Still in an age where the word "vegan" is generally thought to be synonymous with skinny, pasty-faced PETA sign toters, a fully vegan café celebrating a one-year anniversary in a city the size of Tacoma is a big deal. One might say the owners of Caffe Dei are living the dream. Co-owner Shuanna Holt works to educate people on what being vegan really entails. Dietary restrictions, environmental impact and, yes, animal rights may all be factors in going for a 100 percent meat-free lifestyle, but that doesn't have to mean plates of rabbit food, flavorless rice dishes or granola that looks and tastes like tree bark.

Caffe Dei will celebrate the one-year mark with its second annual Vegan BBQ Cookout on Friday, July 1.

Yes, that's right - a burgers-and-dogs-on-the-grill kind of barbeque at Caffe Dei.

Holt explains that vegan burgers and brats are made from both organic soy and wheat products that get spiced up. Throw in Organic Valley cheese, organic buns from Macrina Bakery, vegan potato salad and vegan desserts, and it might be enough to make this the healthiest barbeque around.

Since you'll already be at Caffe Dei, wash it down with iced espresso and coffees, summer fruit smoothies or $2.50 bottled microbrews like Black Toad, Full Sail IPA and Pale Ale, and Trippel and Summer Sault.

NOTE: There's been mention of street poi dancers, hula hoop performers and limbo.

Yep, sounds like summer.

[Caffe Dei, Vegan BBQ Cookout, Friday, July 1, 5-8 p.m., 2607 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2550]