From Might 7 to Might 14, Washington, DC will have a good time its first Veg Restaurant Week. The occasion was made doable due to a proclamation signed by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, who goals to assist residents make health-promoting and climate-friendly selections. 

“Whereas plant-centric consuming lowers the danger of coronary heart illness, stroke, weight problems, and Kind 2 diabetes, and people situations disproportionally undermine the health-related high quality of lifetime of Black, Indigenous and folks of shade (BIPOC) residents of Washington, DC and whereas a worldwide shift towards plant-centric meals norms would assist decrease greenhouse fuel emissions, and governments can play an important trailblazing function in facilitating such shifts by their citizenry …” Bowser mentioned within the proclamation, earlier than formally declaring the week of Might seventh DC Veg Restaurant Week in Washington, DC. 

Bowser’s implementation of Veg Restaurant Week comes lower than one yr after Washington, DC handed the Inexperienced Meals Buying Act, pioneering laws that can restructure buying practices within the metropolis to cut back the food-related greenhouse fuel emissions by 25 p.c by 2030. Specializing in vegan dishes and eating places, for one week and past, falls effectively inside the metropolis’s local weather objectives as plant-based meals go away a a lot lighter carbon footprint than their animal-based counterparts. The initiative can also be meant to assist native farmers and ingredient purveyors who make plant-based meals extra accessible to DC residents. 

“DC Veg Restaurant Week encourages the general public and neighborhood leaders to get to know and have a good time their neighborhoods’ wholesome and planet-friendly eating choices whereas supporting native companies,” Veg Restaurant Week organizer Max Broad mentioned in an announcement. “Along with Mayor Bowser, our co-chairs, and the various and culturally wealthy eating places collaborating, we hope to mannequin the advantages of constant to middle crops on our plates all yr spherical.”

PLNT Burger

DC’s first veg restaurant week 

Cities across the nation take part in restaurant weeks as a option to enhance native economies—which has been notably vital after the toll pandemic-related closures had on many within the meals trade. 

Washington, DC’s first vegan restaurant week can be co-chaired by DC Shadow Consultant Oye Owolewa and Superstar Chef Spike Mendelsohn—an alum of Bravo cooking actuality present Prime Chef. Mendelsohn is well-versed in vegan meals because the proprietor of PLNT Burger, a quickly increasing vegan quick meals chain that he first opened in Silver Spring, MD in 2019. 

“I’m proud to be co-hosting this yr’s DC Veg Restaurant Week right here within the DMV,” Mendelsohn instructed VegNews. “Our neighborhood of wonderful cooks and eating places are getting artistic and placing crops on the forefront. With value-driven presents all week lengthy, we’re giving company each motive so as to add scrumptious, eco-friendly meals to their food plan.”

Washington, DC’s Veg Restaurant will have a good time native plant-based delicacies to the fullest with new dishes, prix fixe menus, and specials citywide. Along with Mendelsohn’s PLNT Burger, collaborating eating places embrace fast-casual hotspot  Hip Metropolis Veg, and advantageous eating eateries similar to DC Harvest and Equinox. 

The celebration can even spotlight Black-owned eateries Gangster Vegan Organics, RAWish, and Candy Sosumba Jamaican Vegan Café, that are serving to proceed the wealthy custom of Black veganism within the nation’s capital. DC’s longest-standing Salvadorian/Mexican restaurant El Tamarindo is on board with the festivities as is pizza favourite Roscoe’s Pizzeria. Locals can even have the possibility to pattern fare from eateries DC Vegan and BDG’s Ghicken Vegan.

Different cities have a good time plant-based meals

Outdoors of DC, a rising variety of cities are celebrating plant-based meals within the type of restaurant weeks, together with close by Maryland which simply wrapped up the festivities—which additionally included participation from PLNT Burger—in March. 

Like Bowser, different authorities officers have additionally gotten into placing their weight behind plant-based meals initiatives. Final yr, Colorado Governor Jared Polis—whose husband, first gentleman Marlon Reis, is a longtime vegan—signed a proclamation to declare MeatOut Day on March 20. Began in 1985 by animal-rights group Farm Animal Rights Motion, the MeatOut initiative was created to coach customers about the advantages of a healthful, plant-based food plan. Polis signed a proclamation in assist of MeatOut, becoming a member of governors and mayors in 40 further states and cities who’ve signed comparable proclamations in recent times. 

This yr, New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams—who remodeled his well being by switching to a primarily plant-based food plan—joined Polis in supporting the MeatOut initiative. From plant-based vitamin packages within the healthcare sector to shifting NYC procurement towards wholesome meals, Adams has additionally actively carried out initiatives to assist New Yorkers reap the advantages of plant-based consuming. Earlier this yr, the Mayor carried out Vegan Fridays (now rebranded as “Plant Powered Fridays”) at NYC public colleges to assist almost a million college students achieve entry to plant-based meals each Friday. 

For extra about vegan meals in Washington DC, learn: 
Washington, DC Will get Its First Vegan Doughnut Store

Washington, DC Simply Obtained a New Vegan Deli

A Vegan’s 48-Hour Information to Washington, DC

Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior Information Editor at VegNews and is all the time keeping track of all issues vegan in her house metropolis of San Francisco, CA and in all places else.