Restaurants highlight lighter food and buzzy cocktails in January
By Patricia Cobe on Jan. 10, 2020January is traditionally diet month, and a number of chains are offering items to encourage healthier eating. But some operators are bucking the dry January movement and offering up special cocktails to help customers get over the post-holiday slump.
1. TooJay's expands low-calorie entrees
TooJay’s Deli is offering a Deliciously Lite Menu to help customers stick to their New Year’s resolutions. The selection includes more than 200 entrees under 600 calories, including lightened-up comfort foods such as a cheddar cheese omelet with potatoes, shepherd’s pie and a French onion soup. There are also the expected salads, such as Mandarin chicken salad and Greek salad with pita, as well as soup and sandwich combos.
2. Pret A Manger launches a veg-forward menu
Pret A Manger is launching its Veggies for All menu across all stores, featuring 12 new plant-based and veg-forward options. These include a roasted pepper, feta and olive focaccia sandwich, harissa carrot and feta sandwich on multigrain bread and a vegan Eggplant (No) Parm with layers of grilled eggplant, chickpeas, roasted tomatoes and tapenade on a tortilla.
On the nonsandwich side are several plant-forward Pret pots and salads.
3. Uno adds more light pizzas
Uno Pizzeria & Grill is expanding its 600-calories-or-less pizza selection on a supplemental menu for customers following specific diets. New lighter pizzas include apricot and goat cheese, vegetarian cheeseburger (with crumbled Beyond Burger) and pesto and fresh mozzarella. The LTOs join Uno’s permanent De-Lites menu of appetizers, salads, pizzas and entrees with fewer than 600 calories.
4. Hooters unveils meatless wings
Hooters is rolling out meatless wings to its 318 locations nationwide. Called Unreal Wings on the menu, the item is made with Quorn’s plant-based chicken wings, which are fried and then tossed with the chain’s classic sauces and dry rubs. Vegan customers now have a meat alternative that closely resembles Hooters’ signature wings.
5. Fresh & Co. adds vegan and vegetarian items
Fresh & Co.’s winter menu features new vegetarian and vegan options. Included in the lineup are a Winter Roots Salad, Italian Impossi-Bowl and Quinoa Parsnip Salad. Also on tap is Questlove’s Cheesesteak, a sandwich made with plant-based Impossible meat topped with cheese sauce and banana pepper relish. A percentage of sales from this sandwich will be donated to the Food Education Fund at New York City’s Food and Finance High School.
6. Habit offers a vegetable LTO
The Habit Burger Grill is adding to its roster of chef-inspired sides with a new Brussels sprouts dish. The fresh sprouts are cut in half, sauteed in garlic butter and tossed in Habit’s housemade balsamic vinaigrette. Guests can opt for these scratch-made Brussels sprouts for a limited time.
7. Planet Smoothie adds 3 almond butter smoothies
Planet Smoothie is offering customers a boost of protein and antioxidants with three promotional smoothies, all made with almond butter. Muscle Up Buttercup, blended with cocoa, bananas, frozen yogurt, vanilla and whey protein, provides 29 grams of protein. The Almond Berry Blast includes blueberries, strawberries, bananas, oats and vanilla, while Almond Mocha Jolt features coffee, cocoa, bananas, frozen yogurt and nonfat milk.
8. Red Lobster unleashes a loaded bloody mary
Red Lobster is ringing in the new year with the Lobster Claw Bloody Mary, available through Feb. 2. The cocktail is a traditional combo of vodka and Red Lobster’s bloody mary mix, served “loaded” with garnishes. It’s topped with a chilled lobster claw and jumbo shrimp, a Cheddar Bay biscuit, lime wedge and green olive, then rimmed with chipotle barbecue seasoning.
9. Chili's rolls out premium LTOs
Chili’s Grill & Bar is continuing its $5 margarita of the month program into 2020. January’s entry is a premium cocktail made with top-shelf tequila and fresh sour. Along the same premium line of thinking, Chili’s 3 for $10 deal will include steak as an entree choice for a limited time.