Get Inspiralized: Houlihan’s Launches Menu that Gives Vegetables a Starring Role

American Restaurant and Bar Teams Up with Trendy Food Blogger Ali
Maffucci for Signature LTO Menu

KANSAS CITY, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Houlihan’s,
an upscale American restaurant and bar franchise, is elevating
traditional “side of the plate” vegetables to the star of the show by
rolling out the limited time only Inspiralized
menu featuring culinary innovations made from spiralized veggies. To
integrate this creative cooking approach into the casual dining
industry, Houlihan’s has partnered with Ali Maffucci, rising food star
and founder of Inspiralized.com.

Maffucci first made a name for herself in the food blogging community by
creating uniquely healthy dishes that transform vegetables into noodles
and other craveable forms. Beyond cultivating a popular blog, Maffucci
is renowned for her New York Times® best-selling cookbook, Inspiralized,
and her signature product, the
Inspiralizer. The dishes Maffucci is best known for are lower in
carbs and sugar, so they fit seamlessly into a healthy eating regimen.

In collaboration with Houlihan’s Test Kitchen Chef, Nick Janner, the
pair created three signature dishes that will be available on a limited
time only Inspiralized menu available at all Houlihan’s locations
starting February 2.

“In partnering with Ali Maffucci, we’ll introduce millions of people to
this creative way of cooking and eating veggie-forward dishes that are
surprisingly delicious. It’s unlike anything you’ll find in casual
dining restaurants,” said Jen Gulvik, SVP Marketing and Creative
Director for Houlihan’s Restaurants, Inc. “Consumers are looking for
ways to reduce sugar and carbs in their diets, and the U.S. Government
just announced dietary guidelines for reducing sugar intake. We’re
hearing that sugar is the new fat. With Houlihan’s Inspiralized menu,
pasta is replaced with vegetable ‘noodles’ for reduced carbs and sugar.”

The limited-time only Inspiralized menu at Houlihan’s will offer the
following dishes:

• Thai Noodle Salad: Sriracha Thai peanut sauce tossed with
  spiralized fresh zucchini ‘noodles,’ mango, red peppers, snow peas,
  tri-colored quinoa, basil, mint and almonds with the option to add
  grilled chicken or grilled salmon.
• Sweet Potato, Corn & Bacon Mexicali Flatbread: Spiralized
  sweet potatoes and zucchini, sweet corn, bacon, Greek yogurt white
  sauce, pickled jalapeños, blend of cheeses and avocado salsa.
• Butternut Squash and Sausage Lasagna: Spiralized butternut
  squash ‘noodles,’ herbed ricotta, Italian sausage, sautéed organic
  kale-spinach-chard blend, marinara and mozzarella, served with a pesto
  zucchini ‘noodle’ side salad.

“The big picture goal of my blog, cookbooks and products has always been
to make creative, delicious and nutritious meals based on my passion for
eating healthy,” said Ali Maffucci, the founder of Inspiralized and
co-creator of the new Houlihan’s spiralized menu items. “It has been a
blast to work with the team at Houlihan’s to create this menu. It’s a
dream come true to share my passion with America and to make
Inspiralized options available when people are out to eat.”

To connect with Houlihan’s or learn more about the Inspiralized menu,
visit Houlihans.com/Inspiralized or check out Houlihan’s on Facebook,
Instagram,
Twitter
and Pinterest.
For more information on Maffucci, follow her Inspiralized
blog or connect with her on Instagram.

About Houlihan’s

Established in 1972, Houlihan’s has nearly 80 locations, primarily
throughout the Midwest and the eastern United States. An American
restaurant and bar that “feeds your lifestyle,” Houlihan’s menu features
center-cut steaks, fresh seafood entrées, baked-to-order flatbreads and
artisan salads and sandwiches along with an interesting, everyday wine
and cocktail selection. Houlihan’s offers dishes in both small and large
portions and is dedicated to developing menu options that address
ever-evolving consumer lifestyles — be it meatless, gluten-sensitive,
organic, or smaller portioned items. The restaurants feature
design-forward finishes and architectural elements and a custom, curated
playlist that changes monthly; many locations feature display kitchens,
original artwork, and patios designed for social lounging. Houlihan’s is
privately owned by Houlihan’s Restaurants, Inc. which developed and owns
several restaurant concepts including Bristol Seafood Grill, Devon
Seafood + Steaks and J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood. The
company is headquartered in the Kansas City metro area. For more
information on franchise opportunities, please visit www.houlihans.com/franchise.

Contacts

Fishman Public Relations
Laura Fiala, 847-945-1300
lfiala@fishmanpr.com