comfort food.  There is more, of course.  Owners are committed to making space for pop-ups and the options change on a regular basis.  I've been there a number of times and haven't had the same thing twice or had a bad meal.  The good news is that almost every vendor offers vegetarian and/or vegan options.  One does have to be patient, however.  Most of the vendors won't make your entree until you order so you risk a good long wait i

In addition to eating out, I do like cooking for myself.  DC's plethora of farmers markets allows for a nice variety of choices.  I like to pick a seasonal vegetable for the week, steam it in my Instant Pot, then mix and match with proteins and grains throughout the week.  In addition to veggies, there are a growing number of vendors offering both ethnic and veg-friendly foods.  Check out Ozfeka Catering for some Anatolian dishes and a vendor called "Wholesome Clean Eating" which offers veg and vegan options.  I particularly enjoyed their crunchy tangy Asian Slaw made with Quinoa.  Always yummy (and they keep for a good long while) are the pickle options from Number 1 Sons .  For the non-vegans there is Blue Ridge Dairy and Clear Springs Creamery , which offers ethically produced dairy products (not to mention Quark , which I finished off in two sittings).  There really isn't anything as delightful as locally sourced yogurts, cheeses and butter.  With winter comin

Yes, vegetarians, even vegans, like sweets.  No, I do not eat an apple for dessert.  Sorry Mom.  I tried all these out so you don't have to -- that's why I'm fat and you lovely readers are presumably not.  All winners are, of course, subjective. Best Cupcakes:  Georgetown Cupcake .  Hate to honor this tourism trap but they truly earn their cred.   Sprinkles is a good runner-up.  Sorry, the gargantuan cupcakes at Baked and Wired are just "too much." Best Chocolate Croissant:   Best Buns .  Absolutely no competition. Best Cakes/Individual Desserts:   Randolph's Pastries .  Hands down.  I can recognize their treats blindfolded. Best Macarons:   Bakeshop .  With the added benefit of Taro Root offerings now and then. Best Pie:   Pie Sisters .  Try the Key Lime. Best Donut:  This one is tough.  For a somewhat lower guilt factor, go for the small, very affordable cake varieties at Duck Donut .  For a traditional cardiovascular threat, it really has t

Took a quick trip downtown today to check out Soupergirl, a vegan fast-food location with soups and salads.  The M Street location is so small that they don't really have eat-in capability (there was a window counter large enough for three but no benches).  Choices today included four soups, two salads and a dessert.  Offerings change daily and when they run out, they run out.  As I got there late on a Friday it is possible that there were more options available earlier.  I got the Moroccan Style Harira & Smoky Black-Eyed Peas and Greens, along with a Barley Tabbouleh and the Rice Pudding.  All selections were very good, filling, and had a home-made feeling.  While I liked everything nothing really knocked it out of the park, mostly because I could make very similar dishes at home in my instant pot, with more seasoning.  I think the bottom line for this one is that if you want really healthy food and don't, or can't, cook, this is a great, affordable alternative (whic

Advertised as a coffee shop with vegan pastries this one failed for me on almost every level.  Admittedly, I am not a coffee drinker ... however ... First there was the frustration of finding it.  All I knew was that it was in The Eaton, so I went through the main doors and saw the American Son restaurant as well as the coffee bar, but neither had their establishment names were listed on the inside (turns out Kintsugi has a small plaque on their exit door which I saw as I left).  I wandered around The Eaton lobby and encountered a staff member who was unhappy I was blocking her path.  She said "excuse me" in a DC traffic, "get the bleep out of my way" way, then "thank you" as I stepped aside in a way that sounded like "and stay out of my way."  In any case, I wandered into Kintsugi, stood in the substantial line and noted that there were only eight pastries available, with only one being vegan.  Since it was a bran muffin, I elected to get a ch

The thing about upscale restaurants is that the price points are going to be high and the portions significantly smaller than your average gut-busting Cheesecake Factory plate, but when they are done well the result is totally worth it.  American Son succeeds on all levels.  The setting is bright and breezy, the wait staff efficient and very friendly.  The food is the absolute star of this show.  I ordered the Baby Kale Salad and the Tofu Gnocchi.  Both dishes arrived so pretty I wanted, for the first time in my life, to post pictures of them on Instagram.  The looks were nothing compared to the taste.  Like Rasika, this a a place where you just need to slow down and savor absolutely every bite.  The Baby Kale salad was dotted with puffed quinoa, small almond slices, sliced grapes and a transcendent avocado dressing (yes, it's vegan).  The combination of sour, sweet, creamy and crunchy was perfection.  If I could make Kale this well I would eat far more of it.  The salad was foll

Critic darling Rasika lived up to all expectations for a truly excellent night of dining.  Attending for a family celebration our party was given a round table in the front, looking out onto the street.  It had the feel of a semi-private area and allowed for conversation (the restaurant itself was fairly loud with conversation but no piped-in music, thank goodness).  Comfortable chairs and a crystal chandelier over our heads completed the sense of elegance.  Despite the crowds and wait time for walk-ins we weren't rushed at all by the wait staff.  The food was moan-worthy, in that each member of the party took a bite and elicited a "sound" of pleasure.  The menu included a wide range of veggie options and has roots in traditional Indian fare but ascends far beyond with ingredients like quinoa, avocado and truffle oil included in dishes.  The homemade chutneys and combination papadum were yummy enough to have the most reserved eater of the bunch filling up before the mai