Twin Cities Restaurants Announce Exclusive Specials for March ‘Eat for Impact’ Initiative

During the month of March, restaurants and community members across the Twin Cities are coming together to show how everyday food choices can become powerful climate action. Through familiar flavors and environmentally-friendly creativity, the Eat for Impact initiative is creating greater access to planet-friendly foods and demonstrating how local decisions can generate measurable global environmental benefits.

Nine local restaurants have created exclusive pro-climate, plant-based dishes that promote a healthier, more sustainable food system, which will be on their menus all March. Each featured meal reduces environmental impact while showcasing the creativity of plant-based ingredients. The specials include:

• Namaste Cafe

  • Roasted-Spice Pesto on durum wheat pasta with Fiery Spring Vegetables: Freshly roasted spices are blended into an aromatic, creamy pesto that coats our pasta, finished with a turmeric-chili sauté of fresh vegetables.

  • Bold All Almond Masala Tofu: Our signature and customer favorite Creamy Masala Curry, prepared with a velvety almond masala sauce with tofu cooked in a rich and aromatic curry prepared with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green peas (Gluten Free).

• Salt & Flour

  • Shaved Fennel & Citrus Salad: Fennel, spinach, orange, mint, chili oil and maldon salt

  • Winter Greens & Lemon Bucatini: Bucatini, olive oil, kale, spinach, swiss chard, sun-dried tomatoes, preserved lemon, toasted pine nuts

  • Mango Sorbetto: Macerated mangos, cane sugar, distilled water

• Food on the Fly

  • Crispy Tofu Tacos: Crispy marinated tofu tossed with savory taco seasoning and served in flour tortillas with citrus cabbage, pineapple salsa, and a refreshing strawberry vinaigrette.

  • Bulgogi Bowl: Jasmine rice with Thai basil aioli, topped with house-made ferments, fresh vegetables, plant-based beef bulgogi, and a savory butternut squash “egg yolk.”

• Hamburguesas El Gordo (two locations: Minneapolis and St. Paul)

  • Hamburgesa Fresca: Beyond meat, avocado, pickled peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, onion. mayo, ketchup and mustard.

  • Tacos Vibrantes: Vibrant tacos made with seasoned and fried soy curls, cilantro, onion, and avocado. Lime and salsa to taste.

• Sawatdee Thai Restaurants (three locations: Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Maple Grove)

  • Khao Soi Tofu: A Northern Thai noodle soup made with fried tofu, egg noodles, coconut milk curry broth, and napa. Topped with crispy fried noodles, red and green onions. 

  • Naked Tofu: Fresh tofu, mushrooms and dry chilis in a sweet sauce. Topped with cilantro and fried garlic. Served with rice.

• Hope Breakfast Bar

  • Specials to be announced soon!

At the end of March, a comprehensive climate report will be published about their impact. This report will highlight the greenhouse gas savings from all participants, including restaurant sales, and any additional food-related efforts from partners like climate offices, community events, and local businesses. Check out the website to learn more.

"Our goal is to make more sustainable, plant-based options available and accessible. By making products that everyone finds delicious, we hope to be able to introduce more people to plant-based eating. Especially people who might not have given it much consideration before." Samo Newman, chef and owner at Food on the Fly

Eat for Impact is an international initiative developed by Planted Society, which empowers cities to leverage the power of plant-based solutions to reverse environmental damage, conserve natural resources, and build healthier communities. In Minneapolis-St.Paul, the initiative is being led by local group Wholesome Minnesota, which has a mission to accelerate plant-based food offerings in Minnesota’s institutions and create a healthier community.

Per Anna Larsson, volunteer with Wholesome Minnesota, “This initiative encourages people to try delicious food that is good for the environment and our health. As a climate educator, I know that shifting to a more plant-rich diet is an absolute requirement for a healthy planet. I’ve lived in Minnesota for over 20 years, and we have a strong tradition of care for the natural environment and a fantastic food scene – Eat for Impact brings it all together.”

Since launching in 2022, Planted Society has worked with more than 391 restaurants and has launched 23 different Eat for Impact initiatives. On average, each initiative saves an impressive 40,000 pounds of greenhouse gasses and 585,000 gallons of water*, highlighting the substantial environmental impacts of plant-based choices. Further, partner restaurants report an impressive increase in sales during the campaign month; some past Eat for Impact initiatives have generated over $76,000 in sales from plant-based specials, directly benefiting the local economy. It’s estimated that each initiative reaches an average of 600,000 individuals, sparking conversations and driving awareness far and wide. 

*Based on 2025 averages.