On-the-Go Green Carts

Sweetflow taking a nap
Sweetflow taking a nap

We’ve been fans of On the Fly’s Smartkarts for some time, and now, they have company. The other evening we spotted SweetGreen’s adorable Sweetflow mobile parked outside of E Street Cinema (after the Food, Inc. premiere) serving up their addictive tangy frozen yogurt.

The environmentally friendly, custom-built vehicle doesn’t have a generator, so it runs on 8o% less gas than a traditional ice-cream truck.

Sweetflow yogurt is made with Stoneyfield Farms Plain fat-free organic yogurt and many of the toppings are organic or local. And just like at the standing Sweetgreen locations, all the spoons, cups and lids doled out at the mobile are 100% biodegradable.

Owner Nicolas Jammet was manning the cart with a pal, and suggested we follow them on Twitter to find out where they can be found around town. Starting in July, the truck will have a fixed schedule during weekdays

If you’re willing to venture further afield, the Local Sixfortyseven cart, which was recently featured in The Washington Post, offers a seasonal menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. Husband-and-wife team Derek and Amanda Luhowiak serve everything from buckwheat pancakes with blackberry-rosemary syrup to burgers made with organic, grass-fed beef and locally made cheese.

You can find Local Sixfortyseven parked at the Centreville farmers market on Fridays from 3:30 to 6:30 and at the Winchester farmers market on Sundays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. For more info, email them at luhowiak@hotmail.com.

The Buzz About Bread & Brew

Tired of the same old BonBellyCosi routine? Take heart. Bread & Brew, which opened at 1247 20th Street in mid January, elevates lunchtime options to a new level by being one of only four DC-area restaurants certified by the Green Restaurant Association.

Owner Teri VanGoethem has incorporated earth friendly practices throughout her new casual dining spot including biodegradable to-go containers and catering packaging. There’s also a chandelier made from recycled beer bottles and reusable water bottles that can be purchased and refilled every time you come in.

The menu features artisan pizzas, organic espresso and coffee, sandwiches, quiche, and soups made with fresh, natural ingredients from local purveyors like Hawthorne Bakery (Severna Park) and Counter Culture.

Buzz heard on DonRockwell and other foodie blogs suggests the food is tasty, if a bit more expensive than some other nearby lunch spots that don’t source locally or emphasize green practices.