Omowale Adewale’s Vegan Rooftop Party Sets The Bar For Plant-Based Fun In The Sun!

Last weekend may have been a first for New York City. Brooklyn Brawl Champion Boxer, Omowale Adewale created a vegan rooftop party that will be hard to beat. Vegans and non-vegans arrived from cities far and wide to welcome in the spring with healthy plant-based fare. The gods were clearly with us as the predicted rain abstained from intruding upon the affair. Overlooking the cityscape of New York, the sun gently caressed the throngs of diners, as colorful and varied as the food itself. Everyone was invited. One woman I spoke to was from California. She learned about the party on LinkedIn that very day and decided to join in. She was in town visiting relatives and decided to take a break to enjoy good food with like minded people.

The party was generously hosted by Kirsy Inception Salazar and Al Mazzini. Many guest brought food and drink, and food was also donated by Tofurky and Beyond Meat, both vegan meat substitutes, and a variety of vegan chips were provided by Beanfields. Other contributors were EarthBalance, a vegan butter substitute, and Edward and Sons Trading Company which creates a variety of vegan and vegetarian products.

The Vegan Rooftop Party was a part of Omowale’s Going Vegan 2014 challenge, in which he offers free physical training advice and support to up to 100 people who are making a dedicated effort to become healthy and fit by becoming vegan during 2014. It’s not too late to sign up and everyone, everywhere is welcome.

Kokob Gebrehiwet grilling vegan sausages and bell peppers.

Throughout the evening there were discussions of veganism, from how long one has been vegan to how to make buying organic food affordable. There were a few who just weren’t buying into it. Some arrived just for the experience, never intending to change their diets. Others were inspired to make a greater commitment to eat healthier and in a more compassionate way. Regardless of where one stood in the myriad of eating choices, what was clear is that the conversation had begun.

And wasn’t that Omowale’s point all along? To get the conversation going. Once that door is open, there is no going back.

Omowale Adawale

Co-founder and editor of Veggin’ Out and About, Danielle writes restaurant reviews, profiles and interviews of people making a difference in the plant-based community. She is currently writing a cookbook for vegans called, “Time For Change: Whole Foods For Whole Health.”

Danielle’s region is SW Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina and anywhere she happens to stop for sustenance along the road. Contact Danielle directly to share your restaurant finds, to make comments or just to say hello.