Social media influencer and vegan chef, Ben Rebuck’s announcement on BBC show, Celebration Kitchen has caused controversy with his legion of more than 500,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
While sharing the screen with five other Jewish guests on the Chanukah special edition of the weekend cookery show, the 32-year-old Radlett resident revealed that he and his business partners are planning on opening a restaurant in Belsize Park in early February. The father-of-one — who shares vegan recipes via his Ben’s Vegan Kitchen Instagram account — said the restaurant will be named after daughter, Goldie.
The new venture will occupy the site recently vacated by Jewish restaurant, Freddie’s, on Rowland Hill Street, adjacent to London’s Royal Free Hospital.
Rebuck, who has been a vocal supporter of Israel since October 7, told the JC “It’s a great space — massive and beautifully done with a good kitchen. Belsize Park is crying out for a good brunch/lunch place.”
To the evident relief of fellow guests on the show, including Rob Rinder, Rebuck confirmed the new restaurant, Goldie’s Kitchen, will not be exclusively vegan. But this has not pleased everyone.
After sharing a clip of the announcement on his Instagram profile a flurry of followers shared their disappointment.
One commenter said: ‘Congratulations. Although, I have to say, I follow you because you are clearly an incredibly talented vegan chef. It’s a bit disappointing that your restaurant won’t be truly plant based. That’s a shame and feels a little inauthentic to you and your brand.’
Another wrote: ‘Kind of disappointing you chose business and profit over animals (sic) lives’.
Rebuck responded: “... we’re opening a place where people who eat vegan food (who tend to be the only ones in their family who do) can eat proper food alongside friends family and colleagues etc. It’s all about inclusivity and giving people the tools to make the right choice.”Not everyone was on the offensive though, with some posting they’d be happy to eat vegan alongside non vegan diners.
Rebuck has defended the decision by saying “As much as from an ethical standpoint it may go against the back bone of what my [Instagram] page stands for we also want to make this a viable business, not something that’s open and shut and purely vegan businesses are closing all the time.”
"This is the best way to get [non vegan] people to eat vegan food — to give them choices to try. I don’t want to limit my market, and I want it to be as inclusive as possible. The wife and two daughters of one of my business partners are coeliac so there will be plenty of gluten free food on the menu.”
goldieskitchenldn / benrebuck
