Lifestyle & Culture

Chef Elena in Paris: Vegetarian options are a growing trend in French fast-food

The rise of flexitarianism (consumers reducing animal-based ingredients in their diet) among those eating out has lead to a demand in vegetarian and vegan options on restaurant menus in the past couple of years. However, is there really a bright future ahead for this niche on the market when it comes to French fast-food?

In the past five years, the perception of vegetarian dishes has dramatically changed. From being viewed as an alternative for the few of those with food restrictions, “green” alternatives have become one of the leading offerings in fast-food restaurants and cafés in several major cities in France.

The number of “healthy food on the go” brands in the country has steadily increased from to 410 from 252 between 2015 and 2018, according to a study carried out by WorldWide Studies Group/CHD Expert. A poll recently conducted among French citizens living in cities has confirmed their interest in reducing the amount of meat consumed – one in five questioned opted for a vegan meal or dish at least once whilst eating out in the past month.

Such a flexitarian approach not only demonstrates customers’ health concerns due to the negative impact of meat consumption, but also shows the appeal of “home-made” local produce, e.g. farm fruits and vegetables.

EXKI

Exki, “an unprecedented pioneer” of the green movement, is a chain of healthy fast-food restaurants operating across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It provides clients with high-quality ingredients with respect towards “nature, celebrated for all its richness and the benefits it brings.”

Robin Blondel, Global Head of Product, Supply Chain and Marketing at EXKi, says that “half of our dishes are vegetarian and 30 percent are vegan. At Exki, we also respect gluten- or lactose intolerance, providing clients with delicious alternatives to wheat or dairy.”

Each month, the Belgian brand selects a seasonal fruit or vegetable to work on, creating three or four dishes around it.

JOUR

A salad bar chain, Jour (“day” in French), also claims to have a growing demand in veggie options and thus making sure at least one-third of ingredients to compose salads are of non-animal origin to meet the client’s requirements.

“Around half of our clients opt for a vegan salad when choosing its’ ingredients at the bar stations,” says Thomas Battistini, Jour founding president.

“Our customers’ choice is key to our development and it is crucial in the matter of making the general public aware of seasonal produce, its’ variety and impeccable taste”.

IRRESISTIBLY INSTAGRAMMABLE – Photo by Elena Kalmykova

Gaspachos, smoothies, juices and soups, salads and poke bowls, – many of those kind of dishes – fully or partially comprised of vegetables – are found frequently on today’s lunch and dinner menus. Some cafés go even further, switching their menu 100 percent to vegetarian or vegan.

All in all, is it a fashionable flare, a momentous drift or something of a more profound nature that will shape the way we see fast food tomorrow?

Personally, I feel that what once used to be a somewhat bizarre choice for very few people avoiding products of animal origin has now become a conscious way of consumption for many. Vegetarianism attracts a wide range of customers for several reasons and that is the main reason sales figures for veggie options only keep increasing.

For me as a chef, putting vegetable options on the menu or creating gluten-free alternatives to traditional desserts are a perfect motivation to look around and get creative, using what nature has given me.

Besides, vegetables and fruits are also so irresistibly Instagrammable and photogenic that putting them on the plate almost immediately calls for success.

About the author:

Elena Kalmykova is a pastry chef, gastronomic guide, arts lover and passionate traveller living in Paris.

She’s originally from Moscow, Russia. It was her love for pastry that led Elena to study and then work in a Parisian pastry shop, a 3-star Michelin restaurant and now in a 5-star hotel.

She loves to discover new technologies as well as the latest trends in food, great spots to eat or drink and share her knowledge.

You can follow her on Instagram at elena_kalmykova.

See more from Chef Elena here.

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Elena Kalmykova is a pastry chef, gastronomic guide, arts lover and passionate traveller. She’s originally from Moscow, Russia. It was her love for pastry that led Elena to study and then work in a Parisian pastry shop, a 3-star Michelin restaurant, then at a 5-star hotel.

She loves to discover new technologies as well as the latest trends in food, great spots to eat or drink and share her knowledge.

You can follow her on Instagram at elena_kalmykova.

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