Presented by animal advocacy organization Vegan Outreach, the 3rd Annual Santa Barbara Vegan Chef Challenge runs through October 1-31. As veganism becomes more mainstream, restaurants nationwide are adding options to accommodate their growing number of vegan patrons. Vegan Chef Challenge is a month-long event showcasing new vegan menu items created by chefs at local restaurants. Typically, ten to thirty restaurants take part and the dining public is encouraged to vote for their favorite dishes. The majority of restaurants keep at least one popular vegan item on their regular menu after the challenge concludes. Winning dishes will be announced in early November. For Challenge updates visit veganchefchallenge.org/SantaBarbara