By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Aug 19, 2020 at 6:01 PM Photography: Lori Fredrich

Opening a restaurant is never a small feat. But opening  a first restaurant during a pandemic  is even moreso. Such was the case for Arielle and Brandon Hawthorne, who first launched their plant-based food truck Twisted Plants in May of 2019 and – just one year later – have successfully made the transition from mobile food operation to restaurant.

This week on FoodCrush, we talk with Brandon Hawthorne about the Twisted Plants journey, their inspiration for launching a plant-based business and both the excitement (and challenges) of switching over from a food truck to a brick and mortar restaurant. Along the way, he discusses the inspiration behind Twisted Plants, the food they serve and their vision for the future.

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Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.