Plnthouse – The Good Kitchen is Divine & Healthy Eating
Not sure what is going on in the vegan world, but some vegan restaurants are serving food way tastier than normal restaurants. When I dine out, I am lucky to try 10-12 different dishes and I write about the ones I enjoy. I have rarely been to a place in America where I loved everything, but I did thoroughly at the exquisite Plnthouse.
Award winning plant-based chef and wellness entrepreneur Chef Matthew Kenney thankfully has brought us a second concept to Miami with the opening of Plnthouse, the good kitchen, at 1 Hotel & Homes South Beach. His first restaurant, Plant Food + Wine literally mesmerized me when I visited. You can see our full review of this sacred spot here. Plnthouse offers a more casual, but just as delectable outlet for Kenney’s contemporary plant-based cuisine.
Both Chef Matthew Kenney and 1 Hotels share sustainable ideals and overall wellness: from energy conservation, to locally grown foods, a connection to nature, and the importance of fitness. The alignment between the two brands is unmistakable. Located on the second floor of the 1 Hotel, plnthouse features a café with table service and a full bar program, as well as a grab-and-go component. The 105-seat restaurant is evenly distributed between an indoor dining room and an outdoor deck with unobstructed ocean views.
A fresh take on a traditional café style menu, Chef Kenney has crafted a menu of whole, healthful and delicious plant-based items that complement the environmentally conscious, luxe 1 Hotel and Miami lifestyle. Highlighted offerings include an array of salads, wraps, sandwiches and bowls; and a variety of smoothies, juices, tonics and personalized coffee and tea program. The café is open for breakfast through early dinner (7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily). A cocktail, wine and beer list features organic, biodynamic offerings whenever possible in addition to fresh garnishes, juices and mixers for the cocktails. Let us begin with the luscious libations:
This Ginger drink is so refreshing, smooth and has a ginger linger that you will feel in the back of your throat.
These smoothies were no joke, THE BEST SMOOTHIES I EVER HAD!! They were complex, scrumptious and had thick & enchanting textures. Bring friends and get all 3 if you can. The purple one is the – Tropical Pitaya – Dragon Fruit, Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Coconut. Sweet, robust and ever so lovely. The orange beauty is The Golden One – Coconut, Mango, Pineapple, Orange, Turmeric, Aloe, MCT Oil, Maca, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Tocotrienols. This was such a unique and original flavor for me. Almost reminded me of an Indian curry. The green is the Cacao Green and has more of a fudge than a smoothie in texture. It is comprised of Coconut, Banana, Anandamide, Mucuna Pruriens, Kale, Vitamineral Greens, Moringa, Hemp Protein, Avocado & Dates. Seriously try all 3!
This breakfast item is almost too gorgeous too eat. The Avocado Toast – Shaved Vegetables, Herbs, Chili Oil is on glorious Zak’s bread. Perfectly toasted, so it was crispy yet soft and the avocado is fresh, creamy and its flavored heightened by the oil and herbs
I think this was my fave dish, but everything was marvelous, so it was hard to choose. Thai Rice Paper Wraps – Avocado, Red Pepper, Mango, Red Cabbage, Sprouts, Herbs, Tamarind Dipping Sauce. So beautiful, fresh, crisp and flavorful. Like a burst of Spring in yo mouth.
Another winner was the Zucchini Noodle Bowl – Pistachio Pesto, Cashew Ricotta, Slow Roasted Tomato. I would have liked the zucchini a bit softer, but that sauce was banging and the cashew ricotta was deliriously deelish.
We also enjoyed the Cauliflower Falafel Bowl – Quinoa-Hemp Seed Tabouli, Sprouted Chickpea Hummus, Harissa Tahini. While you still may wish there was some falafel, but the sauces were on point and the cauliflower quite tasty.
The One Bowl – with sprouted lentils, roasted broccoli crowns, massaged kale, nori and sprouts served over brown rice in a turmeric dressing was fresh and I would lather that turmeric dressing on everything!
Yes we saved room for dessert and were blown away by the outstanding Mango Cheesecake with pistachio crust and lime curd and one of the best Chocolate Chip Cookies we ever had. We could not believe the cookie was vegan!! I was so soft and and insanely good. Plnthouse was utterly remarkable. You seriously need to try this place out!!
Plnthouse is located in 1 Hotel South Beach, 2341 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Open from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. Reservations and more information at: plnt-house 1-305-604-6835
About Matthew Kenney Cuisine (MKC):
A pioneer of high-end raw food and plant-based cuisine, Matthew Kenney is a Maine native, avid outdoorsman, and graduate of the French Culinary Institute. He has been named one of America’s Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Magazine, received two chef nominations from the James Beard Foundation, and authored a dozen books. Kenney operates culinary academies (Matthew Kenney Culinary) across the United States and will soon expand internationally to Barcelona, Sydney, Paris, and London. In addition to academies, Matthew Kenney Cuisine is at the forefront of the plant-based culinary industry and operates restaurants Plant Food + Wine in Venice, CA and Miami, fast casual MAKE OUT in Culver City, CA, Matthew Kenney NM, a café created in partnership with and located within Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills, and plant-based pizza concept Double Zero in New York City’s East Village. Additional projects in the works include Kenney’s first restaurants outside North America, Plant Cafe in Bahrain and a soon to be announced project in London, and a travel-based Wellness division set to launch in 2017 with a series of retreat experiences in Kauai, HI.
