Matthew Kenney to open Selfridges restaurant

American chef Matthew Kenney is to open ‘plant-based’ restaurant Adesse at London’s Selfridges on 2 December.

Adesse, which means ‘to be present’ in Latin, will open on the second floor of the department store. It will serve dishes including starters like jackfruit 'crab cake' with smoked red pepper rémoulade, or a beetroot carpaccio with yuzu kosho and poppy seed.

There will also be sharing plates, such as kimchi dumplings with foamed ginger, or a flora tree nut cheese plate featuring black truffle, smoked Cheddar and herbed feta. Mains will feature kelp noodle cacio e pepe with snap peas, pea shoots and dehydrated black olives, along with spicy udon, togarashi, tempeh, bok choy, roasted cashew and radish. The dessert offering will include chocolate and salted caramel crunch, and a lime parfait with avocado and spiced macadamia.

Kenney was involved in the opening of Essence Cuisine vegan restaurant in London's Shoreditch in 2017, but this has since closed.

Kenney graduated from the French Culinary Institute and has restaurants in New York and along the East Coast of the US. He is the author of 12 cookbooks and chief executive of Matthew Kenney Cuisine (MKC), which specialises in “plant-based living”. Matthew Kenny Cuisine is set to open further sites this winter and spring, including the expansion of the Sestina brand into additional locations throughout Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Kenney said: “I am thrilled to partner with Selfridges to open a new restaurant in London. Adesse exemplifies what we do so well at MKC – serve innovative and unique cuisine alongside excellent wine and cocktails in a stunning setting.”

Alex Gilmour, head of restaurants at Selfridges, said: “One of the best ways we can improve both our health and the environment is to adopt a more plant-based diet. We’re delighted to introduce Matthew Kenney’s concept with its fresh take on plant-based dining and menu that aligns with our values of offering more planet-friendly food. We look forward to welcoming guests to come together and be inspired as we explore the future of food.”

The launch of Adesse will be part of Project Earth, Selfridges’ sustainability initiative and commitment to offering more meat-free options across its restaurants and food halls.