Eleven Madison was known for its meaty dishes like glazed duck, but it ditched animal products during the pandemic and is now celebrated for its plant-based dishes.
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A New York restaurant has reached a major milestone, becoming the world’s first vegan restaurant to earn three coveted Michelin stars.
Eleven Madison Park restaurant, which used to serve dishes including glazed duck and poached lobster, and was first awarded its three stars 11-years-ago, pivoted during the pandemic to become plant-based.
And the new menu has been a major success, with Michelin’s 2022 New York guide branding it a ‘bold vision of luxury dining’.
According to the eatery’s chef Daniel Humm, ditching animal products was a response to the impending climate crisis.
While the change may have been surprising, as Humm told the FT, if Eleven Madison could ‘show the possibilities of eating plant-based food in this setting’, then that could open doors for other eateries.
He also noted that he is ‘most excited’ about the ‘whole new world’ of cooking that has opened up.
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Eleven Madison: plant-based fine dining
The restaurant team took to Instagram to share the news of its Michelin milestone.
Sharing an image of the team, Humm wrote: “We took the jump to transform EMP into a plant-based fine dining restaurant knowing in our hearts that this is what we believed in.
“Last night, we were honored to be awarded three Michelin stars for the 11th year in a row.
“I am so beyond grateful to the team that’s with us here now and every member who contributed through its nearly 25-year history.
“We are also grateful to our guests and partners who believed in our vision and encouraged us to push harder.”
Speaking with the FT, Humm revealed that he wasn’t sure whether switching to plant-based would mean losing the Michelin stars.
He explained: “We said . . . if we receive the awards then that’s a wonderful thing, and if we don’t we are taking the risk and we’ve got to be OK with that too.”
The UK plant-based dining scene is becoming incredibly vibrant.
Choose your next destination for a delicious meal with help from our guide to the best vegan restaurants in London.
