Washington, D.C. may be the center of all things political in the US, but it’s also becoming the vegetarian brunch capital, with two businesses betting on fun new ways to attract the city’s food-lovers.
This Saturday, DC Vegan is adding a new element to its versatile concept: a vegan American-Italian brunch that aims to appeal to a diverse crowd with an artisan cheese board, oyster mushroom Rockefeller and fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes.
Scott Suchman
“DC is a brunch town, and we’ve always wanted to offer delicious vegan options in this vibrant scene,” DC Vegan co-founder Michael Jantz told Moon VeganNews. “We’re so excited to show people how delicious and completely satisfying a vegan brunch can be.”
Local mainstay Sticky Fingers Diner also just unveiled its Boardwalk Beach Club, a new speakeasy-meets-carnival concept that lures patrons to its back patio for creative eats, bites and desserts.
The menus here are exciting and inspired, with an atmosphere to match. And the message is clear: Washington, DC is a clear destination for delicious brunch that has the potential to change the way the country thinks about food.
“Steps from the Capitol and in a city that attracts a socially conscious population, we’re giving people a way to live their values and have a great time,” Doron Peterson, founder of Sticky Fingers Diner and Bakery in Washington, DC, told VegNews.
“And because DC draws thought leaders and world-changers from across the country and planet to our activist neighbors, we can be trendsetters in how easy it is to influence where we choose to spend our money and the foods we choose to eat,” Peterson said.
How D.C. Vegans Do Brunch
A year in the making, DC Vegan—the city’s favorite vegan deli, cheese shop, bar, caterer and more—launches an interesting brunch menu with an Italian-American flair.
Scott Suchman
Chef Marquis Seifax, a brunch connoisseur, dug into the joys of weekend brunches with friends in Manhattan to draw inspiration for meals at DC Vegan. Of course there is? An artisan cheese board, sweet and savory French toast and her favorite: oysters … but made vegetarian with mushrooms.
Scott Suchman
“I’m so picky about brunch that my friends and I go to New Orleans and try three or four different brunch spots to see who has the best oysters, so I know what goes into the process of making them look and taste,” Syphax tells VegNews.
Other dishes include decadent sausage, potato and cheese frittatas; Wild Mushroom Truffle Omelet; Watermelon Gazpacho; and Valhona Chocolate Buino (a custard-like dessert).
Scott Suchman
The main meal A brunch staple that’s hard to resist. “The last item I wanted to recreate took me back to my childhood: lemon ricotta pancakes,” says the chef. “Growing up, I would go to an amazing place in New Jersey with my parents and eat ricotta pancakes.”
“I can really hang my hat on recreating this dish after a few years here in DC,” says Syfax.
With the opening of the branch, DC Vegan founders, husband-and-wife duo Curran Moon and Jantz Moon, continue to redefine what’s possible for plant-based fare inside their three-story, 5,000-square-foot business.
“At our core, Michael and I believe there’s no reason animals should ever be used for food — especially when there are so many delicious vegan options,” Curran told Moon VeggieNews. “Simply put, our food activism is for animals and for underserved and underrepresented communities.”
DC Vegan is also active in improving its community by supporting local organizations and schools. Ultimately, the founders hope their compassionate message will resonate with guests through the gastronomic experience they are creating in the nation’s capital.
DC Vegan’s brunch menu is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Botanical Bar—DC’s first vegetarian bar—and Parklet.
Secret Boardwalk Beach Club at Sticky Fingers
Meanwhile, a short hop away in DC’s Atlas District, Sticky Fingers Diner just unveiled a concept that brings a bit of the New Jersey shore to the nation’s capital. This institution was run by Peterson, a couple of times Cupcake Wars Champ, who also owns the bakery Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats—a D.C. mainstay that’s been making vegan treats for more than 20 years.
Deb Lindsay
The new Boardwalk Beach Club offers patrons a way to enjoy Peterson’s culinary creations in a hidden patio bar setting that marries the nostalgic essence of the ocean boardwalk in a setting that is simultaneously contemporary and comfortable.
“I wanted to bring that fun energy to our guests in DC,” says Peterson, who grew up visiting the Boardwalk as a child.
“It can get pretty muggy here in the summer, and I wanted people to be able to feel the ocean breeze, enjoy ice cream floats and boardwalk food without sitting in traffic on the Bay Bridge or I-95,” she says.
Jersey Shore boardwalk-inspired decorations include beach balls, beach bowls filled with sand, and even baby oil, providing an authentic seaside feel.
On the menu, customers can find a variety of snacks including crispy boardwalk fries, sweet popcorn balls, soft homemade pretzels and classic salt water taffy.
A highlight is the “Shore-Cuterie” platter, all made in-house at Peterson’s, featuring a variety of herbed soy chevres with almond cheddar, cashew smoked mozzarella, cured seitan, pepperoni, crackers, fig jam and pickles.
For elevated summer fare, the BBQ platter is anchored by a seitan-based brisket served alongside corn on the cob and barbecued beans.
Deb Lindsay
The bar offers a variety of drinks including sticky finger bar drinks such as wine cooler slushies, boozy shakes and a specialty house-made strawberry lemonade.
With the new concept, Peterson wants to advance his mission of creating an enjoyable and inclusive space for patrons while encouraging them to explore plant-based food options.
“Being a neighborhood hotspot in a very diverse area of a very ethnically and economically diverse city, it’s very important to make sure our offerings are plentiful and affordable,” Peterson said. “We want everyone to see this as a viable and attractive option, not just a niche way of eating.”
Together with DC Vegan’s new branch, this concept helps solidify the city as a destination for vegan food. Peterson notes that the availability of plant-based foods is spreading across the country, including the very nostalgic places that inspired the Boardwalk Beach Club.
“Last year we took a trip to the beach and went to the Jersey Shore Boardwalk town, and every ice cream shop had a vegan option which was so awesome,” Peterson said. “We hope to see a day when vegetarian options are the majority, not the only option.”
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Anna Starostenetskaya is Senior News Editor at VegNews and keeps an eye on all things vegan in her hometown of San Francisco, CA and elsewhere.