What do Cedric the Entertainer, Angela Simmons, and the Green Bay Packers all have in common? Maybe not much, but they’re all fans of the vegan cuisine whipped up by celebrity chef and restaurateur Daudi McLean.
Known as “Da Vegan Guru,” McLean is soon bringing his talents to Memphis with a new restaurant, Guru’s City Vegan. The full-service restaurant, to be located at 509 S. Highland, is slated to have a soft opening in November. City Vegan will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and also have a juice and smoothie bar.
A former New York City firefighter and music producer, McLean switched to a vegan diet to lose weight and quickly pivoted to becoming a professional chef, having served celebrity clients for more than 30 years now. He owns several restaurants around the country, has catered for films and TV shows, and helped with a “Happy Living Thanksgiving” event for Nickelodeon. Guru’s City Vegan will be his first Memphis location.
Before November’s soft launch, McLean will treat Memphians at several pop-ups around the city, the first of which will take place at Grind City Brewery at 4 p.m. Saturday, October 16th. Plates will cost $15, with extra sides available for an additional $5. Diners can pick multiple courses per plate, including entrees such as city ribs, GVC fried chicken, and surf city shrimp; or mac & cheese, candied yams, black eyed peas, or grandma’s greens on the side.
