Edgy Veg Awards
Impact Pillars
Community Connection & Good Health
Impact Areas
Health & Wellbeing
Environment & Animal Welfare
Highlights
46 participating venues
750 scores from diners
Celebrating plant-based food innovation in the Macedon Ranges
The Edgy Veg Awards returned for their fourth year in the Macedon Ranges in April 2025— and thanks to a three-year sponsorship from Community Bank Gisborne & District (2025–2027), the future of this much-loved event is secure.
Organised by Veg Action of the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG), the Awards celebrate local food innovation, highlight regional flavours, and showcase the joy of sharing meals that give back to the planet. They also play a vital role in encouraging eateries to experiment with plant-based dining and inspire residents and visitors alike to try food they might not usually order.
Project goals
The Edgy Veg Awards aim to:
Normalise and glamourise eating more vegetables — making healthier eating attractive and exciting.
Support innovation in local food businesses — challenging chefs to elevate the flavour, texture, and creativity of plant-based dishes.
Strengthen the local food system — building direct links between venues and local growers of vegetables.
Driving change in the local food scene
The Awards stimulate change by nudging social norms toward greater vegetable consumption. Participating venues gain votes, sell more plant-based dishes, and build their reputation. Diners, meanwhile, expand their tastes and grow more open to cooking and eating plant-rich meals at home.
The event also encourages food tourism during the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, positioning the region as an inclusive destination for all dietary preferences. It strengthens farm-to-plate connections, with participating eateries encouraged to buy produce directly from local growers via the Get to Know Your Grower platform.
2025 award highlights
The 2025 event built on strong momentum, with 46 venues across the Macedon Ranges and Mount Alexander shires taking part. As Australia’s longest-running dining trail celebrating dishes made entirely from plants, the Awards have become a showcase of creativity and sustainability.
Chefs wowed diners with dishes ranging from vibrant ceviche and hearty pasties to gourmet curries and decadent cakes. The community responded with enthusiasm — over 750 diner scores praised the bold ingredients, striking presentation, and mouth-watering flavours.
Local Gisborne Café, Macedon Ranges Wholefoods, took out one of two Macedon Ranges awards, impressing crowds with its Mushroom Jaffle. Photo credit: Tiffany Warner“The meal had a wonderful range of vegetarian components, lots of the colours of the rainbow, tasty, perfect size portion, amazing presentation. I love it so much I have talked many people into also trying the dish and they have loved it, too. Completely guilt free eating! ”
Looking ahead
The Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group aims to embed the Edgy Veg Awards as a permanent feature of the local event calendar. With the support of Community Bank Gisborne & District, the Awards are well-placed to keep driving innovation, strengthening the local food system, and shifting perceptions about what plant-based dining can be.
