Gluten-Friendly Buttermilk Pancakes added to menu
IHOP rolled out buttermilk-style Original Gluten-Friendly Pancakes nationwide. As it caters to a developing lifestyle trend, the Glendale, Calif.-based chain is spotlighting the IHOP gluten-friendly menu. These also include Gluten-Friendly Belgian waffles and Gluten-Friendly Ultimate Steakburgers. IHOP prepares the gluten-friendly pancakes with a batter of rice, flour, sugar, milk, eggs, and additional “gluten-friendly ingredients.”
“Our culinary team outdid themselves coming up with a gluten-friendly batter that addresses this growing lifestyle trend without trading off on the hot, fluffy, deliciousness that only IHOP pancakes deliver,” said Alisa Gmelich, IHOP Marketing vice president in a statement.
“…(per research firm) NPD Group, three in ten consumers are looking to cut down or avoid gluten completely,” cited the announcement. Here are the item descriptions, as provided by IHOP:
- Original Gluten-Friendly Pancakes: Four fluffy gluten-friendly pancakes topped with real whipped butter. Also available as a combo with a selection of eggs, bacon or sausage and hash browns.
- Gluten-Friendly Belgian Waffles: Golden-brown, gluten-friendly Belgian waffles topped with real whipped butter. Also available as a combo, with a selection of eggs, bacon or sausage and hash browns.
- Gluten-Friendly Ultimate Steakburgers: Six Ultimate Steakburgers are now available as gluten-friendly options—The Classic, The Classic with Bacon, Mega Monster, Loaded Philly, Jalapeno Kick and Cali Garlic Butter. All gluten-friendly Ultimate Steakburgers include a choice of gluten-friendly sides. These include French fries, fresh fruit, hash browns or a two-stack of Original Gluten-Friendly Pancakes.
Meant for those making lifestyle changes, not for avoiding gluten allergies, sensitivities
Furthermore, IHOP did not engineer its new items for those with gluten sensitivity or gluten allergies. “IHOP defines gluten-friendly as menu items prepared without gluten-containing ingredients based on information from our approved suppliers. We do not claim that items marked as gluten-friendly are gluten free.”
“We’re proud to be the first national restaurant chain to put a gluten-friendly pancake on the menu, further demonstrating how we’re innovating to meet changing guest food preferences,” added Gmelich. “When the craving hits for gluten-friendly pancakes, waffles or an Ultimate Steakburger, we’ve now got you covered,”
In recent years, IHOP has also been looking to add lunch and dinner options to expand beyond the morning daypart. According to Adweek, its burger sales benefited greatly due to a marketing stunt in which it faked changing its name to IHOb. Dine Brands Global, also the parent of Applebee’s, operates and franchises IHOP restaurants.
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