Twenty top European chefs serve up the future

Maastricht, 6 October 2025 – Following the international success of the first edition, Radilicious 2 will be published this autumn. This luxurious and multilingual edition brings together the very best of European vegetable restaurants. Twenty chefs, collectively awarded one hundred coveted Radishes in the We’re Smart Green Guide, open their kitchens and share their stories. The result: a monumental 440-page book featuring 100 signature dishes that elevate vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to unprecedented gastronomic heights.

Pure plant at the highest leve

Where classic cookbooks are often just a collection of recipes, Radilicious 2 is to be a total experience. The reader is taken into the world of progressive pure plant gastronomy: from the unique vision and far-reaching creativity of top chefs to the masterpieces they bring to life on the plate. The book shows how fruit and vegetables are shaping the future of cuisine – not as garnishes or side dishes, but as the heart of the culinary experience.

Copywriter Mieke De Vylder and photographer Wim Demessemaekers travelled throughout Europe to capture these stories. Their work elevates the book beyond a culinary publication: it is a source of inspiration for chefs, food enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by sustainable food and cultural trends.

‘Had this book existed when I took my first steps, it would have given me many years' head start. Because the future of cuisine is inevitably plant-based,’ said chef Emile van der Staak of the world's best vegetable restaurant, De Nieuwe Winkel, at the launch of the first edition.

Twenty iconic restaurants

Radilicious 2 features twenty of Europe's leading vegetable restaurants. Each with their own story, vision and signature.

Belgium: Arabelle Meirlaen, Hofke van Bazel, Patrick Devos, 't Vijfde Seizoen, Entropy, Menssa, Neon, We're Smart World
The Netherlands: De Librije, Basiliek, De Tuinkamer, ONE, Kook Atelier op Oost
Luxembourg: Ma Langue Sourit
Italy: Piazza Duomo, D'Errico Ristorante in Madernassa
Spain: Fierro, Tony García Espacio Gastronómico
United Kingdom: Forest Side, Plates

Together they account for 100 Radishes – the highest accolade in the We're Smart Green Guide, comparable to the stars in classic gastronomy.

A culinary journey through Europe

The book takes the reader on a journey through diverse landscapes and culinary cultures:

• from the sizzling Piedmont to the fresh green Lake District,
• from the forests of Luxembourg to the rolling plains of Flanders and the Netherlands,
• from the colourful ecosystems on Texel to the biodiversity of southern Spain.

The result is a kaleidoscope of stories and flavours that showcase the richness of nature while highlighting the creative power of the chefs.

Sustainable luxury

Radilicious 2 is published in four languages – Dutch, French, English and Italian – and is produced entirely in Belgium in a sustainable manner. The publication is printed using solar power and comes in a luxurious 440-page hardcover edition. This makes it not only a culinary and cultural statement, but also a beautiful gift book that can be passed down through generations.

Book details

• Title: Radilicious 2
• Texts: Mieke De Vylder
• Photography: Wim Demessemaekers
• Concept: Frank Fol
• Publisher: UNTOLD Books
• Size: 440 pages, hardcover
• Languages: Dutch, French, English, Italian
• Recommended retail price: €69.95

About We're Smart World

We're Smart is the undisputed reference in the culinary pure plant world. This progressive organisation is to be the brainchild of Frank Fol, The Vegetable Chef. It is a rapidly growing, global movement that brings together, supports and promotes chefs, organisations and companies to feed the future with pure plant. In this way, We’re Smart wants to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable world.

The We're Smart Green Guide now recognizes more than 1,500 restaurants that feature pure plant-based options on their menus in innovative and creative ways. From Peru to Japan, from Scandinavia to South Africa, restaurants are given a score of one to five Radishes. Every year, there is an award ceremony for the best vegetable restaurants in the world. The Radilicious book series is one of many initiatives and tells the story and signature recipes of 20 five-Radish-chefs.

We're Smart was selected by the Belgian government as one of the official SDG Voices, the ambassadors for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit www.weresmartworld.com or read the press kit. Follow We're Smart World Facebook or We're Smart Green Guide Instagram for the latest updates

About UNTOLD Books

UNTOLD creates books with impact. Each book is a tool for initiating change, a lever that opens up new perspectives and connects people.

Stories have the power to change the world. UNTOLD brings them to life in thoughtful publications, carefully designed and rooted in what really matters. They reach beyond the pages, fuel conversations and inspire. Books that resonate long after they have been read.