NYC Wine & Food Festival Inspires Chefs to Explore Plants With New Award

The NYC Wine & Food Festival is introducing a new award to inspire chefs to incorporate plant-based protein into their dishes at the annual Burger Bash competition. Vegan cheese brand Violife is set to make a debut at the festival, showcasing the possibilities of dairy-free cheese in a custom plant-based burger. The festival aims to raise funds for New Yorkers facing severe illness and has raised over $14.8 million for charitable causes over the years.

The Powered by Plants Award requires burger entries to contain a minimum of 25 percent plant-based or alternative protein in the patty, along with plant-based condiments or cheese. This addition to the festival lineup is expected to encourage culinary creativity among chefs and highlight the growing trend towards plant-based dining. Violife's partnership with chefs and appearances at food events aim to promote the benefits of vegan cheese and provide consumers with a variety of dairy-free options in their diet.