Chicago’s Buona Launches Plant-Based Italian Beefless Sandwich Buona, Chicago’s original Italian beef chain restaurant, debuts a new menu item—a plant-based Italian beefless sandwich featuring Upton’s Naturals seitan—specially for their vegetarian and vegan customers. From the bread to the seitan to the veggie-based gravy and giardiniera, every aspect of this sandwich is plant-based, vegan-friendly, and prepared separately to ensure no cross-contamination with non-vegan products. Buona opted to collaborate with Chicago-based seitan maker Upton’s Naturals to craft the perfect plant-based beef for the sandwich. Seitan—known for its versatility, savor flavor profile, and ability to take on additional flavors—is a popular source of plant-based protein and pairs seamlessly with Buona’s authentic Italian recipe. The Plant-Based Italian Beefless Sandwich provides 43g of protein and is made using an exclusive vegan gravy (consisting of authentic Buona Italian spices, a vegetable-based broth, and olive oil), their signature French bread, and hot or mild giardiniera.