Vegan vs meat-eater: Could mixed menus and hybrid foods bridge the divide?
25 aug. 2025
18:20
A renowned Michelin-starred vegan restaurant has put meat back on the menu, reigniting a fierce debate between vegans and carnivores.
But the decision also mirrors a new culinary middle ground emerging that could bridge the divide: mixed menus and even hybrid foods.
"We want to make something new that’s more balanced – great taste, better nutrition than either option, but lighter on the planet than a steak would be," Ramkumar Nair, founder at hybrid meat startup SMAQO, tells Impact Loop.
But the decision also mirrors a new culinary middle ground emerging that could bridge the divide: mixed menus and even hybrid foods.
"We want to make something new that’s more balanced – great taste, better nutrition than either option, but lighter on the planet than a steak would be," Ramkumar Nair, founder at hybrid meat startup SMAQO, tells Impact Loop.
Back in 2021, New York’s Eleven Madison Park shocked the culinary world by becoming the first Michelin three-star restaurant to go fully vegan. Foodies were divided: some cheered, others cried into their truffle pasta.
Fast forward to now, and the restaurant is bringing meat back – yes, oysters, lobster, and duck are returning to the menu, and chicken could be next. Cue the vegan vs omnivore debate all over again.