5 Places To Enjoy The Impossible Burger That Aren’t Environmentally Unconscious Chains
I love what you’re doing, Burger King — bringing plant-based foods to your menu is a helpful move for the environment, and a nice distraction from all of the chemicals, factory farms and plastic waste required for the rest of your offerings.
Your farms contribute more to global warming than all of our car fuel emissions put together. Then there are the hormones and drugs and fertilizers that seep into the earth and cause a whole new array of illness and animal harm, and the plastic packaging contributed daily to our landfills.
Adding this sustainable practice within a much bigger monster isn’t an improvement, it’s a gimmick. Nothing is actually being solved. Will there be two sets of all equipment, including grills and fryers, to avoid cross-contamination? Is there vegan mayonnaise and vegan cheese to offer those who want their Impossible patty in true Whopper form? Something tells me fast food price points won’t allow any of these options. So really, what Burger King has actually done is create a burger that actual vegans cannot touch, and non-vegans have no interest in. Especially if the Impossible patties are being prepared in the same grey well-done style that the frozen beef patties have suffered through for decades. In which case, even the magic of the patty itself would be cooked out entirely.
For those of you wanting your Impossible “meat” fix, and actually feel good about it, here are five of my favorite locations. Each Impossible entree is environmentally conscious, sustainable and delicious.
1. Bareburger
Full disclaimer: I work here. I have helped build Bareburger’s brand for almost a decade now, because I fully believe in what we offer and how we offer it. While our sustainability practices have always gone beyond food (restaurant spaces and decor are all re-claimed, recycled and re-purposed), our menu is now 50% vegan, which is huge for the health of this earth. Included in this half & half menu are our Impossible patty preparations.
The Impossible Melt features a quarter-pounder impossible patty, two slices of vegan american cheese and caramelized onions sandwiched between 8-grain toast and served with a side of special sauce.
The Original is a quarter pound Impossible patty, stacked with american cheese, caramelized onions, dill pickles and special sauce on a vrioche (vegan brioche) bun.
The Duchess is a quarter pound Impossible patty with gouda cheese, caramelized onions, wild mushrooms, baby kale, tomatoes, organic garlic aioli, all on a vrioche bun.
And of course, customizations (or, build your own!) are always available, if not encouraged.
2. Five Napkin Burger
I love these guys because of their dedication to flavor and quality. They started with one burger, and put that burger on a pedestal, and made sure to hold every addition accountable each step of the way. A much smaller chain, 5 Napkin Burger currently offers one preparation of the Impossible patty. No frills, but I think it’s done just right.
The Impossible: 6 oz. vegan Impossible patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles & burger sauce. (Vegan cheese may be added upon request).
3. Umami Burger
I hate to love Umami Burger. Umami is a major player within its community. Conscious of their social and environmental impact, Umami launched their Artist Series in 2016 to raise funds for celebrity partners’ chosen charities. So far, they’ve donated over $100,000 to such organizations as The Children’s Hospital: Los Angeles, the Make A Wish Foundation, and the American Family Children’s Hospital.
The Original Impossible Burger: 2 Impossible patties, grilled onions, american cheese, miso mustard, house spread, dill pickles, lettuce and tomato.
4. Taco Dumbo
Maybe you want a break from the burgers. Maybe you want a break from the grind. Taco Dumbo gives you both. Every single employee at each Taco Dumbo location passionate about good quality, good energy, and an overall respect between person & person and person & planet. Meanwhile, every single food item and drink is incredibly fresh and delicious.
Chef’s Special Impossible Taco: Ancho Americano prepared Impossible meat, black bean mash and vegan lime crema in an organic blue crunchy shell.
5. Omakasa
Riding that non-burger transition, one of the best beef-and-dairy-free spots in New York is Omakasa. It is creativity without compromise, from menu to decor. As with each restaurant on this short list, environmentally conscious and helpful never has to sacrifice flavor.
Impossible Udon: Impossible meat, shaved bonito flakes, black dashi.
Hot Dan Dan: Impossible meat, fresh ramen, cashews, chili oil.
And don’t forget at least one order of Impossible Bao.
Support places that care. About food, about the earth, about you.
SOURCES:
http://planetmattersandmore.com/food-and-the-environment/fast-food-and-the-environment/
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/burger-king-impossible-whopper-review
