(SPOT.ph) Veggie-forward food didn't always have the best rep, especially among meat-loving Filipinos who thought going vegetarian or vegan meant subsisting on salad for the rest of your life. (No hate; we love a good salad, but limiting yourself to just that is another story.) Either way, we've thankfully come a long way, with so many drool-worthy and creative plant-based eats available in Manila today. If it's one with the feisty flavors of Korean or American cuisine you seek, we've got just the thing: two of our favorite local chefs—namely Sau del Rosario (of Sawsaw and Café Fleur, among other restos) and Josh Boutwood (of The Test Kitchen, Ember, and more)—have come up with must-try plant-based burgers featuring products by Nestlé's Harvest Gourmet line. And yup, you can try them at some of the chefs' respective restaurants.
Also read: The Restos to Check Out for A+ Plant-Based, Vegan, Vegetarian Eats on GrabFood and Foodpanda
These plant-based burgers ought to be on your eat list:
For a sandwich with plenty of umami and heat, go for Chef Del Rosario's Korean-Inspired Plant-Based Burger. Yup, we're looking at ya, KBBQ fans: here, Harvest Gourmet plant-based patties are taken out for a Seoul-style ride with toppings of ssamjang and kimchi plus a side of nori fries. This goes for P575 and is available at Café Fleur.
Alternatively, there's Chef Boutwood's Plant-Based Honey Buffalo (Chicken) Sandwich, which goes for P540 and is available at The Test Kitchen. Buffalo wings, of course, are a sports-bar classic and here the chef gives a similar flavor treatment to Harvest Gourmet's plant-based schnitzel, along with a touch of honey for sweetness and additional toppings of crisp coleslaw and their own secret sauce.
Harvest Gourmet is a brand by Swiss brand Nestlé, popular for their frozen, ready-to-heat plant-based products that resemble popular meat dishes. In case you're looking to try these products plain (and maybe craft up your own plant-based sandwiches and other dishes!), you can find them on sites like Rare Food Shop and Wholemart PH.
Cafe Fleur is at 5893 Enriquez Street, Poblacion, Makati City. The Test Kitchen is at One Rockwell, G/F East Tower, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell, Makati City. For more information, check out the Facebook pages of Nestlé Professional Philippines, Café Fleur, or The Test Kitchen MNL.
Also read:
Josh Boutwood, Executive Chef of The Bistro Group, Is Manila's Chef of the Moment
Athletes And Guests Were Welcomed With A 24/7 Buffet By Renowned Chefs In Pampanga
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