I recently attended, the much anticipated, The Seed Expo. It was their fourth annual expo and conference, featuring over 100 exhibitors, world-renowned speakers, doctors and nutritionists, as well as inspirational vegan champion athletes. Top chefs gave cooking demonstrations and various workshops were held throughout the day. What I love most about The Seed Expo is what makes it unique amongst other food expos and events. The Seed focuses exclusively on promoting a healthy, compassionate and eco-friendly lifestyle. All of the exhibitors and speakers are there to promote cruelty free living and how rewarding (and delicious!) it can be. This was my second expo I’ve attended and I was happy to see some old favorites and meet many new ones. Here is my roundup of my top 5 favorite exhibitors from this year’s The Seed Expo.

5 Favorite Exhibitors From The Seed

Havyn Spa & Skin

Now, most attendees of The Seed go with the intention of eating incredible vegan food and treats, but forget about the additional vegan friendly products, such as make up and skin care lines, that I found equally as memorable. And Havyn Spa is certainly one I won’t forget. Nikki N. Carrington, President and Chief Executive Officer of HavynSpa and Founder of Havyn Skin, lured me in with her luscious moisturizers, cleansers, and more. All of her products are organic, and meant to hydrate and heal skin effectively on a consistent basis, without the use of harsh chemicals. Havyn’s skin care line is plant-based and made by hand with pure and organic oils, essential oils, and high quality ingredients. I’ve particularly been enjoying the blemished moisturizer, which leaves my skin feel soft and clear.

Regal Vegan

One of the first stops I made was at the Regal Vegan booth. They were sampling their three delicious spreads; Faux Gras, Basilicotta, and their new Superfood packed Pesto, as well as selling prepared dishes, which each feature their spreads. I tried a “Mozzarella” pesto sandwich, that tasted even better than the real thing. All of their spreads can be found in various health stores in the city, and their food can be found at Smorgasburg every Saturday and Sunday 11a-6p.

The Seed Expo

Pony Cakes

I’m not a huge fan of sweets, but when desserts strike that balance of sweet in savory all in one bite, I can’t say no. That’s why when I saw the Sunset Ponycake, with black sesame, chocolate, tahini, and orange blossom, I had to try it. It was just as crazy, weirdly, insanely, delicious as it sounds! And it was the perfect bite sized treat to enjoy while walking around The Seed Expo. I could see these being the perfect (not to) sweet end to your day as well. Ponycakes are gluten-free, vegan cookie sandwich, handmade with organic ingredients in a Brooklyn facility. They pack “sophisticated flavors in a fun-to-eat, refrigerated treat.” Currently available in three flavors: Blueberry Unicorn, Sunset Pony, and Midnight Pony.

Tree Line Cheese

Vegan cheese is one of the trendiest foods in the plant-based community right now. And I’m not talking about those processed, packaged brands with questionable ingredients. I’m talking about hand-made, nut based “cheeses” that are creamy, tangy, and even melt like the real thing! There were a couple of vendors at The Seed Expo testing their cheeses, but Treeline stood out amongst all. All of their products are gluten free, dairy free(duh), zero cholesterol, non-GMO, probiotic, and raw! All of their cheeses are made of pure, wholesome cashew nuts, acidophilus culture, salt and pepper. My favorite was the Herb-Garlic French-Style soft cheese. Most products can be found in your neighborhood health food store or co-op and even Whole Foods has begun carrying it.

Sweet Maresa’s at The Seed Expo

Weeks before The Seed Expo, Pas, The Seed founder, really hyped up Sweet Maresa’s claiming her macarons to be “the best he’s ever had!” I was certainly anxious to try these. What I noticed first about her treats was the incredible amount of detail put into each macaron. Yes these were bite sized treats, but I also saw them each as a unique and beautiful piece of art, many adorned with edible flowers. So beautiful I almost didn’t want to eat it. But I did. And it was so worth it. I highly recommend any of the flavors, but I particularly enjoyed the S’macaron, a s’mores macaron. Sweet Maresa’s is also known for her éclairs, cakes, and many more sweet delicacies.

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About The Author

Resident Tourist

Born here. Lives here and never leaving. The nicest person to ever not speak in public. Loves New York