London vegan restaurant Cookdaily has announced plans to return to Boxpark Shoreditch and grow the brand into a chain.
The chef-owner of Cookdaily, King Senathit (also known as King Cook), revealed the news on Instagram along with a picture of the new pop-up in east London, which is due to open this month. The official launch date is a surprise and will be announced on social media a few hours before. The move is a return to its origins, as the plant-based eatery started out in Shoreditch in 2015, impressing punters with its novel approach to vegan fast food.
The concept quickly grew popular and Cookdaily opened up a restaurant in London Fields to meet east London’s demand for more plant-based options. The atmosphere at Cookdaily provided a contrast to the established vegan restaurants, as it was edgy and cool with grime music playing on blast in the background.
The new Shoreditch opening signals the beginning of more locations, as King Cook is in talks with Market Halls and Boxpark about growing the brand into a franchise. He has a vision for Cookdaily to be "the Subway of vegan food" with plans for the franchise to cater to the food on-the-go market.
Many have cited the vegan eatery as a huge influence on the vegan food scene, paving the way for inexpensive, casual plant-based eating. King told Eater London: “There was no scene. Cookdaily brought a vegan eating culture. Before there were vegans and there was food but there wasn’t vegan food culture.”
King also likes to challenge stereotypes associated with certain foods, saying: “It’s true that when people think of veganism, they think of white, middle-class [people] and we are changing that.”
The vegan brand is well-known for serving up hearty bowls of food inspired by King’s culinary background and roots. Influences include his home country of Lao, his classical French training, and London upbringing. Senathit serves up wholesome bowls such as Le Garden, filled with vegetables sautéed in garlic and herbes de Provence vegan butter drizzled with white truffle oil. He also offers serves fries and chick’n’ pies.
The new pop-up in Boxpark Shoreditch will offer five permanent bowls as well as a daily special, and customers will be able to influence the menu, by voting on limited-edition dishes which will be released on a weekly rotating basis.
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