Vegan Chef Challenge in Santa Barbara

Vegan Chef Challenge to Return to Santa Barbara in April, Expands to Oxnard and Ventura

Open call to area chefs to join the challenge

Following last year’s successful competition, Santa Barbara Vegan Chef Challenge invites area restaurants to join the 2020 Challenge, running April 1st – 30th. The fun, friendly competition is a month-long event where participating chefs vie to create delicious vegan dishes for all patrons to enjoy. This year, the competition is open to chefs in Oxnard and Ventura. “Our goal is to promote awareness of the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle while encouraging more healthful vegan menu options at local restaurants,” said Beth Wettstein, Vegan Chef Challenge organizer and 10-year vegan. “We hope to encourage everyone, not just vegans, to try out a dish.”

To participate, restaurants must agree to provide a complete vegan dining experience with clearly labeled options. To be considered vegan, ingredients must be free of dairy products, eggs, cheese, butter, meat, fish, poultry, whey, casein, gelatin, and glycerin (unless vegetable-sourced). Restaurants are also required to offer at least three new menu items throughout the month that are different from vegan options found on their regular menu and are not available year-round. Oil-free, low-fat, and gluten-free options are also encouraged, but not required.

The participation donation is $100 per chef, those registering before March 4th save $50. The last day to register is March 18, 2020. Entry fees are used to promote the event. Members of the Santa Barbara Vegan Chef Challenge organizing committee are volunteers and do not receive compensation. Categories include appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Chefs may choose which categories to enter.

Awards will be based on diner comments, photos, and the dining experiences of the Vegan Chef Challenge organizing team members. Chefs will be recognized at a special ceremony in May. To register visit www.theveganchefchallenge.com/santa-barbara. Voting begins April 1st.

About The Vegan Chef Challenge 

Vegan Chef Challenge started in Sacramento eight years ago and has since spread to other cities, including Seattle, WA; Providence, RI; and Durham, NC. The Challenge was brought about to not only show the community how amazing vegan food is, but to bring the non-vegan and vegan communities together to share great food. It is also a way to show local restaurants the benefits of offering vegan food on their menus. The competition seeks to encourage chefs, in a fun and exciting way, to push their creativity when creating their menus. 

About Vegan Outreach

Founded in 1993, Vegan Outreach is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Davis, Calif. working to end violence toward animals. Vegan Outreach seeks a future when sentient animals are no longer exploited as commodities. Vegan Outreach focuses on reaching the people who are motivated enough to make changes now and to provide additional encouragement. By steadily increasing the number of vegans, the organization is laying the groundwork to more quickly reach a tipping point.