The 'Future of Food' is Looking Good
An alternative-protein meal in six images
By Wayne Alan Brenner, 7:00PM, Wed. Mar. 15, 2023
Resolved: If you’re staging a meal to promote the progressive culinary maneuvers of international nutrition powerhouse Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and their alternative-protein associates at Believer Meats and Air Protein, then that meal is going to require one hell of an excellent chef.
Even better: Three excellent chefs, as Food Network star and James Beard Award winner Maneet Chauhan was joined by Austin’s own Philip Speer and ADM’s John Stephanian at Speer’s excellent Comedor restaurant Downtown on Sunday, March 12, to bring five courses of plant-based deliciousness to a small group of industry honchos, food journalists, and other guests seated within Comedor’s stylish interior.
And so, following the passed appetizers …
… and opening remarks by the chefs and by Believer Meats’ Yaakov Nahmis and Air Proteins’ Lisa Dyson, the well-serviced meal progressed smoothly through a first course of tlacoyo with rajas, enfrijolada, queso, chiapas, and epazote:
A second course of ensalada verde:
A third course of crispy cauliflower & salsa macha tacos (on heirloom masa tortilla), teff kebab tacos (with cucumber pomegranate raita on a red lentil tortilla):
A fourth course of oyster mushroom curry with heirloom chochoyote:
And the feast came to a colorful end with the final, dessert course – of a carrot pavlova and carrot halwa truffle:
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March 22, 2023
