Father’s Day is this weekend and you know what that means? A scramble for the perfect gift. Fear not, Pepsi and Bobby Flay are giving us a new fragrance for dads who love cola and grilling.
Over in Boston, Tender Food—which is backed by actress Natalie Portman—is gaining some new meat-eating fans at Clover Food Labs, which just added the company’s plant-based pork and chicken to the menu.
Plus, there’s a new cocktail bar on the way from three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park.
Read on for more.
Food news
Are you looking to bulk up this summer? If so, you can do it with Dole Whip … kind of.
Sports nutrition brand Beam Be Amazing has introduced two new supplements in collaboration with Dole, capturing the beloved Dole Whip flavors in a unique, nutritious format.
Beam Be Amazing
The Dole Whip Strawberry Vegan Protein Powder provides 20 grams of protein per serving and features added prebiotic fiber. It uses patented Puris Pea protein for a smooth, non-chalky texture. The Dole Whip Pineapple Pre-Workout Powder is naturally flavored, contains three trademarked ingredients, is caffeine-free, and is designed for any time use.
Both vegan products are free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors, and dyes.
Daily Harvest
Father’s Day is this Sunday and while we have many ideas about what we can give him, the gift of healthy food is always a great last-minute option. This year, Daily Harvest has curated a box of its top meals to give dad a boost of nutrition this summer.
The box includes four ready-to-make smoothies, three pasta dishes, two grain meals, and four harvest bowls.“This Father’s Day, celebrate Dad with something that’s tasty and good for him: a collection of our exclusive easy-to-prep food that’s designed to keep him strong and energized,” Carolina Schneider, Daily Harvest’s in-house nutritionist, said.
And we know dad likes a good deal, so if you’re new to Daily Harvest, entering “THANKSDAD” at checkout gets you $65 bucks off.
Pepsi
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For another unique gift idea this Father’s Day, Bobby Flay and Pepsi launched “Smoked,” a cologne that’ll have you smelling like a cola-covered barbecue grill. Featuring notes of smoke, spice, caramel, and citrus, this unique “COLAogne” captures the essence of a summer cookout.
“The world’s first-ever COLAogne is designed to reinforce just how well grilling and Pepsi go together,” Jenny Danzi, Senior Director of the Pepsi brand, said.
“You don’t even need to fire up the grill to experience the joy of Pepsi and grilling—you can bask in the unapologetically delicious scent everywhere you go,” Danzi said.
The best time to wear this “cola-ogne”? While flipping plant-based burgers and hot dogs, of course.
Fans can win a bottle by sharing photos of their “Grill Dad” on social media, tagging Pepsi and #GrillDadSweepstakes. Sampling events will also be held at select Walmart Garden Centers in Denver, Miami, and Philadelphia on June 15.
Snack news
Sweet snacking just got a major upgrade in the United Kingdom, where British company Mummy Meegz has launched “M’z Gems,” a plant-based alternative to M&Ms. These dairy-free treats come in milk chocolate and peanut varieties, both encased in a crunchy shell.
Mummy Meegz
Mummy Meegz is best known for its dairy-free Easter eggs and other vegan milk chocolate products. “Our mission to create mind blowing M!lk chocolate swaps which are kinder to animals and the planet drives us to continually delight chocolate lovers worldwide,” said founder Meagan Boyle.
While Mummy Meegz’s “M’z Gems” are primarily available through retailers in the UK, they are accessible to international customers through online shops such as Goodness Goodies and The Vegan Candy Man.
For a new savory snack, we’re turning to Dr. Praeger’s, which just released its Southwestern Black Bean Crunchy Stars at 475 Target stores nationwide. These star-shaped nuggets are perfect for kids and adults alike, and combine black beans with brown rice, corn, red bell peppers, and Southwestern spices.
Additionally, Dr. Praeger’s just introduced BBQ Black Bean & Sweet Potato Slider Patties. A snackable format of its full-sized burger patties, these feature a blend of black beans, sweet potatoes, various greens, and smoky BBQ seasoning.
“We’re excited to introduce these new products and expand our distribution to reach even more consumers across the country,” Andy Reichgut, CEO of Dr. Praeger’s, said.
“At Dr. Praeger’s, we’re committed to providing delicious and convenient veggie-forward options made with quality ingredients, and we’re delighted to offer these new choices to our customers,” Reichgut said.
Tinned fish is still a big snacking trend this summer, and Seed to Surf is a plant-based company that’s making waves with its arrival at more than 150 Whole Foods Markets across North America. This woman-founded-and-led company is known for its innovative use of whole vegetables to recreate the seafood experience.
Seed to Surf
“Tinned fish is truly having a moment right now, so it’s important for us to bring vegans, vegetarians, and vegetable lovers to participate in the tinned fish trend,” Seed to Surf founder Alex Bergquist said. “We’re excited for Whole Foods to be a part of our growth as we reach more customers looking for plant-based options in-store.”
Its vegan tinned fish offerings include tinned Snow Crab (made from enoki mushrooms) and Smoked Whitefish (made from celery root)—all packaged in plastic-free, zero-waste containers.
Restaurant news
If you find yourself in Boston, MA this summer, there’s something new to try at Clover Food Lab’s 11 locations, and it’s already approved by actress Natalie Portman. Local plant-based meat company Tender has partnered with the restaurant chain to bring its plant-based chicken and pork to the menu.
Tender Food
Backed by Portman, Tender uses advanced fiber spinning techniques to replicate the muscle structure of animal meat, resulting in products with textures and cooking properties nearly indistinguishable from traditional meat.
Clover Food Lab, known for its commitment to healthy, sustainable, and plant-based food, now offers Tender’s fried chicken strips and Mexican-inspired pulled pork as part of its seasonal menu.
“One bite in, and it was clear this pulled pork was special,” Kiernan Schmitt, CMO of Clover Food Lab, said. “It was smoky and succulent, with just the right mix of textures, including those delectable crunchy bits you get from perfect caramelization.”
“Even the carnivores among us were going back for seconds, thirds, and fourths,” Schmitt said.
For a refreshing summer treat, Häagen-Dazs shops just added a new frozen lemonade flavor to the existing lineup. The all-new Strawberry Mango Frozen Lemonade joins the returning favorites, Strawberry Frozen Lemonade and Raspberry Frozen Lemonade, available through August 31.
Made with Häagen-Dazs’ real-fruit sorbets, these non-dairy treats use just three ingredients for a lighter dessert option.
“We’re excited to welcome back our Frozen Lemonades in-shop, now with our new Strawberry Mango flavor alongside the signature options,” Häagen-Dazs Director of Marketing Rachel Jaiven said. “Our Frozen Lemonades offer a refreshingly indulgent way to celebrate summer no matter where you are.”
If you’re in the market for a grown-up treat, boozy sorbet bars by Buzzbar just landed at a number of hotels, restaurants, and bars, including American Girl Cafes in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Orlando.
Buzzbar
“Our mission is to enhance dining experiences everywhere with our premium, alcohol-infused treats, turning ordinary occasions into extraordinary memories,” Randy Freeman, Buzzbar CEO and Founder, said.
While Buzzbar’s booze-infused ice creams are not dairy-free, the company offers a variety of plant-based sorbet bars such as Majestic Mango (mango and lime sorbet paired with silver tequila); Merlot Berry (berry sorbet infused with merlot wine), and Pineapple Buzz (tropical fruit sorbet spiked with spiced rum).
For imbibers looking for a new sit-down experience, Eleven Madison Park—a plant-based fine-dining destination with three Michelin stars—will open Clemente Bar, its own cocktail bar, this fall.
While details are sparse, a posting on job site Culinary Agents describes the establishment as “an exciting new, refined-casual concept” and a “one-of-a-kind cocktail and culinary experience.”
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
