Vegan Food News of the Week: Slutty West Village, Steak & Eggs, and Just Salad's Mushroom Meat

This week, Atlanta-based hotspot Slutty Vegan continues its expansion with a 14th location now open in NYC’s West Village neighborhood. 

Australian startup Fable Foods makes toothsome mushroom meats that just landed on the menu at Just Salad.

Plus, Mike Tyson has a new edible in a shape that’ll make you do a double take. 

Read on for more. 

Vegan food news 

Steak and eggs but make it vegan? Coming right up. Swiss company Planted just launched a new vegan steak made from soy protein, rapeseed oil, beans, rice, and a proprietary blend of microbial cultures that give the whole cut a juicy and tender texture and rich umami flavor.

Planted

The new Planted.Steak is crafted at its cutting-edge facility in Kemptthal, Switzerland, where it produces “whole muscle” cuts of vegan meat through a sophisticated fermentation process. 

“Our Planted.steak is designed to satisfy even the most discerning palate,” Planted’s co-founder Pascal Bieri said in a statement. 

“It’s a true game changer, not only for us but also for the whole category,” Bieri said. 

Making steak this way also produces 97-percent fewer CO2e emissions and uses significantly less water than its animal-derived counterparts. 

For better eggs, we turn to Neggst, a German startup working to disrupt the egg category with its vegan products. This week, Neggst unveiled two innovative additions to its lineup, both crafted from legumes: Poached Neggst and Neggst Sunny Side Up. 

These products, which are not yet available for purchase, offer a plant-based alternative to traditional eggs, featuring a running “yolk” for the poached option and a perfect fried egg alternative for the sunny-side-up version, suitable for avocado toast, English breakfasts, or burgers.

Neggst

“The mass production of chicken eggs uses an unnecessary amount of resources,” Co-founder and CTO Verónica García Arteaga said in a statement. “Neggst’s idea is to combine science and sustainability with the enjoyment of traditional egg dishes.” 

Next, If you’re in the mood for a little savory snack, high-protein cookie makers Lenny & Larry’s just launched seasoned pretzels that might just hit the spot. Called “Fitzels,” the new line of protein-rich, plant-based pretzels, comes in three flavors: Pizza Palooza, Boujie Mustard, and Everything Bagel.

“Lenny and Larry are protein-powered and don’t believe you should ever compromise when it comes to fun or snacking,” Lenny & Larry’s CEO Jolie Weber said in a statement. 

“They’ve inspired us to amp up our snacking game with the big flavors of convenient on-the-go Fitzels,” Weber said. 

7th Heaven

For a little sweet treat, we’ve been reaching for Reese’s vegan peanut butter cups—which are not always easy to find. Luckily, vegan chocolate company 7th Heaven just launched an oat milk peanut butter cup that’s just as good and easier to find. 

“Our Peanut Butter Cups are the culmination of our commitment to excellence, sustainability, and compassion,” 7th Heaven Co-founder Elya Adi said in a statement. 

“It’s a proud moment for us to offer a product that not only competes with giants like Reese’s but also delivers a tastier experience,” Adi said. 

And if you find yourself in the United Kingdom this Easter Sunday, you’ll be happy to know that local vegan chocolate brand H!P has upped the size of its Easter eggs by 50 percent this year. 

Founded by James Cadbury, a descendant of the famous chocolate family, H!P’s Easter eggs are available in flavors such as Salted Caramel and the award-winning Cookies No Cream. 

HIP

“Choosing H!P this Easter doesn’t mean compromising on great taste,” Cadbury said in a statement. “Building on the success of last year’s sell-out eggs, we’ve made our eggs bigger than before but kept the price the same, while also introducing a delicious pouch of smooth oat milk chocolate buttons.”

Despite doubling in size, the vegan chocolate eggs maintain their previous pricing.

Vegan restaurant news

New York City just got even more vegan food thanks to the opening of a new Slutty Vegan in the West Village. The 14th location of the Atlanta-based vegan fast-food sensation is serving the same beloved menu, which includes favorites such as the Ménage à Trois and Hollywood Hooker, within its new 1,870-square-foot space. 

Madelynne Boykin

“Every day, people stand in line for hours to experience the juicy goodness of Slutty Vegan’s plant-based burgers, and we look forward to bringing the experience to the West Village,” Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole-Hayes said in a statement. 

“This new location will have the same vibe as all the other Slutty Vegan stores except we plan to shine light and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and pride,” Cole-Hayes said. 

With plans to introduce a breakfast menu and a focus on takeout services, Slutty Vegan continues to cater to evolving consumer preferences while maintaining a strong commitment to social responsibility. Plus, it tends to attract plenty of celebrities so keep your eyes peeled for icons such as Tyler Perry, Viola Davis, Snoop Dogg, and more. 

Just Salad

Restaurant chain Just Salad—which has more than 70 locations across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Dubai—got a major menu upgrade this week thanks to Australian vegan meat company Fable Food Co. 

This collaboration introduces the BBQ Shroom Bowl featuring Fable BBQ Shiitake mushrooms, enriching Just Salad’s spring menu with a sustainable, plant-based protein option. 

The bowl combines the umami-rich, barbeque-flavored mushrooms with a Sesame Edamame Mix and Miso Kale Slaw, reflecting Just Salad’s commitment to flavorful, nutritious, and environmentally friendly dining choices. 

Plus, over in Washington, DC, Planta Queen DC is launching a fun Friday tradition during the month of April. Starting on the 12th, the plant-based hotspot is teaming up with the popular soda brand Olipop to offer best friends an enticing lunch deal. 

Every Friday, diners who opt for the Plant Power Lunch ($28)—which includes a starter, signature dish, and cookie—during dine-in will be treated to complimentary Olipop sodas and a bonus Planta appetizer, the bang bang broccoli. Get there before 4pm to cash in on the deal. 

Vegan celebrity news

In celebrity news, actress Anne Hathaway is convinced that people think she’s vegan—even though she is not. At least, that’s what she told Vanity Fair in a recent cover interview that took place over green chickpea hummus, market beets, and honeynut squash at a plant-based restaurant in Manhattan. 

“I think everybody can agree I have the personality of a vegan,” Hathaway told the writer.

What Hathaway means by having a vegan personality is up for interpretation but the 41-year-old actress has previously invested in The Every Company, which uses technology, not chickens, to make egg whites that function just like their traditional counterparts. 

Tyson 2.0

Another vegan-ish personality? Mike Tyson was plant-based for two decades until 2020. The boxing champ, and cannabis connoisseur, is making a comeback of sorts with the launch of Tyson 2.0 Edibles, in Mike Bites and Night Bites varieties, across New York. 

“Growing up in Brooklyn, I could have never imagined a time when cannabis would be legally utilized to enhance both mental and physical well-being,” Tyson said in a statement. “Yet, here we are, witnessing the incredible progress.”

The shape of the gelatin-free edible gummies resemble an ear with a bite taken out of it, a callback to that one, ear-biting fight with Evander Holyfield that changed the course of boxing history as we know it. 

“New York, we still have improvements to make in expanding access to this plant-based wellness; but together, I’m confident we will forge a new standard of excellence, prioritizing safety, quality, and taste to ensure unparalleled experiences,” Tyson said. 

Changing scope to a different sport, Tia Blanco is a world surf champ who has been vegan since 2011. She recently partnered with Jambar, an organic energy bar company, to contribute to its vegan product line. This collaboration has resulted in the launch of the Tropical Trio flavor, inspired by the athlete’s plant-based lifestyle, and incorporates ingredients such as gluten-free ancient grains, walnut butter, and plant-based protein.

Jambar

Alongside Tropical Trio, Jambar introduced a 12-bar vegan box that showcases an assortment of flavors, including the newly created Tropical Trio, Jammin’ Jazzleberry, and Musical Mango. We are officially excited about snacking this summer. 

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.