Photo: © LondonTown.com
There’s no doubt that the 2018 vegan scene is off to a great start. Red Robin launched a vegan burger, London’s going to get a vegan doughnut shop and vegan pub, Starbucks debuted oat milk in Europe, and Costa Coffee introduced coconut milk. Now, luxury British department store Harvey Nichols will be hosting an all-vegan dinner.
At the head of the preparation will be Cardiff-based chef Gaz Oakley, who will serve the “hand-crafted five-course menu at Harvey Nichols in the flagship Knightsbridge store’s first animal product-free dining experience later this month,” Go London writes.
The 25-year-old chef is known as “Avant-Garde Vegan” and has amassed more than 250,000 followers on his food-related YouTube channel in less than two years.
“I literally went vegan overnight, and just stuck with it ever since,” he said.
“My friends in particular were shocked, and that’s part of the reason why I started the work, showing my friends what I was eating, and then people wanted the recipes and the dishes, and it grew from there really.”
You won’t believe where this young and talented chef gets his inspiration from: ancient traditions. He also believes that vegan alternatives can be just as good as animal-based foods.
“I make steak using an ancient recipe which was formerly used by Buddhist monks,” he continued.
“They traditionally used a meat replacement called wheat gluten, and I just glaze it with porcini mushrooms, shallots, red wine. Then I cook it in a broth and grill it and you have the texture and the taste of a flame-grilled steak.
“It tastes like steak without the cruelty that actual steak comes with.”
Guests will have the opportunity to taste his favourite dish amongst other ones at Harvey Nichols’ “vegan supper club.” The event will take place on January 23 at 7:00 pm on the fifth floor terrace. Tickets include a complimentary drink upon arrival and will cost £45. You can purchase yours here.
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