MEET YOUR

2025 EDGY VEG AWARD

WINNERS!

The Edgy Veg Awards have wrapped up our fourth year in the Macedon Ranges, and the first for the Mount Alexander Shire, featuring 46 inventive venues dedicated to showcasing the best in plant-based dining. As Australia's longest-running trail celebrating dishes made from 100% plants, this event continues to champion culinary innovation and sustainability.

This year, passionate local chefs across the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander regions pushed the boundaries of plant-based cooking, creating dishes that are not only bursting with bold flavours but also demonstrating remarkable creativity and skill. From vibrant ceviche and hearty pasties to gourmet curries and decadent cakes, the region’s culinary scene is redefining what plant-based food can be.

Over 750 scores from diners praised the inventive ingredients, stunning presentation, and mouth-watering flavours of the competing dishes. The event not only celebrates culinary excellence but also supports local farmers and boosts foot traffic in our communities.

This year’s event showcased the extraordinary talent of our chefs, who are pushing the limits of plant-based cuisine with creativity and finesse, proving that dishes made from 100% plants can be exciting, satisfying, and full of flavour.

Join Veg Action of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group in congratulating all our winners for 2025! Supported by local councils, businesses, and sponsors, the Edgy Veg Awards continue to inspire a future of delicious, sustainable, and innovative plant-based eating.

MACEDON RANGES 2025 WINNERS

Restaurant: Fook Shing in Kyneton took out the top spot with their vibrant Sri Lankan Vegan Curry Plate — a complex medley of coconut cream cashew nut curry, sweet & sour pineapple, and jackfruit, all bursting with intense, unusual flavours.

Café: Macedon Ranges Wholefoods’ Mushroom Jaffle impressed the crowds for its “amazing flavour” and popularity among locals and visitors alike.

MOUNT ALEXANDER 2025 WINNERS

Restaurant: Shedshaker Brewing’s Gnocchi alla Romana was praised for its elegant presentation and impeccable flavour, showcasing how traditional dishes can be transformed with plant-based ingredients.

Café: Five Flags Merchant’s Toby’s Chocolate Cake with Seasonal Fruit Compote wowed voters with its moist, melt-in-the-mouth texture and rich flavour, elevating plant-based baking to new heights.

Bakery: Maldon Bakery’s Curried Lentil and Vegetable Pie impressed with its perfect pastry and flavour-packed filling, highlighting the region’s innovative bakery scene.

WANT TO TRY A DISH? CLICK TO JUMP STRAIGHT TO A VILLAGE

CASTLEMAINE, WESLEY HILL & CAMPBELLS CREEK

GISBORNE

KYNETON & DENVER

LANCEFIELD & ROMSEY

MACEDON & MT MACEDON

MALDON

WOODEND & NEWHAM

ALL DISHES ARE MADE FROM 100% PLANTS

CASTLEMAINE & SURROUNDS

Featured

The Beetroot Bangaroo

WESLEY HILL BAKERY

Grilled house-made beetroot patties nestled on crispy garden-fresh salad, slathered with creamy vegan mayo, all tucked into our artisanal sourdough. Packed with nutrients to keep you bouncing through your day like a kangaroo on a trampoline!

97 Duke St, Wesley Hill

Sweet Potato & Corn Fritters

LAZY BONES

Sweet potato & sweet corn fritters with aji amirillo and lime mayo herb and salad.

31 Templeton St, Castlemaine

Deep Fried Dumplings

TASTE OF THE ORIENT

Deep fried Vegan Dumplings.

223 Barker St, Castlemaine

Crispy Tofu Bao Buns

SAFFS CAFE

Bao Buns with Crispy Fried Tofu, Pickled Ginger Slaw and Korean Chilli Sauce Served with Sesame Cucumber Salad.

64 Mostyn St, Castlemaine

Melanzani Gulasch

COFFEE BASICS-DAS KAFFEEHAUS

Eggplant Gulasch served with Kaiser roll.

9 Walker St ( Shed 7&8/ The Mill ), Castemaine

Roasted Cabbage & Mushrooms

GORNELLY’S

Roasted cabbage, lavabread sauce and pickled mushrooms.

196 Barker St, Castlemaine

Morroccan Inspired Filo Pie

TOGS CAFE

Mildly Moroccan eggplant filo pie, couscous, tahini and mint dressing.

58 Lyttleton St, Castlemaine

Fajita Spiced Field Mushrooms

THE RAILWAY HOTEL

Fajita Spiced field mushrooms with cauliflower pilaf, house roquette salad, corn & black bean salsa mix, home made guacamole and vegan sour cream.

65 Gingell St, Castlemaine

Rainbow Peanut Noodle Salad

STAK’S CAFE

Soba noodles, edamame, fresh veggies and creamy peanut satay sauce.

4 Lewis Drive, Castlemaine

Broccoli Raviolo

WILD FOOD & WINE

Broccoli raviolo, pea purée, macadamia mozzarella, olives.

26a Templeton St, Castlemaine

Green Curry Pie

JOHNNY BAKER

Green curry, tofu, chickpea and pumpkin pie.

Rear 359 Barker St, Castlemaine

Gnocchi alla Romana

SHEDSHAKER BREWING

Semolina gnocchi with peperonata (Traditional Italian stew with capsicum, tomato, & onions).

9 Walker St, Castlemaine

Sticky Soy Glazed Tofu Bún

SUPERHERO BAHN MI

Vermicelli rice noodles with Vietnamese herbs and lettuce from our Faraday garden, daikon and carrot pickle, cucumber, spring onions, peanuts, sticky soy glazed tofu. With Nuoc Cham Chay (vegan dressing).

12 Hargraves St, Castlemaine

Toby's Chocolate Cake

FIVE FLAGS MERCHANTS

Toby's Chocolate Cake with seasonal fruit compote.

151 Main Rd, Campbells Creek

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GISBORNE

Featured

Mushroom Jaffle

MACEDON RANGES WHOLEFOODS

Filled with a variety of market fresh mushrooms cooked in herbs and YAY Vegan Feta' this crowd pleaser is back and here to stay.

2/37 Hamilton St, Gisborne

Chickpea Curry

3 LITTLE PIGS

Spiced chickpea curry with seasonal vegetables topped with plain yoghurt & pappadums.

Shop 1/30A Aitken St, Gisborne

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KYNETON & DENVER

Featured

Autumn Mezze

KYNETON HOTEL

Silverbeet 'dolmade', beetroot & herb salads, skordalia, roasted cherry tomatoes & grilled pita bread.

98-100 Mollison St, Kyneton

Curried Cauliflower Pie

COUNTRY COB BAKERY

Curry Cauliflower Chickpea and Lentil Pie.

130-132 Mollison St, Kyneton

Caponata Pizza

KYNETON RIDGE ESTATE

House Made Caponata Pizza with Tomato Passata, Capsicum, Zucchini, Eggplant, Capers and Onions. Topped with our own vegan parmesan.

517 Blackhill Rd, Kyneton

Beyond the Slider

DONKEY KYNETON

Lightly smoked plant based patty grilled and 'smashed' with lettuce, tomato and pickle on a lightly toasted potato bun with fries seasoned with house made vegie salt.

16 High St, Kyneton

Plant-Powered Vegetable Lasagne

ANGIE’S CAFE

Lasagne made with vegetables and soy mince, gf.

72/74 Mollison St, Kyneton

Taste of Sri Lanka Curry Plate

FOOK SHING

An array of delicious Sri Lankan Curries - Coconut Cream Cashew Nut Curry, Sweet & Sour Pineapple Curry, Jackfruit Curry served with a coconut sambal.

82-84 Piper St, Kyneton

Pumpkin Salad

THE SOCIAL FOUNDRY

Maple roasted pumpkin wedge served on a bed of hummus and rocket and topped with crunchy chickpeas, pomegranate arils, roasted almonds flakes, dressed with a pomegranate dressing and sprinkled with dukkah.

86 Mollison St, Kyneton

Spiced Cauliflower Steak

THE ALBION HOTEL

Oven baked spiced cauliflower steak, coconut yoghurt red miso, pomegranate arils, carrot crisps.

41 Mollison St, Kyneton

Curried Veggie Pasty

PIPER ST FOOD CO

A traditional pasty full of delicous veg - peas, cauliflower, pumpkin, potato and seasoned with curry. Served with a crunchy raw slaw of beetroot, carrot, zucchini, seeds, nuts & herbs.

Shop 2, 89A Piper St ,Kyneton

Terrific Tofu

HOME GROWN ON PIPER

Spiced Tofu scramble, house-made vegan ricotta on dark rye sourdough & beetroot hummus topped with avocado, micro greens and beet kraut with a sprinkling of spicy nuts.

Shop 3, 12-14 Piper St, Kyneton

Savoury Udon Noodle Bowl

SUPER SUSHI

This elegant dish features tender udon noodles, delicately entwined with an abundant medley of fresh garden vegetables. Offers a harmonious balance of crisp, vibrant greens and subtle, earthy undertones, all brought together by a light, savoury broth.

109 Mollison St, Kyneton

Argentinian Spicy Pumpkin Soup

WOMBAT FOREST VINEYARD

An exotic home made soup reflecting the flavours of South America. Ingredients include pumpkin, tomato, onion, vegetable stock and cayenne pepper. Served warm, garnished with a sprig of coriander and slice of freshly baked sour dough on the side. A perfect dish to transition into the cooler months.

189 Springhill Rd, Denver

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LANCEFIELD & ROMSEY

Featured

Shawarma Mushrooms

VERDURE BISTRO

Mixed mushroom medley, cooked Mediterranean spice mix. Served on sourdough toast spread with hummus, fresh herbs and lemon wedge.

106a Main St, Romsey

Kohlrabi Ceviche

CLEVELAND ESTATE

Here’s a refreshing and creative vegan ceviche using kohlrabi as the star ingredient, providing a crisp, slightly peppery texture that mimics the crunch of traditional ceviche's seafood.

55 Shannons Rd, Lancefield

Cauliflower Steak

GLEN ERIN AT LANCEFIELD

Cauliflower Steak - Char grilled cauliflower with miso eggplant, zucchini, roasted field mushroom & char grilled cherry tomato, accompanied by red capsicum, sumac pumpkin& broccolini served on a fresh tomato & red capsicum sauce.

200 Rochford Rd, Lancefield

Seared King Oyster Mushrooms

LOST WATERING HOLE

Seared king oyster mushrooms, creamed pea puree and crushed potato with truffle oil.

8-10 The Crescent, Lancefield

MACEDON & MOUNT MACEDON

Featured

Buddha Bowl

MOUNT MACEDON TRADING POST

Delicious bowl of quinoa, spinach, roast pumpkin, roast potatoes, avocado and beetroot hummus.

686 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon

Housemade Thyme Gnocchi

MOUNT MACEDON HOTEL

Housemade thyme gnocchi with pesto, forest mushrooms, kale and walnuts.

694 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon

Banana and Toffee Cake

HARVEST & SOUL

Banana and toffee individual cakes.

29 Victoria St, Macedon

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MALDON

Featured

Curried Lentil & Vegetable Pie

MALDON BAKERY

A deliciously curried puy lentil and vegetable pie.

51 Main St, Maldon

Anytime Tea Special

MALDON ROSE

Indulge in our delightful Anytime Tea, a carefully crafted experience designed to celebrate plant-based flavours. This special menu includes: Vegan Cream Cheese & Cucumber Sandwich, Vegan Ham & Cheddar with Beetroot Relish Sandwich, Caramelised Onion & Roast Pumpkin Sandwich. This indulgence is paired with our award-winning scone, served with raspberry jam and Chantilly cream.

6 Main St, Maldon

WOODEND & NEWHAM

Featured

Aloo Gobi

SIZZLER RESTOBAR

Cauliflower and Potatoes cooked with onion, tomato, ginger and garlic sauce and spices.

1&2/80 High St, Woodend

Make Me Feel Good Platter

600 ABOVE

A generous platter consisting of plant-based items complemented by locally produced condiments. You will enjoy roasted pumpkin, eggplant and capsicums, humus, olives, roasted beetroot relish, piccalilli relish, olive tapenade and lightly toasted pumpkin bread.

107-109 High St, Woodend

Indian Chickpea Curry

THE VICTORIA HOTEL WOODEND

Indian vegetable and chickpea curry, steamed rice and papadums.

67 High St, Woodend

Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad

HANGING ROCK CAFE

Spiced chickpeas, tri coloured quinoa, tomato, cucumber and onion salsa with vegan flatbread and minted coconut yoghurt.

2/139 South Rock Rd ,Woodend

Tomato Tartare

WOODEND CELLAR & BAR

A vibrant and refreshing twist on a classic tartare, featuring finely diced tomatoes dressed with a zesty herb vinaigrette. A perfect balance of flavours and textures, celebrating the essence of fresh, seasonal produce. Served with capers, microgreens, a plant-based egg and a side of Woodend Bakery Sourdough

42A Anslow St, Woodend

Holgate's Roasted Stuffed Capsicum

HOLGATE BREWHOUSE

Roasted Stuffed Banana Capsicum, with quinoa, mixed nuts and seeds, diced apricots, oranges and prominent red currants, served on coconut cream corn puree and topped with tempura fried gnocchi mushroom.

79 High St, Woodend

Roasted Pumpkin Quinoa Salad

PAYSANNE

Roasted pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, baby spinach, Spanish onion, quinoa with lemon dressing.

112 High St, Woodend

Spiced Harvest Veggie Pastie

BOURKIES BAKEHOUSE

This plant based creation combines the hearty flavours of pumpkin, carrot, potato, onion, and peas, all delicately seasoned with a touch of curry and wrapped in our signature flaky pastry.

1-3 / 115 High St, Woodend

Sicilian Vellutata di Cavolfiore

BIG TREE DISTILLERY

Cream of cauliflower soup.

307 Hennebergs Rd, Newham

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