The Contra Costa Vegan Chef Challenge is a month-long event showcasing new vegan menu items created by chefs at local restaurants. The dining public is encouraged to patronize as many restaurants as possible—typically 10 to 30 take part—and to vote for their favorite dishes. At the end, the votes are tallied and winning participants are recognized at an awards ceremony.

Find a participating restaurant at www.theveganchefchallenge.com/contra-costa