Eleven Madison Park (EMP), one of the world’s most famous restaurants, is moving to an entirely plant-based menu when it re-opens in June.
The owner of EMP, Daniel Humm has told that the New York restaurant would no longer serve meat and seafood, becoming only the second three-Michelin-star restaurant to turn toward almost entirely plant-based food.
According to the reports, “Instead, he’ll offer a beet that’s been roasted for 16 hours, then presented in a clay vase that gets cracked open at the table. Also on the menu: peas with almond cream and pea-miso puree.”
The menu will not be entirely vegan, as Mr. Humm has stated that he will serve coffee and tea with honey and milk.
The restaurant closed during the coronavirus pandemic but is now making preparations to re-open in a way that is likely to be a shock to many of its pre-pandemic customers, those who love the meat-centric dishes of the restaurant.
Daniel Humm Owner – EMP
“We have always operated with sensitivity to the impact we have on our surroundings, but it was becoming ever clearer that the current food system is simply not sustainable, in so many ways … It was clear that after everything we all experienced this past year, we couldn’t open the same restaurant. We’ve decided to serve a plant-based menu in which we do not use any animal products – every dish is made from vegetables, both from the earth and the sea, as well as fruits, legumes, fungi, grains, and so much more.”
Mr. Humm has previously used vegetables as a meat substitute at Eleven Madison Park. In 2012, he added a carrot tartare to his menu as a steak substitute, made tableside by grinding carrots from the Union Square farmers’ market with small bowls of condiments.
EMP has long been known for its luxurious meat and seafood dishes. A tasting menu at the restaurant costs about $335 per person, not including drinks, and the meal frequently lasts four hours, as per the reports.
