Canmore Vegan Chef Challenge
Imagine this: a month-long food challenge in the Canadian Rockies where Canmore’s best restaurants are showcasing how vegan food can be just as exciting as anything else.
The first ever Canmore Vegan Chef Challenge kicks off on April 1, and will feature local favourites like Blondies Café, The Iron Goat, One98Eight, and Wagashi Tea House.
Organized by Vegan Outreach and the Rotary Club of Canmore, this is the first time this challenge has been held in Canada. For a town already known for its beautiful scenery, it feels very natural. Throughout the month, you’re invited to try a variety of vegan dishes and vote for your favourite.
Participating restaurants have spent the past few weeks refining their menus, testing new ways to create delicious meals.
Take One98Eight for example. Run by chef Anand Kelkar, they are known for their brunches and Asian fusion. They’ve reworked their breakfast bibimbap to be entirely vegan. For dinner, they’ve conjured up a coconut Thai curry with roasted peppers, cashews, and rice noodles. And for dessert they have been developing a mango coconut sorbet.
“We make 90 per cent of our things in house, so we can adapt to the best of our abilities,” says Kelkar. “Vegan dishes can be just as fulfilling. It doesn’t need to be expensive, and it doesn’t necessarily need to include tofu.”
Over at The Iron Goat, this challenge marks a different kind of first. Open since 2008, and rated number one on TripAdvisor in Canmore, this is their first time participating in a vegan event.
They’ve dreamed up a “Prix Fix” menu, featuring tofu, brussel sprouts, and a classic French poached pear dessert. Their main course takes inspiration from their popular Maple BBQ Salmon, which was already mostly vegan with the exception of the salmon. It’s a great way to show how naturally vegan food can fit into any menu.
That care and intention is what makes this challenge worth stopping by. With so many people shifting to veganism, events like this are important and reflect a change in how we think about food. Being the first in Canada, the event is truly something to get excited about.
“It’s the first in Canada and being in a mountain town what else do you need,” says Kelkar. “Come to the mountains, try the vegan challenge. Best of both worlds.”
Whether your diet is fully plant based, or you’re just curious about vegan food, this challenge gives you the chance to try something new.
