Travellers are becoming more aware of how their choices impact the environment, whether it’s how they choose to get from one place to another, where they shop or what they eat. Likewise, some industries and businesses have been making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and offer up services and products in a more ethical way. The latest example is renowned Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn, who recently decided to stop serving meat in any of her San Francisco restaurants.
“In my continuing effort to effect real environmental change, it’s ridiculous for me to expect others to do as I say, not as I do. Meat is insanely complicated - both within the food system and the environment as a whole, and, honestly, it felt easier to just remove it from the menus all together. Local and sustainable fish and vegetables are just as, if not more, versatile - and delicious. We have to be thoughtful about the ecosystem that we're living in. I've been considering this for a long time, and just felt like it was finally time to take the plunge,” Dominique Crenn told Lonely Planet.
The famous chef has said that the restaurants will focus on reinventing the classics in an exciting and engaging way, and will continue to work with produce from her farm, Bleu Belle.
During her treatment of and ongoing recovery from breast cancer, Chef Crenn spent a lot of time thinking about the evolution of her restaurants. The three Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn has been meat-free for almost two years, while Petit Crenn has always been meat-free. Bar Crenn, which also boasts a Michelin star has been meat-free for a few months now, is as the newly-opened Boutique Crenn.
“Each restaurant will continue to have its own original vision, to move along its own path, but I’m interested in a rebirth, in giving guests an even fuller experience - and that’s what we’re doing.”
Bar Crenn will continue to offer an a la carte menu, with walk-ins being accepted when possible. It also has two new options; a salon-style tasting menu, where each evening a limited number of tickets will be available for “The Counter at Bar Crenn”, a two-hour experience featuring six to eight courses for US$225 (excluding tax and wine) as well as a collaboration between Atelier Crenn and Bar Crenn called “The Grand Feast”, a three-and-a-half hour 15-course tasting menu.
Another new experience called ‘A Moveable Feast’ has also been unveiled, which sees guests experiencing the range of restaurants. The evening starts with Champagne and a dish at Bar Crenn, followed by a tour of the Atelier Crenn kitchen (and a taste of the restaurant’s signature Kir Breton); then, guests will be taken via car service to Petit Crenn, where they will enjoy the restaurant’s signature seven-course tasting menu.
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