Menu Development at BurgerFuel

MENU DEVELOPMENT

Our Menu & Development team steer the direction of BurgerFuel’s menu evolution and new product development. While food taste and quality are paramount, the provenance and sustainability of our ingredients and supply chain is of the highest priority.

Concepting and crafting limited-time-only special burgers, sides, and drinks, gives the team an opportunity to test and trial products that incorporate sustainable food trends, sourcing and production practices, as well as work with suppliers that are paving the way in transitioning to a decarbonised and circular economy.

Here are some examples of past special edition products that not only tasted great, but were designed to have a positive impact too…

Wild Heart

A returning special on the Burgerfuel menu, consciously crafted and built with purpose, Wild Heart was created in partnership with conservationist crusaders Citizen Collective, WITHWILD, and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation.

100% locally sourced and comprised of rescued and repurposed ingredients, from wonky carrots to rescued Central Otago Cherries and a WITHWILD Wapiti venison patty – the Wapiti deer being an introduced species that has negatively impacted the Fiordland ecosystem. Wild Heart is designed to challenge perceptions around food waste in New Zealand.

Citizen Rescued Sodas

In collaboration with award-winning sustainable business, Citizen Collective, BurgerFuel X Citizen Rescued Soda range used rescued (export quality, but aesthetically imperfect) Central Otago cherries and oranges, as well as rum wash (the by-product botanicals from rum-making) in the creation of these refreshing beverages.

From Bread to Beer to Buns

Chipping away at reducing food waste, one cold one at a time. BurgerFuel launches limited time only craft beer LagerFuel, in partnership with Citizen. A lager made from rescued surplus buns with every can saving a slice of bread from being turfed. The brewing process in turn produces a high-quality spent-grain flour, that could be upcycled into bread… and even BurgerFuel buns.  

Electric Pūhā

100% locally sourced and plant powered, this culinary creation showcased hemp as a sustainable superfood. Going for the hemp trifecta, it was packed with three forms of hemp super fuel: seed, oil and powder.

100% vegan and 100% locally sourced, Electric Pūhā was a nutrient-rich line-up of hemp and broc bites, native pūhā & cabbage kraut and hemp oil aioli, combined with fresh rocket, an ounce of relish and a healthy dollop of avocado, all stacked perfectly between a bespoke wholesome organic hemp sourdough bun.

Made in collaboration with local partners Plant Culture, Kaitahi Kitchen, Bread & Butter Bakery & Café and Living Goodness, Electric Pūhā wasn’t just for the hardcore herbivores, this nutritious beast was a burger for everyone.

Kaitahi Super Green

Every modern-day superhero/ine needs the best super fuel to power them through the day. So, our very first smoothie, Kaitahi Super Green, gave that energy hit and was greener than Kryptonite.

We blended velvety hemp milk, creamy coconut ice-cream and a Kaitahi superfood mix (drops packed full of banana, golden kiwifruit, and super greens which included spinach, native kawakawa and pūhā.

Kaitahi Super Green was a collaboration with start-up and award-winning iwi enterprise, Kaitahi Kitchen. Together with parent company, Kii Tahi Ltd, they run a social ecological entrepreneurship model, collaboratively sourcing and growing native plant foods and promoting native superfoods to create enterprising opportunities for individuals and families to participate in within their region. Kii Tahi Ltd eco-source native plants and provide ecological services to the land and waterways with riparian planting programmes. Learn more about them HERE.

Alternative Meats

The rise in flexitarian and reducetarians in NZ prompted us to explore plant-based meat (meatless meat) alternatives on the BurgerFuel menu. Providing options for meat-eaters looking to reduce their intake and add more plant-based options to their diet, for ethical or environmental reasons.

While the jury is still out, plant-based meat products are said to have less of an environmental impact than that of conventional meat farming, in terms of water and land usage, and carbon emissions.

Beyond Belief, Alternative Muscle and Chook Free were specials developed for both vegan and carnivorous customers to enjoy and replicated the taste of existing menu items, the Bambina, American Muscle and Chook Royale.

We’re all ears.

Have any ideas you’d like to see us explore that showcases a sustainable food trend or shines a light on an environmental or sustainability issue in NZ? We’d love to hear from you: info@burgerfuel.com

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