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Winners Announced for 2026 Central Long Island Vegan Chef Challenge; Winning Chefs Presented with Awards

By George Mcgregor
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Scenes from the Central Long Island Vegan Chef Challenge, which drew more than 400 votes from diners during the month-long event. From left, representatives of Rock n Roots display their award, participating diners enjoy vegan dishes at one of the challenge restaurants, and staff members at Phayathai pose with their award. Photo credit: Vegan Outreach.
Scenes from the Central Long Island Vegan Chef Challenge, which drew more than 400 votes from diners during the month-long event. From left, representatives of Rock n Roots display their award, participating diners enjoy vegan dishes at one of the challenge restaurants, and staff members at Phayathai pose with their award. Photo credit: Vegan Outreach.

KINGS PARK, NY – The month-long Central Long Island Vegan Chef Challenge has wrapped up and the winning chefs have been presented awards. Winners were chosen by Long Island residents who dined at the participating restaurants during the Challenge.

Over 400 votes were received for various chefs and dishes. There were also “super voters-” diners who ate at 3 or more Vegan Chef Challenge restaurants during the month of June. Voters were vegan, vegetarian, and meat-eaters. Their dining support enabled us to honor some wonderful local chefs.

Winner List:

  • Neighborhood Gem Award: 317 Main Street
  • Classic Italian Cuisine Award: Angelina’s Restaurant
  • Expanding Plant-Based Choices Award: C.P. La Manno’s Italian Restaurant
  • Comfort Food Excellence Award: Drifters Kitchen & Bar
  • Garden Fresh Award: Flora’s Pizza Cafe
  • Creative Cuisine Award: Flora’s Wine Bar & Restaurant
  • Creative Crepe Award: Fresco Creperie & Cafe – Long Beach
  • Signature Crepe Award: Fresco Creperie & Cafe – Williston Park
  • Mediterranean Tradition Award: Greek Island Diner
  • Mediterranean Excellence Award: L.I. Pita House
  • Vegan Baking Excellence Award: Mongo’s Coffee Roastery & Lounge
  • Cafe Innovation Award: Nautilus Roasting Co.
  • Diners’ Choice Award: New Wave Burrito Bar
  • Worth the Ride from Anywhere! Award: North Fork Chocolate & Eatery
  • Inspired Italian Cuisine Award: Pasta Pasta
  • Community Celebration Award: Pine Grove Inn Restaurant
  • Creative Mexican Cuisine Award: Ruta Oaxaca (Woodbury)
  • Gastropub Innovation Award: Sapsuckers Hops & Grubs
  • Scratch Made Excellence Award: Secret Vegan Kitchen
  • Sweet Success Award: Shuga Pie Shop
  • Artisan Italian Cuisine Award: Sotto Luna
  • Plant-Based Trailblazer Award: The Chef’s Pantry
  • Creative Pub Fare Award: The Pour Authority
  • Italian Innovation Award: Umberto’s of Sayville
  • Most Enthusiastic Chef Award: Wild Honey Restaurant

Vegans want more options, and restaurants want more customers-making the challenge a win-win. Former chef, Alex Bury points out, “If a group of friends is planning a dinner out on the town, and one of them is vegan, the entire group will skip a restaurant without good vegan options.” 

The challenge social media pages will be running year-round, featuring more Vegan Chef Challenges in the region and celebrating the new vegan dishes from restaurants in the Central Long Island area.

The Vegan Chef Challenge invites diners to explore the many benefits of a plant-based diet by signing up for the free 10 Weeks to Vegan program.  This guided challenge gives people everything they need to start eating vegan. To learn more, please visit www.10weeks.org. For more information on the Central Long Island Vegan Chef Challenge please visit: veganchefchallenge.org/LongIsland

Vegan Outreach is an international nonprofit organization aiming to reduce animal suffering by promoting a vegan lifestyle through education and making vegan options more accessible.

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George Mcgregor

Mr. McGregor is our staff news reporter who focuses primarily on reviewing and editing (if necessary) all media alerts and press releases for Long Island Guide. Media advisories, alerts and press releases can be sent via this online form and, if approved, will be published free of charge. There is no guarantee your release will be published; inclusion is at the discretion of our editors. We receive hundreds of media advisories and news alerts per day and choose a select few for publication. Please see our editorial guidelines and terms of service.

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