Blended burgers—patties containing a mixture of both beef and plant-based materials—are officially in restaurants across every state in the U.S.
This is largely due to an effort by the James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger Project, an organization whose mission is to “celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.”
The organization’s project aims to encourage chefs to create a “healthier, more sustainable and tastier burger,” by using a blend of at least 25 percent mushrooms combined with ground beef.
The organization claims using a blend of mushrooms will decrease greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water and reduce agricultural land demand.
More than 400 restaurants across the nation are participating in the project, serving their own twist on the blended burger. The top five finalists of the project will each receive $5,000.
