Summer is nearly here, and if you’re feeling inspired to eat better than ever, you might want to check out VegNews’ guide to growing your own kitchen herbs. Seriously, few things taste better than a summer salad topped with fresh, homegrown mint or your favorite vegan pasta finished with a sprinkle of homegrown parsley and oregano.
Not much of a cook? Leave it to the experts, and explore our list of the top 20 Michelin-starred restaurants serving some of the world’s best vegan food. We’ve also got an exclusive interview with VegNews Chef of the Year Aaron Adams Casañas for you to dig into.
But before you start bookmarking restaurants and ordering seed packets, let’s dive into this week’s food news, covering everything from pickle smoothies to therapy pints.
Van Leeuwen and Rula have teamed up to offer therapy sessions, with a side of ice cream. | Van Leeuwen x Rula
Van Leeuwen’s newest pint gives you access to free therapy
Eating ice cream can definitely feel like therapy (just ask Bridget Jones), but while we wish that were true, it’s no substitute for real mental health support. That’s why Van Leeuwen has teamed up with healthcare provider Rula to launch its new Therapy in a Pint for Mental Health Awareness Month—and don’t worry, there’s still ice cream involved. Available at select scoop shops across the country for $7.95, the special pints come with a scoop of ice cream (Van Leeuwen has several dairy-free flavors) and access to a therapy session with Rula via a QR code on the packaging.
“We all have those moments where we reach for something small to feel a little better—like a scoop of ice cream after a hard day,” said Josh Bruno, CEO and Founder of Rula. “But what we’re often really craving is support. ‘Therapy in a Pint’ turns that ritual into a meaningful first step toward care that helps people make real, lasting progress.”
Slice Soda’s new Dirty Soda has a fraction of the sugar of traditional dirty sodas. | Slice Soda
This new drink finally allows vegans to take part in the viral Mormon dirty soda trend
If you’re an avid reality TV fan, you’ve probably watched in fascination as the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fuel up on dirty soda throughout the show. The beloved Utah drink is essentially soda topped with cream and flavored syrup (in other words, a total sugar bomb). Thanks to Slice Soda, however, there’s now a ready-made vegan version on Target shelves.
The brand’s new ready-to-drink dirty soda comes in two flavors—Dirty Orange and Dirty Strawberry—both made with MCT oil to deliver that signature creamy taste. They also contain just a fraction of the sugar found in a traditional dirty soda and are formulated with added prebiotics and probiotics, too.
“Dirty soda has quickly become one of the most talked-about beverage trends, but until now, consumers had to make it themselves or settle for versions that didn’t quite deliver the full experience,” said Nicole Portwood, Chief Marketing Officer at Suja Life. “Rather than artificial cream flavors, we’ve added MCT oil to create the smooth, indulgent mouthfeel that defines a true dirty soda, capturing the creamy indulgence people love while staying true to our mission of offering a better-for-you soda.”
The new Grillo’s Pickles smoothie is packed with nutrient-dense ingredients. | Smoothie King
Yes, Grillo’s Pickles Smoothies are real. Here’s where to get them.
It’s never been a better time to be a pickle fan. The flavor has been trending for a while now, and it’s showing no sign of slowing down. In fact, now, pickle-lovers can get their hands on everything from pickle puffs to pickle-flavored almonds to pickle pretzels, and even pickle smoothies. Yep, for real. Smoothie King is currently offering a Grillo’s Pickles Smoothie made with Grillo’s Pickles (of course), as well as a nutrient-dense blend of bananas, apple juice, kiwi, electrolytes, coconut water, and kale. It’s not April Fools, it’s in stores right now.
“We love to do unhinged collabs at Grillo’s,” said Mark Luker, Grillo’s chief commercial officer. “With that, we don’t always get to talk about the functional benefits of pickles. When we partnered with Smoothie King for a hydration smoothie, we knew this was a great opportunity to do both. Those who are willing to try will be pleasantly surprised (and hydrated).”
Koké offers matcha in various flavors, as well as banana coffee and mochi cookies. | Koké
New York City has a new vegan Japanese pastry and matcha café
Arguably even more popular than pickles, matcha is everywhere right now. And if you’re in New York, you can now head to Koké, a Japanese plant-based café specializing in matcha, coffee, and fermented pastries. Opened in April by the team behind Japanese-French patisserie Patisserie Fouet, the new café offers a menu packed with creative treats—from strawberry matcha topped with sakura cold foam to banana milk coffee made with Mooala banana milk, alongside mochi cookies and savory pastries.
Vertical Diner says its Portland location has become impossible to keep open in the current economic climate. | Vertical Diner
Portland’s influential vegan diner Vertical Diner is closing
Beloved vegan diner Vertical Diner, known for its all-day breakfast classics, burgers, and tenders, is closing its Portland location. While its Salt Lake City location will remain open, the team says ongoing economic challenges have made it impossible to sustain operations in Portland.
“We had planned to close years ago after the pandemic, but fell in love with our amazing customers and couldn’t bring ourselves to do it,” the diner shared in an Instagram post. “At this time, the costs of operation are unsustainable.”
The restaurant’s final day of service will be June 14. But it’s not all bad news: the team hopes to continue distributing its popular vegan tenders to restaurants across Oregon.
Oatly cold foam is coming to your local coffee shop—if you live in this country
Oatly is helping take iced coffee to the next level with the launch of its new Oatly Barista Cold Foam, designed to “deliver a light, creamy ‘cloud’ that sits on top of drinks.” With a subtly sweet vanilla flavor, the new cold foam is versatile enough to be whipped, blended, or frothed, making it an easy addition to a range of beverages.
There’s just one catch: for now, it’s only available in the UK. Black Sheep Coffee will be the first chain to feature the new cold foam, adding it to drinks like iced Americanos, iced lattes, and iced vanilla matcha beverages.
“The demand for individuality and different flavours and consistencies is growing every day,” said Bryan Carroll, UK and Ireland General Manager at Oatly. “With Barista Cold Foam, we’re giving the hospitality industry a new way to meet that demand and making it easy to create great tasting, layered, customised drinks that feel both premium and expressive. This launch has been years in the making, and we can’t wait for people to get creative with it.”
Is a Mr. Charlie’s x Travis Barker collaboration on the horizon? | Mr. Charlie’s
Mr. Charlie’s teases potential collaboration with Travis Barker
Could a new Mr. Charlie’s x Travis Barker collab be on the way? To the excitement of many fans, the popular vegan fast-food chain recently posted an Instagram Reel featuring Barker driving the Mr. Charlie’s truck. There’s no confirmation yet on whether the Reel is simply a bit of fun or a hint at something bigger, but we’ve reached out to the chain for more information. It wouldn’t be Barker’s first partnership with a vegan brand: he’s an ambassador for plant-based chicken company Daring, and in 2022, he teamed up with Monty’s Good Burger to launch Travis’s Oat Matcha Latte Shake.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
