Planted by La Tour Cafe is a new vegan-based addition to the La Tour Chain.
The Corporate Chef, Christopher Gee, shared with us the new vision for this new plant-based restaurant. “Recognizing the demand for plant-based options, we saw an opportunity to provide a unique experience while contributing to a healthier, more sustainable food future. Our aim was to showcase that plant-based cuisine can be rich, flavorful, and satisfying, mirroring the sophistication of traditional options. By embracing change and culinary boundaries, we’re encouraging a shift towards a more sustainable approach to dining, ultimately catering to a broader audience.”
For your convenience you can find a list of Planted by La Tour Café’s new signature staple pieces shared with us in his own words by Corporate Chef Christopher Gee:
Aloha Tamago Tartine: “It’s a tofu based faux egg salad done in that Japanese creamy style. No artificial ingredients or colors are added. Kabocha is the main coloring agent.”
Avocado Tartine: “Planted version of a classic we use a Pain de Champagne loaf that is made by our bakery topped with a whole avocado and garnished with baby arugula, yuzu kosho, house pickled red onions, and black sesame.”
Teri Burger: “A local favorite, we pan sear the plant-based patties on the griddle like a smash burger to develop a crust that perfectly mimics the texture and flavor of a actually meat patty.”
Falafel Salad: “Our popular falafel that we use for our banh mi but done salad style. It has salad greens, marinated artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, cilantro, Spicy hummus, and a lemon tahini dressing.”
Butter Mochi Canalè: “A small French pastry It takes the shape of a small, striated cylinder up to five centimeters in height with a depression at the top. Of course, we wanted to put a twist on it so we made them using butter mochi. We put a lot of effort into perfecting the texture, aiming for a crisp exterior while maintaining the soft, chewy mochi texture inside. We currently have 6 flavors: maple, chocolate, matcha, azuki, black sesame and original.”
Croissant: “A classic in terms of French pastries. Who doesn’t like a warm croissant with coffee or tea in the morning. Ours, of course, is vegan but you won’t be able to tell the difference. It still has the perfect buttery flavor you would wonder how we did it.”
Kouign Amann: “Of course, can’t leave out the Kouign Amann. A pastry that we sell at all our cafes. Obviously, this one is plant based. Although I love both versions, I love our plant-based ingredients which don’t feel so heavy.”
You can find Planted by La Tour Cafe at Ward Village, and follow their journey on Instagram @planted.hi.