Which vegan events will you find me at? Food festivals, meet-ups, workshops, fairs, if it's out there, I hope to be there. I'll be seeking out great events to travel to, documenting my experiences, and hoping you'll be inspired to experience them too.*Due to COVID 19, Event reviews are postponed until further notice. Be safe & stay healthy everyone.*
On Sunday, February 23, 2020, RI Veg Fest had its inaugural festival at the WaterfFire Arts Center. This event was not only sold out, but when they made additional tickets available, the rest sold out in less than four minutes. I was so fortunate, because I was one of the ones that got a ticket in the sold-out-in-less-than-four-minutes group. Clearly, there is a lot of interest in events of this nature, and I am elated. People care about animals, their health and the environment, and that gives me hope for the future.
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The day of the event, I was up early, and couldn't wait to get on the road. The night before, I even made business cards for the first time, hoping I would meet vendors that, through my blog, I could help elevate any way I could, because vegan food, and the vegan lifestyle are a passion of mine. My most profound reason is for the animals, and if I can help end their exploitation and suffering by helping a vegan food company, who is trying to do good, get their brand on the shelves and into people's hands, then I feel I'm helping in some way. So with business cards in hand and sheer excitement, I hit the road to Rhode Island.
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When I arrived, There was a line that extended from the front door to the parking lot. You have to understand, the event opened to vip's at 11am, the first round of general admission tickets that sold out allowed entrance at noon. I was in the 2pm crowd and there was a line to get in. Normally, no one likes lines or to wait in them, but I was so excited. To think that there are that many people interested in the veg movement is simply thrilling.
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Once I got inside I was literally met with a sea of people and vendors. It was very well organized and foot traffic flowed smoothly throughout the venue but wow, to see the venue full like that was so inspiring. I had a map locating where each vendor was, but I decided to just start at the beginning and walk the venue, take note of each vendor as I passed, and when I circled back around, I would visit the ones I had particular interest in. I only had two hours and there were 79 vendors, so I had to plan efficiently. There were so many amazing vendors there, it was truly difficult to choose which ones to prioritize.
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My first stop was to The Vegan Potter, where I met Lyndsay Meiklem Dean & her husband Matthew Dean. I purchased some unbelievably beautiful pottery, handcrafted by Lyndsay. Two bowls and a mug later and I was starting my Vegan Potter collection! Lyndsay is a master at her craft and has such an amazing eye for color and design, and I am excited to add to this new collection throughout the year! Lyndsay and Matthew were two of the warmest, kindest, friendliest people I have met, and I am very fortunate to have made their acquaintance. If you have a chance to visit her online shop or her brick & mortar store, please do, you will be supporting a wonderful artist. I've included photos of my purchases here so you can see just how beautiful her work is. Be sure to visit her website at: www.theveganpotter.com
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RI Veg Fest 2020
vegfestri.com
My next stop was to UPrise Foods, located in the Greater Boston area, where I met Ben and Gwen Taylor, founders of Uprise. They were warm, friendly, welcoming and excited about cheese! I love all things cheese so of course I had to stop and get acquainted. I also love their principles; that food can taste great without any cruelty, harm to the environment, or ourselves. Ben and Gwen want to contribute to the food industry in a way that helps our health, the animals and the environment, all while offering one of the things that people love; cheese. They developed a fantastic product that is wildly popular on Amazon, and is making its way into a grocery store near you. Called Nooch It! it's an organic cashew-based vegan parmesan cheese that is simply amazing. I tried a sample of this while at the event and all I can say is wow, it's tastes very similar to parmesan cheese, dare I say even better? My thoughts then turned to the recipes I can make with this cheese, and I'll tell you, I can't wait to get into the kitchen with this. I'm also very much in support of the vendors who are working hard to elevate to the next level, trying to grow their brand, and who place a priority in what is good for all, and UPrise is all of that. Nooch it! will be a staple in my kitchen and on standby for all those recipes that call for a parmesan that will take my dish to the next level. I encourage you to support this hard-working family and their vision by having Nooch It! in your pantry. You can find more about them at their website here:https://www.uprisefoods.com
Around the corner from Uprise was Barrett's Garden, located in Rhode Island, whose focus is on small batch, vegan cheese. The wonderful folks offering samples and selling at the event were fantastic. I love when I see vendors excited about their products, these incredible people out there making a difference in the food world in amazing ways. It's an exciting experience, and makes you excited to be a part of this food revolution by supporting them with a purchase. I literally wanted to buy the whole table. They offer a nice selection of cheese including their Farmesaen, parmesan style cheese, which was delicious and incredibly flavorful, and a Fauxcotta, ricotta style cheese which I didn't get a chance to try but will be purchasing some next time I'm at the store. What I absolutely loved was their new, Spicy Sriracha Lime Cashew spreadable cheese. It was heaven, so flavorful with just a little kick at the end. I would have eaten the whole container if they weren't looking. There's nothing like a good spreadable cheese, and I am always looking for good cheese to either have at a party or bring to a party. This cheese definitely makes the list for both. I'd serve this, or bring this with pride. I purchased some of the Sriracha, now all I need are the perfect crackers to accompany them and then I'm having a cheese feast. This is a must for your gatherings and is offered in several grocery stores. For more information please visit their website at: barrettsgardenfoods.com
Did someone say pancakes and cake? Look no further. The next table I was excited to visit was Scarf Foods, where I met Izzy Beckman and Yakov Kronrod, founders of this amazing up and coming vegan, top 8 allergy free, gluten free, vegan, and free of many other things you definitely don't want in your food, brand. I sampled their cinnamon pancakes and I knew then, if I bought some, my next breakfast would be complete. Izzy was cooking up samples when I went over for a visit. She was super friendly, helpful and the pancakes she was making smelled so good, I just wanted to sit down with a bottle of syrup and have at it. Then there was Yakov, who was kind, enthusiastic, and a smile that made you want to buy a truckload of their product. I didn't have a chance to try the cake, but I made sure I bought some along with the pancake mix. As a bonus, with a purchase of both they offered me a choice of either a silk screened towel or potholder to use in my kitchen. I went with the towel which is now part of my kitchen towel supply and will come in handy for sure while I'm cooking. They have made it a focus to offer food that includes everyone, so all dietary needs can sit and eat the same delicious foods together. This inclusiveness is wonderful in a world where there are so many different dietary requirements. These are super easy to make too, only needing water, oil, and maple syrup. I'm excited to cook with these products and will be showcasing what I make here on the blog and on social media, so stay tuned! As always, I highly encourage supporting the trail blazers, the local, and the emerging companies. Scarf is about to hit the shelves, so be sure to watch for them. They are sure to sell out quickly! You can read more about them here at:https://www.scarfrealfood.com
Cookies, pies, cupcakes, pastries, coffee, juice, milkshakes, and lunch, are just a few of the items on Wildflour's menu. Located in Pawtucket RI, this brick and mortar cafe is a Rhode Island favorite and it was no different at this festival. People were flocking to their table for delicious food. They had two kinds of cookies you could sample too and believe me, I sampled both. One was a cowboy cookie, the other was a double chocolate sea salt cookie. Like a kid, I had one in each hand and was in cookie heaven. The foot traffic was pretty heavy here so I didn't have a chance to stay and chat with the folks hard at work, but I did manage to get to the cookies! I have been to Wildflour on various occasions, and they never disappoint. The shop is always full of customers, is in a convenient location with easy parking, and their food is absolutely scrumptious. Whenever I'm in the Pawtucket area, I always stop for fresh cupcakes, cookies and a drink. It always hits the sweet spot. I absolutely love Wildflour and look forward to many more stops when I'm visiting Rhode Island. Their website includes their shop menu, so be sure to check it out, and if you visit Rhode Island, visit Wildflour! http://www.wildflourbakerycafe.com
The last food stop I made I got so excited, so giddy, I forgot to take a photo of my food purchase, because it was ice cream, and I love ice cream. My phone went into my pocket and all I could focus on was the amazing flavors in front of me made by Like No Udder from Providence RI. I made a beeline over to the table for a scoop, and after a short consideration, I decided to go with the mint chip. I can't say enough about this ice cream, it's truly amazing. Creamy, smooth, minty, with plenty of chocolate chips, I could not tell that this ice cream was dairy-free. It had amazing flavor and texture and I seriously wish I snapped a photo to share. It is difficult to find ice cream shops that are vegan, and if I want to enjoy some, I usually have to buy it from the grocery. Once in a while though, there is nothing better than taking a trip to the ice cream parlor and making an outing of it, especially in the summer when you can get a cup or a cone, sit outside and enjoy the summer weather, so I'm super thankful this shop exists! It's not summer here yet as it's only February, but this event was the perfect time to get your pre season ice cream cone, and it was an unusually warm day outside so even more of a reason to get one. Aside from the brick and mortar store, Like No Udder also has an ice cream truck called Betsy Loo that travels to events and is for hire, so there's always a chance to get your ice cream fix. I'll be heading to their physical store this summer to enjoy the warm weather and a scoop or two, and I promise there will be a photo next time! They have many flavors, and even soft serve, so there is something for everyone! If you're in the Providence area, be sure to stop by and treat yourself, it's well worth it! Check our their website here: http://like-no-udder.com
In closing, I had such an amazing and experiential time at the inaugural RI Veg Fest, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend. I sampled amazing food, spoke with amazing people, discovered, learned, and was part of an amazing collective that I am proud to be a part of. The vendors, the attendees, the organizers, all have the common goal to create a compassionate, healthy, sustainable environment for all to thrive, flourish and enjoy. Many thanks and much gratitude to Robin Dionne, Jim Nellis, all the sponsors, the WaterFire Arts Center, the vendors who came, shared, educated and continue to strive for a better world through their craft, and finally to all those who turned out to experience this unforgettable event, thank you, the earth, the people, and the animals need more of this. Until next year, much love and peace!
Lastly, and one of my most cherished stops on this event adventure was to Veg Jaunts and Journey's, a vegan travel company owned and operated by world traveler Kim Giovacco. I had such an in-depth and wonderful conversation with Kim, the event actually ended, the vendors were packing up, and I didn't even notice. I have always loved traveling, but since switching to a vegan lifestyle, I had often wondered how I would be able to travel as a vegan, find appropriate accommodations, things to do, and places to eat. I was so happy to find Veg Jaunts and Journey's, and it gave me renewed excitement that traveling as a vegan is indeed possible and encouraged! Kim has traveled extensively around the world for many decades, is a consummate professional, harbors great travel knowledge, and understands what it means to be vegan because she's one too. She explained the great care she takes in providing a true cultural experience while catering to a vegan lifestyle. I couldn't have been happier to hear this. There was a trip I went on years ago, and in the middle of the trip, the leader decided to alter a day excursion and instead took the group on a day trip I never would have agreed to. On a particular day the original itinerary fell through, and the trip leader thought it would be a great cultural experience to take the group to visit a live animal market. I was told we were going sightseeing and shopping. I was horrified, and needless to say, I had strong words with the trip leader and exited the market area to the outside city street, to await the trip back to the hotel. I never did business with that company again, and have been hesitant to travel with a company since. Meeting Kim was a breath of fresh air and a relief, and I was so impressed with her. Aside from finding great vegan food, Kim also finds animal sanctuaries to visit, along with cultural experiences you are eager to join. She also keeps her groups small with a limit of 12 people, with a few couples but mostly singles, and each traveler gets their own room, unless they want to share with someone. The small group size makes way for new vegan friendships and an exceptional group experience. She also encourages people not yet vegan but curious about it to join a trip, which is great. I am looking forward to keeping in touch with Kim, and most certainly am taking one of her tours, although I will have difficulty choosing which one. Italy, Scotland, Lisbon, Prague, London? So many choices it's wonderful! If you are interested in traveling the world vegan style, please visit Veg Jaunts and Journey's, and maybe I'll see you on a trip! https://vegjauntsandjourneys.com