Tennessee-Based Cracker Barrel Taking Unwarranted ‘Heat’ Over Menu Addition

Do you remember when you could only find Cracker Barrel restaurants along interstate highways? Do you remember when you could only find them in the southern United States?

Well I do. And when my sister and I were kids, one of the things we anticipated most was eating at Cracker Barrel. We didn't have one here; we weren't on an interstate. And, in my mind, anything you could ONLY do on vacation MADE the vacation even more special.

THE NEW CRACKER BARREL MENU ITEM

The popular chain has been in our consciousness for more than 50 years, and that menu remains a drawing card for fans.

But lately--VERY recently, in fact--an addition to the Cracker Barrel menu has led to what I call bizarre accusations...especially considering the fact that NOTHING was removed to make room for it.

Welcome aboard, plant-based sausage.

THE NEW CRACKER BARREL MENU ITEM THAT'S RUFFLED SOME FEATHERS

For my part, I have ZERO issue with this addition. I can't eat red meat and I LOVE sausage. We have some Impossible sausage in the freezer right now, and it is delicious. The texture and the flavor are the same, as far as I'm concerned.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY'S MIFFED ABOUT THE NEW CRACKER BARREL MENU ITEM

And while that news outlet highlighted negative comments about Impossible sausage on the Cracker Barrel menu, I've seen quite a few that are in favor of the move, like Katie Daufenback-Lovell, for instance. She's a meat eater, but applauds the addition:

And then there's Belinda-Marie Purkey who takes the pragmatic approach:

As for Kit Lynette Malone, she's enjoying every bit of this drummed-up controversy:

PLANT-BASED SAUSAGE AT CRACKER BARREL -- WHY NOT?

I like plant-based meat, except for hotdogs. Those have yet to be perfected, even by the more high-end brands (what a waste of my money). But I can honestly tell you I ate a patty melt in Louisville that had no meat in it, and I would defy anyone to tell the difference if they didn't know. It was THAT good.

Frankly, the complaints befuddle me. Nothing was REMOVED to make room for Impossible sausage. All the old favorites are still there.

Bottom line...Cracker Barrel, in my opinion, has only EXPANDED its audience with Impossible sausage. Isn't that what businesses are SUPPOSED to do?

[SOURCE: CNN]