< Health & Wellness >
The Beyond Burger with a plant-based patty , sprouts , avocado and house-made ketchup at Lumberyard
PLANT POWER
Alternative “ meatlike ” proteins and vegetablebased entrees continue to push the limits .
By SHARON STELLO
Since Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger leaped onto the food scene with their plant-based patties in 2016 , the alternative meat market has expanded to include vegan options made to taste like sausage , bacon , chicken and fish . There are plant-based deli meats , “ chicken ” nuggets and “ steak ” tips .
Impossible Foods now sells bowls with teriyaki “ chicken ” or sweet-and-sour “ pork ” as well as chili mac with “ pork ,” spicy “ chicken ” enchiladas and “ beef ” burritos , all made from ingredients found in the produce section . The Good Catch brand offers plant-based “ crab ” cakes , “ salmon ” burger patties and “ fish ” sticks and fillets . Another brand , Konscious , even has a vegan “ tuna ” poke bowl and “ tuna ” avocado sushi roll .
But veggie-based meals that don ’ t attempt to mimic meat are also popular . Take , for example , cauliflower steaks at The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach or portobello mushroom fries at Lumberyard . Chefs are getting creative with vegetarian dishes , showing the versatility of produce that goes way beyond a salad .
MEATLESS MENU ITEMS Cary Redfearn , co-owner of Lumberyard and Slice Pizza & Beer , and his family have followed a pescatarian diet for seven or eight years now . His daughter , Halee , who works for a company that creates plantbased egg white protein , influenced their
50 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM