Whiskey Cake Kitchen to open new Las Colinas location next month, ditches plastic straws for biodegradable straws

has pegged Monday, May 28 for the opening date of its new Las Colinas restaurant, EscapeHatch has learned. And while crews are readying that Irving location for the opening, the rest of the Whiskey Cakes have ditched their plastic straws, swapping in corn-based, biodegradable straws that are better for the environment.

“We are offering straws upon request only,” Whiskey Cake’s VP of Operations Scott Sharrer tells the Hatch.  “It’s a big initiative, and one that I hope other large restaurants will follow.  As far as I know we are the only large restaurant that has made this type of commitment and our hope is that we encourage other brands to jump on board.”

Whiskey Cake Kitchen is owned by Front Burner Restaurants, whose other concepts include Hatch supporters The Ranch at Las Colinas, Haywire, Ida Claire, 60 Vines, Mexican Sugar, The Keeper, Velvet Taco and Legacy Hall.

New biodegradable straws at Whiskey Cake isn’t the only Front Burner envirosensitive change that’s significant. At sister restaurant The Ranch at Las Colinas, GM Charles Leon says they’ve introduced vegetarian Impossible Burgers to their rotating list of chef specials. Impossible Burgers include heme molecules that make the burger appear red like meat. The Ranch’s Director of Ops Judd Fruia says The Keeper and Mexican Sugar are also testing Impossible Burgers and the biodegradable straws.