Case Study: Dallas Pizzeria Group Embraces Mediterranean Food Trends with Lentils

Dreaming of the Mediterranean this summer?  

Mediterranean dishes are always approachable consumer favorites. However, according to Food & Beverage Magazine, Mediterranean-inspired dishes are having a renaissance this summer. Restaurant patrons are particularly drawn to “a deep appreciation for the Mediterranean’s diverse culinary landscapes.”¹  

However, if you can’t get to Italy or Greece, you can still get a fantastic Southern European culinary experience … in Texas!  

Lentils: On-trend for Mediterranean summer 2025  

The PILF Restaurant Group, headquartered in Dallas-Fort Worth, is home to Dallas’ favorite pizzerias, including Cane Rosso, Zoli’s Pizza and Thunderbird Pies. While they’re known for their pizzas and pastas, they’re always trying new dishes to delight their patrons.   

Chef Stan Rodrigues from Cane Rosse created one of Dallas’ new summer favorites: The Antipasto Power Bowl.  

The bowl combines traditional Mediterranean ingredients with a modern twist. Officially, the bowl is a cold salad with ingredients including soppressata, pepperoni, ham, romaine, mozzarella, orzo, sweet drop peppers, red onion, cucumber, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, lentils, parmesan, and red wine vinaigrette.  

“At PILF Restaurant Group, we are always looking to improve and tweak our offerings to stay up to date with trends, looking for dishes that might capture a new audience without compromising our brand,” says Rodrigues. “In the Antipasto Power bowl, lentils helped the dish provide the bowl with more structure and texture.” 

Lentils provide high-protein options for health-conscious consumers  

In today’s world, a significant segment of the dining public actively seeks out restaurants that can accommodate health-conscious customers. According to 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council, 71% if Americans are trying to consume more protein — up from 67% in 2023 and 59% in 2022.² 

“Lately, we have noticed that some of our guests are being more conscious about their carbohydrate intake,” Rodrigues explains. “With the increased focus on their protein intake versus their carbohydrate intake, we had a big hole in our menu, especially given our menu is mostly pizza and pasta.” 

He continues, “We wanted a high-protein dish to capture those guests, and lentils were the perfect ingredient. I think lentils carry the flavor of the vinaigrette better than any bean I could put in there. We believe this offers our guests a delicious option that provides a substantial meal.” 

Restaurant cooking with lentils has advantages  

Anyone who has worked in a commercial kitchen knows how crowded it can be behind the scenes of a successful restaurant.  

“Our kitchens are not the biggest, and we are always fighting for refrigerator space,” Rodrigues mentions. “I like lentils as an ingredient because it is a nutritious ingredient that doesn’t have to be cold-stored in their dry state.”  

“We try our best to use ingredients [from sources] that are doing their part to do things the right way,” he elaborates. “We put a lot of effort into making our food from scratch the right way. With that in mind, we want to source our ingredients from vendors and farmers that are aligned with those ethics.”  

Sustainability is also a priority for many restaurant owners and patrons  

Lentils are champions of the environment. They are among the most sustainable protein ingredients available in a restaurant’s pantry. For example, they trap more carbon than they emit, require little water and grow their own fertilizer. Finally, lentils are a cost-effective ingredient — making them a smart choice for restaurants and patrons.³ 

Stay stateside with lentils  

So, if you’re looking to capture the essence of a sun-drenched European summer without the plane ticket, Dallas’s PILF Restaurant Group offers a delectable and on-trend solution in the Antipasto Power Bowl.  

Not in Dallas? Look for lentils at your favorite Mediterranean restaurant!  

For more on menu innovation around plant-forward options in Mediterranean food, check out our recipe ideas and culinary highlights. 

Contact our team today at info@lentils.org to learn more about incorporating lentils into menu items to save on both calories and production cost. 

1. Inspired Dishes & Hyperlocal Sourcing; https://www.fb101.com/summer-2025-menu-trends-mediterranean-inspired-dishes-hyperlocal-sourcing/ 
2. International Food Information Council; 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey; https://ific.org/research/2025-ific-food-health-survey/  
3. Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops, Updated Carbon Footprint for Canadian Lentils, 2021; https://www.lentils.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lentils_Sustainability.pdf