Champps Americana® Expands Scratch Kitchen with Under 650 Calorie Menu and New Fresh Favorites; Champps Also Adds Under 140 Calorie Skinnygirl® Cocktails for a Guiltless Summer

DALLAS, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Champps Americana®, famous for its scratch kitchen, where appetizers, entrees and desserts are made-to-order every day, today announced something sure to please its calorie-conscious guests: an off-season training menu for a limited time featuring under 650 calorie selections and under 140-calorie cocktails and wine featuring Skinnygirl® Cocktails.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130502/DA06613)

According to Technomic, the leading fact-based consulting and research firm serving the food industry, and its recent Future of Casual Dining Consumer Trend Report, 82 percent of casual dining customers say the availability of healthy foods is at least somewhat important (55 percent say extremely important or important) at casual dining restaurants.

The new offerings complement Champps already crave-able food prepared from scratch, ice cold beer, friendly servers and bartenders plus big screen TVs, all of which makes Champps a premier sports bar.

"This is about fresh, new, lighter menu options, some even lower-calorie, for our guests," said Lindsay Costanza, marketing director for Champps Entertainment, Inc. "Our scratch kitchen defines us and we'll always have fresh made popular selections prepared by our chefs. And, now, if you're gearing up for a slimmer summer, Champps has a flavorful selection of healthful options under 650 calories and new under-140 calorie Skinnygirl® Cocktails."          

Champps Off-Season Training Menu includes one appetizer and two entrees all under 650 calories:

• Four Pepper Spiced Tuna (Appetizer)
  Served rare with four pepper seasoning, pickled cucumbers and a creamy wasabi sauce
• Mahi Mahi with Spinach Pasta Salad
  Grilled Mahi Mahi topped with bruschetta tomatoes. Served with chilled spinach penne salad tossed with cilantro vinaigrette, capers and roasted red peppers. Topped with feta cheese and roasted tomatoes.
• Fresco Chicken Tacos
  Grilled chicken, salsa verde, pepperjack cheese and flour tortillas. Served with a side of warm black bean and corn salsa.

Champps will also feature new Fresh Favorites for a limited time, including an appetizer Tapas Trio (Bruschetta tomatoes, hummus topped with basil chimichurri and olive tapenade, served with seasoned pita bread) and two entrees: Chicken Summer Salad (Grilled chicken, apples, bacon, blueberries, almonds and shaved Vermont white Cheddar tossed in a creamy dressing) and Fresco Steak Tacos (Grilled steak, salsa verde, pepperjack cheese and flour tortillas, served with a side of warm black bean and corn salsa).

Champps will also feature the following guiltless Skinnygirl® Cocktails and wine for a limited time:

• Bethenny Breeze
  Skinnygirl™ Bare Naked Vodka, fresh agave sour mix, club soda and a float of cranberry juice
• Moscato Rita
  Sauza® Hornitos™ Plata, fresh agave sour mix topped with Skinnygirl™ Moscato and a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice
• Salty Hound
  Skinnygirl™ Bare Naked Vodka, fresh grapefruit juice and a salted rim
• Bare Naked & Soda
  Skinnygirl™ Bare Naked Vodka, soda water and a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice
• Skinnygirl Moscato
  Notes of pear, peach and mango

Skinnygirl® Cocktails, which was created in 2009 by natural foods chef, four-time New York Times best-selling author and daytime television talk show host Bethenny Frankel, is largely credited with kick-starting the low-calorie drinks trend. According to Technomic's Adult Beverage Resource Group, Skinnygirl volume grew 415% between 2010 and 2012.

"We think that translates to popular," continued Costanza. "We operate by a very basic premise: if our guests want it, they'll get it, but in a very Champps-style way."

In addition to participating restaurants featuring Skinnygirl Cocktails, Champps is offering Skinnygirl specials on Ladies' Night (each Wednesday through June 23 - where legally permissible).

Champps also announced a couple of programs to make the summer even more fun for members of its MVP League, Champps official loyalty program, and Champps' Facebook fans.

• All MVP members who visit Champps through June 23 and have their MVP card swiped for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to New York to see a taping of Skinnygirl founder, Bethenny Frankel's new daily syndicated talk show, "bethenny."
• With Champps' Skinnygirl® Cocktails Recipe Contest on Champps' Facebook page, Champps fans will have a chance to win a party for 10 friends with a private mixologist at their local Champps restaurant by creating a drink featuring Skinnygirl Cocktails.  The winner will also have their Skinnygirl Cocktail creation considered for placement on Champps beverage menu.

About Champps

At its more than 50 locations throughout the United States, Champps' chefs prepare fresh burgers piled high with toppings; made-from-scratch entrees, pasta, sandwiches and more. A full-service bar and large flat-screen TVs guarantee guests the Best Seat Outside the Stadium and a great seat for any occasion. For additional information, visit www.champps.com or www.facebook.com/champps.

SOURCE Champps Americana