Noodles & Co., an American fast casual restaurant chain that's known for its pasta, salads, and other lunch staples, has announced that it will be adding two cauliflower gnocchi dishes to its menu.
The two new dishes include a Cauliflower Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic Cream and Cauliflower Gnocchi Rosa, both of which include about one half of the carbs that a traditional pasta dish would. The use of cauliflower in place of typical pasta also makes the dishes well-suited to diners with gluten sensitivities, as well as those looking to include more vegetables in their diets.
Noodle & Co.'s Executive Chef and VP of Culinary Nick Graff spoke to the launch, stating "Gnocchi is a classic Italian pasta that I have long enjoyed, and we've elevated it from a dish that most people view as an occasional indulgence and transformed it into a healthy and flavorful option that our guests will feel good about eating any day."
Low-Carb Cauliflower Gnocchi Dishes
Noodles & Co is Introducing Two New Menu Items
Trend Themes
1. Low-carb Dishes - The rise in popularity of low-carb diets presents an opportunity for restaurants to add new menu items catering to this trend, such as Noodle & Co.'s new cauliflower gnocchi dishes.
2. Vegetable-based Substitutes - Replacing traditional ingredients with vegetable-based substitutes, such as cauliflower gnocchi, presents innovation opportunities for food companies looking to cater to health-conscious and gluten-sensitive diners.
3. Innovative Pasta Alternatives - The creation of innovative pasta alternatives, like Noodle & Co.'s cauliflower gnocchi, presents an opportunity for food companies to diversify their offerings and appeal to a wider customer base.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Casual Restaurants - Fast casual restaurants can take advantage of the low-carb trend and offer healthier, vegetable-based alternatives to traditional pasta dishes, like Noodle & Co.'s cauliflower gnocchi.
2. Health and Wellness Food Products - Health and wellness food companies can explore the use of vegetable-based substitutes, such as cauliflower, in creating low-carb and gluten-free pasta alternatives to cater to health-conscious diners.
3. Gluten-free Products - The rise in popularity of gluten-free diets presents an opportunity for food companies to create gluten-free pasta alternatives, such as cauliflower gnocchi, to cater to this growing market.