Business Notes

When you're hungry, what could be better than a mixture of mushrooms, onions, oats, brown rice, low-fat cheese, egg whites, bulgur wheat, walnuts and seasonings pressed into a patty and baked? Almost anything, you say? Not according to assorted Hollywood celebrities and health-conscious residents of Portland, Ore. They're all fans of a meatless competitor to the hamburger, called the Gardenburger. Developed by Paul Wenner, president of Portland's Wholesome and Hearty Foods Inc., it packs half the calories and one-fifth the fat of ordinary hamburgers.

Gardenburgers are not meant to taste like Big Macs. "We don't put in artificial hamburger flavor," says Wenner. "The Gardenburger is its own experience." The burgers have sold well in such outlets as the Hard Rock Cafe chain (where they cost $7.95), Sheraton Hotels, Disneyland and Portland restaurants (where they go for $2.95). Wenner expects to sell 8 million patties this year.