Patrick Oconnell
Mellow Mushroom is a pizza restaurant that offers vegan options, including several vegan pizzas. In the past, Mellow Mushroom used Daiya vegan cheese on its pizzas, but in 2017, the restaurant switched to Follow Your Heart as its vegan cheese option. This cheese is provided at no additional cost and can be added to any pizza.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Follow Your Heart |
| Previous Brand | Daiya |
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What You'll Learn
Mellow Mushroom's vegan cheese switch from Daiya to Follow Your Heart
Mellow Mushroom is a restaurant that offers vegan options, including pizza, salads, hoagies, and pretzels. In 2017, the restaurant switched its vegan cheese offering from Daiya to Follow Your Heart. This change sparked varied reactions from the vegan community. Some customers expressed disappointment, stating that they preferred Daiya's taste and meltability over Follow Your Heart's nearly tasteless and less meltable alternative. However, others praised the switch, noting an improvement in texture and flavour.
The difference in opinion may lie in personal preferences and experiences with the two brands. Daiya, a well-known vegan cheese brand, is often associated with a distinct flavour that some love and others dislike. On the other hand, Follow Your Heart's vegan cheese is described as nearly tasteless, which some may prefer for its subtlety.
The switch to Follow Your Heart vegan cheese at Mellow Mushroom highlights the ongoing evolution of vegan cheese options in the food industry. While some vegan cheeses have been criticised for their texture, flavour, or melting capabilities, advancements and innovations in vegan cheese technology are continually being made. This includes the development of new recipes and ingredients that better mimic the taste and behaviour of dairy cheese.
Mellow Mushroom's decision to switch to Follow Your Heart vegan cheese may have been influenced by a variety of factors, including taste tests, customer feedback, ingredient availability, and cost. The restaurant's commitment to offering vegan options, as evidenced by their participation in Veganuary, likely played a role in their choice. By partnering with Follow Your Heart, Mellow Mushroom contributes to increasing the visibility and accessibility of vegan options, making it easier for those with allergies, restrictions, or lifestyle choices to find suitable dining options.
While the switch from Daiya to Follow Your Heart vegan cheese at Mellow Mushroom sparked mixed reactions, it underscores the ongoing refinement and diversification of vegan cheese offerings. As consumer demand for plant-based alternatives grows, restaurants and food manufacturers continue to innovate and improve their vegan cheese options, ensuring that a wide range of preferences and tastes are catered to.
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FYH's semi-big distribution deal with Mellow Mushroom
Mellow Mushroom has been offering vegan options for a while now, with a dairy-free menu that includes custom order options, an inset vegan menu, and egg, gluten, soy, and nut allergen notes. In 2022, the brand launched a build-your-own vegan pizza option, allowing customers to choose from 19 ingredients, including vegan cheese and tempeh for protein.
Mellow Mushroom's vegan cheese option is provided by Follow Your Heart (FYH), a company that makes vegan cheese slices and shreds. FYH landed a semi-big distribution deal with Mellow Mushroom, which has received mixed reviews from the vegan community. Some people prefer FYH's vegan cheese over Daiya, the previous vegan cheese offered by Mellow Mushroom, citing better texture and flavor. Others disagree, claiming that FYH's product is nearly tasteless and doesn't melt as well as Daiya.
The build-your-own vegan pizza option at Mellow Mushroom has been well-received, with VP of Brand Development, Anne Mejia, expressing delight at the launch. The brand has also added a dedicated vegan section to its online menu, making it easier for those with allergies and dietary restrictions to order safely.
In addition to the build-your-own option, Mellow Mushroom offers several other vegan menu items. There are two vegan-as-is pizza options: a plain cheese pizza and the Vegan Veg Out, loaded with vegetables. Customers can also choose from two vegan salads, two vegan hoagies, and Mellow Mushroom's house vegan pretzels served with red sauce or mustard.
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Mellow Mushroom's vegan cheese options: plain cheese and Vegan Veg Out
Mellow Mushroom offers a variety of vegan options, including two vegan-as-is pizza choices: a plain cheese pizza and the Vegan Veg Out, which is loaded with vegetables. The plain cheese pizza is a simple yet delicious option for those who want to enjoy the taste of vegan cheese without too many other toppings. On the other hand, the Vegan Veg Out pizza is perfect for those who want a more loaded vegan pizza experience. It comes with a colourful and tasty array of peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and olives.
In addition to these two standard options, Mellow Mushroom also offers a build-your-own vegan pizza, where customers can choose from 19 ingredients, including Follow Your Heart vegan cheese and tempeh for protein. With more than 15 different vegetables and other toppings to select, there are endless combinations to create a unique vegan pizza.
Mellow Mushroom's vegan cheese option is provided by Follow Your Heart, a well-known brand in the vegan community. The company made the switch from Daiya to Follow Your Heart in 2017, and the difference in texture and flavour was noted by many customers. While some preferred the taste and meltiness of Daiya, others found that Follow Your Heart's nearly tasteless and melt-resistant product was a better fit for their palate.
The vegan cheese offered by Mellow Mushroom is just one part of their commitment to providing plant-based options. They also offer vegan salads, hoagies, and pretzels, ensuring that those with vegan diets or allergies have a variety of choices when dining at their restaurants. With their vegan menu options and gluten-free crust, Mellow Mushroom caters to a wide range of dietary preferences and restrictions.
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Mellow Mushroom's vegan protein option: tempeh
Mellow Mushroom offers a variety of vegan options, including tempeh, a plant-based protein source. Tempeh is a popular choice for those seeking a meat alternative, and Mellow Mushroom allows customers to substitute chicken with tempeh on their pizzas.
The Vegan Tempeh Hoagie, in particular, has gained attention in the vegan community. This hoagie features balsamic marinated tempeh, lettuce, Roma tomatoes, vegan cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, and green peppers. The inclusion of tempeh provides a hearty and satisfying texture, making it a favourite among those seeking a protein-rich vegan option.
Mellow Mushroom's vegan cheese options have also been a topic of discussion. The restaurant initially offered Daiya cheese, but later switched to Follow Your Heart cheese, which some customers found to be less appealing in terms of taste and meltability. However, Follow Your Heart cheese is still a popular choice, and Mellow Mushroom allows customers to substitute vegan cheese on any pie at no additional cost.
The versatility of tempeh at Mellow Mushroom extends beyond the Vegan Tempeh Hoagie. Customers can also build their own pizzas, calzones, or hoagies, incorporating tempeh as their preferred protein option. This customization option ensures that vegans have a wide range of choices to suit their individual tastes and preferences.
In conclusion, Mellow Mushroom's vegan protein option of tempeh showcases their commitment to providing diverse and satisfying plant-based alternatives. The ability to substitute tempeh for chicken, along with the availability of vegan cheese, makes Mellow Mushroom a popular choice for those seeking delicious and creative vegan pizza and hoagie options.
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Mellow Mushroom's vegan menu plans for 2023
Mellow Mushroom has been offering vegan options for years, but the franchise has continued to expand its vegan menu in 2023. In January 2023, Mellow Mushroom introduced a "Build Your Own Vegan Pizza" option, with 19 ingredients to choose from, including tempeh and dairy-free cheese. The vegan cheese option is Follow Your Heart, which replaced Daiya in 2017.
The "Build Your Own Vegan Pizza" option is in addition to Mellow Mushroom's existing vegan pies, such as the Kosmic Karma and Pacific Rim pizzas, which can be made with vegan cheese. The vegan menu also includes the Vegan Veg Out, which comes with red sauce, vegan cheese, spinach, green bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, sweet onions, black olives, and roma tomatoes. The garlic butter and parmesan finish are automatically removed.
In February 2023, the Vegan Miss Mushroom was added to the menu. This pizza comes with minced garlic, red sauce, spinach, vegan cheese, portobello, and caramelized onions, and is topped with vegan feta crumbles and chives.
Mellow Mushroom also offers dairy-free wings, made with Jerk, Teriyaki, and BBQ sauces. The Ancient Grain gluten-free crust is also vegan, as it does not contain eggs. The Herb Vinaigrette and Esperanza Salad Dressing (which contains soy) are vegan, but the croutons contain milk.
Mellow Mushroom's vegan menu is available online and in dining rooms, making it easy for customers to find plant-based options.
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Frequently asked questions
Mellow Mushroom offers Follow Your Heart as its vegan cheese option.
Mellow Mushroom switched from Daiya to Follow Your Heart in 2017.
Mellow Mushroom offers several vegan options, including two vegan-as-is pizzas: a plain cheese and the Vegan Veg Out. In addition, customers can choose from two vegan salads, two vegan hoagies, and Mellow Mushroom’s house vegan pretzels served with red sauce or mustard.
The gluten-free crust at Mellow Mushroom is provided by Smart Flour Foods and is made from ancient grains. It is vegan and gluten-free.
