Last weekend, we had a team of wonderful volunteers travel to Austin to participate in the Lone Star Vegetarian Network's 20th Annual Vegan Chili Cook-off Festival.  Each year at the festival, vegetarian and animal rights organizations from around the state compete for the "Best Vegan Chili in Texas". 

 

This was the first time our Society of P.E.A.C.E. team competed in the vegan chili cook-off and we faced some tough (but friendly!) competition from about 19 other Texas teams.  Little did we know that our vegan chili recipe would receive the "Judges Award for 2nd Place!  Quite the honor for a first-time entry!

 

We want to congratulate our outstanding team of volunteers who worked tirelessly all day to prepare, cook & serve some great vegan chili.  The volunteers also staffed our outreach table and handed out vegan starter kits to the public.  Amanda, John, Stacey, Sergio, Tosh, Kristen and Cairo were each an important part our team of volunteers last weekend. 

 

We also wish to thank both our treasurer, Amanda Mariano (author of the "Walking the Vegan Line" blog), and our secretary, Stacey Halsch (co-author of the "Te Amo Vegano" blog" ), for making and donating vegan baked goods & desserts to help raise funds for our organization.  You can see some great photos of the festival on each of their blogs! 

 

We should also note that Amanda selected the winning recipe that our team prepared for the LSVN festival.  We've included our award-winning recipe in a downloadable format, since it's just too good not to share!  It's has a unique, fire-roasted flavor with chipotle, zucchini, cocoa and spicy tofu from Houston's own Banyan Foods Tofu Company.

 

Congratulations again to our hard-working volunteers!!!  

 

 

Our volunteers prepare the vegan chili in the early morning hours before the festival. 

 

 

 

 

Festival attendees sample vegan chilis at the Austin Farmer's Market.