Vital Meat unveils VITAL CHICKEN in exclusive Singapore tasting, blending innovation with culinary tradition

French startup Vital Meat, a pioneer in the cultivated meat sector, has celebrated six years of breakthroughs with an exclusive tasting event held at HUE, a distinguished restaurant in Singapore.

The event marked a significant step in Vital Meat’s journey, introducing VITAL CHICKEN—an innovative cultivated ingredient designed to blend effortlessly with the flavors of traditional and modern cuisine. Renowned chef Jun Hao, known for his mastery in merging Singaporean flavors with French culinary techniques, created a curated menu to spotlight VITAL CHICKEN’s versatility and taste.

This tasting event isn’t just about sampling food—it represents a broader vision for the future of sustainable, ethical protein. At the heart of this event is VITAL CHICKEN, a product that symbolizes years of research, development, and passion for creating alternatives to conventional meat. Vital Meat’s regulatory dossier for VITAL CHICKEN, submitted in November 2023, awaits approval for market distribution. This tasting marks the first public introduction of VITAL CHICKEN as it approaches its commercial debut.

The decision to collaborate with Chef Jun Hao in Singapore was strategic. Singapore has been an early adopter of cultivated meat, making it an ideal location for Vital Meat’s debut. Chef Jun Hao’s background, rooted in both French and Singaporean culinary traditions, made him the perfect choice to showcase VITAL CHICKEN in a way that resonates with diverse palates. His ability to balance familiar, accessible flavors with inventive culinary approaches allowed guests to experience the ingredient’s full potential.

Vital Meat aims to make VITAL CHICKEN a widely accessible and versatile ingredient, suitable for a variety of culinary contexts. The company’s mission is clear: to create a sustainable, delicious, and ethically produced alternative to conventional meat that’s as at home in everyday kitchens as it is in the professional culinary world. For this reason, they intentionally chose a welcoming, informal venue like HUE rather than a high-end, exclusive establishment. By offering VITAL CHICKEN in an approachable setting, Vital Meat hopes to convey that this cultivated ingredient can be an everyday, sustainable food choice.

Chef Jun Hao’s menu was a testament to the adaptability of VITAL CHICKEN, demonstrating how effortlessly it could be integrated into both traditional and modern dishes. The menu included the following highlights:

• Chicken Skin Chips: Crispy, golden chips crafted from VITAL CHICKEN, offering a delightful crunch and an elevated version of the classic snack.
• Broth and Ravioli: A rich, delicate VITAL CHICKEN broth paired with handmade ravioli, infused with traditional Singaporean spices, delivering a harmonious blend of flavor and texture.
• Chicken Rice: A fragrant take on the iconic Singaporean dish, enhanced by the unique qualities of VITAL CHICKEN, bringing a novel twist to a beloved favorite.

These dishes exemplified the product’s versatility, encouraging guests to imagine it as a staple ingredient suitable for various types of cooking—from homemade meals to food industry applications.

The event was more than just a tasting; it was a rare opportunity for industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and members of the cultivated meat ecosystem to gather and discuss the future of food. Guests included key players from Singapore’s innovation landscape, members of the French community, and advocates for cultivated meat. Attendees were not only treated to the unique flavors of VITAL CHICKEN but also had the chance to learn about the benefits of cultivated meat, from ethical considerations to environmental impact. This event highlighted the collaborative spirit Vital Meat brings to the table, working with culinary experts and sustainability advocates alike to make innovative food solutions accessible.

Founded in 2018, Vital Meat has been at the forefront of cultivated meat production. The company is one of the earliest players in the field, specializing in cultivated ingredients that are not only nutritious but also produced at significant volumes, making them a viable option for the food industry. As one of the founding members of Cellular Agriculture Europe, Vital Meat is part of a larger movement dedicated to making food production more sustainable, ethical, and accessible.

Vital Meat’s mission extends beyond simply creating a product. With a B2B approach, the company aims to provide food manufacturers with a high-quality protein source that can be used in a variety of alternative meat recipes. Their vision is clear: cultivated meat, like VITAL CHICKEN, offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the global protein gap. By aligning with France Deeptech and FEASTS, Vital Meat also contributes to a growing network of innovation-driven companies committed to addressing food security through science and technology.