Step Back in Time at Philadelphia’s 1890s Vegan Thanksgiving Gala
An event I shot but didn’t write about: Philadelphia diners had the unique opportunity to experience a Thanksgiving celebration inspired by the late 19th century at The 1890s Vegan Thanksgiving Gala, taking place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Walnut Hill College.
The event commemorates the 30th anniversary of the debut of Tofurky, the pioneering brand that helped create today’s vegan roast category. Its founder, Seth Tibbott, was surprised to discover that American vegetarians were already crafting “vegetable turkeys” for Thanksgiving as early as the 1890s. His research even uncovered the menu from a 1900 vegetarian banquet, which inspired this one-of-a-kind culinary experience.
Tibbott has assembled a team of Philadelphia’s top vegan chefs, led by nationally acclaimed Rachel Klein of Miss Rachel’s Pantry, to recreate and modernize the 125-year-old menu for 90 guests.
Student chefs from Walnut Hill College’s renowned culinary program will prepare the meal under the guidance of professional vegan chefs, including Emmy Award-winning vegan cooking show host Christina Pirello.
The historic feast will feature appetizers such as celery soup and hearty rice croquettes, followed by lentil cutlets and a chestnut-and-eggplant Vegetable “Turkey.” The signature roast recipe has been updated by Hans Wrobel, who helped design the original Tofurky Feast in 1995.
Dessert includes pumpkin pudding and white fruitcake, served alongside a slideshow exploring the history of vegetarian Thanksgiving feasts at the turn of the 20th century. Guests can also take part in vegetarian history walking tours earlier in the day, making the event both a culinary and historical journey. The night will end with 1890s-style dances, such as the waltz and two-step, led by
National Ballroom Champion Ayelette Robinson. Guests will cut a rug like it’s 1899. This historic event is a fundraiser for the American Vegan Society, the longest-running
vegan organization in the U.S.
