Five Vegan Dishes That Even Non-vegan Food Bloggers Will Love

Last year's International Food Bloggers Conference (IFBC) in Sacramento was such a big success that they've decided to meet in Sacramento again this year. Most of the bloggers I met weren't vegan, or even vegetarian, but they seemed adventurous and willing to try new culinary experiences. With that in mind, I thought I'd offer a list of a few vegan dishes available in downtown or midtown that even a non-vegan food blogger will enjoy.

The Beyond Burger at Broderick Roadhouse

I'll be honest with you -- I don't like most veggie burgers. Even if they look crispy and burger-like on the outside, they're often soggy and kind of disgusting on the inside. Not so with the Beyond Burger, which looks and tastes so much like ground beef that it kind of creeped me out when I first tried it. Now, though, I'm hooked. It's soy-free, GMO-free, and gluten-free, and made with plant-based protein. The pink color that makes it look like actual beef comes from beets. You can try one at Broderick Roadhouse, located at 1820 L Street. It's not listed on their menu -- you just have to tell your server that you want the Beyond Burger, which is served with vegan cheese and vegan sauce on a vegan bun.

Conscious Creamery's Vegan Gelato Bars

Conscious Creamery doesn't have a brick-and-mortar shop from which to sell their fabulous vegan gelato, but that shouldn't present a problem for IFBC attendees. That's because you'll be just blocks away from the Saturday Midtown Farmers Market, where the Conscious Creamery gelato cart will be serving up their yummy gelato bars, made without dairy, eggs, or any other animal product. I love the roasted strawberry bar with chocolate drizzle! The Midtown Farmers Market, which is held on 20th Street between J and K, runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30th, the weekend of the conference.

Sweet Potato Chips and Ginger Guacamole at VEG

VEG is a little bit of a walk from the IFBC conference venue, but totally worth it to try the sweet potato chips and ginger guacamole. Most of the menu items in this second-story café, which looks out onto J Street, are vegan, although some of the brunch items contain eggs. VEG is located at 2431 J Street, upstairs from Thai Basil.

Savory Summer Crepe at VEG

This is another must-try dish VEG offers that's popular with both vegans and non-vegans. They have a few different vegan entrées on their menu, but somehow, I can never make it past the savory crepe. The vegetables used in the filling change depending on the season, but the delicious turmeric-coconut crepe stays the same. I try to make sure I'm really hungry when I go to VEG because I always seem to want both the sweet potato chips and ginger guacamole and the savory crepe.

Shaved Snow at Vampire Penguin

Vampire Penguin is in downtown Sacramento, and it's a great place to go if you suddenly find yourself in need of a frozen treat. Not all of the shaved snow flavors and toppings at Vampire Penguin are vegan, but the ones in these pictures are. The top picture shows PMS (peach, mango, strawberry) shaved snow, with strawberry syrup and strawberries. The bottom photo is of their piña colada creation. So good! Vampire Penguin is located at 907 K Street.

To my fellow Sacramento vegans, what other midtown or downtown menu offerings would you recommend to  IFBC attendees? Please add your suggestions either in the comments on this post, or in the comments on my Sacramento Vegan Facebook page.