🌱 A Taste of Nature: Chef Christian’s Sustainable ‘Forest Burger’ Demo at SAVOUR by LIV Golf 🌱
SAVOUR by LIV Golf 2026 Day 1 with Chef Christian Mongendre
Today, we are bringing you straight to the action from the cooking demos at Savour by LIV Golf, proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. We had the absolute pleasure of watching Chef Christian Mongendre, the visionary founder of TREEHOUSE, take the stage to show us exactly how delicious and accessible plant-based eating can be.
Sustainability Beyond the Plate
Christian has been pioneering sustainable restaurants in Hong Kong for 15 years, and his approach goes far beyond simply serving vegetables. During the demo, he highlighted that true sustainable dining involves a deep awareness of a meal’s entire carbon footprint-including the water, energy, and transport required to bring it to the table.
He meticulously sources high-quality ingredients as close to home as possible, utilises eco-friendly packaging, and diverts massive amounts of waste from local landfills. Christian passionately believes that businesses, rather than everyday consumers, should be the primary drivers of this environmental change.
Chef Christian Mongendre and Heidi Sprurrell at SAVOUR by LIV Golf
The Ecosystem on a Bun: The Forest Burger
The star of today’s live demonstration was TREEHOUSE’s famous “Forest Burger.” Christian intentionally names his dishes after natural ecosystems-like forests, tundras, and reefs-to raise awareness that we are all an integral part of nature. His ultimate goal is to healthfully reconnect people with the natural world through simple, wholesome food.
A Masterclass in Plant-Based Ingredients
Watching the Forest Burger come together was a masterclass in maximising texture and embracing zero-waste cooking.
- The Meaty Base: The patty relies on three types of locally available mushrooms-shiitake, button, and oyster-which together provide an incredible, meaty bite.
- Colour and Crunch: To mimic the colour and fibrous texture of a traditional burger, Christian shaves in fresh beetroot alongside chopped onions.
- Zero-Waste Binding: One of the biggest challenges with plant-based burgers is keeping them from falling apart. Instead of letting the leftover beetroot juice go to waste, Christian brilliantly mixes it with gluten-free oats and oat flour. This acts as the perfect binding agent, giving the patty an ideal bounce.
- Rich Seasonings: The mix is elevated with a nutrition-packed blend of smoked paprika, fresh rosemary, cumin, and garlic powder.
The Forest Burger – Big taste, low carbon impact.
The Perfect Build
A great burger demands a great bun. Christian serves his creations on house-made sourdough, a process that pre-digests the wheat, making it highly digestible and nutrient-dense. While he always strives to source locally, taste is paramount; for instance, he uses high-quality flour from France to ensure the perfect bake.
The burger is then generously layered with a dairy-free signature garlic sauce made from soy milk and Dijon mustard. Next comes a rich, lightly smoked eggplant caviar, followed by bell peppers roasted in a complex 24-spice mix. A sharp bite of red onion finishes it off perfectly.
Join Us Tomorrow!
We are thrilled to be part of Savour by LIV Golf. Join us tomorrow for more inspiring chef demos as we continue to explore incredible journeys into culinary sustainability. We’ve got Chef Shane Osborn cooking tomorrow and Gavin on Sunday, joining us at 12:30 and 2:30 daily.
Want to experience it yourself? We are back tomorrow, and you can use the special discount code FGREEN20 for a discount on your tickets! See you there!
