# Plant-Based Veal Alternatives Crossroads Kitchen is Serving a Five-Course Vegan Tasting Menu By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-12-18 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-tasting-menu References: [livekindly.co](https://www.livekindly.co/ttop-chef-michael-voltaggio-vegan-veal-shanks-osso-bucco-crossroads-kitchen/) & [crossroadskitchen](http://www.crossroadskitchen.com/) Crossroads Kitchen, a vegan restaurant based in Los Angeles, developed a five-course vegan tasting menu with season six Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio that offers an entirely plant-based spin on classic meat-based dishes. While the first course of the feast introduced "Mushrooms Pretending to Be Chicken Liver Mousse" with kale juice lavash, other notable items that followed included salads, a chocolate dessert and a vegan-friendly version of osso bucco, which is ordinarily made from veal shanks. As its name suggests, the Smoked Beet Osso Bucco was prepared from the colorful root vegetable and served with a sunflower seed and truffle risotto. At the same time many affordable plant-based patties, strips and nuggets are emerging in supermarkets for mainstream consumers, there is also a desire for high-end meat alternatives for luxe restaurant dining experiences. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **High-end Plant-based Alternatives:** Opportunity for upscale restaurants to develop innovative plant-based alternatives that cater to high-end dining experiences. - **Plant-based Fine Dining:** Rise in demand for vegan tasting menus and plant-based interpretations of classic meat-based dishes at fine dining establishments. - **Expansion of Vegan Meat Market:** Growth in the variety and availability of plant-based meat products, including upscale alternatives, for both retail and foodservice industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Restaurant:** Upscale restaurants can explore incorporating plant-based alternatives into their menus to cater to the growing demand for vegan dining experiences. - **Food Retail:** Opportunity for supermarkets to expand their plant-based meat offerings to include high-end alternatives, targeting consumers seeking luxurious plant-based options. - **Foodservice:** Caterers and event venues can capitalize on the trend by including plant-based alternatives in their menus, allowing for customizable vegan dining experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Four-Course Festival Feasts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/outstanding-in-the-field.md) - [Plant-Based Halloween Steakhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-cannibal-steakhouse.md) - [Plant-Powered Delicacies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/voie-gras.md) - [Five-Course Vegan Dinners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alexis-gauthier.md) - [Restaurant-Targeted Vegan Chicken](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daring-foods.md) - [Plant-Powered Foie Gras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alternatives-to-foie-gras.md) - [Artichoke-Based Meat Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cutting-vedge1.md) - [Fermented Vegetable Meat Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grubby-and-symplicity.md) - [Bone-In Vegan Ribs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/premium-plant-based-ribs.md)