Andy Mossack gets a taste of plant-based cuisine with a meaty twist at Powerplant Vegan Restaurant, Camden’s hip vegan hangout.
One of the biggest things to hit Camden post-lockdown was the opening of Powerplant Vegan Restaurant, the flagship plant-based restaurant of pioneering global lifestyle brand Selina Hotels. Created by Israeli property developers Daniel Rudasveski and Rafael Musen, the Selina concept is about beautiful places to stay that are in tune with the lifestyles of today’s digital nomads. Urban hangouts that reflect local neighbourhoods and welcome coworking, wellness and recreation.
Powerplant Vegan Restaurant is an equally ambitious project; to make plant-based cuisine as desirable for meat eaters as it is for vegans and vegetarians. A noble cause indeed, and one that has sustainability written all over it. But how can you deliver it to an audience of non-believers? Perhaps the answer is by collaborating with another Israeli food pioneer – Redefine Meat – whose New-Meat plant-based products have brought many admiring glances. It seems a perfect fit, and I was keen to find out for myself if this New-Meat would satisfy my occasional carnivore craving.
Camden’s vegan upswing has gained much momentum and Powerplant Vegan Restaurant’s arrival couldn’t have been better timed to capitalise on the trend. Selina Camden’s entire ground floor is given up to the Powerplant vegan restaurant, a space that’s both an eatery and workspace with plenty of tables amongst the many potted plants for free Wi-Fi and nomadic laptop working. It’s a cool and relaxed place to chill, chat or work, with plenty of organic coffee and fresh tea infusions to keep you pepped, and an all-day menu to keep you nourished.
Come early evening though, the candles are lit, and the vibe becomes a lot cosier as I found out when I arrived for dinner. Seated at the far end of the Powerplant Vegan Restaurant, I had a perfect pitch to check out the comings and goings of Camden’s eclectic boho community, who seemed perfectly at home eating, chatting, or working. A tick in the ‘perfect demographic’ box for Selina’s marketeers I fancy.
The menu is sectioned into small plates or large sharing plates, sides and weekly specials. Plenty of vegan staples on show, such as BBQ King Oyster mushroom and summer squash skewers with a peanut satay sauce (£8), or tahini hummus, falafel, chillies and grilled flatbread (£7) (well it is an Israeli company so bound to get that spot on). Charred Padron peppers with za’atar, burnt lemon and date syrup (£6), and the popular Taiwanese bao buns with crispy tofu, shaved cabbage, mayo, pickled chilli and shiso leaf furikake (£12).
But I was at the Powerplant Vegan Restaurant to check out the New-Meat and find out if it lived up to the billing.
So, my dinner highlights included smoky aubergine with caramelised ‘redefined meatballs’, harissa, coconut yoghurt, pine nuts and fresh herbs (£8). Really tasty, barbecued aubergine that paired beautifully with small meatballs that really did feel authentic!
Kebab-style arayes arrived next; Lebanese pittas stuffed with New-Meat kebab mince, served with amba, tahini, chopped tomatoes and chopped herb salad. (£14). Another glorious example of how versatile New-Meat can be.
A three-cheese arancini plate was brought triumphantly to our table. No meat this time, but rice croquettes with plant mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan cheeses, miso mayo and leek oil (£7). Who knew plant-based cheese could taste so good?
I finished with a more traditional Pad Thai made with sweet potato noodles, ‘scrambled egg’ tofu carrots, onions sugar snaps red pepper and peanuts mixed with Thai basil and a sweet and sour Pad Thai sauce. (£13).
The vegan breakfast the next morning was equally delicious, with plenty of freshly squeezed juices, fresh pastries and my personal highlight, toasted sourdough with smashed avocado, heirloom tomatoes, feta (v), radish and chilli oil. (£9.50). A side of redefined sausages (for quality purposes only) proved to be indistinguishable from the real thing. Something I’ve now come to expect and respect.
Powerplant is an excellent vegan restaurant, with dishes that are beautifully presented using an absolute shedload of plant-based ingredients. Add the genius Redefine-Meat factor and you have a glorious combination that simply has to appeal to every palate.
Who said vegan food is boring?
Tell Me More about Powerplant Vegan Restaurant at Selina Camden
Powerplant, 89 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AR, United Kingdom
T:(+44) 203 966 0765
