Veg It Up brings the vegan love to P.E.I. restaurants

Vegans can celebrate their own special menus at P.E.I. restaurants this week and everyone is invited.

Veg It Up will feature vegan dishes at more than a dozen restaurants across P.E.I. Sept. 23-25. The event is organized by Veg PEI, which started doing pot lucks at Charlottetown's Farm Centre in April, and has branched out into this new promotion.

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Veg It Up was created in response to other food events on the Island Burger Love, Porktober Fest, the Shellfish Festival which are meat-based, and left some vegans feeling excluded.

Meat eaters welcome

Organizer Hilary Wood said the great thing about Veg It Up is everyone can participate. You don't have to be a vegan to appreciate the great flavours on offer.

Wood said there has been terrific response from the restaurant community.

"Everyone is really excited," she said.

"A lot the restaurants really like the challenge. They like to see what they can come up with and create."

A vote on Facebook after the event will determine the best entre, best dessert, and most creative dish presented over the weekend.

Wood said she is not expecting huge turnouts but is looking to establish a base to grow from in future years.

There are at least 16 participating restaurants, but Wood said there is still time for more to join in.

• 4S Catering
• Beanz Espresso Bar & Caf
• Cedar's Eatery
• Dalvay by the Sea
• HopYard
• The Inn at St. Peters
• The Kettle Black
• The Kitchen Witch Tearoom & Country Crafts
• LOCAL 343
• The Mill in New Glasgow
• Namaste PEI
• The Pilot House
• Receiver Coffee Co.
• Splendid Essence
• The Thoughtful Squash
• Upstreet Craft Brewing

Veg PEI is also looking to put together a web site where vegans can explore what plant-based dishes P.E.I. restaurants have to offer year-round.

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