Vegetarians in Paradise/University Vegetarians/UCLA Vegetarians

January 11, 2002 -- Vegparadise News Bureau

Follow Your Heart Wraps Up UCLA Campus

UCLA's campus was placed under wraps this week with the introduction of five vegetarian items introduced at the Kerckhoff Coffee House in their Good For You Menu.

Chef Cary Brown of Follow Your Heart announced that five high-protein, low-fat meatless wraps made from natural food ingredients without additives, cholesterol, or trans-fatty acids are now available to UCLA students.

"Students and faculty are requesting healthier foods that fit their active campus lifestyle, says John Roper, manager of the Kerckhoff Coffee House. "They're asking for healthier foods that are fun to eat --and taste good."

The five "super-sized wraps" include Follow Your Heart's Chicken Free Chicken, Lobster Free Lobster, and Tuna Free Tuna along with Mediterranean Taboulli/tahini, and Thai Peanut Tofu. Three of the wraps are vegan: Chicken Free Chicken, Tuna Free Tuna and the Mediterranean. The Lobster Free Lobster contains whey while the Thai Peanut Tofu includes honey.

"I made sure our Good For You Menu items tasted great," said Corporate Chef Beni Velazquez. "They had to be colorfully presented and easy to enjoy. I chose whole-wheat wraps, cut like a sushi roll, making it easier to eat on the run. We package each with a unique dipping sauce for "smashing" flavor. And I super-sized them, because after climbing a few hills around here, no tiny bite is enough.

The wraps, weighing in at over a pound, are sold for $4.99 each.

Brown was reluctant to give numbers for the first week's sales, but said he was pleased and the UCLA people were surprised by the response even before the initial advertising campaign had begun.

The wraps are prepared in a separate area of the coffee house kitchen, and all the ingredients are placed in a separate refrigerator to avoid any cross contamination.

Brown's Follow Your Heart meatless products are also available at Veteran's Administration Hospitals, Mrs. Winston's Restaurants, and the Inn of the Seventh Ray.

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