The New Year Brings an Abundance of Dining Out Options for Vegans

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.


There are several special dining out opportunities for vegans in Sacramento during January and early February. Here are the ones I know about. If you're aware of any others, please feel free to list them in the "Comments" section.


SHINE AND THE ROAMING SPOON


Tonight from 6:00 to 10:00, there will be a Monday Funday event at Shine, featuring vegan treats prepared by The Roaming Spoon. There will be beer, wine, and Temple Fine Coffee and Tea, an art exhibit by Ron Kenedi, and music by Classical Revolution Sacramento. Shine and The Roaming Spoon collaborate on brunch and happy hour fairly often, so if you're not following them on Facebook, you should be!


DINE DOWNTOWN


January 15th through January 24th is the annual Dine Downtown event, where participating restaurants offer a three-course fixed-price meal for only $31, with a dollar from each meal donated to the Food Literacy Center. Most of the restaurants taking part in Dine Downtown don't offer vegan options on their special menus, but a few of them do:


Blackbird Kitchen+Beer Gallery will be offering Vegan Truffle Mushroom Soup, Vegan Risotto Burger, and a vegan dessert. I've had the Vegan Risotto Burger there before, and it's excellent.


Capital Dime lists a Vegan Bolognaise tossed with egg-free pasta and pine nut "Parmesan" as one of their Dine Downtown entrees. They're offering an appetizer that appears to vegan -- House Pickled Vegetables with hot mustard and grilled baguette -- but I've sent them a message to double-check. I also asked them whether the salads on the menu can be "veganized" by leaving out the cheese. I'll update this post if I hear back from them.
UPDATE: Here's the response I received from Capital Dime.
"Absolutely! The pickled veg are vegan -- just let your server know and the kitchen will take care of you! The brussels salad can be done without cheese and is still incredible!"


Dawson's at the Hyatt has indicated on their Dine Downtown menu that vegan options are available. I've sent them a message to ask what their vegan options will be, but I haven't had a response yet. Check back for updates either here or on my Sacramento Vegan Facebook page.


Ella Dining Room & Bar has also indicated on their menu that vegan menu options will be available, but I haven't heard from the restaurant as to what those options will be. I'll post updates as they become available.


TOWER BRIDGE BISTRO


Chef Clay Purcell, who creates amazing vegan dishes each October during the Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge, is having Vegan Weekends at Tower Bridge Bistro at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Friday and Saturday nights through February 7th. Each weekend, he'll offer a different fixed-price, three-course meal during dinner hours only. If the pictures from this weekend's menu are any indication, these are going to be some not-to-be-missed dinners.


EL PAPAGAYO


The third annual Vegan Super Bowl Party will be held at El Papagayo in Carmichael on Sunday, February 1st, at 3:30 p.m. The cost is $15 for an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet. If you're planning to bring someone who's not interested in watching the game, a masa class will be offered for an additional $7 materials fee. Tickets are available at this link.


With so many restaurants catering to vegans this month, the year is off to a good start!