By Flavor & The Menu
June 1, 2021

Michael Kupstas

Culinary collaborations take on many forms, but few are as successful as the “Eat Like a King, Judged by a Cub” contest hosted by fast casual Lion’s Choice, which specializes in roast beef sandwiches. Four chefs from restaurants in the St. Louis area competed to develop a kids’ menu item featuring iconic ingredients from the host restaurant brand. Judged by children throughout the city, the winning Turkey Dipper was featured as a limited-time offering at Lion’s Choice, with sales proceeds donated to a local hunger relief organization.

The dish was created by Katie Collier, Chef/Owner of Katie’s Pizza and Pasta Osteria, with her own daughter’s tastes in mind. The crowd-pleaser featured Provel, a white processed cheese that is a St. Louis staple. It was paired with Lion’s Choice roasted turkey, tucked into an oven-baked flatbread, with marinara served on the side. “The warm turkey and gooey cheese created a rich, melt-in-your-mouth flavor with every tangy, marinara-dipped bite,” says Michael Kupstas, President and CEO of Lion’s Choice. “The fusion of two kid-friendly dishes—a classic turkey sandwich and cheese pizza—made it a crave-worthy menu option.”