Saudi Arabian Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, known for his support of animal welfare causes and investing in vegan businesses, has partnered with the popular plant-based chef Matthew Kenney in creating a limited run vegan menu for the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills as part of a new venture, called Folia.
“We’re creating a consulting and teaching company,” Alwaleed told LIVEKINDLY. “We have a trial run with them, the idea is to transform these companies because they have a different idea of what healthy food is.”
Alwaleed says vegan, sustainable, and animal rights industries and causes are a priority and he uses his name to help further those missions. “I can leverage my network and name,” he said.
The initiative is set to expand to food outlets across the globe. The partnership is designed to be “agnostic to how we introduce plant-based food,” according to Alwaleed. “The sky is the limit.”
The Folia menu is available first at the Four Season’s Cabana Restaurant and in select rooms and suites. “I worked very closely GM of Four seasons VP health and wellness,” Alwaleed said. “Our views overlap very nicely. [There was] no resistance [to the menu], it just made sense.”
Menu items range from Watermelon Poke and Hearts of Palm Ceviche to Cacio e Pepe kelp noodles with cashew pepper sauce and a Coconut Cream Pie with macadamia crust and banana crème.
“The appeal of plant-based cuisine has never been stronger,” Alwaleed continued. “This new venture will introduce truly healthy menus to people who otherwise would not have had an opportunity to see the array of options available in the plant-based world, especially when a master chef is at the helm.”
Alwaleed also took to Instagram to share the news and was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.
Long-term, Alwaleed said that the partnership will open pop-up restaurants, offer consultancy work about plant-based living, and introduce plant-based food to menus and health sections at restaurant and hospitality establishments across the globe. Alwaleed and Kenney are passionate about offering food that not only “tastes good but looks beautiful,” too.
The Folia partners have a long-standing connection. Alwaleed is an investor in Matthew Kenney Global, noting that now the two are marrying their background concepts together with the new program. Alwaleed frequently lends his voice to support the vegan and plant-based movement. He recently invested to protect Jordan’s service animals by introducing humane treatment programs and a long-term plan for electric cars to replace the animals entirely.
Kenney is pioneering vegan fine dining restaurants across the globe. Earlier this year he opened Australia’s first vegan hotel, his first plant-based restaurant in Canada, and more locations in New York City. His entrepreneurship has cemented his presence as a key player in the classy to casual food scenes.
