Reno Vegan Chef Challenge Awards - edible Reno-Tahoe

Awards & Accolades

Reno Vegan Chef Challenge Awards

On June 3, 2025, the Reno Vegan Chef Challenge wrapped up and chefs were presented awards at a private awards ceremony at The Club at Rancharrah in Reno. Winners were chosen by Reno residents who dined at the participating restaurants during the challenge, with more than 350 ratings and reviews submitted for all dishes. The list of winners follows: First Place (Chef of the Year & Best Date Spot): ZOZO’s Ristorante; Second Place (Diners’ Choice Award): Kei Sushi Reno; Third Place (Excellence in Culinary Experience): Noodle Box Kitchen; Best Appetizer: A Taste of Thai Cuisine; Best Cupcakes: Batch Cupcakery; Best Dessert: Dipdee Stix; Best Gluten-Free Option: Engine 8 Urban Winery; Best Global Flavors: Thali; Best Lunch Spot & Whole Foods Excellence: Elixir Superfood & Juice; Best Overall Menu & Exemplary Local Sourcing: Great Full Gardens; Best Overall Menu & Sustainable; Dining Option: Buenos Grill; Best Sandwiches: Süp; Best Veganized Dish: Pasta Fresca; Best Beverage Experience: Underworld Distillery; Excellence in Baking: Wheatberry Baking Company; Excellence in Plant-Based Catering & Meal Prep: Cherry Bomb Catering; Most Creative Flavors: Rolled Mountain Creamery; Most Innovative Chef: Bertha Miranda’s; Outstanding Vegan Comfort Food: Noble Pie Parlor.

Batch Cupcakery
Buenos Grill
Elixir
Great Full Gardens
Noble Pie Parlor
Rice Box

More Edible Updates

Chihuahua’s Cantina & Grill

On July 5, family-owned Chihuahua’s Cantina & Grill is celebrating 20 years since opening its Winnemucca, Nev., location. Chef/owner Dora…

The Edge Restaurant & Lounge

On July 1, 2025, Edgewood Tahoe Resort, a premier luxury resort located on the shores of Lake Tahoe in Stateline, unveiled its…

Tadaima Shabu Shabu

Tadaima Shabu Shabu

In early June, Tadaima Shabu Shabu opened in The Basement, at 50 S. Virginia St. in Downtown Reno. The Japanese restaurant specializes…

Photo by Jen Schmidt

Sage Leaf

We are excited to announce that Sage Leaf restaurant, located in Incline Village, is opening a second location in the soon-to-be-vacated space…

Schussboom Brewing Co.'s beer. Photo by Donna Victor

Awards & Accolades

28th Annual BBQ, Brews, & Blues Festival’s Best Tasting Beer Awards

On June 13 – 14, the Eldorado Hotel & Casino hosted its 28th annual BBQ, Brews, & Blues festival and crowned…

Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight. Photo by Chris Holloman

Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight

Nevada State Entomologist Jeff Knight is retiring on July 4th after 40 years with the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The…

Business Changes | Relocations

Playfield Sports and Games

On June 20, Playfield 76 became Playfield Sports and Games and the business moved from 150 N. Arlington Ave. to 235 Lake St. in…

Haumbody Sanctuary

This fall, Haumbody Sanctuary plans to open in the former Junkee space in Midtown Reno. The gathering place for wellness…

Perenn at the Museum

Perenn at the Museum

Perenn — the popular bakery, restaurant, and grocery store founded in Reno — is opening a new café inside the Nevada Museum of…

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows' Workforce Readiness Food Truck

Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows

The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows just launched its Workforce Readiness Food Truck, giving teens hands-on job experience while they serve…

Frey Ranch

Awards & Accolades

Frey Ranch Distillery

In June, Frey Ranch Distillery received many honors at this year’s ASCOT Awards, with a total of 28 medals awarded to its…

South Tahoe Beer Trail

South Shore Brewery Trail

In June, the Tahoe Chamber announced the launch of the South Shore Brewery Trail, a free hop-on, hop-off brewery shuttle running every Tuesday…

Cluckers

Cluckers

Cluckers, the restaurant on Center Street in Reno famous for its hand-breaded fried chicken thigh sandwiches, is moving a few streets away…

Picon punch at JT Basque in Gardnerville by Shea Evans

Assembly Bill 375

On June 12, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 375, a new law that permits certain food establishments in Nevada…

Rolled Daiquiri Wagon

Rolled Daiquiri Wagon

On June 12, the folks at Dorinda’s Chocolates and Rolled: Mountain Creamery in Reno unveiled their 1976 vintage Miley horse…

Assembly Bill 404

On June 4, the Nevada Craft Brewers Association announced the successful passage of Assembly Bill 404, touted as a milestone piece of…

Ana Lauren and Selin Córdova, new owners of Brasserie Saint James

Business Changes

Brasserie Saint James

On June 1, Brasserie Saint James in Reno sold to new operators. After about a year as its chef/owner, Lewis Pierrott, who…

Awards & Accolades

Archie’s Giant Hamburgers & Breakfast

Archie’s Giant Hamburgers & Breakfast, which first opened in 1995 on North Virginia Street, celebrated its 30th anniversary with an event…

From left, Claudio, Melissa, and Giuseppa Iturriaga present a tray of croissants at Dolce Caffé in Reno. Photo by Shaun Hunter

Dolce Caffe

In June 2025, Dolce Caffe opened a second location in the old Sierra Nevada Chocolates spot in Midtown Reno. The new location will feature…

Awards & Accolades

Laughing Planet

Midtown’s Laughing Planet will celebrate its 10th anniversary in June 2025.

Bristlecone Brewing Co.

Bristlecone Brewing Co.

In late May 2025, Bristlecone Brewing Co. opened in the spot formerly occupied by IMBIB brewery on Second Street in…

Whitecaps Pizza

Whitecaps Pizza at Kings Beach, which opened in 2017 in the old Steamers building, is debuting a rooftop patio this…

Base Camp Pizza Co.

Tahoe Restaurant Group

Tahoe Restaurant Group, which owns Tahoe restaurants Basecamp Pizza Co., Fireside Pizza Co., Rubicon Pizza Co., and Azul Latin Kitchen, recently became an employee-owned…

Awards & Accolades

Toucan Charlie’s Gourmet Buffet and Grille

Toucan Charlie’s Gourmet Buffet and Grille was recently recognized by Yelp for having one of the country’s best brunch buffets…

Need 2 Speed

Need 2 Speed moved locations from the shopping center near Target in South Reno to Northtowne Marketplace in North Reno on…

FiftyFifty Brewing Co.’s head brewer, Dana Fleming, and co-owner, Alicia Barr, in their Truckee brewery

FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

FiftyFifty Brewing Co. is the newest addition to the Reno Public Market, with a planned summer 2025 opening date. And that’s…

Madame Butterwork’s La Crêperie

Circus Circus in Downtown Reno got a new dining spot in April. Madame Butterwork’s La Crêperie is a cafeteria featuring breakfast favorites…

Reno Food Systems

Awards & Accolades

Reno Food Systems

Reno Food Systems, a five-acre urban farm and nonprofit group, recently was awarded a $350,000 United States Department of Agriculture…

Cascade Kitchens

Cascade Kitchens

An exciting food-and-drink project is brewing in South Lake Tahoe. Cascade Kitchens, at 1030 Tata Lane near the Y, is…

Brew Brothers at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe celebrated the grand opening of Brew Brothers in South Lake Tahoe on May 2, 2025. The four original…

JMF Presents Festival Grounds

Business Changes

Roundabout + JMF Presents

Roundabout in Sparks was chosen as the food-and-beverage provider for JMF Presents events at J Resort’s Festival Grounds and Glow Plaza…

The Flavor Studio Dining Room

The Flavor Studio

After seven years in operation, The Flavor Studio in Reno is closing. The business offered a variety of food-, wine-,…

Elixir Superfood & Juice

Elixir Superfood & Juice

Elixir Superfood & Juice just signed a lease to open a second Reno location in the old Nektar juice spot…