Flavor Trends, Strategies and Solutions for Menu Development

 

 

 

By Flavor & The Menu
June 8, 2021

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Scott Slater

Scott Slater

“We do bacon better than anybody, and this sandwich is no exception,” says Scott Slater, Founder of burger chain Slater’s 50/50 and creator of the Pork Belly Grilled Cheese. A premium take on a comfort-food staple, this grilled cheese is a big hit with patrons, many of whom come to Slater’s for its inventive and adventurous bacon play.

The sandwich build starts with buttery, toasted sourdough slices slathered with housemade Southern pimento cheese and a signature jalapeño-bacon jam, the smoky sweetness balancing the creamy cheese. The bread sandwiches a hearty slice of seared, crispy, thick-cut pork belly topped with pickled red onions. The craveable and indulgent handheld is served with french fries and a proprietary bacon ketchup.

In a year when cross-utilization has never been a smarter strategy, Slater’s uses both the pimento cheese and the jalapeño-bacon jam across its menu, but combines them only in the Pork Belly Grilled Cheese. Taking the pimento beyond traditional Southern applications while leveraging its comfort identity is yet another way Slater’s is keeping in step with today’s trends.

About The Author

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Leigh Kunkel is a freelance journalist with more than a decade of restaurant industry experience as a server, bartender and sommelier. She has written about restaurant operations for B2B publications, as well as foodservice brands, including Beam Suntory and Dawn Foods. She specializes in covering flavor, ingredient and cuisine trends. Leigh has also covered the food and beverage world for a wide range of consumer outlets such as The New York Times, Eater and Vinepair.