if you've been through Tirso de Molina Lately, you may have been struck by huge glass doors surrounded by plants that open onto a gold-lit bar stocked with all manner of organic refreshments. Is about Greenhouse Vegan District , the new home of the well-known tapestry of footbath.
A striking entrance that invites you to peek.
Although to Madrid There is no shortage of options free of animal ingredients, from the Tapa Mundi vegan tapas route to the dozens of vegan and vegetarian restaurants that populate its streets, the recent opening of this place has caused a sensation. On the one hand, it is the unification of three well-known restaurants: The Modernist , which served homemade, healthy and one hundred percent vegetable food in Chamberí; the gastropub The Aunt Charlotte , close to the San Fernando market; and his own Vegan District.
On the other hand, its striking facade and the way in which the premises are integrated with the classic interior patio of the adjoining building invite you to enter, at least to take a look. And it does not disappoint: a bright and welcoming interior ideal for a group brunch, a family meal or a romantic dinner, for vegans and non-vegans alike.
Vegan breakfasts and brunches that make you want to repeat.
The donoso family , which founded the original restaurants and runs the new premises, already has an important track record in Madrid. By deciding to combine their three restaurants into one, they have managed to create a space that combines different styles and that invites groups of various tastes to meet without anyone having to give in. It is not the most common thing in the world to see a hot dog share a table with a tartar , but in Greenhouse Vegan District it's possible. "The idea is that there are options for all tastes," explains Pablo Donoso, chef at Distrito Vegano, to Condé Nast Traveler.
“If someone is more in the mood for an elaborate dish, international cuisine or something a little special, they can order a korma , some croquettes or a lasagna; but there are also more casual dishes, like hamburgers and nachos.” And it's not just because of the variety. The almost gluten-free menu and, of course, Without lactose makes life a lot easier celiac and intolerant . “More than gluten-free options, there are some gluten-containing dishes on this menu,” he sums up.
International cuisine dishes such as Korma Kavurma, all free of ingredients of animal origin.
They have kept the family tradition that characterizes its premises. "I founded the first restaurant with my parents," says Pablo. "Now we have joined the three premises that we had, but we continue to work as a family. Carmen, my mother, and my sister Francis are the chefs, and Marioli, another of my sisters, is in charge."
Of the five brothers which are in total, three work in the restaurant, but also his father and his nephews. “Sergio, my father, does the accounting, although he is also the expert in doing croquettes , and my nephews Camila and Esteban are waiters”.
Pablo Donoso with his mother, Carmen Olguín, and his sister, Francis Donoso, head chefs.
They are people who know how to use vegetable ingredients, and it shows. From the elaborate caps until the hearty and tasty dishes , this is a perfect place to discover everything that the vegan kitchen (and recall flagship dishes of restaurants that we will miss).
The more traditional vegetable dishes such as Soup rice (with the different touch that the seaweed flavor gives) are a fantastic option for those who prefer to avoid anything that resembles meat, but things that are not expected in a vegan also appear on the menu.
“The idea is not to imitate meat but to replace the flavors and textures that people are used to” explains Pablo. Maybe the tail of the Vega may not be the most typical vegan dish, but the texture they have achieved with the vegetable meat wrapped with rice slices in a sauce with a smooth texture and intense flavor perfectly exemplifies how much vegan cuisine has evolved in recent years.
If you want to see this evolution in more detail, you can't miss the charcuterie and cheese board . Although the sausages (one York style ham more typical and other mountain type based on rice that is slightly reminiscent of carpaccio) are worth it, the real protagonists are the organic cheeses from Jay & Joy.
This brand of French origin uses traditional cheese-making techniques applied to nut bases to achieve textures and flavors that seem impossible without dairy. From the blue cheese , which has grains that are difficult to distinguish from those of animal-derived cheeses, to the style brie , with its velvety crust, the variety of textures and flavors is what both vegans and lactose intolerant have been waiting for.
They can also be enjoyed as part of other dishes, melted on nachos or potatoes , in scrambled eggs or even in a salad. Desserts are not far behind: it is clearly not necessary to use dairy to achieve creamy textures, as the tarts and the Tiramisu , although if you are more of finishing the meal with crunchy sweets, you will prefer the cookies with frozen.
It's hard to believe that these Jay & Joy cheeses are dairy-free.
Beyond being a paradise for vegans, vegetarians, coeliacs and lactose intolerant, for those who miss meat and for those who don't, it is a beautiful and pleasant place to enjoy home cooked food in an environment family-friendly where pets are welcome. If you want to try it, don't forget to book : Its success is evident in the number of tables filled almost every day.