A vegan TikToker sparked a wave of reactions after pulling an unconventional stunt geared toward a high-end New York restaurant that lately introduced meat again to its menu.

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Jamie (@itsjamiescorner) filmed herself delivering a cake to the places of work of Eleven Madison Park—nevertheless it wasn’t precisely a candy gesture.

“We’d like to wish Daniel Huum and Eleven Madison a big ’ol un-congratulations for killing animals again,” Jamie stated within the clip, referring to Daniel Humm, the restaurant’s head chef.

@itsjamiescorner

An enormous ‘ole uncongratulations to and Eleven Madison Park for bringing again the previous menu — that includes cruelty, local weather collapse, and ldl cholesterol. 👏 Guess compassion and creativity have been simply seasonal specials. 🌱 How shameful.

♬ unique sound – Jamie

The cake featured a drawing of a fowl dripping in purple icing, with a blunt message beneath it: You’re killing animals once more! It’s not clear the place Jamie bought the cake or if Humm himself ever laid eyes on it, however somebody on his group undoubtedly did.

When Jamie handed it over, staffers known as it “so cute.” They didn’t seem keen to interact with somebody taking a public swing at their culinary course.

“They seemed excited about it,” Jamie stated on the finish of her video.

As of Friday, her clip had pulled in additional than 13,600 views on TikTok.

The menu at Eleven Madison Park has undergone a major shift. Starting in October, the restaurant started to reintroduce choose animal merchandise to its menu—together with fish, meat, and honey-lavender-glazed duck, in accordance with its web site.

This change comes after practically 4 years of the restaurant working completely as a plant-based institution. It’s truthful to say that, given Jamie’s response, the transfer caught loads of loyal vegan diners off guard.

Humm has stated the choice was about creating “choice” and making the restaurant extra welcoming to all types of diners. In interviews and statements, he’s acknowledged that the strict vegan menu alienated some company and lower into company bookings, that are a key a part of the enterprise. The new menu goals to strike a steadiness by providing each animal protein and a totally plant-based choice, each in the identical seven-to-nine-course format and worth level.

The monetary stress had been mounting for a while. The vegan-only mannequin made headlines when the restaurant first adopted it in 2021, nevertheless it additionally restricted its attain. Bringing again dishes like duck and seafood was framed as a lot as a sensible enterprise resolution as a culinary one.

There’s additionally a advertising and marketing angle to this. The change has generated a recent wave of press for the restaurant—and a few criticism, in fact, as Jamie’s video exhibits. But ultimately, it’s press, and it’s serving to spark renewed curiosity within the restaurant from critics and diners alike.

For Humm, the shift doesn’t imply abandoning the restaurant’s plant-based ethos altogether. A full vegan menu stays obtainable for anybody who needs it. But the return of meat marks a notable pivot for a spot that after outlined itself by going all in on vegetation.

Viewers take the content material creator’s facet 

Viewers who tuned in to Jamie’s viral clip appeared simply as entertained by her antics because the staffers at Eleven Madison Park who ended up along with her uncongratulatory cake.

“Lmao,” one individual wrote, capturing the final temper within the feedback. Another declared, “I love you,” whereas a 3rd echoed the identical sentiment, addressing Jamie straight. 

A fourth chimed in with, “This rules, love it.”

Not everybody was laughing, although. Some have been puzzled by how cheerful the restaurant’s staff appeared. 

“Omg, why were they so happy about it?” one individual requested. 

Someone else jumped in to elucidate, “They are just trying to pay their bills like the rest of us. I’d be excited for a cake, too, even if it had something nasty about my company on it. Hell, I’d probably agree with whatever was written on it.”

Others raised questions in regards to the cake itself. 

“Was this cake made with milk and eggs, cause if so, isn’t that sort of a contradiction?” one individual wrote. “On another note? I think I would’ve been happy with receiving a cake like this, especially if it tasted good.”

Then got here the backlash from individuals who thought Jamie’s stunt crossed a line. 

“They’re doing better than ever,” one commenter stated of the restaurant. “Yum, duck! May they continue their success.” 

Another added bluntly, “Animal cruelty sucks. But gotta be honest, the animal activists are all a bit insane.”

The Daily Dot has reached out to Jamie via TikTok and to Eleven Madison Park by way of e-mail.

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