New London-based vegan fine dining restaurant, Plates, caters to its guests with a unique plant-based experience. According to the official website, it is a “plant-based food studio and restaurant, influenced by art and inspired by nature.” Part of the restaurant’s unique character is that it is open only once a week, on Saturday evenings.
Plates was co-founded by siblings Kirk and Keeley Hawarth, who act as executive chef and creative director respectively. Kirk, who was trained by his father, Michelin-starred chef Nigel Hawarth, previously worked at renowned restaurants such as The French Laundry. At Plates, he has applied his culinary skills toward developing a vegan menu without gluten or refined sugar.
The menu delivers seasonal plant-based dishes that showcase the best flavors of the season. The summer menu currently features ingredients such as raspberry, strawberry, tomatoes, apricots, basil, summer truffle, and lemon verbena. Seasonal cocktails are also available from a set menu. One contributor to local news site Londonist praised the restaurant as a place that“pushes the boundaries of what vegetables can achieve.”
During the week, Plates transforms from vegan fine dining establishment to“plant-based food studio.” Creative director Keely, who is also a co-owner of Hoxton-based creative agency Studio la Plage, works with local brands and clients to deliver “artistic plant-based collaborations, catering, and content.” She also hopes that through Plates, diners will realize how plant-based food can be both creative and healthy.
Image Credit: Plates
