By Joe Bossen
A raucous band of food fans gathered in the East Room of Withey on Sunday, February 24 to immerse themselves in some food that was both conscientious and yummy. The air carried a loaded pallet of olfactory fireworks that wound their way through the old time tunes of Western-Central Vermont Uptown Whiskey Ramblers, a band of good ol’ boys from Green Mountain who play with cheerful banter.
For a rookie club, the event went above and beyond what the Veggie Club could have hoped for: 75 patrons sampling 20 different vegan dishes and collectively raising $90 for the North Country Animal League (the only no-kill shelter in the area).
In planning the swaray, the Veggers were hoping to create an opportunity for omnivores to realize how tasty and diverse a vegan diet can be while doing some good for the larger community. It’s gratifying to see everything come together just so.
So what’s next for these vindicated vegetable vanguards? Well, why not help them figure that out. Their next meeting is a potluck on Friday, March 14th in the Pollack lounge. There is no qualifying dietary preference to join or attend, only an open mind and an empty plate. This is just a chance to sit about with people—who you are already probably friends with, anyway— and think a little deeper about what our consumption habits mean for the well-being of ourselves and everything else.
