Secret menus have been a trend at national chains for a while now, whether it's
the extensive set of "animal-style" options at In-n-Out Burgeror
the hidden menu at Panera, patrons like to feel like they're in the know when it comes to off-menu items.
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers has embraced the idea and decided to give their employees a chance to show off their favorite creations for the month of March. Management surveyed servers, bartenders, and prep and line cooks from over 160 locations to curate a new "Homegrown Picks" menu, available nationwide through March 31.
They also got a little competitive about the process, launching a "Homegrown Challenge" for the best pizza, salad, calzone, hoagie and cocktail recipes from the employees. Almost a hundred recipes were submitted and then judged on taste, presentation and originality. In the end, seven finalists were selected to make up the Homegrown Picks menu, and a panel of professional judges determined an overall food and cocktail winner.
Here are the new items they came up with:
Thai-dal Wave Hoagie — Sweet Thai chili chicken, grilled onions and mushrooms, provolone cheese, fresh broccoli and tomatoes, mayonnaise and finished with a balsamic glaze drizzle. Awarded Best Overall Food.
Blueberry Vodka Mojito — Fresh blueberries, mint and lime muddled with simple syrup then shaken with American Harvest organic vodka and guava nectar and finished with a splash of soda. Awarded Best Overall Cocktail
Chicken Cordon Bleu Calzone — All-natural chicken, maple-glazed ham, swiss and mozzarella cheeses with dijonnaise sauce. All layered inside Mellow Mushroom’s fresh dough and baked to warm.
Quirky Turkey Club Pie — A Mellow Mushroom pizza with an olive oil and garlic base and topped with Applewood smoked bacon, turkey, caramelized onions, fresh spinach, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses and finished with sliced organic apples and a swirl of honey mustard.
Slow Ridin’ Chick Salad — Grilled all-natural chicken chopped and blended with finely diced jalapeno, caramelized pecans, organic apples and mayo, all served on garlic toast points.
The Pom Pom — American Harvest organic vodka, St. Germaine elderflower liqueur, house-made sour mix, pomegranate syrup and a splash of soda, garnished with fresh pomegranate seeds and lime.
Cucumber Melon Cooler — Fresh cucumber and honeydew melon, honey simple syrup and agave sour all mixed with American Harvest organic vodka and garnished with fresh cucumber.
If you're like me, you probably order the same one or two pizzas when you dine out at your favorite pizzeria. Why not take advantage of some insider knowledge to try something new?
Mellow Mushroom
212 21st Ave. S.
615-342-0044
