The taste of a sustainable future

Pop-up dining events that introduce people to plant-based fine cuisine.

Current trends in global food systems would prevent the achievement of the 1.5°C [climate heating] target and, by the end of the century, threaten the achievement of the 2°C target. Meeting the 1.5°C target requires rapid and ambitious changes to food systems.

Michael A. Clark, et al University of Oxford UK
Science, November 2020

What?

The Plantelicious mission is to introduce people to the wonders and delights of plant-based fine cuisine. The Plantelicious ambition is more people adopting plant-based diets or, at least, decreasing their consumption of animal-based foods as they enjoy more plant-based. The environmental reasons are explained in the “Why Plantelicious?” section of this web site.

A Plantelicious event is a plant-based fine dining experience at a ‘pop-up’ restaurant. The venues will often be unique places that reflect the Plantelicious philosophy. Venue possibilities include outdoors at a veganic, regenerative farm; the showroom of an electric vehicle automobile dealer; an animal sanctuary; an organic vineyard; historical sites; a theatre; even private homes.

The events will usually have 60-100 guests, depending on venue. The food will be prepared by chefs known for their creativity preparing plant-based cuisine. The menu, presentation, and service will be inspired by the world’s best plant-based restaurants: Planta (Toronto), Eleven Madison Park (New York), Aun (London).

Plantelicious events are prix fixe (tickets purchased in advance), consisting of six or more courses, including wine choices to complement dishes. Pricing will be comparable to most fine dining establishments.

There is more to plant-based cuisine, like that offered by Plantelicious, than fine dining. There is the effect that plant-based cuisine has on climate heating, environmental protection, animal welfare, human health, and personal well-being. For that reason, Plantelicious events may be co-hosted by organizations and institutions working towards a sustainable, compassionate future.

Plantelicious lends itself to partnering — dinner and show — with organizations, institutions, art events, theatrical and music performances.

Plantelicious is how a sustainable future can taste.

Why?

“Current trends in global food systems would prevent the achievement of the 1.5°C [climate heating] target and, by the end of the century, threaten the achievement of the 2°C target. Meeting the 1.5°C target requires rapid and ambitious changes to food systems.”

Michael A. Clark, et al
University of Oxford UK
Science, November 2020

Michael Clark’s and his colleagues’ research show that today’s food systems which are heavily animal-based must be phased out and transitioned to plant-based, if there is to be any hope of beating climate heating.

The science is consistent and unequivocal, though generally unacknowledged in public policy. If humankind does everything technologically necessary and possible to keep climate heating below 1.5°C or have any chance of keeping it under 2°C, it will fail, unless there is a global transition from animal-based food to plant-based.

The extreme global weather events of 2023 — wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes — are being caused by 1.1°C of climate heating since 1975. It is chilling to contemplate weather events at 1.5°C or 2°C. Terrifying to think of the civilization-wrecking natural disasters at the worst-case climate heating predictions: 5.0°C to 7.0°C.

It is encouraging that people’s adoption of plant-based foods is increasing, but it is not increasing fast enough to help prevent the worst outcomes of climate heating.

Many climate heating advocates use the ‘stick’ of projecting a grim future to prod people to adopt more sustainable lifestyle choices, particularly diet.

Plantelicious is a ‘carrot:’ literally. It uses the delight and wonder of fine plant-based cuisine—a cuisine that, today, surpasses most others in creativity—to entice people to enjoy a way of eating that is the taste of what our future not only could be, but also must be.

One impediment to people enjoying more plant-based foods is a common misperception that plant-based foods are mostly stern servings of deprivation with sides of sautéed tofu, blanched vegetables and, perhaps, a fruit cup.

The ambition of Plantelicious is to accelerate and facilitate the necessary transition to plant-based foods by deploying the cuisine’s wonderful tastes, textures, and creativity.

The means is pop-up dining events held in unique, even odd and curious, venues, catered by the emerging, artistic, plant-based chefs, who can introduce people to the best of plant-based fine cuisine.

One of the strongest arguments for phasing out animal-based foods and adopting plant-based is that they are more pleasurable.

The best advocates for plant-based foods are the dishes themselves.

Guelph Youth Music Centre.

When, Where?

The first Plantelicious event took place on 19 October, 2023 at The Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan St., Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

The event was a ‘pilot/test’ of the Plantelicious fine dining concept. Fourteen people attended the invitation only gathering. The only ‘cost’ to guests was their permission to be filmed. The chef for the pilot event was Arvi Gosmo of Magnolia Fine Foods & Catering.

To be kept informed about future Plantelicious events, please use the RSVP form to submit your contact information.

Animal Alliance of Canada Plantelicious event, Guelph, October 2023.

Who

Plantelicious is an Animal Alliance of Canada program developed by Stephen Best.

Stephen Best

RSVP

Please use this form to contact Plantelicious on general topics, to be included on the invitation list for a Plantelicious event, and suggest partnerships.

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