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Pro Taste

Vegan Fine Dining: It’s Not an Oxymoron

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vegan-fine-dining

Who says that plant-based foods are boring? 

When last did you sit around a table with meat eaters only to be told ad nauseam about how plant dishes could never titillate or satisfy their palate? Have you ever heard anyone opine their belief that vegan foods are dull, lackluster, or just not up to par with what can be done with animal ingredients? If you have  – you’re definitely not the first to hear these arguments.  Whether for comedic effect or merely out of ignorance, the myth that vegans and vegetarians live off oats and lettuce leaves is still pervasive among carnivores.  Those more intimately familiar with the plant-based marketplace and cooking, of course, don’t find it hard to rubbish such claims. And while the past few years have seen a surge of plant-based brands available in retail, restaurants and menu options in South Africa; it may come as a surprise that vegan cuisine has been making its mark in the hallowed halls of the fine dining industry, in the highest rated restaurants in the world.  Formality, exclusivity, creativity and certainly sticker-shock are all terms associated with a bona fide fine dining experience. These aren’t just the burgers & fries from your family-favourite joint – think works of art rather than street food. But before we dig in to the pinnacle of haute cuisine – for those who do prefer to keep things more casual, ProVeg has a plant-based friendly restaurant report detailing the options available at most of our country’s largest chains.  Should you ever find yourself abroad – let’s begin with the international scene: Food connoisseurs abound in Europe, America and Asia, and across the globe a number of fine dining restaurants have featured, either being completely vegan or offering plant-based menus and tastings alongside their regular menu.  Voted The World’s Best Restaurant in 2017, Eleven Madison Park in New York City earned three Michelin stars under chef Daniel Humm who recently released a book named Eat More Plants. The establishment went fully vegan in 2021 and was recently featured in the popular Netflix docuseries ‘You are what you eat’. They’re the gold standard for fancy vegan fare.  Pollen Street Social and Pied a Tierre are two sophisticated vegan eateries in London, the latter of which has a Michelin star.  ONA is France’s first vegan Michelin star-rated restaurant, which has been praised especially for their sustainable practices by earning a Michelin green star.  Seven Swans in Frankfurt, Germany, also a fully vegan and Michelin starred restaurant.  In Helsinki, Finland, there’s Grön with its plant-based focused though not exclusively vegan menu. Also has a Michelin star.  King’s Joy in Beijing, China is equally plant-focused with a completely vegan menu and one of only 2 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars in China.  Only last year legendary chef Alain Ducasse opened a restaurant named Sapid in Paris, serving a 95% plant-based menu. These are just a few of the most famous examples. Not to be outdone, we have notable restaurants local to us that have similar high-class offerings to excite the inner bon vivant.  Tintswalo Atlantic has introduced a fine dining vegan tasting menu to its Chapman’s Peak location. Executive Chef Guy Clark is following the trend to move away from consuming animal products.  The Radisson Red at the Waterfront featured a Vegan Christmas lunch this past festive season, and will hopefully do so again. .  La Colombe at Silvermist Estate in Constantia offers an 11-course fine dining vegan experience. Frequently one of the highest rated restaurants in the country: including the Eat Out Awards Best Restaurant in South Africa among many other accolades. Cavalli Estate in Stellenbosch has an 8-course vegan menu.  Foxcroft in Constantia has a plant-focused 4-course menu with both vegetarian and vegan options.  Thali – Liam Tomlin (of Chefs Warehouse fame) along with Head Chef John van Zyl offer a sophisticated tapas and Indian food menu with vegan options.  Aubergine is a stylish Cape Town eatery with some vegan and vegetarian dishes.  For something lighter, both the 12 Apostles and the Belmond Mount Nelson feature a vegan high-tea.  Honourable mention should also go to wine estates such as Vergelegen, Neethlingshof, Boschendal, Groot Contantia, Lanzerac and Warwick wine estate for catering to vegans in both a picnic and sit-down setting.   While not yet ubiquitous, the passionate gourmand does have some thrilling plant-based options available to them and it should be understood that even the humble vegetable, bean, legume and fruit have a lot of culinary delights on offer in the hands of an expert chef. Clearly you don’t need fancy cuts of beef, poultry, fish, cream or cheese to make for an idyllic dining experience second to none.  If the world’s best restaurant can be vegan – then so can the world’s best food!

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