The Nose Knows

The aroma hit us as soon as the door to the kitchen was opened and Jeannine was hooked. If it smells that good, it HAS to taste great!  I had aranged to visit a couple of Producers that are located in Columbus and she asked to come along. (You’ll find out the REAL reason she was so insistant in tomorrow’s blog.) But first, we had arrived at Luna Burger.

Megan and Barbie Luna have taken interesting pathways to the kitchen. Playing in the sandbox as a small child, Megan’s imaginative play involved “cooking for the President”. Her education was not food oriented, but both women soon learned in their work that unhealthy diets can lead people to not function as optimally as possible. Their work in various cities providing service to the needful segments of society lead them to Columbus.

Luna Burger was formed in 2008 with the joint desire to integrate a love of good food with meaningful work. Making a strong effort to identify and use local food sources for their ingredients, the sisters expanded on relationships built as consumers years ago at farmers’ markets and farms.

Black beans from Shagbark are a major component in the recipes. Organic spelt (a wheat-like grain), organic oats, blueberries, peppers, oregano, carrots, kale, onion, garlic and more are all from local Ohio farms. Luna Burger is a huge supporter of local farms. They know that by building a relationship with the farmers they can understand the farming practicing and appreciate the quality that goes into their product.

The process does not include any soy or oil. First the beans are boiled. They appreciate that the Shagbark black beans do not need presoaking. As the beans simmer, the other ingredients for one of the recipes are laid out in tubs.  Once the beans are ready, all ingredients are mixed and then refrigerated for a day to let the tastes meld. Then using a scoop and a ring, the patties are forms, then baked, and then packaged.

Bulk packaging is provided for the restaurants that service Luna Burgers in the Columbuis area, Pittsburgh and Cleveland.  The packaging we receive at The Wild Ramp hold two burgers.

Eatwell Distribution provides marketing services and outlets like ours receive two-patty boxes. Eatwell has helped them market to shops throughout the East including quite a numbert of Whole Foods and other various smaller markets. The Wild Ramp is the only outlet in West Virginia.

The offer The Classic, the burger that started it all. Hints of earthy beets and fresh rosemary come together and go well with any of your favorite burger toppings. Garden Thyme used locally grown apples and thyme mixed with balsamic vinegar and ginger to create a great birger than goes well crumbled on a salad or with a side of sweet potato fries. Farmhouse Chili-a delicious blend of herbs and spices enbolds the flavor of a bowl of chili into a burger. The BBQ burger combine brown rice and subflower seeds with smoked onions and jalopeno in a way that can be topped with avocado to amazed you. Kick Start Breakfast Patties are chock full of fresh herbsm Ohio maple syrup and other spicy goodness to help get your day started.  Peanut Cilantro was inspired by the sisters’ favorite peanut sauce and combines Ohio maple syrup with natural Krema peanut butter.

Luna Burgers are a healthy part of any diet. Vegans and vegetarians find them a wonderful addition to any menu but we ominovores should not be afraid. Having already checked out The Classic, I am eager to try the rest! So is Jeannine.  How about you? This is an very easy way to eat your vegetables! All you need to do is heat it up! Delicious!!!