Avocado overkill?
Are we saying something strange when we claim that the avocado is the iPhone of food, and the avocado rose the most Instagrammed dish du moment? Avocado restaurants and bars are popping up everywhere, all claiming to be the world’s first. And San Francisco hosted the world’s first avocado food festival. But the inevitable counter-movement is also gathering steam. And not only because of environmental concerns related to the notoriously water-guzzling stone fruit.
1. Avocado Athens, Athens
Perhaps genuinely the first in the world to put the super-healthy avocado firmly in the spotlight, as early as 2011. Although, admittedly, it does not have an all-avocado menu. And it is primarily focused on health rather than Instagram benefits.
2. The Avo-Brunch Pop-Up, London
Okay, we cheated a little with number 1. But this pop-up, which turned London upside down in spring 2016, probably really was the first. The five-course avocado meal, full of avocado roses, avocado macarons and other creations revolving around the green stone fruit, flew off the counter like avocado buns. And who knows, it may be back soon (check the website).
Fans slept on the pavement to be the first to Instagram an avocado bun burger.
3. The Avocado Show, Amsterdam
Long before opening, the Amsterdam music entrepreneurs already had 50,000 followers across various social media platforms. And on the night before the launch, fans slept on the pavement to guarantee they would be the first to Instagram the long-awaited avocado bun burger. Nothing like this had been seen in the capital since the release of the latest Harry Potter or iPhone. Like most other avocado bars, TAS also claims to use only sustainably grown fruit.
4. Avocaderia, Brooklyn NYC
Within three hours of opening, there were no avocados left at this restaurant, which combines avo just as easily with pico de gallo sauce from Mexico as with shichimi spices from Japan.
5. Guac Tacos + Tequila, Brooklyn NYC
Eleven varieties made exclusively from mashed avocados are on the menu here. They can be combined with tacos and other accompaniments. Besides traditional guac, there is, for example, Smoked Chipotle, Exotic Mango and Roasted Sweet Corn (tomato, coriander, onions and crispy, salted mote (cooked corn kernels)).
Many more avocado bars will open before the hype runs aground. Even though some say the decline has already begun. The first restaurant to officially ban the fruit from its menu via a provocative press release has now emerged: Firedog in London. Instead, the all-day brunch restaurant serves, for example, a dish with grilled halloumi (The New Avocado), slow-cooked tomatoes, beetroot hummus and fried eggs with za’atar.
Firedog’s ban has not yet inspired many imitators.
