Mr. & Mrs. Watson, an Amsterdam-based vegan restaurant, is setting a new standard in plant-based cheese-making without forgetting the importance of nutritional value, taste, and craftsmanship

Opened five years ago, Mr. & Mrs. Watson is a vegan restaurant in Amsterdam known for its selection of homemade vegan cheeses. Since then, the restaurant has made a name for its cashew-based artisan creations, such as Camembert. After three years of working on their new product, they’ve recently launched the first Gouda-style cheese made from fava beans. The cheese is fermented the same way as traditional dairy cheese and gets its high protein content from the beans.

Photo: Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Watson / Facebook

Because of their growing popularity, Mr. & Mrs. Watson opened a new production facility and food lab in early 2019. During lockdown, the entrepreneurs took their time to focus on the innovation of vegan cheese products and also launched an online shop. The founders believed that the vegan cheese sector lacked nutritious options made using traditional techniques, and has lagged behind plant-based meat in terms of nutritional value. For this reason, the entrepreneurs have been eager to introduce traditional, high-protein cheese alternatives that are accessible to the public.

In 2021, Mr. & Mrs. Watson raised 700,000 euros (approximately 25 million baht) from its first seed funding round. As of now, they are launching a second seed funding round with the hopes of launching Gouda cheese in Dutch speciality stores and supermarkets later this year. Their ultimate goal is to roll out internationally within 2024.

Making cheese is a centuries-old Dutch tradition, and when Gouda-style cheese is going plant-based, you know it’s another step towards making vegan food accessible.

For more information, visit watsonfood.com.