Gauthier Soho Introduces Vegan Menu For World Vegan Month

PETA Request Prompts New Offerings, Including Heirloom Rainbow Carrots, Walnut Brioche and Chard Tortellini

London – Londoners on the hunt for a cruelty-free night on the town now have one more destination to visit: high-end hotspot Gauthier Soho has just added a 100 per cent vegan menu in honour of World Vegan Month. Chef patron Alexis Gauthier, renowned for putting vegetables at the centre of the plate, will be serving up a delectable, cruelty-free tasting menu that includes Smoked Tofu and Fondant Squash, Hay Baked Beetroot, and Lemon and Thyme Sorbet.

Speaking of his 2012 book Vegetronic, Chef Gauthier said, "I believe that as a planet, we all need to be more responsible and compassionate with meat production and consumption, and so I produced a book which allows people to find the beauty in plant-centric cooking". Chef Gauthier went on to say, "I believe my customers' wishes and comfort are paramount and I want to do everything I can to make them happy. That's why I'm supporting World Vegan Month".

"PETA is delighted that Chef Gauthier has brought his modern French approach to this exquisite World Vegan Month menu", says PETA Manager of Special Projects Dawn Carr. "We approached him about producing a vegan menu after he made the compassionate decision to drop foie gras earlier this year."

Since being diagnosed with fatty liver disease, Chef Gauthier has been eating healthier himself and is also making it possible for his guests to make informed choices by adding calorie counts to his menu, but he made the decision to remove foie gras from his menu because of the cruelty involved in its production.

Foie gras, French for "fatty liver", is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese huge amounts of grain through a metal tube that is shoved down their throats several times a day until their livers swell to as much as 10 times their normal size. And they aren't alone: chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets have their tails and testicles cut off without being given any painkillers, and calves are taken away from their mothers within hours of birth.

PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat," is offering free vegetarian starter kits to those taking the group's World Vegan Month pledge to go vegan for 30 days.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.