Pittsburgh VegFest is right around the corner, and whether you’re a dedicated plant-based eater or want to find new ways to incorporate more vegetable-forward, cruelty-free foods into your diet, everyone can appreciate the tasty flavors and health benefits offered by plant-based meals. Ahead of this year’s event, we’ve made a list of some of our favorite plant-based pop-ups and kitchens that will make appearances at VegFest alongside their regular schedule of markets, deliveries, and cafe drops. Give their menus a try and you’ll see why veggies and plant-based substitutes are no longer afterthoughts for incredible cooking!
Sleeping Ranchero
Sleeping Ranchero, an avant-garde plant-based taco pop-up from chef Isaac Barreto, is putting out some of the most creative, veggie-forward meals in the whole city. From barbacoa mushroom tacos with aji Verde and pickled onions to sweet potato tacos with a cashew crema sauce and sauerkraut (trust us, it’s so tasty!) as well as an ever-growing menu of plant-based possibilities, make sure to check out Sleeping Rancho at VegFest and hit up their website to see when you can visit at their regular home base on 4715 Liberty Avenue.
Pure Grub
Pure Grub is a minority-owned, plant-based pop-up restaurant and catering service that serves 100% organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free meals that even your most skeptical non-vegan friends will love. Their grab-and-go kitchen and smoothie bar will be opening this fall, but in the meantime, you can catch Pure Grub at events all across the city and sample their menu of salads, stir-fried dishes, quinoa bowls, and sweet treats.
NoocH
NoocH is one of the newest plant-based food spots to pop up in the ‘Burgh, but they’re already making quite an impression with one of their more unique offerings: vegan charcuterie featuring plant-based cheese! In addition to their eye-catching snacks, NoocH has offered a Turkish potato dish called Kumpir and desserts like a grapefruit olive oil cake. We can’t wait to see how their menu grows!
Veggies N’at
Veggies N’at creator Gerald Charlton has created an “unparalleled vegan dining experience via catering, pop-up/collaborative events, and private five-course dining.” Whether you pay a visit to the food truck or order their weekly ready-to-heat meals, expect tasty plant-based food with plenty of favor and a love of all things veggie – like this build-your-own curried Japanese sweet potato and pumfu scramble with jicama wraps, avocado, chili crunch oil, and chipotle tahini.
Crust Worthy
You can “crust” that the baked goods at Crust Worthy are both delicious and nutritious! This woman-owned artisan bake shop uses all-organic wild grains and yeasts and sustainable, local ingredients to create their bread loves, cookies, pastries, and muffins – the majority of which are vegan (dairy-free and egg-free), peanut-free, and nut-free. You can order online for delivery or pickup at several local markets, including the Bloomfield Farmers’ Market every Saturday.
Chick Habit
Chick Habit is a pop-up by legendary Pittsburgh vegan restaurant Onion Maden, which has experimented with more pop-up-style concepts surrounding plant-based fried chicken and ramen. Their last Chick Habit pop-up sold out quickly, but you can get your fix of vegan fried chicken sandwiches, fries and onion rings, corn dogs, mac and cheese, and more at VegFest – just make sure you get in line quickly!
Sharayah’s Plant-Based Treats
Sharayah’s Plant-Based Treats are a brand of handmade, vegan pastries and cookies that are available in a number of Pittsburgh-area cafes and shops, including Carnegie Coffee Company, Reginald’s Coffee, Espresso A Mano, Salud Juicery, and Mecka Fitness. Sharayah also brings her delicious pastries to markets like the Upper St. Clair Farmer’s Market and the Pittsburgh Vegan Expo – and she’ll be at VegFest!
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.
