It's National Vegetarian Week and while personally I'm not a big fan of cutting animal products out of my diet, I thought I'd do my bit for the greater good of the planet. So my Restaurant of the Week is Saf, the vegan eatery in trendy Shoreditch, east London.
Saf stands for "Simply Authentic Food" but the word also means "pure" and "innocent" in Turkish. The 60-cover restaurant offers a completely vegan menu that is 100% plant-based, with no dairy, eggs, or animal products. What's more is that much of the food is raw or cooked to less than 48C.
All of the food is not only organic but also completely unrefined and unprocessed, with absolutely everything prepared on site by Boston-born executive chef Chad Sorno (who is known as the "raw chef") and his team.
Starters include healthy salads such as kale and avocado with pea shoots, sweet pepper, lemon oil and candied pecan as well as dishes such as spinach dumplings paired with a black vinaigrette; and gazpacho with avocado, Merlot pickled onions and chilli oil.
In between starters and mains are the so-called "cheese" courses, which are made from crushed nut-milk and comprise soft cashew, almond and macadamia varieties that offer a remarkable, moist texture and a nutty-milk flavour.
Main courses are predominantly raw including an unusual cold lasagne dish made up of a high moulded round of layered courgettes and a rich walnut bolognaise with sage pesto, mushrooms and a pine nut parmesan crust. The signature Buddha Bowl, a generous serving of jasmine rice set off by sweet, smoky tofu steaks, garlic greens and chilli-flecked kim-chee cabbage, beautifully harmonises sweet and spicy flavours.
Desserts include a delicious but heavy chocolate, espresso and raspberry cake made from chocolate, espresso cream and raspberry jam, as well as a refreshing pineapple rose sorbet served with a mountain berry broth, strawberry-vanilla bean pearls and lemon crisps.
The menu Saf is complemented by a wide-ranging drinks list that features freshly prepared juices next to organic and biodynamic wines, organic spirits and an extensive cocktail list.
Saf restaurant's 100% vegan menu may not be the ideal choice for the avid meat lover but it offers an exciting dining experience to be found nowhere else in London.
Average spend £35 including drinks and service.
152-154 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AT; Tel: 020 7613 0007
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