A few vegan waffle party guests and hosts have asked whether we’ve considered catalyzing other types of vegan food parties. This might include, for example, a Global Vegan Ice Cream Party, where guests bring a range of toppings for store-bought or homemade ice creams. Because of this, a few months back I sought input on whether you’d like to see one or more additional types of global vegan food parties, and if so, which type(s) you’d be most likely to participate in. But worry not; WaffleParty.com certainly isn’t going anywhere…

A small but enthusiastic group of individuals (16) completed all or part of the survey. Of those, 6 said you’d like to see similar vegan food events alongside the Global Vegan Waffle Party, 8 noted “maybe” or didn’t respond, and 2 replied “no.” Of the ideas listed on the survey, the most popular were  vegan pancakes, cupcakes, and ice cream. Vegan pizza parties also got a bit of attention. Other great suggestions included vegan sausage parties, vegan brownie parties, and parties related to more of an event type than a particular food type (vegan barbecue parties and vegan brunch parties).

Overall, our impression is that the volume of interest in this type of expansion (and thus necessary people-power to make it happen) is still relatively small. Because of that, and because the Global Vegan Waffle Party is still a pretty new concept that appears to have promise and additional possibilities, we believe we can have a greater positive impact by focusing primarily upon vegan waffles for now–with your help and energy, of course! We’ll see where we’re at after this coming spring’s events, and then decide what  may make sense to add next. I’ve also been hard at work on an information resource that I’m hoping many of you will find helpful–much more on that in upcoming months.

At least two of the concepts mentioned–vegan ice cream and vegan pancakes–already blend very well with the vegan waffle party concept. Perhaps next spring will see some vegan waffles ‘n’ ice cream parties, and more people without waffle irons will join in and have vegan pancake parties. It will be very exciting to see. Whatever the case, ease of guest contribution/participation will continue to be key–i.e., the option to bring something very simple for those who are less familiar with vegan food preparation.

Thanks again to those of you who provided feedback!

Earlier this year we posted a few brief surveys to gather important input on vegan waffle parties. In the first, we asked about the types of experiences Global Vegan Waffle Party hosts had had, including lessons learned, so that future events could be even more successful.

Roughly 15% of hosts responded to the first survey, and the feedback was quite valuable. The majority hosted events in their homes (vs. businesses or other organizations), and estimated number of guests averaged 14 and ranged from 2 to 25. All responded that they would probably or definitely host a party again.

Hosts provided the following advice for others throwing their first vegan waffle party. Many are paraphrased from the original wording:

• Test the vegan waffle recipe(s) you plan to use, as well as the iron, ahead of time. (Several hosts suggested this.)
• Make it fun and non-threatening; some people are freaked out by the word “vegan.”
• Organizing, preparation, and planning go a long way. (A few suggestions were along these lines.)
• Use an online invitation format (Evite, EventBrite, Punchbowl, Meetup, etc.) so people can see what toppings others are already bringing.
• Prepare a batch of waffles ahead of time that can be warmed in the oven if having a large group.
• It definitely helps to borrow a second waffle iron.
• If you’re providing the toppings, offer a variety of toppings.
• Allow guests to bring the toppings because “guests love involvement and it makes things exciting and participatory.”
• Remind guests about the event a day or two before the party.
• If your event attracts a “complainer,” focus on the 99% of guests who are having a great time.
• It may take time to build up a base of attendees who are excited about the concept.
• Just have fun!

Many thanks for your feedback, and I hope that both new and veteran hosts find this information useful.

I offer here suggestions for individuals and organizations  who wish to host relatively high-attendance vegan waffle parties. This is based upon several years of hosting house parties with around 40 guests over a 4- to 5-hour span, in a modestly-sized rowhouse. I decided to post this after a 2010 vegan waffle party host, Cruelty Free WA in Australia, noted that their first-ever party might draw more than 70 people.

premixed wet ingredients for several batches of waffles (great way to reuse soymilk containers)

Remember that a waffle party does not have to be a large event. It can be an intimate gathering of 3 or 4 close friends, relatives, or neighbors; or it can be an energetic spectacle of 100 guests. While it’s always great to connect with more people, the size depends largely on what you enjoy the most, and your own specific purposes for throwing the party. That being said, here are a few pointers to help ensure that you and your guests have a great time while enjoying delicious food:

• Measure out the wet & dry portions of your batters in advance, as shown in the photos. If you’re using more than one recipe, clearly label which bowl of dry goes with which jar of wet ingredients. Then mix the wet and dry portions together shortly before baking. This will save significant time and energy during the event. It’s difficult to focus on things like measuring accurately while you’re chatting it up with interesting guests.
  

  pre-mixed dry waffle ingredients, one bowl corresponding to each jar of wet ingredients (small containers are baking soda for yeast-raised waffles)

  To balance efficiency with waste reduction, I usually mix batches large enough to make 8 waffles–this often means doubling a recipe.  For yeast-raised waffles, you’ll have 3 separate portions: the yeast-raised portion that was left to rise for several hours, the additional liquid ingredients that get added shortly before baking, and the baking powder which doesn’t get dissolved in the liquid until you’re ready to mix the liquid into the yeast-raised portion.
  Unused batches with the wet and dry portions still separate can be stored for later use.

• To estimate the number of waffle makers needed, use 12 waffles per hour per iron as a rough estimate for an average non-industrial waffle maker. This will obviously increase or decrease depending upon how many people are helping with the cooking, and how well you’re working together. Waffles may bake in 3 to 5 minutes, but it also takes a bit of time to pour the batter, get the waffles off the iron, and re-spray the grids with oil. Some irons need a small amount of recharge time between waffles before the “ready” light comes back on.
• Break waffles into quarters before serving. This way, more people can start eating and trying toppings sooner and then come back for seconds, thirds, and so on. This not only keeps hungry guests from having to wait as long before eating anything, but it also gives the earliest guests more opportunity to try some of the toppings that arrive a bit later. (Thanks to Jen for this great suggestion that we now use every year.)
• Try any new recipe at least once before your event.
• Have at least one spare iron on hand in case a “sticking tragedy” temporarily disables one of your irons.
• Minimize traffic passing through the space where you’re baking. For example, if you’re baking waffles in the kitchen, put a cooler with drinks in the dining room.
• Put out both nametags and topping name/ingredient tags, just as you would for a regular potluck.
• If your space or waffle-making capacity is limited, consider having two arrival times with a capped number of attendance slots. For our house party, I set up both 6pm and 8pm “ticket types” through Eventbrite.com, and let people know that I’ll be baking fresh waffles around those times. In between the baking sessions, I take breaks to mingle with guests, sample the various toppings, and help Jen with other host-related duties.

I hope these tips help you on your path to throwing highly enjoyable and successful vegan waffle parties. Happy waffling!

Perhaps you’d love to throw a vegan waffle party, but you don’t have a waffle iron, and you’re not serious enough about waffles to invest in one just yet. Or maybe you want an iron, but the budget’s tight at the moment. As the waffle party is intended to be a fun catalyst for positive change that is accessible to anyone, I offer several options for making it happen.

Ask a friend, neighbor, or relative if you can borrow theirs, and tell them they can attend without having to bring a waffle topping. Many people have waffle makers that have been sitting around unused in a cupboard or closet, so lending them out is no big deal. For our party, a few friends and neighbors (including omnivorous ones) have offered to lend us theirs in case we needed an emergency backup–without me even asking. The offer was usually prefaced with, “It’s been sitting around in the closet.” If I had asked, a few of them may have even agreed to sell me their iron.

Just be sure to follow proper etiquette with borrowed irons. Upon borrowing an iron, if you suspect more traces of non-vegan ingredients than you or your guests may be comfortable with, a chopstick with a bit of moist paper towel wadded up on the end will do a reasonable cleaning job, or you may wish to treat the first waffle as the “cleaning waffle.” Of course, also make sure you clean the iron well before giving it back, and avoid using any harsh abrasive objects (like wire brushes) on the grills.

Check out Craig’s List or Freecycle if you have groups in your area, along with your local thrift shops. I got a dirt cheap ice cream maker ($10) on our local Craig’s List after discovering the Vice Cream vegan ice cream book. And the seller lived four blocks from us–how convenient! I’ve seen a number of waffle makers on there, too, at least in our area, for $5 or $10. Back in college, I picked up a microwave and toaster oven at the local thrift shop, both for under $10.

Yes, some of the more expensive models do offer advantages and some are more durable if you’re planning to make a lot of waffles over time, but I’ve also made decent vegan waffles on cheaper and older models. The basic technology of the waffle makers doesn’t vary that much. You can always upgrade later if you desire that extra little bit of crispiness, the adjustable heat setting, and so on.

Offset some of your other costs so you can buy an iron. If you do an event that caters to individuals who are new to vegan food, following VegFund’s guidelines, the food ingredients will take little or no cash out of your wallet, perhaps leaving you or a friend some cash to buy a waffle maker. And because waffles can be a breakfast, brunch, or dinner food, owning this appliance opens up many future vegan waffle event possibilities. Having guests bring some of the toppings will also reduce your costs somewhat.

Start with a small party so you need to purchase or borrow only one iron. If you have at least one iron for every 4-6 guests, you should be fine–especially if you break the waffles into quarters or halves as they come out, so more people can start eating sooner. By the time they’re ready for the next quarter or half, more will be out.

If all else fails, you can still host a vegan pancake party. While you’d be sacrificing some of the texture, toasted flavor, and character that is unique to the waffle, you can convert most vegan waffle recipes to vegan pancake recipes by thinning the batter slightly. Some batters may not need thinning, and it may take a bit of experimenting with the first pancake or two. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons at a time of additional plant-based milk or water to your vegan waffle batter until it pours into a pancake at the desired thickness. You can also get away with reducing the oil for pancakes, as long as you’re still greasing the pan with oil or margarine. Keep in mind that the oil reduction will also impact the flavor somewhat.

If you go the vegan pancake route, I recommend a properly seasoned cast iron skillet or griddle. Cast iron skillets hold heat well and distribute it very evenly.

Happy vegan waffle partying!

While the Multi-City Vegan Waffle Party is only in its second year, it’s hard to believe this was the 11th annual waffle party overall. And it once again, thanks to our guests and other hosting cities, it blew away our previous expectations.

This year the multi-talented Vance Lehmkuhl at Vegcast.com interviewed me about vegan waffles and waffle parties. I may post some highlights about it in the near future, but in the meantime you can listen to the full interview (look for Vegcast #63, May 22, 2009).

As shown in the list and map on the right hand side of this page, several more cities (and countries!) threw vegan waffle parties this year. I’ve already received a few brief reports and photos, but I’m looking forward to getting a few more so I can post them here.

In Pittsburgh, participants included practicing vegans and vegetarians, individuals curious about veganism and vegan food, and others simply looking to try something different and have fun. The delicious vegan waffle toppings included eggplant and onion, sambar, nut-based gravies, green mango chutney, fresh fruits and jams, multi-layer bean dip, sloppy tofu, vegan ice creams, fresh homemade salsa, baked apples, and many others. Out of respect for privacy, I’ve blurred faces in the pics below with the exception of mine and Jen’s.

Wafflers congregate around vegan waffle toppings

Guests chat between bites

We enjoyed beautiful weather the afternoon of the party, so some of  the wafflers sat outside…

Fresh air aids digestion of vegan waffles

…While others relaxed in the living room.

Wafflers eat and enjoy conversation

As for the vegan waffle recipes, I served slight variations on the yeast-raised vegan waffles which have always been popular in the past, banana-spelt waffles, a rice-based waffle, and some “gourmet” waffles with fillings.

To make the party more environmentally friendly, we took a few additional steps to reduce waste. We didn’t want to use a bunch of disposable plates and cups, but we also didn’t want large stacks clunky, breakable plates and unstackable cups-especially given that we’d have limited room with a large crowd in our relatively small dining room. As a compromise, we invested in some recycled Preserve plates and cups, which are lightweight, stackable, and dishwashable on gentle cycle. They’re initially much more expensive than disposable plates, but should pay for themselves as we reuse them over time. A few of our neighbors also allowed us to borrow some plates and cloth napkins.

To simplify collection of used items, we set up several labeled bins for the following: plates, cups, silverware, non-recyclable trash including food scraps, recyclable trash, and compostable items such as lightly soiled paper napkins.

Jen with the vegan waffle party recycling system

Roughly 45 people attended over the course of the evening, and we ended up with less than half of a 13-gallon bag of non-recyclable, non-compostable trash. If you try a system like this for your party, I’d love to hear how it worked!

Our neighbor Gary Crouth dropped by with some of his MOO (no dairy products; stands for “Make Our Own”), a homemade laundry detergent placed in reused bottles, along with a message on the benefits of making certain items at home. This can not only save money (costs less than 10 cents a cup to produce), but can yield environmental benefits by reducing shipping, and can even form the foundation of local/neighborhood bartering systems. Pretty innovative stuff-so cool that we let him bring MOO in lieu of a vegan waffle topping. He doesn’t have a website up yet, but you can get more info by emailing MOO (at) digbybooks (dot) com.

MOO "Make Our Own" samples

Even though we’ve already had our annual waffle party in Pittsburgh, it’s not too late to have yours, especially if you’re doing a waffle-related event in conjunction with the first Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale. If you’re hosting something along these lines in June, or plan to do something in 2010, please let us know.

Finally, I’ve been asked whether I’m involved in a secret marketing conspiracy with Isa Chandra Moskowitz, as her Vegan Brunch cookbook was released within a few days of the Vegan Waffle Party, and its front cover features her holding a stack of vegan waffles. While these may be interesting coincidences when taken together, I must deny these speculations. We simply set this year’s Multi-City Vegan Waffle Party on the same weekend it was held last year. Nor can I speak to whether the Vegan Waffle Party impacted how her book was designed or released; I can only say that I’m extremely flattered if it actually did. I hope that vegan waffle parties inspire even more people to buy her book. Although I haven’t yet seen it, I have no doubt the recipes are delicious. And, of course, I hope that her book inspires even more people to throw vegan waffle parties. Our efforts can’t reach everyone, so any assistance from others is welcome!

And thanks again to our neighbors and friends (Jen and Kevin, Anne Lynch, and others), who helped us out in various ways.

Happy vegan waffling!

Yes, at this point it seems like I could come up with a reason for a waffle party any time of day, any day of the year. Well, you’re probably right! However, those of us in the U.S. celebrate Independence Day today, and one element of it has a particular irony: hamburgers and hot dogs. Many Americans could not imagine a July 4th without these items on their grill. Yes, many of us celebrate our own Independence Day by consuming products linked directly to the unnecessary enslavement and suffering of other living creatures. This is already obvious to many of you, but I’ll admit that the thought never would have crossed my mind four or five years ago.

In some cases, our ceremonies take on an even more sinister tone, e.g., in the case of “animal roasts” where an entire animal will we brought out before a celebrating crowd. Is the violence-driven bonding and silent proclamation of power over another formerly living being really so different than that of say, a mob of racist people watching in delight as another human being of a different color hangs to their death, or a group of homophobic men tying another person to a fence and beating them due to their sexual orientation? Or is it simply that the recipient of violence is different? These are certainly not comfortable things for any of us to think about, let alone admit to ourselves. It may not be a coincidence that many of these celebrations also involve heavy drinking; perhaps it helps us to detach ourselves from the face that is suddenly clearer to us.  And such detachment and denial leaves us at risk of the same violence through which people may turn on one another. If such concepts are entirely new to you, resources such as this clip from the documentary “Earthlings” may help to make such connections.

Fourth of July picnics are a huge economic driver, and it is one of the busiest days of the year for many food retailers. Unfortunately, many of the products picnickers and grillers purchase are far from vegan or vegetarian.

If the weather’s nice, you’ll probably want to be outside grilling some kabobs with tofu, onion and other veggies, or perhaps some seasoned portabellas or homemade bean burgers. However, should rain be expected where you live (it is here in the ‘Burgh!), break out the waffle iron, pull out a few good vegan waffle recipes, and invite a few friends over. You can even throw one the morning after the big barbecue. Just keep the firecrackers away from the hot waffle iron…