Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month Kicks Off With Over 30 Eateries

BALTIMORE, MD — Maryland Vegan Eats celebrates its 11th semi-annual plant-based Restaurant Month from March 3-26 with more than 30 dining spots taking part.

The month-long event provides vegan diners, as well as omnivorous eaters, a chance to try plant-based dishes from eateries across the Baltimore/DC metro area.

While satisfying the growing demand for more plant-based options in restaurants, it also creates a testing ground for omnivorous eateries to introduce new plant-based offerings into their menus, organizers said in a news release.

Organizers Samantha Claassen of Golden West Café and Naijha Wright-Brown of The Land of Kush kicked off the celebration with a plant-based party at The Lord Baltimore Hotel on Thursday.

Begun in 2017, Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week was a new concept not only in the DMV, but in the country. Since then, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, and other cities have replicated the concept in their communities.

“We’re just excited to promote plant-based eating however we can,” the two restaurant owners said in a statement. “We started it because we wanted a way to highlight all of the veg-friendly restaurants in our area and it’s since grown to incorporate omni restaurants, who are now seeing that there’s a huge demand for plant-based dishes on their menu. The more we can influence restaurants to have a good variety of vegan dishes, beyond just a salad, the better.”

High demand led the organizers to extend the Vegan Restaurant Week to a month so customers could try the growing number of restaurants participating.

Unlike a traditional restaurant week that offer a prix fixe menu, participating restaurants are encouraged to create a selection of affordable plant-based items to be served throughout the vegan weeks, a news release said.

During Maryland Vegan Restaurant Month, restaurant chefs are able to show off their culinary skills by creating their best and most appealing plant-based cuisine with the hope that people will vote for their dish as the best.

Restaurants wishing to sign up for this month-long celebration of plant- based eating can go to www.mdveganeats.com for more information on how to register and participate.

Participating restaurants and eateries currently includes:

• Golden West Cafe in Hampden, Baltimore
• The Land of Kush in Midtown Baltimore
• Miss Shirley’s Cafe in Inner Harbor, Baltimore
• Towson Hot Bagels
• Cafe Fili in Baltimore
• Doner Bros in Baltimore
• Wild Heart Bistro in Baltimore
• Sweet 27 in Charles Village, Baltimore
• The Heritage Kitchen in Whitehall Mill, Baltimore
• Liora in Otterbein, Baltimore
• Bread & Butter Kitchen in Annapolis
• Harmony Bakery in Hampden, Baltimore
• The Veggie Table in Charles Village, Baltimore
• Urban Life Center in Baltimore
• WOW Vegan Treats in Baltimore
• Great Sage in Clarksville
• NefeVee in Baltimore
• Green House Juice Cafe in Charles Village, Baltimore
• Alexander's Tavern in Fells Point, Baltimore
• Wicked Sisters in Hampden, Baltimore
• Papi's in Hampden and Fells Point, Baltimore
• The Devil Wears Parsley Bakery in Columbia
• Soul-Tarian Cafe in Prince George's County
• Apple Core's Bake Shoppe in Columbia
• Alma Cucina Latina in Baltimore
• Verandah in Hampden, Baltimore
• Hue Cafe and Apothecary in Owings Mills
• Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore
• Day 1 Supply in Berwyn Heights
• UPC in Baltimore City
• Gangster Vegan Organics in Baltimore
• Johnny Rad's Pizzeria Tavern in Baltimore

Maryland Vegan Restaurant Week is sponsored by Black Veg Society, A Well-Fed World, VegFund, Eat The Change, Straydog Institute, Blue + Blue Marketing, and Midday Maryland.

Visit www.mdveganeats.com for links to menus, locations, and more info.