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Get your Greens on: Plant-based Popularity is on the Rise

A recent piece in The Economist revealed that a startling 25 percent of Americans 25 to 34 years old identify as vegan or vegetarian. As a result of this uptick, U.S. sales of vegan foods rose 10 times faster from January to June 2018 than food sales as a whole. As more and more Americans adopt a plant-based lifestyle, the way in which restaurants and grocery stores serve the public is, by necessity, going to have to adapt.
 
Unlike their vegetarian counterparts, vegans will neither consume nor use any product that is derived from an animal, living or otherwise; think honey or wool. The list of “forbidden” items contains foods, of course, but it also taps into fabrics, jewelry, and other household items.
 
Veganism is by no means not a new phenomenon. The term “vegan” was coined in 1944, a hat-tip to its relationship to vegetarianism, but the idea of avoiding animal products can be traced back to ancient Indian and Mediterranean societies.
 
Vegetarianism is first mentioned by the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras of Samos around 500 BCE. In addition to his theorem about right triangles, Pythagoras promoted benevolence among all species. Additionally, followers of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism also advocated vegetarianism. (https://time.com/3958070/history-of-veganism/)
 
In 1850, Rev. Sylvester Graham, the inventor of Graham crackers, co-founded the American Vegetarian Society. Graham was a Presbyterian minister and his followers, called Grahamites, obeyed his instructions for a virtuous life: vegetarianism, temperance, abstinence, and frequent bathing.
 
In November 1944, a British woodworker named Donald Watson announced that because vegetarians ate dairy and eggs, he was going to create a new term called “vegan,” to differentiate people who avoided all animal products from those who did not.
 
Three months after coining the term, he issued a pronunciation key: “Veegan, not Veejan,” he wrote to the 25 subscribers of his new Vegan Society newsletter. In 2005, Watson died at age 95. That year, 250,000 Britons and two million Americans self-identified as vegans.
 
American vegetarianism in particular has broken free of its philosophical and religious roots, and is viewed as an individual choice, be it for health, ethics, or both. Veganism, like most -isms, is still eyed with some suspicion by non-practitioners, but as millennials and members of Generation Z adopt the lifestyle in droves, it is becoming decidedly more visible and accessible. It’s likely that you know – or are! – a vegetarian or a vegan, or know someone who is. It’s also likely that plans surrounding a meal out have become more thought-full.
 
Instead of checking a restaurant menu in advance to make sure the place has something everyone will like, diners are checking menus to make sure that there are offerings for those who have adopted a plant-based lifestyle. Brand-name products like the Boca Burger and the Beyond Burger, are showing up more and more frequently on meus, alongside a host of longtime favorite proteins like seitan (cooked wheat gluten) and tofu (mashed soybean).
Chefs are challenged daily to create flavorful, interesting meals without relying on some of the most basic go-tos, like butter or cheese. One tried-and-true technique for many chefs who are learning to cook for plant-based diets is to create a favorite recipe, swapping out animal products for vegan protein options, and substituting fatty oils – like coconut – for the texture and fullness we humans crave. As the chef’s familiarity with ingredients grows, so will his/her plant-based repertoire.
 
Here in St. Pete, we are fortunate enough to have a variety of restaurants catering to diners of all lifestyles. Datz, for example, offers vegan meals, vegetarian meals, and is prepared to modify many of its menu items accordingly for those diners in downtown St. Pete. Dr. BBQ, in the Edge district, has thirty-two vegan, vegetarian, or modifiable menu items for its customers to enjoy. Both of these restaurants have consultants who are active members of the vegan community, and rely heavily on research when creating menu items, assuring tastiness and appropriateness of ingredients.
 
The world is full of diversity. Rather than letting food choices be a stumbling block to togetherness, consider trying a plant-based option the next time you dine out or cook with one of your vegan or vegetarian friends. You don’t have to make a permanent change to your lifestyle, but it’s always interesting to see how skilled chefs can create replica items or entirely new recipes. Let mealtime be a time of exploration and conversation and let food of all kinds bring us together in our quest for companionship, friendship, and love.
 
 
 

Datzmojis are HERE and we’re telling you how to get them.

Step aside, Kim K, there’s a new emoji keyboard in town. That’s right, Datzmojis are here, people!

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Add a little Datz, Dough, Roux and DR.BBQ flair to your text messages! Our keyboard features animated versions of our favorite sayings, doughnuts, cocktails and of course BACON. Don’t forget a line-up of Dr.BBQ expressions!

It’s available now in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Are you ready, St.Pete?!

You read that right, Datz is expanding to a second location in Spring of 2018. But, Where?

Drum roll, please…

Downtown St.Petersburg!

Your calls, begging for Cheesy Todds and Money Bread, were answered. Datz will be bringing its famous, Instagram-worthy creations across Tampa Bay, next year. The new restaurant will be location at 180 Central Avenue in the heart of Downtown St.Pete. This convenient store front will walking distance from Bay area staples like the Dali Museum, Sundial Plaza, Al Lang Stadium and more! Datz will be next door neighbors to The Tom James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, a mecca of “works that evoke the spirit of a wide open frontier and the beauty of life in the wild.”

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You can read more about the expansion news by visiting the Tampa Bay Times and I Love the Burg. Stay tuned to Facebook for updates on the opening and for more fun Datzy news.

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4 Pumpkin Treats you Have to Experience This Fall

It’s finally September, and while it still may be 95 degrees outside, we’re using every excuse we can to begin satisfying our fall cravings. Starting the first of the month, a whole cornucopia (no pun intended) of autumn flavors were made accessible to the world.

Let’s be honest though, the real star during this time of year is always pumpkin. At Datz and Dough, we can assure you that we’ve snuck it into everything possible.

1. Pumpkin Spice Sweet Cream

Our house-made sweet cream, infused with cinnamon, clove and all-spice, is the perfect addition to your cold brew coffee. Keep cool from the Florida heat, while embracing fall in all of its glory.

Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice, Pumpkin, Fall beverage, fall food

2. Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkin Crème Brulee Doughnuts

The names speak for themselves. They’re decadent and filled with fall flavors that pair perfectly with a cup of hot coffee or your favorite tea.

pumpkin, pumpkin creme brûlée, creme brûlée, fall, doughnuts pumpkin, pumpkin, fall, doughnuts 3. Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

No matter where you live, ice cream is a classic treat that should be enjoyed throughout the entire year. At Dough, we’ve created a home-made Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream that is the perfect topping to our famous doughnut cone.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin Spice, Ice Cream, Pumpkin Ice Cream, fall ice cream, fall flavors

4. Punkin Pancakes

Datz is giving you an excuse to sneak some pumpkin into your brunch plans. These seasonal pancakes are sprinkled with candied pecans, drizzled with maple syrup, and topped with a generous amount of whipped cream.

This Burger is Gonna Save the Foodie World

Our “Amazon Warrior” burger is getting buzz all over the world! Our Executive Chef, Joe Rivera created it as homage to Wonder Woman, his favorite super hero. The 2017 Wonder Woman film hits theaters on June 2 and this burger will be hitting tables the same day. There’s only a limited amount available and it’s first come, first serve.

To celebrate the Wonder Woman film and “Amazon Warrior” burger, Warner Brothers is partnering with us on a Wonder Woman Swag Giveaway at Datz on Friday, May 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop in for dinner and take home some super cool swag. Limited availability.

For more info about our “Amazon Warrior” burger, check out the press links below.

Time Magazine

Huffington Post

Food & Wine

Delish

Hello Giggles

Creative Loafing

Food Republic

Grubstreet

Tampa Bay Times

Trendhunter

Yahoo

Tampa News

Yahoo France

Food Detik

The “Amazon Warrior” burger is fit for a super hero.

 

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Everything is Better with Puppies

On Wednesday, April 19 we hosted Tampa Tails, a new young professionals group by Humane Society of Tampa Bay. We had adoptable puppies, raffles, and a specialty cocktail made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. It was awesome and 2 of the pups were adopted!

Humane Society Volunteers holding adoptable puppies at a Tampa Tails Happy Hour at Datz on Wednesday, April 19.

Tampa Tails Members hanging with an adoptable puppy at Datz.

The Tampa Tails Happy Hour in full swing.

Tampa Tails attendees snag some Datchos.

Tampa Tails Members checking out the custom Humane Society bracelets made by local maker, Bourbon & Boweties.

Tampa Tails Member snuggling an adoptable puppy at the Datz Happy Hour event on Wednesday, April 19.

For more info about Tampa Tails, visit TampaTails.com. To adopt an animal and give him or her a forever home, visit HumaneSocietyTampa.org.

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Stir Up Something Awesome for St. Patrick’s Day

 

Whiskey? Check. Bailey’s? Check. Lucky Charms? Check! Our “Irish Breakfast” cocktail has all the right stuff to get you in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.

Special thanks to Parade Magazine for featuring our Mixologist, Morgan Zuch’s St. Patty’s Day-inspired cocktail. Get the recipe here.

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Tampa Bay Beer Week is HERE

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: TAMPA BAY BEER WEEK!

Here’s our Tampa Bay Beer Week schedule. Don’t miss out!

Wednesday, March 8: Bell’s Brewery‘s Hopslam
Friday, March 10: Funky Buddha Brewery‘s Last Buffalo in the Park (Barrel-Aged) and Last Snow
Saturday, March 11: Cycle Brewing‘s Datz Lager and Hazelnut Cream & Sugar

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Who’s Headed to SOBE Fest This Weekend?

 

If you’re heading out to SOBE Fest in Miami this weekend, be sure to say “Hi” to Dr. BBQ and grab an order of the Smokey Brisket Potato Chip Nachos he’ll be serving’ up at Bacardi On The Beach. OH. And we can’t forget about his Guava BBQ Sauce. Yum. For more details about Food Network & Cooking Channel’s South Beach Food & Wine Festival and all the food, fun, and celebrity chefs that will be there click here.

You’re not gonna leave this festival without getting to try everything delicious under the foodie sun.

This annual festival goes until February 26, but you can catch Dr. BBQ on 2/25 at Bacardi On The Beach with DJ Ruckus and Rev Run.

Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe is bringing his “B” game to the festival. “B” as in BRISKET. Don’t miss out!

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Saved by National Margarita Day

 

Happy National Margarita Day from Datz and Uproxx. Crush on our award-winning margarita, “Kelly Kapowski” today. She won “Tampa Bay’s Best Margarita” in 2016 at Margarita Wars and is still breaking hearts on the daily.

Kelly Kapowski Datz Margarita Award Winning

Datz Tampa Logo

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