DC VegFest 2011 – Saturday, September 24th

By Punch Pep Correspondent Elizabeth Fischer

Since 1994, the choices for vegetarians from the Midwest to East Coast have come a long way – evolving from plain pasta in sauce and the wedding/social dish staple of a tasteless portabella mushroom surrounded by squash covered with a brown sauce to yummy deserts, snacks and satisfying meals with protein and taste.   1994 is key because that is year I became a vegetarian.  It started for health reasons (working three jobs while going to law school) and morphed to a way of life that still befuddles my family.  The West Coast was the first to offer tasty vegetarian morsels and now you can find choices at your local grocer, in the freezer aisle and at many restaurants/bakeries.

To celebrate this half of the foodie nation, for the third year – there is a free Star-Studded Vegetarian Festival in the Nation’s Capital is this Saturday!

It is the largest vegetarian celebration in the Metro area showcasing over 75 exhibitors providing an opportunity for meat eaters and vegetarians alike to try free food samples, hear from dynamic speakers, see cooking demonstrations, explore delicious meat-free cuisine, and shop from several stores. Attendees can even get their cholesterol checked for free.

There will be ASL interpreters at each presentation, a dedicated children’s activity area, and water stations for your furry four-legged friends throughout the venue.

WHAT: DC VegFest, online at DCVegFest.com

WHEN: Sat., Sept. 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (rain or shine)

WHERE: University Yard at George Washington Univ. (H St. between 20th/21st Sts., NW)

METRO: four blocks from the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro station.

The event is co-organized by D.C.-based nonprofits, Compassion Over Killing and the Vegetarian Society of D.C. and will feature several keynote speakers including:

Jonathan Balcombe, PhD: author and animal behavior expert
Michael Greger, M.D.: clinical nutrition and public health expert
Isa Chandra Moskowitz: vegan chef and award-winning cookbook author;
Wayne Pacelle: CEO/Pres. of The Humane Society of the United States,  author of NYT best-seller The Bond
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau: vegan chef and award-winning author
Wendy Rieger: NBC4-DC news anchor

According to Erica Meier, Executive Director of Compassion Over Killing: “Choosing vegetarian foods is one of the best ways we can protect our health, the planet, and animals,”  and “The DC VegFest highlights just how fun, easy, and delicious it is to dine on meat-free cuisine.”

A wide variety of food will be dished out by 18 DC-area restaurants, including recent winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars: Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats, which is also hosting a cupcake eating contest at the event.  Free food samples will be offered by Tofurky, Gardein, Field Roast, Soyummi, and more.  Additionally, the first 500 visitors will receive a free commemorative bag filled with more food, coupons, and information about vegetarian eating.

I am looking forward to an afternoon feasting on delicious sinful treats and healthy alternatives.  Hope you will join me.  To the meat-eaters – you’ve got nothing to lose trying something new – isn’t that what life is all about – trying something new and living life to its fullest?!

***Attorney Elizabeth Fischer is Punch Pep Correspondent. She is working as an Entrepreneur, Lawyer and Student (environmental studies), covering events for Pamela’s Punch as a generalist correspondent.  When she is not working, studying or playing soccer or tennis, she is walking her pups, traveling the globe, running marathons, and enjoying all DC has to offer. Contact her at elizabethfischer15@yahoo.com.***