Freshii Launches Chili {Yelp Elite}

It is officially winter here in Chicago, and what meal goes better with the colder months than a hot, steaming bowl of chili to warm you from the inside out? As a member of the Yelp Elite, I recently had the privilege of being invited to the exclusive launch of chili to the menu at Freshii, a global franchise focused on providing ‘fresh and nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go.'

The Vibe:

The event was held at the Washington branch of Freshii on a frigid Chicago evening. As I parked my car, snow flurries drifted down from the sky, causing me to walk the block to the restaurant with my coat pulled tightly around me in order to fend off the brisk weather. I was grateful when a blast of warm air hit me upon entering Freshii, where I was greeted by an employee with a sign in sheet. Attendees of the event milled about enjoying refreshments while we anxiously anticipated the announcement to begin chowing down on chili. Most people seemed to just be getting off work or finishing up shopping, and had popped in to try the newest addition to the Freshii menu.While we waited, we mingled, chatted, and snapped about a million Instagram pictures of the many additions we could add to our chili (I think I counted 20 in total):

The Chili

Now for the most important part: the actual chili! Freshii has created a vegan chili, which they provided for the attendees to taste with the ability to add in anything from tomatoes to cheese and even bacon. I started off with two scoops of chili and added in the following: tomatoes, broccoli, bacon (duh), cabbage, shredded carrots, red onions, green onions, cilantro, and shredded cheese. I can say without reservation that my chili was incredible, and not just because I had a perfect mix of toppings. The chili itself has a mild taste of heat and great chunks of tomato as well as corn and at least two different kinds of beans: black & chickpea. I enjoyd every single bite I had of my customized cup and even went up for seconds! Don't judge – it was just that good.

Bonus!

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Freshii team serving wine, beer, and other beverages during the Chili Launch event. I will admit I enjoyed a couple glasses of red wine, but can you blame me? Free booze is never a bad thing and always, ALWAYS a way to my heart.

Final Verdict

The chili at Freshii is not only delicious but also the perfect meal for the cold Chicago winter that lies before us. While I had the ability to mix in what I wanted, Freshii has three different styles they are now making available for fans of the winter staple (See flyer below). I highly suggest you get yourself to a Freshii for a bowl of this deliciousness before the limited time offer expires!