Participating chefs get 60 minutes to prepare an appetizer, entree and dessert using at least one of three mystery ingredients revealed just before they start.
All dishes adhere to the theme “comfort foods,” which chefs know prior to the event. The chefs each have a $75 budget to shop and may do minimal prep, such as soaking, in advance.
Each competing chef may bring up to two sous chefs for assistance.
The panel of judges chooses a winner based on incorporation of the mystery ingredients, flavor, presentation and creativity. If there’s a tie, judges pick the chef with the higher score in the Mystery Ingredient category. Further tie breakers will be determined by category in the following order: Creativity, Flavor and Presentation.
The winning chef becomes San Francisco’s first Vegan Top Chef, receives a to-be-unveiled prize and gets the opportunity to compete in Regionals leading up to the Vegan Iron Chef Finals in Portland at a later date.
