BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – It looks just like raw beef, but what Senior Sous Chef Colleen Blackburn is holding is an impossible burger, made out of a potato-root base.

"The weird thing to me is that is actually smells like raw beef. I have no idea how they do that," said Blackburn.

RELATED l The Key to Making a Perfect Plant-Based Burger

These impossible meatballs will be paired with pasta and marinara sauce in one of the dishes that will be featured in the Beverly Hilton's first-ever vegan brunch debuting in November and December.

"Vegan meatballs get a much darker color once they're cooked than traditional meatballs," said Blackburn.

Blackburn says she is bringing vegan food to Circa 55, because it is not something she sees around L.A.

"We have one of the highest populations of vegan or vegetarian people in Southern California but Los Angeles ranks as number six for a vegan or vegetarian to live in," said Blackburn.

In case the idea of vegan food doesn't excite you, just hear this menu out:

  • Root veggie medley with parsnips, golden beets, and turnips tossed with a lemon vinaigrette
  • Potato pot pie with baby reds, Yukon, and fingerling potatoes
  • Green bean casserole topped with béchamel sauce
  • Tomato tabbouleh topped with micro celery
  • Bbq flavored chickpea salad
  • Avocado pesto tarte
  • Ratatouille gratin

"It's really flavorful with the bright citrus from the lemon, but also has that heartiness from the beets," said Blackburn.

The next dish is probably a staple for anyone's Thanksgiving, mashed potatoes, and these are just as flavorful as the ones doused in milk and butter.

"Mashed potatoes is a holiday classic, it has to happen in my house otherwise we riot," said Blackburn.

There are only a handful of meat options that Americans consume, but Blackburn says the number of vegetables available to us are in the tens of thousands.

"You can get the same flavors, the same depth, complexity and you can get it in a way that is lower calorie and has less carbs and has less chemicals, it's amazing what you can do with a pile of vegetables," said Blackburn.

Trading in a turkey for creativity this Thanksgiving.

The next Vegan Brunch will be on December 21 and 22.