Any-Spring Goes! Vegan Shop-Up!

If you are a insta-foodie, You have probably seen pictures of banging looking food with a white flag protruding from the top of it with the phrase "#VeganShopup". The Vegan Shop-up was established in the year 2011 in you guess it, Brooklyn. It is NYC’s first all vegan pop-up that occurs once every MONTH.

Local food and gift vendors pack into Pine Box Rock Shop located on 12 Grattan Street in Bushwick. This Vegan-Friendly bar is known for their creative drinks (literally make cocktails geared toward movies and TV shows), weekly comedy skits, live music and trivia games. A portion of their menu is entitled “drinks to die for” (I love that). One Saturday out of every month, this AWESOME bar turns into a FOODIES paradise. 

Side note: this was my first experience with #Veganshopup

I Hop off the L train at the Morgan Ave stop and make a left on Grattan Street. I already spot a line down the block. Meanwhile, it is only 12:05pm and the shop-up opened at 12pm. My excitement level just went from 100 to 110% because you know my saying....if it’s poppin we must go! This line happened to be for the one and only Peaceful Provisions who are known for their HUGE yeast doughnuts, delicious cake doughnuts, exotic flavors and of course being 100% Plant Based! Last week at their hosted pop-up, I didn’t get a chance to try their yeasties so this time I was determined to not only try one...but FOUR! 

What doughnuts did I have:

Strawberry Rhubarb with Chocolate and Colored Sprinkles: oh my god. This was my all-time favorite doughnut. The BEST I have EVER had. The doughnut was packed with filling and the glaze was just thick enough to get a nice chocolate hint but not too overpowering! And the Sprinkles...were the perfect "icing on the cake".

Everything Doughnut: a doughnut with everything bagel seasoning. It is a Jewish girls dream (yes I am Jewish!) It was a really interesting doughnut. It was more on the savory then sweet side but they nailed the everything bagel flavor. They do have this version with a cream cheese icing filling...I can't wait to try that one!

PB siracha: large yeast doughnut with peanut butter glaze, a siracha drizzle and topped with “bacon”. First that bacon was AMAZING! They said it was a mixture between gluten and soy! It had a beef jerky-like texture and still managed to maintain crispy-ness. The peanut butter glaze was awesome and the siracha glaze was more sweet than spicy. What an interesting combination that seriously worked so well together!

Maple chocolate pecan: this was a cake doughnut so it was denser than the yeasties! It was topped with candied pecans. I have to say the cake doughnut with the pistachios that I had last week from them that was made-to-order and was so hot and moist was better! But really good doughnut still.

Overall: Peaceful Provisions, where ever you go I will follow! 

Next to the doughnuts was of course the one and only Screamers Pizza who is NYC’s first vegan pizza slice shop! I reviewed them a couple weeks ago, check it out!

Those were the only two vendors placed outside the venue. To access the other 19 vendors you had to be 21+ years old. Just FYI.

The first vendor at the door was GONE PIE. Gone Pie is an all-vegan and all gluten-free Bakery shop. They were selling brownie coconut cream pie (brownies inside coconut coconut custard pie...like what!?) , lemon poppy seed loaves, harvest pies and chocolate peanut butter rice crispy treat to just name a few. I spoke with the owner (I am assuming) and told her that I had just missed her last week at the Westchester Pop-up. She told me how last week was so crazy she doesn’t remember anyone or really anything. Small business owner, hustling every.damn.day. I respect the hustle. 

What did I order:

Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Cups: okay, now by looking at this I was saying in my head...'it’s going to be so rich, I’ll need some almond milk to wash it down and I probably won’t be able to finish it". But boy was I wrong! This dessert was #goals. The chocolate wasn’t too rich. The inside was gooey, thick and so tasty. The salt crystals really toned down the sweetness.There was a nice combination of peanut butter and caramel. I can probably take 12 of these to the face. They were so good.

Pecan pie: I can eat pecan pie during any single season and when I saw it I HAD to have it. The crust was excellent. The filling had both crushed and whole pecans in it. It was like thanksgiving in April and thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so I was a very happy camper

Overall: Gone Pie, no wonder why you sold out last weekend! I am so glad I got to try your goodies and speak to you. I cannot wait to try your whole menu. 

Next up on my venture through the shop-up was The Good Spoon: Vegan Mayo. 

Let me tell you two things before I start: I mostly never buy packaged foods at a food festival and I’m not even a mayonnaise fan. So yea, it is that damn good.

As I’m looking at the spreads of “mayonnaise’s”, I am approached by the best HUSTLER/buisness owner/sales man/best accent in that shop-up (I am assuming he is one of the owners). He starts telling me about all the different kinds of spreads he has, how it has half the fat off regular mayo, reduced-calories and how it is made with so much love and effort (at least that’s how he made it sound!). I did a little research about their company and found that they are the first company to use micro algae in their product. Microalga is an aquatic plant blased super food instead of eggs (food scientists...super cool!) They were giving out free samples of their classic mayo, curry mayo, garlic and herb mayo and spicy mayo.

I tried their spicy mayo which had such smooth texture that was extremely similar to regular mayo. If I was blind folded I probably would have thought it was actual mayonnaise. The spice wasn't too powerful just enough to add a little kick to vegetables. Their game changer though is their garlic and herb. I took one spoon full and looked at them and I think my eyes rolled back in amazement. The woman working gave me such smile and was like"yea that's our most popular flavor". I couldn't say"I'll take one" fast enough!

Overall: The Good Spoon not only offered an amazing product but their enthusisam and passion ABOUT their product made it way more satisfying supporting their business.

Last but certainly, definitely, 100% not least was Freakin' Vegan. Last week, they sold out right when I was approaching their booth. This time I had to see what the hype was about. Freakin' Vegan is an 100% vegan kitchen made by two food obsessed brothers with many, many years of experimenting in the kitchen. Their are known for their long list of empanadas packed with many different kinds of vegan cheeses, veggies and tofu!They are also known for their mac N' cheese. Walking up to their booth, I see these two tall men with really really sweet smiles asking me what I would like to order. My heart melted. Anyway, they had Buffalo Chick'n Mac-n-Cheese and without hesitation I was like ima get me one of those.

The cheese held to the macaroni so nicely that no noodle was left behind. The buffalo chick'n was AMAZING. It was nice and crispy and had such a powerful buffalo taste to it. It complemented the pasta really well. Then that white sauce just like changed the game. I have no idea what it was but man did it taste delicious.

Overall: Freakin' Vegan, thank you for looking so happy when you are serving people your creations. Next time I will take two mac-n-cheeses and five empanadas for the road because the food is to die for.

Other notable vendors: hungry bird eats who makes these crackers that are made from 5 super seeds. They were really really good and super addicting. Fera Moringa who served chia pudding packed with chia seeds and her organic moringa powder with 92 phytonutrients, 18 amino acids and 46 antioxidants. She gave out cute little cups with chia seed pudding and it was really tasty! The packing on her product was very well put together.

I missed a whole bunch of vendors this time but that just means I will be back. Have I convinced you to come with me?!