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
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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