Matt McLennan wanted to combine his experience in organic wholefoods (he co-founded Taste Organic grocer) with his passion for plant-based dining. Together with partner Pim Tummasombut he founded Gathered Kitchen. It’s taking over the space that once housed Vietnamese favourite Hem Nine Nine.

“We found we had a common interest in organics and wanted to do something slightly different,” says McLennan. “Being vegan myself, I knew a completely plant-based cafe and bakery would be unique to Sydney. And we wanted to make this kind of eating more accessible.”

As well as being 100 per cent plant-based, most dishes are organic and loaded with vegetables instead of mock meat. The pair comes up with ideas for dishes together and Tummasombut’s Thai heritage is apparent throughout the menu – most spectacularly in a dish of pandan and lemongrass waffles – pandan-green squares layered with caramelised banana, wattleseed ice-cream and coconut syrup.