Michelin-trained Hackney chef plans 100% tree-based menu with Treedom

In what could be the next stage in the trend towards ethical eating (or simply a company’s neat promotional idea) an east London chef has created an entirely tree-based meal.

Michelin-trained chef Kirk Haworth from plant-based restaurant Plates has been commissioned by the digital tree planting platform Treedom to come up with the “tree-gan” menu.

The meal utilises fruits and nuts that grow from trees and celebrates “the beauty of mother nature and the fruits of her work”.

It will be available for a unique dining experience on March 8.

The menu

• Starter: Avocado leaf mousse, with mandarin, pomegranate and lemon
• Main: Tree nut roast with a chestnut and coffee sauce, smoked banana and cashews
• Dessert: Cacao mousse, coconut cream, pistachio ice cream

The event

The event is on March 8 at Untitled Bar, Dalston, with tickets available at £50 per head for three courses and a beer from Toast Ale.

For every cover that evening, Treedom will plant a tree. Each diner will receive a QR code that they can redeem to plant their own Treedom tree and follow its journey online through a tree diary.

Michelin-trained chef Kirk Haworth

Chef Kirk Haworth previously worked at The French Laundry, Restaurant Sat Bains, The Square, The Quay and Northcote, before opening Plates, which is currently relocating within Hackney.

In 2016, a diagnosis with lyme disease led Kirk to look at his lifestyle and explore plant-based cuisine.

“My journey with plant-based cookery began in necessity for my own health,” he said.

“Today, seven years later, the journey is as interesting, leading me to now develop the first ever tree-based menu. It showcases the diversity of what trees offer, from coconuts, coffee and avocados to cacao and cashew nuts. It’s been a brilliant way to adapt my skills in the kitchen to bring the versatility of these ingredients in a delicious way to diners.”

Treedom!

Treedom is the first digital platform that allows people to plant trees remotely, funding farmers worldwide and bringing environmental, social and financial benefits to their communities. Using it, more than three million trees have been planted.

Anna Weston, head of development UK and Ireland at Treedom, said: “Planting trees through our Treedom projects provides so much to the planet, from helping to combat the climate crisis, to empowering local communities to grow their own fruit and tree-based products that can then be sold at markets.

“ We’re thrilled to be working with Plates London on the first ever tree-based menu to show how valuable trees and the flowers, fruits and seeds that grow on them are to the world in every way. Making small changes, such as eating plant (or tree!) based food, and planting trees, is a simple way that individuals can make a difference to the planet.”

When, where and tickets

The dinner takes place on Wednesday, March 8, at Untitled Bar, 538 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AHfrom 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

There are 30 available spaces, split across 6.30pm and 7.30pm slots.

Tickets are £50 for three courses and one 330ml can of Toast Ale. They can be booked via Eventbrite.

Each course contains nuts and each course is gluten free.