Two Mill District Restaurants are Competing in the Month-long August Twin Cities Vegan Challenge

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The champion of the month-long competition will be crowned at Twin Cities Veg Fest at Harriet Island Regional Park on Sunday, September 22

Twenty-six Twin Cities chefs will add all-new plant-based dishes to their menus this August as part of the 6th annual Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge. The competition, organized by local non-profit Compassionate Action for Animals, invites food lovers of all dietary preferences to explore vegan cuisine and rate the dishes online for a chance to win prizes.

Karee Curry from SawatdeeLaura Matanah, Executive Director of Compassionate Action for Animals, notes, “The Twin Cities Vegan Chef Challenge makes it exciting to try new dishes that are good for you, your taste buds, and the planet. It’s an opportunity for everyone, vegan and non-vegan alike, to discover how fun and delicious plant-based food can be. I’m proud that these 26 Twin Cities restaurants are helping to show that vegan food is for everyone to enjoy.” 

Two of the participating restaurants are located in the Mill District – Umbra and Sawatdee Thai Cuisine. We spoke with them to learn more about their offerings and the festival.

Cyndy Harrison, Owner/GM of Sawatdee Thai Cuisine, is proud to offer Vegan Yellow Curry with Fresh Tofu.  She told us that “Karee Curry is the Thai name and the dish has s a vegan curry paste, with coconut milk, fresh firm tofu, peppers, carrot and peapods. It is served with white rice. Visit us at 607 Washington Avenue S in August to try the entrée – we hope you’ll love it and vote for Sawatdee and this dish in the challenge.”

Chef’s Choice Gazpacho from Umbra

Ackee Coconut Pappardelle from Umbra

Umbra's Blue Pea Flower Tapioca Pudding

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Umbra is offering a three-course vegan meal. The first course is Chef’s Choice Gazpacho soup, followed by Ackee Coconut Pappardelle, and finally a Blue Pea Flower Tapioca Pudding. Executive Chef Kevin Aho elaborated on the pappardelle, “I wanted to create a vegan dish with no meat substitute. A dish just to celebrate the diversity of flora. This dish combines pappardelle from Italy with ackee and scotch bonnet peppers from Jamaica. We welcome diners to visit us at 708 S 3rd Street to try this menu and to vote for Umbra in the Vegan Chef Challenge.”

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The 26 participating restaurants are:

• All Love This Burger (ALTBurger)
• Barbette
• The Block Food + Drink
• Book Club
• Duke’S on 7
• Gigi’s Cafe
• Hard Times Cafe
• heal mpls
• Herbie Butcher’s Fried Chicken
• Hi Flora!
• Himalayan Restaurant
• The Howe Daily Kitchen & Bar
• Lulu EthioVegan Cuisine
• Nala’s Kitchen
• Namaste Cafe
• Pat’s Tap
• Pinoli
• Pub 819
• Reverie Cafe + Bar
• Sawatdee Thai Cuisine
• Stanley’s NE Bar Room
• Thai Garden
• Tori Ramen
• Trio Plant-Based
• Umbra Minneapolis
• Vitalist by Sarah H

Food enthusiasts can follow contest updates and discover new dishes on Facebook and Instagram.

Diners are encouraged to cast their vote at exploreveg.org/tcveganchef and post photos of their meals online for a chance to win gift cards and restaurant merchandise.