A clash between a prominent chef and an unsatisfied vegan customer has resulted in the famed cook banning all plant-based eaters from his restaurant.
Chef John Mountain, a celebrated culinary artist and restaurateur from the UK, has caused quite the debate on social media with his contentious declaration on Facebook.
Posting on the official Facebook page of one of his most successful restaurants, Fyre, Mountain wrote: "Sadly all vegans are now banned from Fyre for mental health reasons. We thank you for your understanding. xx."
The restaurant in question is located in the northern suburb of Connolly in Perth.
Per the Daily Mail, Mountain has since explained how the ban occurred after an interaction with a young vegan customer didn't go as planned.
"A young girl reached out to me and said she was coming to the restaurant… and asked if there were vegan options. It was my only shortfall… I said I would accommodate her, I said we had gnocchi, vegetables… and that was that," recalls Mountain.
Unfortunately, amidst the chaos of catering a private party, Mountain forgot about the woman's vegan request.
The customer lodged a complaint on Sunday, expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of plant-based meal options and price, suggesting that the restaurant's inability to cater to all dietary preferences might lead to its downfall. The complaint states: "'My only option was the vegetable dish… it was okay but not that filling… and I was shocked to see it was $32."
Not one to shy away from confrontation, the restaurant retorted: "Thanks for your negative review… please feel free to share your s**tty experience and I look forward to not seeing you again. You and all your vegan mates can all go and enjoy your dishes in another venue. You are now banned."
Unsurprisingly, this decision sparked a torrent of mixed Google reviews and Facebook comments, with vegans and non-vegans either attacking or defending Mountain's policy.
One comment read: "Nicely done. I'll be coming to eat there knowing all your time & expertise won't be wasted to cater for the minority. If you want Italian, go to an Italian Restaurant. If you want Japanese, go to a Japanese Restaurant. Let the Vegans find their own."
However, a second argued: "Not all vegans are troublemakers. Not all vegans are the same. Banning all vegans is unfair and prejudiced. Prejudice is bigotry."
The chef laments that the negative reviews "really hurts the business," expressing his frustration further by telling PerthNow: "F*** vegans seriously… I’m done."
Despite the uproar, the restaurant still has its supporters. The restaurant's decision not to cater to vegan customers has prompted comments like: "I'm in love with the food. I especially love the fact that the menu doesn't waste space on a vegan option."
Such reviews have helped to maintain a four-star rating average on Google.
Before his vegan controversy, Chef Mountain was best known for his stints on cooking shows like the Great British Menu and Chef Race UK v US. He even worked alongside culinary heavyweights Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White. Yet, this recent clash proves that even celebrated chefs can become embroiled in dietary debates.
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