Colorado Springs Vegan Restaurant Week Kicks off November 1 on World Vegan Day

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Tuesday, Nov. 1 kicked off the fifth annual Colorado Springs Vegan Restaurant Week on World Vegan Day.

According to officials, this week in Colorado Springs was created with the importance of having options in the community for those with dietary restrictions,

Twenty-seven establishments in the Pikes Peak region plan to participate in the event, ranging from casual and cozy, to delis, cantinas, pizzerias, and bakeries.

Burrowing Owl on 8th St. features an entirely vegan menu. They said the restaurant works to break down the myths, stigmas, and stereotypes behind what some people think vegan food is.

"Everyone thinks twigs and dirt is the joke," Burrowing Owl Co-Owner Tyler Schiedel said. "But that's the fun challenge with it, trying to find things that everybody loves in the world that they've grown up on that they have fond memories of. Then trying to put that vegan spin on it. A lot of local restaurants and drinkeries around town, they've done a great job at taking those types of things and putting vegan twists on them."

Historically, vegans tend to have a more difficult time finding meals tailored to their needs. Whether that's at grocery stores or eating out at restaurants.

Burrowing Owl opened first opened its doors in 2015.

"Colorado Springs has done a great job at having new things and local restaurants have done a good job at having vegan options," Schiedel said. "It's become a lot easier and if you're a business owner it can be pretty profitable. Because it can be grains and vegetables. Things that are really healthy but also cost-effective."

The Co-Owner of Burrowing Owl, Tyler Schiedel, says Colorado Springs has really evolved over the years to be an accommodating environment in its food culture.

"The vegan community was way more robust than we thought," Schiedel said. "I think everyone's just kind of interested. You know, why not? Why wouldn't you be curious about a new food? Historically we've always been very curious about new culinary things. Makes you feel lighter, gives you more energy, why not?"

The restaurant was created to be a warm, welcoming, and homey environment with a lounge-type feel.

"Think like the dad from the 70s cool basement where you want to come over and just hang out, whether you're kids or adults," Schiedel said.

Schiedel said they created the menu to 'veganize' comfort food. Such as mac n cheese, tacos, burgers, queso, and sloppy joes. Their most recent popular dish was modeled after Taco Bell's crunch wrap.

It has since evolved to also have whole food options such as kale dips, rice bowls, and curry.

"Meat for the most part is pretty bland until you put seasoning on it or some kind of cooking method," Schiedel said. "So really you're just putting seasoning on a different vehicle."

For vegan restaurant week, Burrowing Owl is doing pizzas all week as a trial run. If it goes well, they plan on putting pizzas on the menu full-time.

Burrowing Owl also donates monthly to 13 non-profits as part of their mission to help the community.

"We want to lead by example," Schiedel said. "So we try to be into all the vegan things that happen in Colorado Springs. But I think it's also important for all the other people participating. It shows that other places out there are aware that there is a demand for veganism and it's on other people's menus."

The owners, Tyler and Cody, recently opened a second all-vegan restaurant called Fern's Diner which is also participating in Colorado Springs Vegan Restaurant Week.

"Even for me when it is so tough to go out and have vegan food and drink, I'm so happy to see this list about all the places participating because that's a ton of food I can't wait to try and eat," Schiedel said.

Colorado Springs Vegan Restaurant Week runs from November 1 through 7, 2022. Click here for a full list of all 27 participating restaurants and menus.