The New Deal Cafe recently announced the BIG NEWS that starting July 1, a new restaurant contractor will begin operating the dining part of the now-23-year old coop.. (Click here to read the announcement if you missed it.) Bar and stage operations will remain under the guidance of Amethyst Dwyer.

The new contractors are Michael and Leah Moon, who currently operate the very successful company DC Vegan Catering, and also have a retail operation called Pianta in TasteMakers, a food hall near Catholic University in D.C. (2800 10th Street, N.E.)

Call it vegan or plant-based, but either way it sounded unfamiliar to me, so I joined Heather Brooks and Nancy Melandry on an outing to TasteMakers to try the menu in person. Michael explained that the items on this menu (primarily for a lunch crowd) will be expanded on at the New Deal to include, for example, entrees and bar food.

Our picks – the Pulled BBQ Jackfruit, Beet Burger and Meaty Ball – were all winners, confirming what I’d heard from others who’ve tried Michael and Leah’s food and returned to Greenbelt raving about it.

So if you’re curious about the food that’s coming to the Cafe (and who isn’t?) DO visit Pianta to try the menu! No need to wait until July.