Chicago Crowns Top Vegan Chefs

On Saturday, hundreds of hungry foodies converged upon the Funky Buddha Lounge in Chicago for the premiere of the Vegan Chef Showdown, during which a dozen chefs battled it out for the coveted title of Best Vegan Chef. By the end of the event, thousands of vegan food samples had been devoured and people began casting votes for their favorite dish.

The rules were simple: the dish had to be vegan and it had to incorporate delicious Upton’s Naturals gourmet seitan. Guests circled the lounge amid the colored lights and upbeat music, sampling Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza, “Beef” Curry, Jamaican Patties and more.

Winning by just two votes, The Rootsy Vegan’s “Rootsy Jerk Muffin,” a jerk-style seitan sautéed with cabbage and cornbread muffin crumbled on top, took home the grand prize. Coming in at a close second were Josh and Greg with their amazing Pesto Calzones. Third place went to Meagen and Blythe with an incredible “Cheese” and “Sausage” Ravioli dish. All the winners received gift cards to The Chicago Diner, El Nuevo Mexicano, ReUseIt.com, and more.