(Restaurant Introduces More Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free & Lean Meat Items)
As the dining public continues to demand more veggies and leaner options, the highly popular Stonefire Grill in Pasadena, with 6 additional locations throughout LA & OC, have introduced several new items to its evolving menu. Three of the latest offerings feature cauliflower – which is quickly surging in popularity among foodies — including a warm Whole Roasted Cauliflower topped with lemon tahini sauce and chopped parsley for $5.99; Roasted Cauliflower Pita stuffed with chopped tomato, green onion, lemon tahini and a spicy cilantro-serrano sauce for $5.99; and Cauliflower Salad offered as a side item.
With an emphasis on lean meats, Stonefire Grill, a leader in the fast-casual arena, has introduced a Traditional Turkey Sandwich with red leaf lettuce, cranberry sauce, whole grain mustard and mayo served on whole grain bread; Italian Turkey Sandwich with shredded lettuce, mayo, tomato, red onion, mozzarella cheese and dijon mustard vinaigrette on a French roll; and a Turkey Salad Sandwich with low-fat yogurt, chopped celery, green onion, dried cranberry and red leaf lettuce on whole grain bread. All are priced at $6.99.
Also new are The Caprese with smashed grape tomatoes, homemade pesto, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and wild arugula on toasted ciabatta for $7.99; and warm sautéed Shrimp served over quinoa with fresh lemon, olive oil, garlic, chili flakes and chopped parsley. The 8 shrimp 1/2 order is $10.99, 16 shrimp full order $19.99, and the meal served with your choice of salad and 2 freshly baked breadsticks is $10.99.
“Stonefire Grill has always held tight to our highly successful, family-oriented ‘meat & potatoes’ theme, but as the tastes of our guests evolve, so too does our menu. Our goal is to keep our finger on the pulse of the dining public and introduce items that are sure to please,” said spokesman Justin Lopez, whose family founded the concept in 2000. “While we have no intention of straying from the menu that put us on the map (e.g., mesquite BBQ chicken, cracked pepper garlic tri tip, lemon garlic salmon, etc.), we will continue to explore items that are, at once, flavorful, value oriented and good for you.”
Last year, the restaurants introduced a number of items that could be considered healthy including: Keen Green, a blend of fresh spinach, pesto and quinoa with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado and Parmesan cheese for $8.99; the Healthy Hybrid, quinoa with garbanzo beans, red onion, green bell peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato and artichoke hearts tossed with Dijon mustard vinaigrette and topped with feta cheese for $7.99; and sides of quinoa simply prepared in a vegetable broth with a dash of fresh lemon, mint and green onions priced between $1.59 – $8.99.
Though not in keeping with its “meat & potatoes” theme, these items achieved far better than expected sales, reported Lopez.
“It wasn’t long ago that foods like kale and quinoa were only known to the health food crowd,” he said. “Today, you are starting to see such items appear on the menus of mostly boutique restaurants. In the fast-casual genre, Stonefire Grill is taking a leading role in introducing such foods to the general public and the response so far has been overwhelming.”
Stonefire Grill’s menu is available “to go” and each restaurant is even designed with a special entrance dedicated to takeout — the modern mother’s version of providing a wholesome, delicious meal for her family. Locations are in Valencia, West Hills, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Chatsworth, Thousand Oaks, and Pasadena (473 N Rosemead Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107, (626) 921-1255). Catering is also available.
For more information, visit stonefiregrill.com become a fan on facebook.com/stonefiregrill or follow Stonefire on twitter.com/stonefiregrill or instagram.com/stonefiregrill.
