Vegan Friendly: Blissful Gatherings Monthly Vegan Pop-Up

At each place setting you will find a twine-tied menu, a token gift (in the case of my meal it was a copper hammered bracelet imprinted with “Blissful”), and a leaf with the diner’s name hand-painted in gold.

Behind the scenes, a flurry of edible flowers and microgreens fly through the air as Lila Zimmerman and Alexa Soto finish plating the first of five courses for the more than 20 guests waiting in the backyard.

The best friends, who met through Instagram, share a passion for plant-based cooking and marketing, which they have parlayed into monthly gatherings that are equally fueled by their youthful vigor and eye for aesthetics.

The soup courses were also particularly strong, with bowls ranging from a vegan Shakshuka with lobs of juicy cumin and chili soaked tomatoes and plump chickpeas, to a silky Butternut Squash Bisque topped with roasted Brussel sprouts.

For the entrée, thick rolls of salsa verde marinated Jackfruit Stuffed Enchiladas come accented with roasted corn and peppers. Wide ribbons of cashew creme are lashed over the rolls and finished with delicate fans of radish and avocado and a dusting of marigold petals. 

A tea and coffee break precedes dessert with the aroma of brewed-to-order jasmine and chamomile filling the air.

Those with a longer drive home (at both of my meals I’ve met diners who have come from as far as Los Angeles), coffee swirled with almond cream is in order.

As night settles over the finality, a fresh wave of creativity surges from the kitchen. Brownie a La Mode comes topped with coffee laced coconut ice cream and cinnamon spiked caramelized date paste.

But the show stopped on the Sticky Baklava Rolls.

Yeast risen dough baked under a sprinkle of pale green pistachios, bloom on the plate beneath a warm drizzle of apple nectar.