If you’ve watched the latest season of the Netflix hit Emily in Paris, you probably have a lot of thoughts. Like, “Did she really just suggest Baby’s Day as a national holiday?” “Can we please get a Mindy-led musical spinoff?” And, “How many more stereotypes can possibly be shoehorned in?” Reader: we suspect many, many more.
But one thing you may not have seen coming is Gabriel’s sudden plot shift. The chef’s days as Emily’s primary love interest appear to be over, and his main storyline now centers on turning his restaurant vegan—much to the annoyance of his key investor.
‘Emily in Paris’ | Netflix
In reality, though, this twist has been on the cards for some time, at least for Lucas Bravo, the actor who plays Gabriel. Bravo is vegan himself and has long been vocal about the sustainability benefits of a plant-based diet.
In 2024, Bravo told Sharp Magazine: “I would love for his restaurant to become a vegan restaurant, and for him to get a Green Michelin Star. It’s something I’ve been talking about with [creator] Darren [Star] and producers for two years now, and I hope it’s going to happen.”
Why Lucas Bravo wants Gabriel’s restaurant to turn vegan
Bravo has also suggested that Gabriel’s plant-based pivot mattered more to him than the character’s on-again, off-again relationship with Emily.
“I’d really like to use him as a platform to spread a little awareness about the climate,” Bravo told Grazia. “I’m a vegan, and in season three, Gabriel slowly used more vegetables and more organic cuisine at his restaurant. I even have a few jackets on the show that are made from very eco-conscious materials.”
“I know it’s about entertainment and escapism, but he’s the character who’s working class and pretty down to earth.”
Bravo got his wish. In the latest season, Emily’s ultra-stylish boss, Sylvie Grateau, takes Gabriel to a plant-based restaurant in Rome, kickstarting the chef’s campaign to introduce more plant-based dishes at his own Michelin-starred spot. “Plant-based cooking is the future,” Gabriel tells Sylvie in a later episode. “It’s sustainable. It’s more economical.” To which she replies: “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
But if you were hoping to see what a fully vegan menu at Chez Lavaux might look like, spoiler alert: you may be disappointed. It appears Bravo could be leaving Emily in Paris for good.
The actor has been hinting at an exit for some time. In 2024, he told French publication Le Figaro: “Life is short. It takes five months to shoot this series. Do I want to sacrifice them by telling a story that does not stimulate me?”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
