I have been making my way around the Twin Cities to try some of the restaurants that are participating in the Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge this year and it has been a blast so far!
The challenge is going for the entire month of August and is organized by Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA). Check out their event pages for a list of all of the participating restaurants!
This event is a great way to show some support for restaurants, and the demand for vegan dishes. A few restaurants may not be focused on offering vegan items at all times, so I hope to see some of these dishes do well enough to consider integrating them into the every-day menus for the ones that have come up with concoctions just for this event!
Shish: Falafel Avocado Burger
Shish has a Falafel Burger with avocado that was on point! The comination of toppings and sauces along with the avocado and fresh falafel is drool-worthy to say the least. Their garlic sauce is also vegan and is the perfect pairing to sweet potato fries!
They have several vegan options on their every-day menu, and a few vegetarian ones that can also be easily veganized.
Tiny Diner: Singapore Noodles (with Tofu)
Tiny Diner is has a great little spot in Powderhorn with a patio that is perfect for the current dining climate. It is covered by an array of solar panels and they have gardens surrounding the restaurant.
The Singapore Noodles are a staple on their menu and are a flavorful “dry” curry noodles with shishito peppers, asparagus, snap pease and microgreans. I added tofu.
Parkway Pizza: Farmer Pizza & Vegan Artichoke Dip
Parkway Pizza has a great Vegan Artichoke Dip on their menu! I had the pleasure of trying it at their new Roseville location. It has a little kick to it, and I loved the flavor and consistency, even though I was never a fan of creamy dips prior to going vegan. I would recommend this for anyone that is missing out on this type of indulgent appetizer!
I will have to make a return visit to try the Vegan Farmer Pizza as it was not available on my first trip, unfortunately. The Vegavore was a treat, however. It is loaded with meats from The Herbivorous Butcher!
PLNT PSD: Paradise Bowl
The Paradise Bowl is fresh and loaded with ALL the fixings that PLNT BSD has to offer! It is a great option for this warm summer weather this year and is a great way to start your day with some plant-based nutrition!
They also have a protein-filled Power Bowl and Berry Bliss bowl on their menu regularly.
I will be trying to get to more of the participants as the month goes on an add them to the list here! Hope you get a chance to indulge as well! Let me know what your favorites are and make sure to vote for them as part of the challenge as well! Happy Vegging!
Namaste Cafe: Chiya Chili Potatoes & Jackfruit Bamboo-shoot Curry
The dishes at Namaste Cafe were flavorful and unique. I loved the crispy potatoes and how they were glazed in the sweet and spicy sauce. I would go back for those in particular.
The jackfruit curry was also tasty and satisfying. I had not been to Namaste prior to the event, so I was glad to have the extra incentive to try them out and I am sure I will be back at some point in the not-too-distant future!
Root to Rise: Jackfruit Wings
I made a somewhat impromptu visit to Root to Rise and was blown away by the one jackfruit wing they were able to give me! Note, order ahead if you have your heart set on food! They have a loyal following and the dishes are beautiful, flavorful and of the highest quality!
I had tried Root to Rise at Vegfest in the past, but this visit really blew me away! The jackfruit wing was the perfect tenderness, great crunchy coating and the sauce was perfect as well! I am on their bandwagon in full force!
Great work Heather! I hope this one sticks around!
The other dishes were also fantastic! We made up a pile of what they could spare us that wasn’t already spoken for by the pre-order masses! It was wonderful and hit the spot! I will need to make the trek over the river to visit more often.
Who were your favorites of the challenge!? I would love to hear everyone’s experiences below!
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2 thoughts on “Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge 2020”
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Out of every place you have tried so far… Are you going to indulge us in what your favorite dish has been? 😛
I will place my vote they way that everyone else should 🙃😜