Celebrate the "Queer Eye" star's new restaurant by whipping up one of our favorite avocado-centric meals.
Queer Eye fans in NYC, listen up! Antoni Porowski, the Netflix series’ food and wine expert, is opening a fast-casual restaurant in the West Village.
WATCH: 4 Ways to Use Ripe Avocados
The Village Den will be geared toward the “30s health and fitness crowd” and is set to open on September 28.
The menu will feature healthy twists on comfort food classics: cabbage rolls stuffed with turkey and cauliflower rice, and TV-dinner-inspired trays, like macadamia-crusted fish sticks with maple parsnip mash.
Noticeably absent from the menu are many avocado-centered dishes. Porowski’s love of the healthy and versatile fruit inspired something of a meme, after Queer Eye’s first season heavily featured the chef promoting simplified avocado recipes.
“That scarred me a little,” he said to The New York Times. “The first draft of the menu didn’t have a single avocado anywhere.”
He has since loosened his stance, according to The Times, but it definitely doesn’t seem like he’ll be advertising avocado-heavy meals anytime soon.
I, for one, think that’s a shame. Porowski’s avocado-appreciation should be celebrated, not mocked. His goal on the show was to provide Queer Eye recruits with simple, healthy and tasty meals that could be easily recreated—something he certainly accomplished with his controversial avocado recipes.
Though I wish Porowski hadn’t been shamed into shying away from the superfood, I am genuinely happy the chef is finding success off the show.
Join us in celebrating Porowski’s new endeavor by trying out some of our favorite avocado-centered recipes:
BLT-Stuffed Avocados
This twist on a classic sandwich is worthy of consideration for Porowski’s menu, IMHO.
Avocado Chicken Salad
Serve with tortilla chips for a south-of-the-border feel.
Herbed Avocado-Tahini Dressing
This creamy dressing is rich in flavor and can be used on everything from salad to steak.
Coconut Avocado Pops
The perfect warm weather treat.
Edamame Avocado Hummus
This healthy appetizer is almost too easy to whip up.
Grilled Avocado Salad
Another Porowski-worthy meal.
Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts
Dress up your avocado toast with sunny-side-up eggs, salsa and fresh sprouts.
