Wilmington welcomes its first Vegan Chef Challenge

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– The Vegan Chef Challenge makes its debut in Wilmington this month, running from August 1st through August 31st.

Many local restaurants are participating, each crafting new vegan dishes for you to try and vote on.

By the end of the month, chefs will be recognized with awards based on customer feedback for their plant-based creations.

One of the restaurants participating is True Blue Butcher and Table in Mayfaire.

Culinary Director Nick Bilello shared his excitement about the challenge:

“It’s kind of near and dear to my heart because my wife and daughter are both vegan. We practice veganism at home, so it’s been a fun challenge as a chef to create dishes without animal products,” said Bilello.

Bilello and his team at True Blue Butcher and Table are eager to show Wilmington what they’re capable of.

“We’ve got a talented group of professional chefs who are excited to push boundaries and create amazing, innovative dishes to impress Wilmington,” Bilello added.

In Downtown Wilmington, The Little Dipper is also joining the challenge.

Co-owner Jason McGhinnis sees this as an opportunity for growth:

“We’ve had a great response from the vegan community with our existing menu, so we wanted to offer something new and different while participating in this month’s challenge,” said McGhinnis.

McGinnis hopes the challenge will draw both new and loyal customers into The Little Dipper:

“My wife and I took over this place a couple of years ago, but it’s been around for nearly twenty years. We’re grateful for everyone who has supported us and hope to continue seeing familiar and new faces,” McGhinnis shared.

The challenge has officially begun! Be sure to try the new vegan dishes around town and cast your votes.

Click here for the full list of restaurants participating in the challenge.