Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/ WBZ NewsRadio
NEWTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Restaurants around Newton kicked off the city's first Vegan Chef Challenge on May 1.
The program prompts restaurants that do not usually serve vegan options to offer new plant-based dishes.
The California-based non-profit Vegan Outreach founded the initiative in North Carolina 14 years ago, but 2024 marks the first year of Newton's participation.
"Getting into restaurants and shops that aren't already focusing on plant-based items was a really important part of us trying to figure out how to run this challenge in Newton," said local organizer Mary Fitzgerald. She added the "vast majority" of chefs seemed open to the idea.
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18 Newton restaurants joined the challenge. The restaurants run the gamut from fine dining to pubs and taverns.
Locals have until May 31 to try the new plant-based options and vote for their favorite dish.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@ChaielSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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