Bristol restaurants will be the first in the UK to be recognised for taking proactive steps to reduce meat consumption, when a new award launches this month.
The Flexitarian Restaurant Award celebrates food venues that offer a diverse range of plant-based meals; higher welfare meat, fish and dairy products; and price incentives on meat-free dishes.
The scheme has emerged amid global concern that high meat consumption harms the health of both people and planet. The flexitarian approach aims to emphasise that conscientious eating is both enjoyable and sustainable, and can offer greater variety when dining out.
The award is being launched by campaign group Flexitarian Bristol during Healthy City Week 2016, which runs from 15 -22 October.
During the week, you’ll find flexitarian food trails around the city, allowing diners to try tasters at restaurants that have been awarded or are applying for the award. Amongst the first venues to be recognised are Bristol favourites such as Thali Cafe, Bocabar, Better Food, Watershed and the group behind Old Market Assembly.
Restaurants are assessed against strict criteria including the proportion of plant-based dishes on their menus, the price difference of those dishes against those that are meat or fish-based, and the welfare standards of the animal products they use.
Adopting a flexitarian diet involves eating less meat without ruling it out altogether, and choosing better quality meat and animal products from less intensive farming systems. The Flexitarian Restaurant Award aims to encourage consumers to choose restaurants that make it easy to enjoy meals that are rich in plant-based foods and meat from higher welfare producers.
Tickets for the food trails cost £12, and are available by clicking here. They include visits to five venues on either Thursday 20 October at 6.30pm or Saturday 22 October at 12pm. Printable maps of the trail will also be available from www.flexiaward.org for those wanting to follow the trail in their own time during Healthy City Week, and taster dishes can be purchased for £3 per plate at participating restaurants.