The Edgy Veg Awards have begun, which means it’s time for foodies across the Macedon Ranges to vote with their taste buds for their favourite plant-based dish.
Organised by the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group’s (MRSG) Veg Action team, the Australia-first competition runs until Tuesday, April 26 as part of this year’s Autumn Festival.
Thirteen cafes in the shire will serve up the vego and vegan eats submitted to the competition, and with 18 dishes in total, residents have their work cut out for them to award the title of most delicious feed.
Veg Action Group leader Claire Rowlands said the competition was aimed at promoting “more veg, more often”, for health, the environment, and animal welfare, supporting local businesses at the same time.
“We’re trying to support cafes to try new things, to try plant-based food, to encourage people to eat more veg when they’re out and we’re also supporting them by encouraging customers to go and purchase the dish,” Ms Rowlands said.
“It also gives customers the opportunity to try a plant-based dish made by a professional, to see how delicious it can be, and then think about how they are eating and how they could incorporate a bit more plant-based food into their lifestyles.”
To put a cherry on top of the vegan cake, every time a customer rates a dish they go in the running to win a weekend away at Harpsichord House in Kyneton.
Follow the Edgy Veg Trail Map through the shire to discover a mouth watering meat-free meal.
“You can have a really dramatic impact on emissions by changing your diet and it’s just small things,” Ms Rowlands said.
“You don’t have to all become vegan, or have a plant-based diet, but just by doing a small thing like switching out one meal, or two meals or three meals a week with plant-based food can have a huge impact.”
Details: veg.mrsg.org.au/edgy-veg-awards
