Vegan Italian Deli Counter Opens in New DC Food Hall

Tastemakers, a new food hall in Washington, DC, will host new vegan stall Pianta starting this month. The vegan Italian deli counter is the brick-and-mortar concept of local business DC Vegan Catering—founded in 2015 by Michael and Leah Moon—and will feature a number of authentic Italian deli sandwiches and sides. The menu will include a variety of sandwiches such as the Fried Artichoke Sub made with cured tofu-based mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, and lemon aioli; the Hearts of Palm Chesapeake Fritter served with coleslaw; the Panelle Marinara made with a chickpea flour polenta and served with shredded kale; and almond-based ricotta and a marinara sauce inspired by Leah’s Italian grandmother (or, as the duo calls her, “Nonnie”). Non-sandwich items on the menu include vegan Buffalo wings, with plant-based calamari (made with king trumpet mushrooms) on the way in coming months. “Ultimately, we are shooting for accessibility—to create artisanal plant-based foods with premium ingredients that taste amazing but that are also familiar,” Michael Moon told VegNews. “Our menus and preparations honor the Italian-American food we grew up eating in Cleveland, OH and Rochester, NY. Our versions just happen to be plant-based.”