Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse launches vegan burger concept, Burgal

The Staff Canteen

Editor

Renowned chef and restaurateur Alain Ducasse has opened a vegan burger kiosk in Paris

Alain Ducasse, who has 21 Michelin stars to his name across his global portfolio of restaurants, and operates more than 80 properties including fine dining and casual restaurants, as well as chocolate and ice cream shops, has a reputation as something as a visionary in the industry, so the news comes as little surprise.

Burgal (Short for 'burger vegetal', meaning plant-based burger in French) offers a menu that focuses on a veggie burger with a side of either veggies or chickpea chips and a vegan chocolate mousse for dessert.

The burger patty consists of quinoa, lentils, carrots, zucchini, parsnips and onions. The vegan bun is bound with potato starch instead of dairy or eggs, and the burger is completed with pickles, spicy mayo and eggplant caviar.

The chef's new opening attests to the public's increasing appetite for food that is sustainable and healthy.

In an interview with The Insider, the chef recently said: "There's no need to consume animal protein four times a week. We can eat less animal protein, eat better quality food that contains less fat, less salt, and less sugar — and do so in smaller quantities — and we can take care to eat seasonally, to bear in mind certain fishing and fish-breeding periods, etc."

Alain opened Sapid last year, which serves sustainable food focusing on vegetables and cereals, only using animal products for seasoning to have a low environmental impact.

More restaurants going Vegan

Many Michelin-starred chefs are experimenting with their fine-dining menus and ingredients to be kind to animals and the environment.

Three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park restaurant, previously known for its honey lavender duck and other animal-centric dishes, is now entirely vegan, focusing on the versatility and beauty of vegetables to be more eco-friendly.

Even Marco Pierre White, the first British chef to receive three Michelin stars, added whole-cut vegan lamb and beef to his 22 steakhouse locations in the UK.

Gordon Ramsay, who was once an outspoken opponent of veganism, has embraced the movement within his restaurant group with new menu additions at his restaurants around the world while promoting Silk's oat milk and vegan recipe testing.

Videos with Alain Ducasse:

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