BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It’s time for plants to take center stage.
The inaugural Lehigh Valley Vegan Chef Challenge will kick off Monday.
For one month, restaurants throughout the area will offer up special dishes — sans meat, dairy or other animal products — and diners will be able to rate their favorites.
The event will run Sept. 15-Oct. 15. The champions will be chosen in late October or early November.Lehigh Valley Vegan Chef Challenge
The event will run Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
The champions will be chosen in late October or early November.
Participating will be Aman's Artisan Indian Cuisine, Apollo Grill, Black & Blue, Bolete, Bub’s Breads, Curious Goods at The Bake Oven Inn, Da Judah-S Kitchen and Daddy’s Place Restaurant.
Also, Forks Mediterranean Deli, Gyro Concept (Bethlehem & Easton), Stations Cafe, Swift at The Wilbur Mansion, Switchback Pizza Company, Tapestry Lounge & Cafe, Terra Cafe and Vault Brewing.
There is room for more, organizers said.
Butterhead Kitchen, a popular spot that holds vegan cooking classes and events; Allentown’s Fresh Tofu Inc.; and Sato Salon and Spa Organics are sponsoring the competition.
'Rising demand for vegan cuisine'
The challenge stems from nonprofit operation Vegan Outreach, which has spread the word on animal rights and plant-based living for more than 30 years via pamphlet distributions at colleges and universities, its “10 Weeks to Vegan” program and other methods.
In 2024, 43 cities joined in on the Vegan Chef Challenges.
“VCCs have become popular events around the country as they celebrate the creativity of local chefs in crafting tasty vegan dishes for diners to try."Assistant Vegan Chef Challenge Coordinator Roberta Celebrano
“VCCs have become popular events around the country as they celebrate the creativity of local chefs in crafting tasty vegan dishes for diners to try," Assistant Vegan Chef Challenge Coordinator Roberta Celebrano said in an email.
That highlights "the rising demand for vegan cuisine and often leading to permanent vegan options added to menus,” Celebrano said.
Organizer Marybelle Fayad, who also is vice president of the board for Animal Defenders Greater Lehigh Valley, is a self-described “passionate vegan, community builder and changemaker based in Pennsylvania.”
According to Vegan Outreach, Fayad has made it a mission “to spotlight the creativity of local chefs, prove that vegan food is anything but boring and motivate restaurants to keep plant-based options on the menu for good.”
That's all done in the name of orchestrating change for animals, the environment, and local communities.
Menus already popping up online
A few menus have already popped up on the LV Vegan Chef Challenge site.
Da Judah-S Kitchen will offer up peanut soup, fried rice, pumpkin soup, green gram samosas, tamarind juice and beet juice.
Daddy’s Place will feature a red kidney bean dip with walnuts, a lentil and rice moujadara, and baklawa.
Forks Mediterranean Deli will showcase an eggplant moujadara, spinach pie and a spicy vegan kibbe wrap.
Gyro Concept has a taverna platter — with vegan meatballs, roasted red pepper hummus, fries and a Greek salad — as well as a garden bowl and an Aegean wrap in Easton.
Also, and a Mediterranean bowl, Agora wrap and Hellenic platter — with vegan meatballs, vegan kabob, mixed greens, beets, rice, pita, garlic and eggplant dip.
Over at Stations Café, guests can enjoy a green coconut curry soup, ginger sesame tofu, Banh Xeo (a type of Vietnamese crepe) and a nut bar.
Swift at The Wilbur Mansion has listed a vegan panzanella, a penne dish and sorbet.
Vault Brewing will feature a Solly Farms corn and zucchini fritter, grilled Abe’s Acres stuffed sweet potato and a mango sorbet.
Interested eaters are encouraged to check the website throughout the challenge to see what’s on the menu and, of course, vote for the best plant-based cuisine.
