A decision that is practically unheard of in the fine-dining scene!
After the pandemic had forced many restaurants to shut down across NYC, fine-dining favorite Eleven Madison Park has finally reopened as of last Thursday (June 10th)…except with a little twist. The menu is entirely vegan!
CEO and Chef Daniel Humm confirmed the restaurant’s return earlier in May on NPR along with the news of an all plant-based menu.
That’s right, Eleven Madison Park located inside of the Met-Life building no longer offers their previous favorites like poached lobster or their iconic honey and lavender roasted duck…much less anything with eggs, milk, meat or butter!
Humm shared a note on their website:
“Friends, I’m writing this nearly 15 months after we closed our dining room, and I’m so excited to share that we will be reopening Eleven Madison Park on June 10th. The pandemic brought our industry to its knees. With our closure, we laid off most of our team, and truly didn’t know if there was going to be an Eleven Madison Park….It was clear that after everything we all experienced this past year, we couldn’t open the same restaurant. With that in mind, I’m excited to share that we’ve made the decision 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.”
Humm mentioned choosing to live with a more plant-based diet himself over the past year and believes that this decision will continue to challenge the restaurants creativity and understanding of ingredients.
This transition is ground-breaking for a 3-Michelin starred restaurant. However, Humm shared he wants to make this menu one that meat-lovers will be “blown away” by because at the end of the day it’s all about “deliciousness.”
“It is time to redefine luxury as an experience that serves a higher purpose and maintains a genuine connection to the community. A restaurant experience is about more than what’s on the plate. We are thrilled to share the incredible possibilities of plant-based cuisine while deepening our connection to our homes: both our city and our planet.”
Reservations can be made on Tock.
featured image source: Facebook/ Eleven Madison Park