Food News of the Week: Meatless Wagyu, Gobbler Sandwiches, and How to Cook Like Jimmy Fallon

The holidays are fast-approaching and both Next Level Burger and sister chain Veggie Grill have a Gobbler sandwich for those already craving the flavors of Thanksgiving. South Korean company Millennial Flavor Town is unveiling MM Beef, a meatless wagyu beef it plans to offer in Europe and the United States. 

Plus, Jimmy Fallon has a new seasoning collection to spice up the holidays. Read on for more. 

Food news

New meatless steaks from South Korea’s Millennial Flavor Town are coming for the center of your plate. Plant Based Seafood Co. just released a limited edition crispy fried shrimp that’s a perfect appetizer for celebratory feasts. And Jimmy Fallon’s seasoning blend is here to add spice to everything from hot cocoa to stuffing. 

MM Beef

Meatless Korean wagyu

Korean company Millennial Flavor Town is debuting its meatless wagyu, MM Beef, at the Plant Based World Expo in London next week. The company combines the art of traditional Korean fermentation with a commitment to sustainability, aiming to deliver a premium experience that elevates plant-based dining. 

Co-founder and chef Bakrin Ahn spearheaded the creation of MM Beef, which was designed to replicate the marbling and depth of traditional beef through a proprietary blend of high-quality ingredients such as soybeans, shingled hedgehog mushrooms, and rice koji. 

The fermentation process, patented by Millennial Flavor Town, ensures each product maintains a rich, savory profile that is dense in essential amino acids and nutrients, allowing it to serve as a complete, center-of-the-plate protein.

At the forthcoming Expo, the company will showcase its meatless wagyu beef product line in two formats: steak and shredded (in soy sauce and truffle flavors). Currently, Millennial Flavor Town is preparing to enter European and United States markets, where it will compete with existing whole-cut offerings from other companies such as Juicy Marbles, Chunk Foods, and Meati.

The Spice House

Cook like Jimmy Fallon

This holiday season, you can cook like Jimmy Fallon thanks to a new line of spices produced by the late night comedian in collaboration with purveyor The Spice House. Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Collection is a festive gift set featuring four signature spice blends, including Jimmy’s Gingersnap Cocoa—a whimsical cocoa blend developed with Fallon and his daughters. Each set, priced at $48, contributes a portion of proceeds to Feeding America to support food security across the US.

“The holidays are all about bringing people together, having fun, and making memories through food,” Alex Wilkens, VP of Product at The Spice House, said in a statement. “We are all avid watchers of Jimmy, and our loyal customers are always looking for products they can’t find anywhere else.” 

“It was a no-brainer to collaborate with him, celebrating his new album and bringing elevated holiday cooking to tables across the country,” Wilkens said. 

The collection, intended to accompany Fallon’s holiday album Holiday Seasoning, includes versatile flavors for winter cooking. In addition to Gingersnap Cocoa for cozy drinks, the Apple Pie Spice was developed to deliver that classic dessert flavor to anything sweet. While the Poultry Stuffing Seasoning and the House Turkey Blend were developed with traditional Thanksgiving meals in mind, the vegan-friendly spice blends can be used on anything from veggies to meaty seitan. 

The gift set is available through The Spice House website; The Spice House’s retail locations in Milwaukee, WI and the Chicago, IL-area; Crate and Barrel; and the 30 Rock Store.

The Plant Based Seafood Co.

Crispy fried shrimp

This year, there’s a new limited-time option for your Feast of the Seven (fish-free) Fishes. The Plant Based Seafood Co. is launching its Mind Blown Crispy, Crunchy, Fried Shrimp just in time for the holidays.

“This shrimp is crispy and crunchy on the outside, and tender and sweet on the inside, just like traditional shrimp from the water,” Monica Talbert, co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “It’s also our first par-cooked product that is ready to heat and eat.” 

Drawing from years in the seafood restaurant industry, the family-owned company crafted this product to fill the demand for fried shrimp without the seafood. 

“These plant-based shrimp are so versatile and perfect to dunk into cocktail sauce, toss with bang-bang sauce, stuff in a taco, or top over creamy grits,” Talbert said.

The new Crispy, Crunchy, Fried Shrimp—available exclusively through the company website—joins the Mind Blown lineup alongside its popular Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp, and Dusted Scallops.

Restaurant news

Thanksgiving themed Gobbler sandwiches have arrived at Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill. Salt & Straw is slinging scoops of Sweet Potato Casserole ice cream. And for even sweeter news, new dairy-free cupcakes—made with Miyoko’s Creamery butter—are headed to Sprinkles.

Veggie Grill by Next Level Burger

Gobbler sandwiches for Thanksgiving

Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill by Next Level are ringing in the holiday season with the return of their popular winter limited-time offerings. Available through December 31, the lineup includes holiday favorites and new seasonal specials to satisfy cravings for festive, vegan-friendly comfort foods.

A key highlight is the Gobbler burger, a returning classic at Next Level Burger and now also available at Veggie Grill. This holiday burger features a crispy, plant-based turkey cutlet topped with house-made herbed stuffing, organic cranberry sauce, and savory gravy, priced at $9.95. To support community food banks, both brands are running a Buy One, Give Five campaign, donating 5 percent of Gobbler sales from November 1 through Black Friday to food banks across the US.

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In addition to the Gobbler, Next Level Burger is also offering a selection of seasonal shakes. Choices include the Organic Candy Cane Shake, Frosted Sugar Cookie Shake, Frozen Hot Cocoa Shake, and Organic Holiday Apple Crumble Shake, each made with house-made coconut or soy soft-serve ice cream and priced between $7.45 and $11.45.

Meanwhile, Veggie Grill features two exclusive holiday desserts: the Organic Holiday Apple Crumble, made from scratch with organic apples for $6.95, and a Pumpkin Spice Cake, an organic pumpkin bundt cake drizzled with spiced icing and topped with walnuts, also priced at $6.95.

For those who want to enjoy a full Thanksgiving-style meal at home, Next Level Burger and Veggie Grill are offering vegan Holiday Feast meals, available for pre-order. Each feast serves four to six people and includes an entrée, five sides, and an optional dessert. 

Salt & Straw

Salt & Straw’s Sweet Potato Casserole Ice Cream

Portland, OR-based ice cream company Salt & Straw just launched its Thanksgiving series at its scoop shops. The lineup always includes a dairy-free ice cream flavor and this year’s offering, Sweet Potato Casserole, does not disappoint. 

Salt & Straw created the flavor using the classic Thanksgiving side dish as inspiration. This dairy-free creation features a base of mashed sweet potatoes, maple syrup, and Maker’s Mark bourbon, blended with rich coconut-oat milk to create a creamy texture and deep, cozy flavors.

Staying true to the dish’s roots, Salt & Straw completes the flavor with three toppings—candied pecans, brown sugar oatmeal streusel, and swirls of vanilla-bourbon sweet potato—adding a nutty crunch and a burst of sweet richness to each spoonful. 

On the menu throughout the month of November, the Sweet Potato Casserole is also available in pints for pick up and delivery for a limited time.

 Sprinkles

Miyoko’s Creamery cupcakes at Sprinkles

This holiday season, Miyoko’s Creamery and Sprinkles are teaming up to offer a limited-edition vegan treat: the Vegan Sugar & Spice Cupcake. Available from November 11 to December 1 at Sprinkles bakeries and Cupcake ATMs across the US, this festive cupcake combines a vegan spice cake made with Miyoko’s Cinnamon Brown Sugar Oat Milk Butter and a spiced vegan cream cheese frosting. The collaboration brings together two beloved brands to showcase plant-based baking with indulgent, seasonal flavors.

“Partnering with Sprinkles on a special cupcake ahead of Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving celebrations was a no-brainer for us, because our Cinnamon Brown Sugar Oat Milk Butter has a rich, velvety flavor that perfectly complements Sprinkles’ innovative approach to sweet treats,” Stuart Kronauge, Miyoko’s Creamery CEO, said in a statement. 

“This partnership is not just about flavor, but about helping people to dabble in dairy-free while also redefining the dessert experience for everyone regardless of dietary restrictions,” Kronauge said. 

Miyoko’s Cinnamon Brown Sugar Oat Milk Butter, crafted with organic oat milk, adds a creamy, nuanced taste to the cupcake and is also available at retailers nationwide.

“At Sprinkles, we constantly strive to push the boundaries of flavor and innovation,” Justin Murakami, President and COO at Sprinkles said in a statement. “Partnering with Miyoko’s to create a vegan cupcake is an exciting step forward in offering delicious, plant-based options that everyone can enjoy, without compromising on taste or quality.”

Snack news

Rebbl has a new barley-based protein shake for those working on gains this winter. Hiking enthusiasts have a new, mess-free snack to take on the road. And Daily Crunch and Fly By Jing are bringing summer’s “swicy” trend into the cozy season.

Rebbl

Barley protein shakes

Plant-powered beverage brand Rebbl just launched its latest innovation in sustainable protein drinks: the Rebbl 26g Protein Shake. The new plant-based shake is developed with a unique blend featuring EverPro—an Upcycled Certified barley protein made from brewing by-products.

In addition to protein, the 26g Protein Shake offers essential prebiotics, making it an option for both fitness and everyday wellness. Available in three classic flavors—chocolate, vanilla, and Cookies & Creme—the new line can be found at Target stores nationwide. 

“At Rebbl, innovation is in our DNA, and our 26g Protein Shakes aren’t just packed with protein—they’re packed with purpose,” Andy Fathollahi, CEO of parent company Systm Foods, said in a statement. 

“Upcycling barley into a premium protein source utilizes every part of this powerful ancient grain, repurposing vital nutrients back into the food chain while delivering the high-quality nutrition our consumers expect,” Fathollahi said. 

Foodberry

PB&J bites made for hiking

Boston-based Foodberry is pushing snack innovation with its new Trailberries, a bite-sized twist on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Using technology originally developed in Harvard and MIT labs, Foodberry’s patented plant-based coating system allows for a creamy peanut butter center to be wrapped in real fruit, creating a “poppable” snack unlike anything on the market. 

Trailberries are available now on Amazon in two flavors—Wild Berry & Peanut Butter and Peach Mango & Peanut Butte—each offering a mess-free taste of classic PB&J with 4 grams of both protein and fiber per serving. 

This direct-to-consumer launch marks a shift for Foodberry, which typically partners with brands to deliver unique, bite-sized snack options. “Due to popular demand, we decided to introduce Trailberries—one of our most-requested snacks—directly to consumers for the first time,” Zach Soolman, Foodberry’s Chief Commercial Officer, said in a statement. 

Foodberry has also partnered with Fit Snack subscription boxes to reach health-conscious snackers. 

Daily Crunch

“Swicy” cashews

Daily Crunch and Fly By Jing are teaming up to bring a bit of spice to holiday snacking with their Sweet & Spicy Sichuan Sprouted Cashews & Edamame. 

This “swicy” blend combines Daily Crunch’s signature sprouted cashews and crispy edamame with Fly By Jing’s Sichuan-inspired chili flakes, delivering a sweet, savory, and spicy crunch. Available exclusively at Whole Foods in November, this limited-time flavor expands Daily Crunch’s Uniquely Crunchy line and marks the brand’s first national grocery launch.

Daily Crunch’s unique sprout and dehydrate process makes the cashews more nutrient-dense and easy to digest, while enhancing their signature crunch.

“With the rising popularity of globally inspired foods and the sweet, savory, and spicy combinations they offer, we wanted to explore a collaboration that showcases a unique, elevated flavor,” Laurel Orley, co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve created together, and we know it will become an instant fan favorite.” 

This exclusive flavor joins Daily Crunch’s growing lineup, including Tumeric + Sea Salt and Dill Pickle Sprouted Almonds + Pepitas—both also debuting at Whole Foods.