If you are a carnivore like myself, the very thought of going vegetarian or vegan will have you running for the hills.
I’m the type of person that needs meat in every dish to make it a complete meal. That was until last Sunday when I was introduced to Yondu. The plant-based foods company does not believe in depriving the consumer of anything that you might miss from meat. Jaume Biarnes, director and chef at Yondu Culinary Studio, spoke with The Knockturnal about Yondu’s mission, “Most of my professional life I’ve been working [on] projects to promote healthy and sustainable eating. When It comes to eating healthier and more sustainable, it’s all about eating more plants. For many people it’s difficult to transition to a more plant-rich diet because they crave the flavor of meat, […] Yondu gives the savory, crave-able flavor that you can now add to vegetables.”
It was time to let my inhibitions about going meatless go, and try the plant-based food options Yondu had available. I took a bite into a vegan pesto eggplant sandwich, and (not to be too dramatic) went to heaven. The flavors were so savory and rich you don’t even miss the meat. The eggplant was prepared with Yondu seasoning, taking it to an entirely different level. I asked Biarnes if Yondu’s goal was to substitute meat. “You don’t need meat,” said Biarnes. “I mean meat is great, I love meat, but not everyday, and what we try to demonstrate is that vegetables can be delicious. I mean, we don’t want to eat vegetables just because they are healthy […] If you’re trying to cook vegetables more often, and you find them [lacking] flavor just add a few drops of Yondu and they will taste great.”
Yondu Culinary studio offers cooking classes to the general public at the South Street Seaport, and will be collaborating with GrowNYC later this year.
