Meta Burger with MeliBio Honey

©Meta Burger

Gastronomy & Food Service

Colorado: Meta Burger Partners with MeliBio to Debut Bee-Free Honey on Special Menu

Meta Burger, Colorado’s leading plant-based burger chain, announces it is partnering with MeliBio to debut the world’s first bee-free honey on its menu.  Beginning in February, Meta Burger will offer a specially crafted dish made with MeliBio’s plant-based honey.  This month, customers have the chance to vote for which MeliBio honey-inspired dish they would like to see on the chain’s menu in February: Hot Honey Garlic Tender Basket, a Honey Sesame Burger, or a Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich. According to Meta Burger, which operates three locations in Denver and Boulder, this is the first time MeliBio’s bee-free honey will be available in the state of Colorado. “Meta Burger is making delicious, sustainable food more accessible,” said Michael Reeves, co-founder of Meta Burger. “Partnering with a …

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Just Salad Hooray Bacon

©Just Salad

Gastronomy & Food Service

US Salad Chain Just Salad Adds Hooray Bacon Bits to 2022 Seasonal Menu

Fast casual chain Just Salad announces it is adding plant-based bacon by Hooray Foods to its Fall 2022 Seasonal Menu. Available in the signature Sweet Mama Salad or as an add-on to any menu item, the bacon will be offered at 60+ Just Salad US locations through Dec. 22nd.  According to the chain, Hooray’s meaty plant-based bacon perfectly complements the ingredients in its autumn-inspired Sweet Mama Salad, which includes baby spinach, sliced apples, and non-vegan white cheddar. Customers can substitute Violife Creamy Vegan Feta in place of the cheddar. Just Salad says the new bacon allows guests to enjoy the flavors of bacon without the negative environmental issues associated with animal agriculture.  Made from simple, non-GMO ingredients, Hooray Foods bacon is allergy-friendly and free from …

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Baja Fresh Impossible Beef Tacos

© Baja Fresh

Gastronomy & Food Service

Baja Fresh Adds Impossible Beef to Permanent Menu at All Locations

Mexican fast-casual chain Baja Fresh announces it is adding Impossible Meat Made From Plants as a permanent menu item across all 90 US locations. The rollout follows the chain’s successful trial of Impossible Meat that first launched in 2021.  In addition to keeping the current selection of Impossible dishes, Baja’s guests will also be able to choose the brand’s plant-based beef as a protein on almost any menu item. The three staple Impossible dishes include:  Impossible Taco Combo – Three tacos with grilled corn tortillas filled with Impossible meat, topped with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa baja and non-vegan cheese.  Fuego Impossible Burrito – Guacamole, black beans, Impossible meat, diablo salsa, salsa 6 chiles, pico de gallo, pickled jalapeños, shredded lettuce and non-vegan …

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Next Level Burger Stacked Vegan Burger

©Next Level Burger

Gastronomy & Food Service

West Coast Favorite Next Level Burger Opening New Flagship Location in Denver, CO

Plant-based burger chain Next Level Burger announces it is opening its flagship restaurant in Denver, CO on August 20th. The new outlet will be the Oregon-based brand’s ninth national location and first in Colorado.  Calling itself “America’s First Plant-Based Burger Joint”, the eight-year-old Next Level brand is famous for its healthy yet decadent take on fast food, ranging from stacked vegan burgers and Crispy Chik’n sandwiches to baskets of tenders, loaded fries and creamy hand-spun milkshakes.  Next Level emphasizes clean eating by maintaining a non-GMO policy and using all-organic produce as well as compostable packaging. The brand is concentrated on the West Coast but operates additional locations in Brooklyn and Austin, TX.   Quadrupling locations In February 2022, the chain announced plans for an accelerated US …

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Genghis Grill / Dr. Praeger's Bowls

©Genghis Grill

Gastronomy & Food Service

Genghis Grill Adds Dr. Praeger’s Plant-Based Chick’n and Sausage to Menu

Fast casual chain Genghis Grill is partnering with Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods to add new plant-based proteins to its menu. Fans of Genghis Grill, which specializes in made-to-order stir fries, can now order Dr. Praeger’s gluten-free vegan chick’n or sausage in any bowl creation.  Based in Dallas, TX, Genghis Grill operates over 50 locations across the US. The new partnership marks the chain’s first plant-based collaboration and expands its vegan-friendly menu options beyond the current tofu offering. In addition to inclusions, Dr. Praeger’s proteins are featured in two curated chef bowls:  The Veggie Bowl (Plant-based chick’n, bell peppers, snap peas, corn, zucchini, squash, carrots, green onions, cauliflower rice, 3G sauce) Plant-Powered Sausage Bowl (Plant-based sausage, mushrooms, onions, spinach, roasted garlic, teriyaki sauce, served with cauliflower …

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Abbot's Butcher Chopped Chicken

©Abbot's Butcher

Gastronomy & Food Service

Abbot’s Butcher Partners with Chicago’s Protein Bar & Kitchen to Trial Plant-Based Chicken

Premium plant-based meat brand Abbot’s Butcher announces a new partnership with Protein Bar and Kitchen, a healthy fast-casual chain based in Chicago. Beginning July 6, Protein and Bar will feature Abbot’s Butcher Chopped Chick’n in its Vegan Goddess Salad Vegan Egg Roll Bowl as a limited-time trial at its Lincoln Park location. During the trial, which runs through July, customers can also order the Chopped Chick’n as a protein choice for any Protein Bar & Kitchen menu item. Made with Chopped Chick’n, The Vegan Goddess Salad also features plant-based feta, mushrooms, asparagus, carrots, green onions, and chickpeas, topped with green goddess dressing. The Vegan Egg Roll Bowl is a new, seasonal menu item made with Chopped Chick’n, kale, carrots, riced cauliflower, green onion, sesame seeds, …

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Stalk & Spade Chicken Sandwiches

©Stalk & Spade

Company News

New Plant-Based QSR Franchise STALK & SPADE Plans to Open a Dozen Locations in 2022

Steele Brands, the company behind the successful Crisp & Green salad franchise, announces it has begun its national rollout of STALK & SPADE, a new fast-casual plant-based franchise brand. Steele Brands plans to open five locations in metro areas of Minneapolis, Des Moine and Miami by the end of summer 2022, with a total of 12 US locations opening this year. According to the company,  STALK & SPADE will be the “first plant-based restaurant brought to scale through a franchise model with multi-state stores.” Spreading the healthy movement Created by entrepreneur Steele Smiley, STALK & SPADE serves classic American burgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, wraps and fries. The 100% plant-based menu also features a rainbow of ice cream and milkshake selections plus kid’s meals.  STALK & …

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NuLeaf

©NuLeaf

Gastronomy & Food Service

NuLeaf: NYC’s Latest Plant-Based Fast Casual Spot Debuts

NuLeaf, a New York City-based fast casual plant-based restaurant, has opened its first of two locations in the US city this week. Founded by Craig Cochran and Michael Pease, founders of vegan eatery Terri, NuLeaf’s ​​menu will focus on craveable foods, salads and bowl, sandwiches and wraps. Some of the menu highlights that New Yorkers can enjoy include a Chorizo Fiesta Bowl made with Blackbird seitan chorizo, Grilled Peach Salad, a Chickpea Tuna Sandwich, and a Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. The first location will be based on 23rd Street and will have 46 indoor seats with 16 outdoor to be added later this summer. The second location, scheduled to open after Labor Day in September, will be on 8th Avenue and will include six indoor seats. …

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Beatnic

©Beatnic

Gastronomy & Food Service

By CHLOE Rebrands to ‘Beatnic’ as it Enters New Chapter Following Bankruptcy

After the pandemic forced fast-casual restaurant by CHLOE into bankruptcy last year, the restaurant group is now rolling out a full rebrand at all locations. Now to be known by the name Beatnic, the brand will retain a similar menu and identity to its previous model.  It has been a bumpy ride for the vegan restaurant which was originally founded by television personality Chloe Coscarelli. She left the chain in 2016 before taking the brand to court over the use of her name. Owned by BC Hospitality Group, the company filed for bankruptcy in December 2020 as the pandemic hit the sector hard. In March of this year, the parent company of the chain agreed to sell the chain out of bankruptcy to a group …

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