Past Award Winners
2017 Awards
2017 CHEF OF THE YEAR:
Chef Evan Elsberry, Evan's Kitchen- 6 years Enthusiastic Partnership; Most Extensive Vegan Chef Challenge Menu; Most Morning Show Segments
SPECIAL AWARD:
CHEF RAPHAEL KENDALL- 7 years Enthusiastic Participation; Annual Vegan Halloween Events + Beer/ Wine Pairing Dinners
EVAN'S KITCHEN: Best Overall Menu + 1st Place Brunch (Carrot Cake Pancakes); 1st Place Entrees (Spinach-Artichoke Lasagna; Eggplant Parmesan); Most Creative Soup (Clam-less Chowder)
MAYAHUEL: Best Vegan Challenge 5-Course Menu (Watermelon Drink, Sikil P'ak, Taco Dorado de Papa, Tacos de Nopales, Caramelized Plantains)
EL PAPAGAYO: Vegans' Favorite Mexican Dining; Most Creative Overall Menu (Mango-Spinach Salad; Vegan Menudo Soup; Soychorizo Tacos w/ Grilled Pineapple; Deep-Fried Chimichangas w/ Chocolate, Strawberries & Bananas)
REVOLUTION WINERY & KITCHEN: 1st Place Appetizers-Creativity & Presentation (Smoked Carrot Lox Tartine; Vegan Charcuterie); 1st Place Entree (Vegan Lasagna); Sacramento Vegan Award-Dessert (Apple Crisp w/ Ice Cream)
KASBAH: 1st Place Entree (Seitan Gyro); 1st Place Salad-Creativity & Presentation (Autumn Salad)
LOU'S SUSHI: Sacramento's Favorite Vegan Sushi; 1st Place Entree-Creativity & Presentation (6-Piece Vegan Nigiri) Best Place to Go on a Vegan Date (Sacramento)
EASTsmf: Sacramento Vegan Award: 1st Place Entree - (Butternut & Delicata Squash, Kale, Shitake Mushrooms,Mushroom Gravy, Quinoa)
THE PATRIOT: Outstanding Entree- Taste & Presentation (Carrot Pasta w/ Carrot Ribbons, Roasted Carrots & Carrot Stracciatella Sauce)
MESA MERCADO: Outstanding Entree-Creativity (Chile en Nogada~ poblano chili w/ fruits, nuts, herbs, creamy white walnut sauce, finished w/ red raspberry sauce & pomegranate seeds)
BRODERICK ROADHOUSE: 1st Place Sandwich (Vegan Portabella Reuben)
PHO FRESH: Best 'New Find' for Vegan-Friendly Dining; 1st Place Soup (Braised Tofu Noodle Soup; Vegan Pho); 1st Place Appetizer-Creativity (Tofu Belly Tacos & Basil Popcorn Tofu)
FEDERALIST PUBLIC HOUSE: 1st Place Vegan Pizza (Signature Wood Fired Pizza; Freedom Pie & Pizzetta)
BUFFALO PIZZA & ICE CREAM CO.: 'Can't Believe It's Vegan' Award; 1st Place Brunch (Vegan Breakfast Pizza)
CAPITOL GARAGE: Diner's Favorite Appetizer (Buffalo Fried Tofu); Organizer's Favorite Brunch (Pancakes & Veggie-Sweet Potato Hash)
THE RIND: Sacramento Vegan Award: Favorite Sandwich (Veggie Sandwich)
THE PORCH: Best Dessert-Taste & Presentation (Pumpkin Cake w/ Cream Cheeze Frosting); Best Destination Restaurant for Vegan Desserts; Best Destination Restaurant for Vegan Comfort Food; Diners' Vegan Challenge Favorite-Battered Vegan 'Fish Fry' Platter
ZEST KITCHEN: Favorite Organic Vegan Cafe; Most Creative Dessert-(Candy Corn Cheezecake)
LA COSECHA: Dessert-Creativity (Coconut Pudding & Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Strips)
GABRIEL AIELLO/ MEATLESS MONDAYS-MIDTOWN: Best Vegan Meatless Monday Meal Deal (Fry Bread Tacos)
JD's BAKERY & CAFE: Best 'New Find' for Vegan-Friendly Dining (Rocklin)
CIELITO LINDO MEXICAN GASTRONOMY: Delicious & Healthy [Authentic Mexican] Vegan Options
NECTAR CAFE: 'Auburn's Destination Restaurant for Vegan Eats'; (Diner's Favorites: Tempeh Reuben, Enchiladas, Vegan Chorizo Tacos & all varieties of Vegan Cheezecakes)
VEG CAFE: Favorite Organic Vegan Asian Cuisine
SACRAMENTO VEGAN AWARDS: Pam Giarrizzo
1st Place Appetizer: Hook & Ladder-Fried Cauliflower w/ Romesco
Favorite Dessert: Revolution Winery & Kitchen-Apple Crisp w/ Vanilla Ice Cream
Favorite Soup: Evan's-Clamless Chowder
Favorite Brunch item: Evan's-Carrot Cake Pancakes
1st Place Entree: EASTsmf - Butternut & Delicata Squash, Kale, Shitake Mushrooms, Mushroom Gravy, Quinoa
Favorite Sandwich: The Rind-Veggie Sandwich
Best New Find: Buffalo Pizza
WINNERS BY CATEGORY:
Best OVERALL MENU: (TIE): Evan's & Mayahuel
Most Creative Overall Menu: El Papagayo
Main Entree: (3-way TIE): Kasbah-Vegan Gyro; Revolution Wines-Lasagna; Evan's-lasagna & eggplant parmesan;
Main Entree- Creativity & Presentation: Lou's Sushi -6 pc. Nigiri
Most Creative Description for Main Entree: Mesa Mercado
Best Soups: (TIE): Pho Fresh-Braised Tofu Soup & Vegan Pho; El Papagayo-Vegan Menudo
Most Creative Soup: Evan's Clam-less Chowder
Best Salad: Hook & Ladder
Salad-Creativity & Presentation: Kasbah
Best Appetizer: 1. The Cellar: Mushrooms 2. Capitol Garage: Buffalo fried tofu
Most Creative Appetizer: (TIE): Revolution Wines-Carrot Lox/ Charcuterie; Pho Fresh- Tofu Belly Tacos and spicy tofu
Best Brunch: (TIE): Evan's Kitchen-Brunch Menu; Buffalo Pizza-Vegan Breakfast Pizza
Organizer's Favorite Brunch: Capitol Garage-Pancakes; Veggie-Sweet Potato Hash
Best Dessert: (TIE): Porch-Pumpkin Cake; Cellar - Cheesecakes & Cookie;
Most Creative Dessert: (TIE): Zest Kitchen-Candy Corn Cheesecake; La Cosecha-Coconut Pudding
Best Date Nite: Lou's (Sac) & The Cellar (Folsom) & Hook & Ladder (Sacramento)
Best Place to take a Non-Vegan: Lou's & Porch
Best 'New Finds' 2017: Cantina Alley (Midtown) & Pho Fresh (Rancho Cordova); JD's Bakery & Cafe (Rocklin)
Friendliest Wait-Staff: The Cellar & Cantina Alley (Aaron Van Esquivel)
Most Votes & Comments Submitted: The Cellar, followed by Pho Fresh, Revolution, Hook & Ladder
Featured Participating Venues: Thank you for your participation in Vegan Chef Challenge 2017
The Golden Bear
Metro Kitchen & Drinkery
Mylapore
Nixtaco
Nourish Health Bar & Cafe
Pho Vegan
Pushkin's Restaurant
Sun & Soil Juice Co.
Thai Basil