Quotes from VegNews, December 27, 2023
At Spirit Elephant and Elephant + Vine, CD Young delights in featuring plant-based innovations like AI-made cheeses and mushroom root steaks. What can we expect in 2024? The top food trends are predicted by the Chicago restaurateur.
In the year 2023, we had the opportunity to try out some incredibly innovative and delicious vegan cuisine. We made multiple trips to Taco Bell to sample their dairy-free nacho cheese sauce on a variety of items. What about dessert? It was absolutely necessary to have a handful of Reese’s new plant-based peanut butter cups.
Mycelium-made chicken breasts and animal-free cream cheese were just some of the fungi-powered foods we couldn’t get enough of.
However, what can we expect from 2024? According to CD Young, founder of Wild Thing Restaurant Group, there are numerous exciting innovations.
Young, hailing from Iowa where meat was a regular part of her upbringing, is the mastermind behind Chicago’s Spirit Elephant, recipient of the Chicago Tribune’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Plant-Based Menu. In addition to the main restaurant, Young has also launched a fast-casual spinoff called Elephant + Vine, which offers a diverse menu featuring Impossible Beef burgers, homemade black bean patties, plant-based chicken sandwiches, and other delicious options.
By balancing a deep appreciation for tradition and a keen eye for plant-based innovation, Young has developed a profound understanding of the dynamic realm of plant-based dining. Young believes that for mission-driven companies striving to make animal-free food the norm, it is imperative to constantly innovate and maintain excitement.
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