Barbecue reigns in Memphis, but plant-based dining is having a moment
Jasmin Smith prepares an order of vegan wings from Plant-Based Heat near the University of Memphis on Jan. 28. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
In Memphis where barbecue reigns supreme, a quiet revolution may be unfolding.
The popularity of vegan and plant-based diets is growing, spurred by a mix of health-conscious diners, adventurous eaters and people concerned about the environment or animal rights. Between 2019 and 2023, U.S. retail sales of plant-based food increased from $3.9 billion to $8.1 billion with much of the growth coming from products that mimic conventional animal products.
And in Memphis at least three local restaurants are trying to show through items like vegan hot wings and house-made veggie burgers that plant-based eating is the way to go.Â
For Ralph “RJ Groove” Johnson, the journey to creating Plant-Based Heat began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Memphis native and veteran DJ, Johnson found himself experimenting in the kitchen during the shutdown. What started as personal exploration turned into a thriving business with Plant-Based Heat opening its doors on Juneteenth 2021.
Topics
City Silo Imagine Vegan Cafe Plant-Based Heat Health & Wellness Subscriber Only vegan food vegetarianIt’s GivingTuesday week! Will you join the celebration?
Donate now to help power our free community news access program.You know the value of having unlimited access to The Daily Memphian’s news. When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians with quality, in-depth local news through
- free access at over 300 schools and libraries
- free podcasts and radio broadcasts
- free newsletters
- and more!
Thank you for keeping up with local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Christin Yates
Christin Yates is a native Memphian who has worked in PR and copywriting since 2007. She earned her B.S. in public relations and M.S. in mass communications from Murray State University.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.