Eleven Madison Park, one of the finest restaurants in New York City, has been closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic since last March. Today, chef Daniel Humm announced that when the Michelin-starred restaurant opens to greet guests again, the menu will be completely plant-based.
Joe Loria, Meat Reduction Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection, US had this to say on the iconic restaurant’s menu change:
“World Animal Protection, a global animal welfare nonprofit organization, applauds Eleven Madison Park, a leader in the fine-dining space, for removing meat from its menu and swapping it for vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fungi. In doing so, the restaurant is part of a larger shift toward more sustainable and kinder eating. Eleven Madison Park is one of New York’s — and the world’s — finest restaurants, known for its three Michelin stars, four-star New York Times reviews, and meat-heavy menu.
While we’ve seen fast-food chains embrace plant-based options over the last few years to meet consumer demand for meatless options, the fine dining scene has yet to keep up. However, Eleven Madison Park eliminating meat from its menu is sure to be a game-changer for the industry. It’s important to note that while fine dining might not be for everyone and out of reach for many, a Mintel report on eating out found more than one in five diners want restaurants to offer more plant-based entrees. This is important given that the United States is one of the countries that consumes the most meat. The decision for Eleven Madison Park to remove meat from its menu is depictive of a larger trend toward plant-based eating.
Over the last 50 years, the meat industry has consolidated so that a handful of companies control the market to keep up with the demand for affordable and accessible meat, which has led to the rise of factory farming. On factory farms, profits are put ahead of protections for animals, workers, and the environment. However, meat reduction has the potential to put an end to some of the cruelest factory farming practices, such as extreme confinement, the overuse of antibiotics, and brutal mutilations. By reducing the demand for meat, World Animal Protection expects that factory farming will be phased out. As overall meat demand declines, a shift towards family farming and practices that are more sustainable and kinder to animals will replace low welfare practices.”
While the menu is plant-based, honey and dairy milk will still be available for coffee and tea, meaning the restaurant itself will not be completely vegan. Still, this is a huge step in the right direction for a future with more compassionate eating choices.
Eleven Madison Park is set to reopen on June 10, 2021 for in-person service, serving “an eight to ten course menu in the main dining room consisting of entirely plant-based dishes”.
