Chicago — Kellanova is partnering with Chain, the American Pop Cuisine brand founded by B.J. Novak, on a limited-run Cheez-It Court food stall featuring Cheez-It-inspired versions of classic food court dishes.
The Cheez-It Court will feature three menu items incorporating the cracker brand. Cheez-Y-Bun consists of a cinnamon roll with Cheez-It Extra Cheesy-seasoned cream cheese frosting, shortbread crumble, salted caramel crunch, and a Cheez-It cracker.
Crunchy Cheez-Dog features a Wagyu hot dog coated in a panko and Cheez-It cracker crust and topped with mustard, ketchup, a pickle, Cheez-It Extra Cheesy crackers, and seasoning.
Cheez-Steak combines sliced ribeye, American cheese, grilled onions, and pickled jalapeños on a toasted hoagie roll seasoned with Cheez-It Extra Cheesy. The sandwich is finished with dill pickle aioli and a crumble made with Cheez-It Hot & Spicy crackers and chives.
“Following fan experiences like Studio Cheez and the Cheez-In Diner, Cheez-It fuels unforgettable snack moments with IRL experiences that bring to life the versatility and flavor of Cheez-It crackers in new ways,” says Nicole Sorensen, vice-president of marketing for Cheez-It. “The debut of the Cheez-It Court combines our beloved snack, made with 100% real cheese, with the unmistakable nostalgia of food court classics, transforming it into the ultimate gathering place for our fans and their closest friends over their favorite snack.”
Cheez-It will be the first brand to operate a custom food stall as part of Chain’s six-month residency at Westfield Topanga Mall in Los Angeles. The Cheez-It Court will run September 2 through 30 and feature Y2K-inspired design elements and employee uniforms.
“Malls are back, and it’s not just nostalgia, it’s a younger generation discovering something an older generation kind of took for granted: that hanging out somewhere in person, with nothing to do but gaze and graze, is actually really fun,” says Nicholas Kraft, chief creative officer of Chain. “This collaboration with Cheez-It at our 6-month pop-up is the quintessential mall food court experience: three delightfully unexpected-yet-delicious dishes that are impossible to ignore and even that harder to put down.”
Following the opening, Cheez-It plans to release recipes for the three menu items so consumers can recreate them at home.
