Seed Oils Out, Zero-Proof In: Harwood Hospitality’s Wellness Revolution Hits Dallas

Gen Z has led the sober-curious movement, the practice of replacing Mad Dog 20/20 in someone's basement with an adrenal calming mocktail, for years now.

It's paved the way for alcohol-free bottle shops in Dallas and N/A options to be a near-mandatory addition to cocktail menus. Even brands such as Coors, Budweiser and Guinness have caught onto the movement and offer zero-proof beers.

This more holistic approach to indulgence has also affected the food we eat. In March, HG Sply Co. was the first restaurant to ban seed oils and rewrite its entire menu.

We had to ask: Is this the future of dining? It's starting to be, and Harwood Hospitality is helping move it along.

This month, the hospitality group announced it's following HG Sply Co.'s lead and promoting wellness-focused dining across all concepts: Te Deseo, Happiest Hour, Saint Ann, Mercat Bistro, NDA Brasserie, Poco Fiasco, Elephant East, Dolce Riviera, Tequila Social and Harwood Arms.

They've eliminated seed and nut oils from the menu at all locations and incorporated a creative nonalcoholic bar program with zero-proof cocktails.

Instead of oils like sunflower and vegetable, they're cooking exclusively with tallow rendered in-house from the HWD Harwood Premium Beef Program. This supports a zero-waste philosophy in which the whole animal is used in processing. Also, tallow is a nutrient-dense alternative with various benefits for the body.
According to a press release, every restaurant or cafe will have a signature zero-proof mocktail program. Still, they're adding several N/A options to their already established cocktail lists. No matter, we're excited to see it.

Each restaurant offers a bit of everything, and most importantly, they are all around $10 or less, as most of them should be.

Elephant East is getting a lavender lemonade made with fresh lemonade, lavender, lime and orchid for $9, and a spicy mango coconut mocktail made with coconut, mango, Thai chili, pineapple juice, ginger and Tajín for $7.

La Coté, made with zero-proof gin, orange, saffron, coriander, club soda and thyme, and the Montmartre, made with zero-proof whiskey, zero-proof aperitif, tonic and Luxardo cherry, will be served at Mercat Bistro. Both for only $10.

Harwood is one of the largest hospitality groups in Dallas, so who will be the next to follow in its footsteps and reimagine cocktails, eliminate seed oils and perhaps eliminate added sugars like HG Sply Co. did?