I just saw that DC's vegan meetup was postponed until this weekend, the 11th. I know it's short notice, but is anyone interested in going? If you're interested, but aren't a meetup member, let me know and I can add you as a guest. I think I'm going to check it out!

From the meetup site:

When:
Saturday, February 11, 2006, 7:00 PM

Where:
Harmony Cafe
3287-1/2 M St., N.W. Lower Level
Washington , DC 20007
202-338-3881
202-338-3881

Jen, have you ever been there before?

Do you have a website for the Harmony Cafe?

Okay Rani, I put you in charge of February's extravaganza. Where and when are we all getting together?Well, I have tentative plans for both this and next weekend, so I guess that leaves the weekend of the 25th. I don't have a preference for Sat or Sun or even if people want to meet for lunch or dinner.

Who would be available for a meetup that weekend and what is everyone's preference for location? I live in Gaithersburg but I'm flexible to come into DC or other parts of MD.

I guess that leaves the weekend of the 25th. I don't have a preference for Sat or Sun or even if people want to meet for lunch or dinner.

Who would be available for a meetup that weekend and what is everyone's preference for location? I live in Gaithersburg but I'm flexible to come into DC or other parts of MD.

Hey, Rani!! The easiest places for me are Frederick, Gaithersburg or Rockville. I might be willing to go to DC if the group is large enough and I like the venue. Hence, my inquiry into Jen's outing mentioned above.

So far (for these cities) I've only been to The Vegetable Garden in Rockville and The Orchard in Frederick. I'm all for exploration, so I'd like to try a new place.

I'm all for trying new places as well. There's another Chinese place in Rockville, Yuan Fu, that is similar to the Vegetable Garden. In Gaithersburg there's Madras Palace which was given good reviews by some folks here on VB. Apparently they have a weekend buffet that might be worth checking out.

Madras PalaceV
74 Bureau Dr.
Gaithersburg, Md.
301-977-1600

All-vegetarian, Indian food with a great lunch buffet
for $6.95 weekdays, $8.95 weekends.

hmmmm.. sounds pretty good. I love Indian food. I just haven't gone since going vegan. I have to read up and see what I can still order.

ETA:
Just found the other one

Yuan FuV
798 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Md.
301-762-5937

A 100-percent vegan Chinese restaurant with many mock meat and vegetable dishes. Priced slightly lower than The Vegetable Garden.

Wow. It would be very easy to eat there. I don't care. You all need to decide.

You can't go wrong with Madras Palace. I prefer Vegetable Garden to Yuan Fu, but I know people who have the exact opposite opinion on that. One benefit of choosing Veg Garden or Yuan Fu is that it's an easy quick trip to Pangea from those two locations.

All that said, my weekend schedule is pretty solidly booked for February into early March, although I might find some time on the 26th. Probably best not to count on me for this month.

That's too bad DCVeg. Well, maybe we can tentatively set the date for the 26th in case you do find time to join us.

Let's go to Yuan Fu. I've been meaning to try it so this would be a great opportunity. Haven't been to Pangea either so maybe whoever comes would want to take a little shopping trip too.

I would be up (possibly) for something on the 26th (I have to work out transportation issues).

Re: Harmony Cafe..I've not been there, but I've had food from there that was quite delicious. :lick:

Bumping this thread....

So who's available to meet up this weekend? I think we've decided on Sun. the 26th at Yuan Fu but still haven't fixed a time yet. Lunch?

I tried skimming the thread, but it's very long. :) Where parts of the area are y'all coming from?

I was doing some reading on the 'net re: Madras Palace (I Googled, hoping to find a menu). It gets some pretty lukewarm reviews. They say often that the food is good, but a bit bland.

<<ready for a VB meetup. heh

hey, i'm not in maryland. but my brother and his wife live in Gaithersburg. i didn't even think of this thread last time i visited!!! maybe next time i visit, i can meet up with some of you guys.:)

Rani, I'm up for the get together.

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IamJen, the furthest I'm willing to drive is roughly an hour. However, any place in walking distance of the metro is fine... http://www.wmata.com

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Buenosayres, Yes. Let us know next time you are in town.

Frederick, Rockville and Gaithersburg - Maryland

are the easiest for me.

True Veggie..I meant that I didn't know where everyone lived, so I wasn't sure if Rockville was chosen because it's central or if it was just that there was a cool restaurant there. :D

Oh yeah, I get it. You already know that I don't personally live in MD, but I do visit!! :)

I think I remember Rani saying -- home was in Gaithersburg.????

Yuan Fu is just a vegan restaurant that we haven't tried yet. From the people that responded it was close enough to home.

What town would be best or better for you?

Yup, I live in Gaithersburg.

IamJen, if Yuan Fu is not easyily accessible for you then we can certainly try to find somewhere better suited. Suggestions are welcomed! :D

Sadly, I am indeed definitely out for this one, but I hope to make the next. FWIW, Vegetable Garden in Rockville might make a better option for y'all since it's more accessible to Metro, but I won't butt in on a decision in which I have no stake. Hope you all have a great time.

i live in Boonsboro

I think I can get pretty close to either place on the Metro/MARC train, so that's not a big concern. I'm up for either one actually, but was a bit disappointed with the Madras Palace reviews. hm

From AOL city guide: ( http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/entertainment/venue.adp?sbid=102303481 )


From the Editors
Chinese prints on the walls, the smell of spicy sauces in the air and a menu full of choices like Kung Pao Jumbo Shrimp and General Tso's Chicken. It looks like your typical Chinese restaurant, until you read the explanation on your menu. And then you realize just how unique Yuan Fu Vegetarian is.

The restaurant specializes in entirely vegetarian dishes, and the "meat" on the menu is animal in name only. Beef and pork are gluten, chicken is soybean protein, duck is tofu skin, and baby shrimp and squid are white yams, to name a few substitutions. The menu is large and diverse, with stir-fried, deep-fried and steamed dishes.

Despite the unusual cuisine, the small restaurant hums with activity, its wait staff bustling from the food counter in the back of the room to the dozen or so packed tables and booths. The noise level is high, and the staff friendly and willing to explain the menu. -- Tracy Vogel (Photo: Jamy Bond)


They gave it 4 out of 5 stars

Other User reviews:

good food and healthier 01/28/2006





The food is very good. Nearest metro station is not Grosvenor, however. I believe there are 2 stations closer, one of which is Twinbrook.

------
Every dish is a standout -- great tasting and beautifully presented. The staff is knowledgeable about the dishes, and provide excellent service.
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Considering Yuan Fu instead of Vegetable Garden... because I'd like to try a new restaurant. I've already been to Vegetable Garden

Madras Palace is not all that close to the metro so I wouldn't suggest going there if metro is you mode of transportation.

The Twinbrook stop is closest to Yuan Fu, but I would say that's it's probably about a 1-2 mile walk from the metro station so it's really not all that close.

As DCVeg mentioned, Vegetable Garden is very close to metro at the White Flint stop.

<<<---- Plans on driving and is willing to pick up (up to 3) people at the metro stop so that no one has to walk. :sunny:

Ah, you beat me to it. I was just going to post that I can pick people up from the metro since I will be driving as well. Plus I also think I'd rather go to Yuan Fu since I haven't been there before, whereas I've been to Vegetable Garden a few time already.

Yuan Fu sounds groovy to me. Did you guys meet for lunch or dinner last time?

Dear All,

I am new to this list and relatively new to the area too (just moved here in August) ...I would really love to meet up with you all, but it seems that it will depend on the time. Have you decided on lunch or dinner? Lunch might not work for me, but I could definetely make it for dinner. If this is not suitable for others of course, we could always meet up another time.

Btw, I was thinking of organising a free vegetarian/vegan cooking class at my place sometime in March. I have some other friends here and we were thinking that this might be a good idea for people to get together. I am Greek and they are Chinese and American so it might work out very interesting. Do you think any of you would be interested?

The idea is not to have a paid class or anything, but get to know some people and have a fun day exchanging recipes :-). If you really want to bring something, we could let you know what kind of veggies etc we would need and you could bring some along.

So please do let me know if this would be of interest to you and I could keep you updated on the dates etc.

Hope to meet you all soon,
Marina