In a historic development for the American food industry, a group of diners in Washington, D.C., partook in a meal featuring cultivated chicken from GOOD Meat, marking the company’s inaugural sale in the United States after its approval by the USDA. The event took place at China Chilcano, a restaurant by celebrated chef José Andrés.
The milestone meal, “Anticuchos de Pollo,” was served to commemorate the 100th birthday of the late Willem van Eelen, a Dutch researcher often hailed as the “godfather of cultivated meat.” Van Eelen dedicated his life to pioneering safe, sustainable meat production methods from cells, not live animals. Among the guests were his daughter, Ira, and grandson, Kick, both active supporters of GOOD Meat’s mission.
The cultured chicken dish, marinated in anticucho sauce and served with native potatoes and ají Amarillo chimichurri, was served only two weeks after GOOD Meat, a food technology company Eat, Inc. subsidiary, received complete U.S. regulatory approval. Starting later this summer, China Chilcano will offer the dish in limited quantities as part of its weekly menu, exclusively for reservations.
Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of GOOD Meat and Eat Just, expressed his pride in launching with José Andrés, marking a shift in the American approach to meat consumption. He also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of Willem van Eelen to the industry.
“Peru is a country of many civilizations at once,” said Andrés, explaining why he chose his Peruvian-themed restaurant to introduce GOOD Meat. He anticipates introducing cultivated chicken will create a buzz in the culinary world.
GOOD Meat has already been making waves internationally, winning regulatory approvals for its chicken in Singapore in 2020 and 2021. In January 2023, the company secured crucial clearance for greater scalability, reduced manufacturing costs, and an even more sustainable product. The successful launch in the U.S. marks another critical step for the cultivated meat industry.
Image provided by Good Meat
