Welcome to the 2nd Durham Bull City Vegan Chef Challenge!

On this page, you will find details about Durham’s chef challenge, such as where to eat, what to eat, when to eat, and how to vote.

You may now vote for your favorites!  Vote here.

Building on the success of the 2010 Bull City Vegan Challenge and the popularity of Durham’s Fiction Kitchen vegan brunch series, where 100+ people lined up rain or shine for veganized biscuits/gravy, “eggs” benedict, and more, the Bull City Vegan Challenge (BC/VC) is back – this time for brunch.   As with the 2010 challenge, local Durham chefs will compete this October to create the best brunch; the public dines then votes. Pictures of dishes are encouraged –  post your photos on our Facebook page.

2012 Participating Restaurants

There are 6 competing restaurants, each offering a brunch option.  To learn more about the chef, the dish, times available,and price, click on the individual links.  You may also see a nice summary here on Carpe Durham!

1. Alivia’s Durham Bistro
2. Bull Street Gourmet & Market
3. Daisy Cakes
4. Rue Cler
5. The Refectory Cafe
6. Scratch Bakery

 

 

The Public aka YOU

Here is how you can participate:

1. Dine at each restaurant
2. Vote for the best dishes on a survey
3. Be entered to win a prize package including a copy of the popular Vegan Brunch cookbook

In early November, votes will be tallied and winners announced. Restaurants with winning dishes will receive a certificate from BC/VC for display, a copy of the cookbook Vegan Brunch, and, if the last contest is any indication, many new loyal customers.

Rules for Chefs

To make things more fun (and challenging), the last challenge outlawed grilled portobellos and vegetable platters due to their frequent appearance as default vegan options.  The brunch challenge similarly has a few stipulations for brunch entries:

• Each entry must have a sweet and savory component; for example, pancakes or waffles would need an accompanying side;
• Salads and lentils aren’t brunch;
• No oatmeal, granola, fruit plates, or hashbrowns

Beyond this, the only limit is each chef’s imagination.

 

We’re ready!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteers

Eleni Vlachos moved to the Cleveland-Holloway neighborhood of Durham, NC from Seattle in 2005 and was voted the “Neighborhood Hero” in 2007 for working, along with other neighborhood advocates, to revitalize the neighborhood. In addition to being half of the indie-rock duo Beloved Binge, Eleni created two documentary films: Seeing Through the Fence (2008) and Backpack Drumset (2009). She toured for over a year presenting her first documentary, which explores the role our food plays in society, at over 100 locations, primarily universities, nationwide.

Lena Kruth  decided to adopt a vegan lifestyle 7 years ago. As a nurse practitioner, she understands the health benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet. Lena has enjoyed volunteering for Triangle Meatless Mondays by recruiting participating restaurants.

Julie Sheremeta recently moved to the Triangle area in 2011.  She is currently working on vegan restaurant recruitment and outreach events.  Before moving, she volunteered with animal rescue groups – including fostering and transporting!

…and Lindsay, Jenn, Dragana, Jennifer, and Greg!

 

In-Kind Sponsors:

Triangle Meatless Mondays is a local chapter of the international initiative “Meatless Monday” to encourage healthier and more sustainable eating, one step at a time. The program philosophy is one of choice: participants choose whether or not they want to go meatless on Mondays. To make the choice easier, they are given the option to select a satisfying meatless dish – in this case, vegan — at 20+ local participating restaurants. Over 800 people in the Triangle have pledged to go meatless on Mondays.

www.trianglemm.com

 

The Durham Farmers’ Market is held in the heart of downtown Durham, with a community of farmers, growers and crafters. They are strongly committed to local products: every item at the market was produced by the people selling it, and within 70 miles. Like small farmers and crafters everywhere, they believe in raising food sustainably and being good stewards of the environment.

www.durhamfarmersmarket.com

 

 

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