Article

3 eating trends elevating spring menus; cannabis makes the list

In-season produce, healthful eating and a case of the munchies are driving the season's menu additions.

Fresh&Co has debuted a new breakfast menu, featuring Banana Cakes, Keto Energy Bowl, Sweet Potato Hash and the Fonio Bowl.

April 22, 2019 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article ran on Fast Casual, a Food Truck Operator sister publication.

Seasonal fruits and veggies seem to be the theme of spring menu limited time offers, but a few sweet treats made the cut as well. Holidays also served as inspiration for a couple of fast casual brands, including Voodoo Doughnuts and Fresh&Co, which paid tribute to 4/20, a holiday celebrated by marijuana users. The irony of Easter weekend falling on the same weekend as the "day of munchies" was not lost on Voodoo, however. In an effort to serve all types of customers, the doughnut shop created menu items in honor of both days, according to a company press release.

To help customers celebrate a marijuana holiday, Voodoo created the Rapper's Delight, which includes Munchies Madness, ODB and the Maple Blazer Blunt.

"The perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate, an ode to an all-time favorite of mine, the Cadbury Egg," Voodoo co-founder Tres Shannon said in the release.

To help customers celebrate 4/20, the company created the Rapper's Delight, which features:

• Munchie Madness, a raised yeast doughnut dipped in chocolate frosting, crunchy potato sticks and caramel drizzle.
• Marshall Mathers, a plain cake doughnut topped with vanilla frosting and mini M&M's.
• ODB, a raised yeast doughnut topped with chocolate frosting, crushed Oreos and peanut butter drizzle.
• Maple Blazer Blunt, a raised yeast doughnut rolled into a blunt and dusted with cinnamon sugar.  The top is dipped in maple frosting and red sprinkle embers.

"The best cure for the munchies this side of the moon," Voodoo Co-founder Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson said in the release.

Following is an incomplete list of spring menu limited time offers found on fast casual menus.

Fresh&Co

Like Voodoo, Fresh&Co, based in New York City, created a special 4/20 menu. It includes hemp and CBD-infused items, available now through April 30.

Curated by executive chef Craig Rispoli in collaboration with Jeepney Chef Miguel Trinidad, the menu features half-baked salad, blazed beet sandwich and CBD pink honey lemonade.

"Fresh&co always strives to stay ahead of the food trends and invent new menus that are healthy, sustainable and nutritional that can't be found anywhere else," George Tenedios, CEO of Fresh&Co, said in a company press release. "By collaborating with Chef Trinidad, we have developed a creative way to incorporate CBD and hemp, which has gained mainstream popularity because of its health benefits, into our newest menu items."

The chain also has a few limited time offers unrelated to 4-20, including sweet and savory flavors for lunch on its spring menu. The menu items, consisting of both gluten-free and vegan options, include the Beets and Goat Cheese Salad, BEC on Sweet Potato Bread, BBQ Jackfruit Bowl, Black Venus Rice Side Salad and Turkey Brie on Sweet Potato Bread.

The chain has also debuted a new breakfast menu, featuring Banana Cakes, Keto Energy Bowl, Sweet Potato Hash and the Fonio Bowl.

Founded in 2010, Fresh&co has 19 corporate locations and began franchising last year.

Sajj Mediterranean

Sajj Mediterranean, a California-based fast casual that has food trucks, has created pre-designed Lifestyle Bowls to fit a variety of dietary preferences, according to a company press release. Available at all nine locations, its online ordering portal and third-party delivery partners, options include:

Sajj Mediterranean has created pre-designed Lifestyle Bowls.

• Paleo Salad Bowl, Pomegranate Chicken, cabbage, tomato cucumber mix, avocado and cilantro mint chutney.
• Keto Salad Bowl, chicken Shawarma, garbanzo beans, cabbage, tomato cucumber mix, avocado, feta and tahini.
• Double Protein Bowl: Chicken Shawarma, steak Shawarma, falafel, garbanzo beans, cauliflower, hummus, feta, arugula and tahini.

"In the last year or so, we've watched as the restaurant industry has begun to adapt and change to meet the specific dietary needs and preferences of consumers, and while our offerings are already highly customizable to fit those needs, we wanted to take that one step further and make it easier for guests to order a bowl that fits their lifestyle," CEO and Founder Zaid Ayoub said in the release.

Sajj Mediterranean operates two food trucks and nine brick-and-mortar locations throughout California with additional stores slated to open in San Jose and San Ramon by the end of 2019.

Tocaya Organica

Tocaya Organica, based in Southern California, has launched a menu to help customers get their beach bodies ready for the summer, according to a company press release. The coconut-forward menu includes:

• Guiltless Burrito, which has Spanish cauliflower rice, black beans, tri-color peppers, jalapeno cabbage and vegan chipotle crema, gluten-free coconut and cassava flour tortilla with choice of protein and queso.
• Cilantro Lime Vegan Chicken, chipotle-marinated Gardein vegan chicken with grilled onion, jalapeno, cilantro and lime.
• Coconut Churro Bites, waffle-pressed churro tossed in coconut sugar and served with coconut dulce de leche.
• CocoPiña, Only available at select locations, the drink has Casamigos tequila, coconut ginger tea, pineapple, lime, coconut and stevia.

 Tocaya Organica now has 13 units with six more planned to open in 2019.

Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Customers may order Bruster's Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae through April 30.

Bruster's Real Ice Cream is celebrating its 30th birthday with a Warm Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae and bringing back its Cookie Craze ice cream, making both available now through April 30.

The sundae features a warm chocolate chip cookie, topped with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. The Cookie Craze has blue vanilla ice cream with three different kinds of cookies, according to a company press release.  

Headquartered in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, Bruster's has 200 independently owned locations in 20 states, Guyana and South Korea.

Fajita Pete's

Fajita Pete's has created keto-friendly bowls, which come with a mix of chicken or beef fajitas, marinated in lime and pineapple, and also have shredded lettuce, scratch-made guacamole, tomatoes and shredded cheese. The bowls are $10.99, according to a company press release.

"Healthy trends have been popular for some time now and one of the many wonders of a scratch kitchen is the malleability of our menu to be just the right thing for whatever your dietary goals are," founder and CEO Pedro "Pete" Mora, said in the release. The Mexican chain has 11 locations across Texas with five additional locations in the pipeline for the first half of 2019.
 

Corner Bakery Cafe

Corner Bakery Cafe has launched six menu items using fresh ingredients that are in peak spring season. They include: 

• Carved Ham & Swiss Egg Bowl, scrambled eggs topped with pecan wood-smoked ham, roasted red peppers, green onions and Swiss cheese finished with a drizzle of garlic cream sauce served with sourdough toast.
• Bacon Avocado Egg Bowl, scrambled eggs topped with Applewood smoked bacon, diced tomato, chopped baby spinach, cheddar cheese and avocado served with sourdough toast.
• Pesto, Egg & Cheese Panini, scrambled eggs, tomato, Mozzarella and pesto served on grilled sourdough.
• Shrimp Scampi Linguine, garlic roasted shrimp and linguine tossed with garlic butter, tomato, fresh parsley, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese.
• Power Greens Shrimp Caesar Salad, garlic-roasted shrimp, shredded Parmesan cheese and homemade croutons served on Corner Bakery's power greens blend of baby kale, spinach and arugula with classic Caesar dressing.
• Cake Truffle Bites, available in lemon, salted caramel pecan and carrot cake. 

"We are always experimenting with seasonal ingredients in order to offer our guests a variety of new, innovative and naturally delicious dishes," Donna Josephson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Corner Bakery, said in a company press release. "These new offerings are flavor-forward and feature quality ingredients that we are proud to serve our guests."
 
Corner Bakery Cafe has more than 200 units spanning 23 states.

McAlister's Deli

McAlister's Deli is honoring Pecan Month with the Pecanberry Salad.

April is National Pecan Month, and McAlister's Deli is honoring it with the Pecanberry Salad, which has strawberries and blueberries, candied pecans, grilled chicken and a fat-free raspberry-pecan vinaigrette, according to a company press release.

McAlister's Deli has more than 400 locations in 28 states.

The Hummus & Pita Co.

The Hummus & Pita Co.'s spring menu includes four "Quick It" menu items, designed for healthy eating and streamlined service, ideal for on-the-go New Yorkers, according to a company press release. Rather than customers selecting their own fillings and toppings for a pita, laffa, bowl or salad, the "Quick It" options offer popular preset combinations that allow customers to zip ahead to the front of the line, according to a company press release.

Options include:

• ROYGBIV, a bowl with Mediterranean rice, hummus, eggplant, Moroccan carrots, corn salad, red cabbage, tomato, cucumber and choice of sauce.
• Perfect Pita, which has Shawarma, hummus, Israeli salad, red cabbage lettuce and tahini.
• The Greek, a flatbread with gyro, couscous, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, feta and tzatziki. 
• Mediterranean Greens, a salad with Chicken Tabun, Mesclun, hummus, egg, chickpea salad, cucumber, tomato, olive and Ladolemono Dressing

Bellagreen

Houston-based Bellagreen is celebrating spring by incorporating the season's fruits and vegetables. According to a company press release, the limited time offers include:

• Bella Berry Salad, a mix of arugula and romaine tossed with fresh sliced strawberries, blackberries, pistachios and crushed raspberry vinaigrette, shaved cucumbers and microgreens.
• Spring Salmon, pan-seared, sustainably sourced salmon topped with house-made Romesco sauce, served with sautéed vegetable cauliflower rice and seasonal garlic French green beans, garnished with microgreens.
• The Fig + Pig, house-made pizza dough crafted from organic and imported Italian flour, fig jam, mozzarella, Parmesan, goat cheese and prosciutto, balsamic vinegar, garlic olive oil and fresh basil.
• Lemon Poppyseed Cheesecake, coconut, hemp seed and almond flour gluten-free crust filled with lemon poppyseed cheesecake. It's topped with house-made whipped cream, strawberries and lemon zest. 

For every Spring Salmon sold in the Houston area, Bellagreen will donate $1 to Trees For Houston, whose mission is to plant, protect and promote trees throughout the greater Houston area. Since September 2018, the chain has raised $12,108 for its local non-profit partners, which will allow them to plant 6,054 tree seedlings in Houston and North Texas.

Bellagreen, founded in 2008. now has eight units and has reduced plastic footprint by 50 percent as of Jan. 1, 2019. 

Gloria Jean's 

Gloria Jean's Coffees — U.S.A is giving customers a taste of the tropics with a lineup of Island-inspired beverages. Back by popular demand are the Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Chiller, Latte and Iced Latte, along with the introduction of the newly concocted Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Cold Brew, according to a company press release.  

Gloria Jean's celebrates spring with island-inspired flavors.

"We decided on a tropical theme for our Spring menu offerings to get guests excited for the warmer weather on the horizon, and no flavor does that better than our fan-favorite Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut, which can best be described as paradise in a cup," President Sam Ferreira said in the release. "Our fulltime master roaster loves to experiment with unique flavor combinations at our dedicated roasting facility and is particularly proud of our new cold brews where our flavored whole beans are the star."

Limited time offers available through June 2 include:

• Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Chiller, an icy blend of espresso, Madagascar vanilla, coconut and macadamia flavors, topped with whipped cream, coconut crunchies and caramel sauce.
• Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Latte, made using espresso married with steamed milk, Madagascar vanilla, coconut and macadamia flavors, then topped with whipped cream, coconut crunchies and drizzled with caramel sauce.
• Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Iced Latte, poured over ice, this drink features espresso, Madagascar vanilla, coconut and macadamia flavors. It's topped with whipped cream, coconut crunchies and caramel sauce.
• Caramel Coconut Macadamia Nut Cold Brew, made with GJC's signature TODDY and water, a tropical blend of caramel, coconut and macadamias comes over ice.
• White Chocolate Caramel Cookie Chiller: Starting with a cappuccino base, the drink features white chocolate and caramel flavors and Oreo cookie crumbles, topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce. (Note: This beverage is a year-round favorite and always available to order.)
• Caramel Coconut Macadamia Whole Beans: a blend of caramel and macadamia nut flavors infused with real shredded coconut.
• Apricot Crème Whole Beans: Arabica beans flavored with apricot. 

Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets' spring menu additions fall under the theme of "crunchy, salty and amazingly craveable," according to a company press release. Available through May 5, the spring limited time offers feature:

• Honey BBQ Crunch Burger, a 100%-beef burger topped with American cheese, crunchy Applewood smoked bacon, crunchy house-made potato chips, Johnny Rockets' Sweet & Smoky Honey BBQ Sauce and lettuce and tomato.
• Honey BBQ Crunch Chicken Sandwich, a illed chicken breast topped with melted American cheese, crunchy Applewood smoked bacon, crunchy house-made potato chips, Johnny Rockets' Sweet & Smoky Honey BBQ Sauce and fresh lettuce and tomato.
• Loaded Bacon Crunch Chip, crunchy house-made potato chips topped with crunchy Applewood smoked bacon, shredded Cheddar cheese and cheese sauce, topped with sour cream.
• Caramel Crunch Shake with Snickers, vanilla ice cream, blended with chopped caramel, chocolate nougat, peanut Snickers candy bar pieces, caramel, chocolate syrup and whole milk, topped with whipped cream, more chopped Snickers bar pieces and caramel and chocolate syrup drizzle.
• Cappuccino Crunch Shake, vanilla ice cream blended with chopped chocolate-coated cappuccino crunch candy pieces, chocolate syrup and whole milk, topped with whipped cream, more cappuccino crunch candy pieces and a chocolate syrup drizzle

Johnny Rockets opened in 1986, and now has more than 400 franchise and corporate locations in 33 countries around the globe.

Bareburger

Bareburger, a 42-unit chain based Long Island, New York, is adding a plant-based option from Just Egg, a company that applies science and technology to create healthier, more sustainable foods, according to a company press release.

Bareburger has added an egg substitute to themenu.

The egg substitute is available on Bareburger's The Wake-Up Call sandwich, which includes a Beyond Meat quarter pounder meatless patty, American cheese and mayo. Breakfast customers can also order the Get On Up, which marries Just Egg, American cheese, home fries, guacamole, black bean salsa, baby spinach and organic garlic aioli in a flour tortilla.

"Vegan options at Bareburger are never an afterthought; we strive to create forward thinking plant-based dishes without sacrificing flavor," Euripides Pelekanos, CEO and co-founder of Bareburger, said in the release. "Simply put, we always want to do what feels right for our company and our guests."

Crafted by Michelin-starred chefs, Just Egg is made from the 4,400-year-old mung bean, and the baked version used by Bareburger has more protein than conventional chicken eggs, said Josh Tetrick, co-founder and CEO of Just Egg. It's free of cholesterol, saturated fat and artificial flavoring, and its ingredients require less water and emit fewer carbon emissions than chicken eggs.

"Bareburger is leading the way in creating the food system of the future — one that is sustainable, healthier and most importantly, insanely delicious," he said. 

Qdoba Mexican Eats

Qdoba Mexican Eats is adding plant-based Impossible meat to its menus across the U.S., following a product test in Michigan. The meatless offering will be available April 23 at select restaurants in Brooklyn, Denver and Los Angeles, and by May 28, customers from the chain's 730 locations will have access it. 

"During our test, we quickly learned that consumers loved our unique take on Impossible, making it an easy decision to launch nationally," Jill Adams, Qdoba vice president of marketing, said in the release.

Qdoba's version of the plant-based protein is seasoned in-restaurant with a blend of tomatoes, garlic, smoked chiles and paprika and mixed with diced red onions. Guests can create their own entrées with Impossible or try one of  its chef-inspired creations, such as:

• Qdoba Impossible Bowl, cilantro-lime white rice and black beans are layered with 3-Cheese Queso, pico de gallo, guacamole and seasoned Impossible.
• Qdoba Impossible Taco, wrapped in a warm corn tortilla, Impossible is enhanced with red onions, cilantro and salsa verde.

"Qdoba created a truly unique and delicious Impossible offering, so it's no surprise that the Michigan market test was such a success," said Qdoba David Lee, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Impossible Foods Inc. "We're thrilled to grow our partnership with Qdoba and further advance our mission of transforming the global food system to support the planet — as well as our growing population.”

About Cherryh Cansler

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Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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