Founding Farmers

When I was planning my visit to DC, I logged onto facebook and asked for suggestions for great vegan dining.  Though I’ve spent so much time in this city, I am always eager to try something new.  Through that outreach I was reminded of a place I had been wanting to try, Founding Farmers, located in my old stomping grounds at GWU, across from the shops at 2000 Penn.

Communal table

The interior of the restaurant combines the feel of the city, with its wall to ceiling glass windows and sleek bar, with the warmth of the country with its communal farm tables and shelves lined with large, glass colored mason  jars with vibrantly colored pickled vegetables.   Founding Farmers is also acutely aware of its impact on the environment, subsequently earning a LEED certification “for architecture and interiors that have been constructed and created with a minimum of impact on the environment.”  They are also conscious of recycling, cautious water and energy use, and are partners with Carbonfund.org, as they are 100% carbon neutral by offsetting their CO₂emissions annually with the purchase of carbon credits.

My appetizer ~ sauteed kale
with apples and cabbage

Waffles...

Using “sustainably farmed, grown and harvested American foods” with menu options that change every season, this dining gem creates a lengthy list of tasty options that can suit any palette. What I appreciated most, in addition to the fabulous Fraise Fling, a lychee and strawberry cocktail with vodka and prosecco, is their vegan menu. Perhaps you would be interested in the patty melt with vegan cheddar and carmelized onions on Founding Farmers rye, or the BBQ “chicken” & slaw sandwich?  Or maybe to golden-fried tofu ‘n chips with vegan tartar sauce and fries is more your thing? The 17 vegetable salad with agave mustard dressing (to which I added some vegan cheddar) was crisp, juicy and super flavorful and the Southern fried “chicken” salad sounded just as good.  I thought about the farmers garden hash and the VegDC scramble for my entrees but I wasn’t in the mood for breakfast at dinner…until dessert.  It was then that I ordered the chocolate stout farmhouse vegan waffle made with soymilk and Sam Smith oatmeal stout, accompanied by fresh banana slices and a vegan caramel sauce.
Now really, need I say more?  Click the link for the reservation option, and make arrangements to eat there the next time you find yourself in DC or Potomac, MD.