Vegan restaurant CEO inducted into Fast Casual Hall of Fame

In good news for people who love plant-based dining, the CEO of vegan chain Native Foods is about to be inducted into the Fast Casual Hall of Fame. Carin Stutz will share the limelight with two other inductees at Fast Casual’s Executive Summit in Indianapolis on October 9. This honor is one more indication that vegan food is going more and more mainstream. Stutz talked to Inhabitat about her award and what it means for vegan dining.

Wait, there’s a Fast Casual Hall of Fame?

Fast casual dining became popular starting in the 1990s. It’s a little nicer and pricier than fast food, but still on the less expensive side of the restaurant spectrum. You often order at the counter and have the choice of dining in or getting your food to go. Fast casual food is usually made-to-order, including items like bowls, salads, burritos and sandwiches. Often, the restaurants offer relatively health-conscious choices. Chains are highly branded and don’t usually have drive-throughs.

And yes, there is such a thing as a Fast Casual Hall of Fame. But it’s an award, not a brick-and-mortar building. FastCasual.com, which has reported on news, trends and VIPs within the fast-casual dining industry since 1997, puts on the annual executive summit.

When I asked Stutz if she thought it was unusual for a vegan restaurant to win this honor, I learned that the hall of fame is new. “I am part of the inaugural class, so it is not necessarily unusual,” she said. “But it certainly speaks to the power, credibility and belief that plant-based is here to stay.”

Jalapeno popper burger on a wheat bun

More about Native Foods

Tanya Petrovna, also known as Chef Tanya, founded Native Foods in Palm Springs in 1994. She actively ran the small restaurant chain until selling it to Andrea McGinty and Daniel Dolan in 2009. The chain grew to a zenith (so far) of 26 units in 2014 but then shrunk down to 13 restaurants in four states as owners attempted to refine the brand. In 2018, Millstone Capital Advisors acquired Native Foods. The buyer was probably moved in part by a 2017 GlobalData study that showed the number of Americans who identified themselves as vegans jumped 600% between 2014 and 2017. However, Native Foods has asserted that the majority of its customers eat meat, but enjoy the brand’s delicious foods. Either way, it seemed like a moneymaker.

“It is definitely becoming more mainstream but we have a long way to go,” Stutz said. “It is exciting to see more people willing to try plant-based items, more celebrities embracing this lifestyle and the incredible innovation in this space. We like to think that at Native Foods we give guests, who are not necessarily vegan, the opportunity to try a plant-based way of eating.”

A large salad on a blue backdrop

Native Foods woos vegans and omnivores with hearty, delicious meals. The Backyard BBQ Bowl features a choice of crispy barbecue cauliflower or plant-based pork. The Poppin’ Jalapeno Burger has two patties and multiple vegan kinds of cheese. I can personally attest to the deliciousness of the key lime cheesecake parfait.

“What I love about our brand is that it has stood the test of time because it has consistently focused on quality food and ingredients, with an innovative, chef-crafted menu,” said Stutz. “I want the brand to grow significantly so more people get to enjoy plant-based great food, enjoy a healthier lifestyle and take better care of our planet.”

Current locations include Chicago and multiple cities in both Colorado and California. More locations coming soon, I hope.

Awards ceremony and conference

Stutz comes from a solid food service background, rather than a vegan one. Before becoming president and CEO of Native Foods, she held leadership positions with many famous restaurant brands, including Red Robin, Wendy’s, Applebee’s, and Chili’s and serves on several food industry boards.

The other two honorees in the inaugural class of the Fast Casual Hall of Fame are Carl Howard and Blaine Hurst. Howard is CEO of Fazoli’s, an Italian deli chain, where he rebranded, reengineered the menu and expanded catering programs. Hurst improved the technology and created the industry’s largest loyalty program while working as vice chairman and CEO of Panera Bread.

Orange cauliflower meal on a white plate

The Fast Casual Summit kicks off on October 9. Conference sessions will focus on topics like ghost restaurants, supply chain management and the effects of delivery apps on fast-casual restaurants. Dinner at the Dallara IndyCar Factory will surely be a highlight, especially for participants who sign up for a ride around town in a street-legal Indycar.

For those who care about plant-based food, it’s awesome that Stutz is one of three awardees in this very mainstream event. “I’m incredibly honored and humbled,” she said. “With nearly five decades in this business, I feel this honor recognizes my contributions to the industry, our communities and a willingness to volunteer and give back. Throughout my entire career, I have always followed the growth and plant-based is the perfect next chapter.”

Images via Native Foods

from INHABITAT https://ift.tt/wxe4fXO
via IFTTT

Comentarios

imagenes del medio ambiente para dibujar

5 Benefits of Drip Irrigation Systems

If you want a stunning yard and a low water bill, a drip irrigation system could be for you. Image: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images If you live in one of the parts of the country that’s been struggling with drought (or you just don’t want to spend a fortune on your water bill), you’ve probably felt that you face a choice with your outdoor areas. You can either be water conscious or have a beautiful, lush yard, right? When you’ve opted for traditional irrigation systems like sprinkler heads, that’s often true. But, good news, that’s not your only option as far as types of irrigation systems go. If you want a beautiful yard without the high water usage — and resulting bill! — a drip irrigation system could be just what you need. What is a drip irrigation system? This way to water your plants uses dripped water. A drip irrigation system runs either a perforated hose or drip emitters (connected by a hose) under the soil throughout your planting bed. Water drips through small h

New riverside development in China will be an urban renewal

Architects VenhoevenCS have won a major riverside redevelopment in Shenzhen, China . They hope to protect large areas of land from flooding while also creating a vibrant new urban identity for the Bao’an district. The Pailao River Blueway Project constitutes a new biodiverse landscape along the central Pailoa River, an area under rapid urban development where rainfall intensity is increasing. Architects are using this project to design with the water instead of against it. It includes elements such as ponds, green roofs, urban farming plots, wetlands and soft banks, contributing to a natural sponge effect to absorb excess water from the river . Related: 100-year-old railway yard turned into a green space VenhoevenCS also has their sights set on integrating urban regeneration in the area. They have planned cultural and social spaces, including pavilions and parks for cyclists and pedestrians. The design illustrates their nature-inclusive approach, reshaping how humans and the natu

Say hello to the new Toyota electric vehicle, the bZ4X

Toyota is trying to win the electric vehicle game with a stylish new SUV loaded with techy features. The all-electric bZ4X will be rolling onto the lots of U.S. auto dealers this spring. If the name doesn’t immediately strike you as catchy, it might help to understand that “bZ” stands for “beyond zero.” The bZ4X is the first of seven in Toyota’s new line of bZ vehicles. That’s seven out of 15 BEVs, to throw another acronym at you. BEVs are battery electric vehicles, as opposed to HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) or PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). Related: Consider these factors before buying an electric vehicle All these Vs will help speed Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Already, Toyota has more than 20 million models on the world’s roads. The company has pledged to invest another $70+ billion in EVs over the next nine years. So, back to the bZ4X. According to Toyota, the new “BEV-dedicated platform, a first for Toyota, was developed with Subaru

NASA to test the world's first electric airplane

NASA has shared details of its new all-electric plane that is set to take off to the sky this fall. The plane is designed to run fully on electric batteries , departing from the tradition of fuel-powered planes. If all goes well, this will be the first step toward achieving a cleaner, cheaper, and quieter future for aviation. Known as the X-57, the plane is lightweight compared to traditional planes . Its weight helps it use less power over the same distance compared to its equal fuel-powered planes. Further, the plane produces less noise as compared to fuel-powered options. According to NASA, the plane is currently being prepared for initial tests, which will be conducted in the desert east of Los Angeles. Related: Rolls-Royce unveils prototype for world’s fastest electric plane The plane borrows its design from a four-seater plane constructed by the Italian Tecnam corporation. The main reason for this is to help in comparison of the two models of the design. The experts at NASA w

Biomimicry house hints at a solution to the climate crisis

Houses separate us from nature. At least, that’s the idea we’ve had until now. Architecture that uses biomimicry , permaculture and related practices to keep nature in our building spaces offers a green alternative. B+H Architects Director of Biomimicry Jamie Miller is an advocate of sustainable building practices like biomimicry to help with the climate crisis. Biomimicry creates an architectural option that keeps us connected to nature, without removing the biodiversity from the spaces where we live and work. Now the B+H Architects’ newest residential project shows us how a home can blend right into nature itself. Related: It looks like a shark fin and helps urban river flooding A house that disappears into the landscape “Imagine stepping inside a house that disappears into a forest all without ever leaving the city,” B+H said. A landowner in Bengaluru, India wanted to achieve just that, connecting his home to nature within a dense urban area. He didn’t just want to live wit

What are stellar earthquakes that make stars move?

What are stellar earthquakes that make stars move? The Gaia mission of the European Space Agency revealed the earthquakes that occur thousands of light years away. Argentine astronomers explain the scope of this space telescope and its discoveries. In 2013 the European Space Agency (ESA), launched a unique space mission: the Gaia space observatory, a spacecraft designed specifically for astrometry: the science that measures the positions, distances and motions of stars with a precision never seen before. Scientists say the mission aims to build the largest and most accurate 3D space catalog ever made of the observable universe, with a total of approximately two billion astronomical objects, mainly stars, but also planets, comets, asteroids and quasars, among other fascinating objects in the vastness of space. This week, ESA released a new update of data collected by Gaia in the last three years, after having observed 10 million stars and space objects, which led to the publication of s

Bananatex launches a sustainable material revolution at Milan Design Week

A party of three has collaborated to create a multi-purpose material sourced entirely from banana leaves. Swiss bag brand QWSTION, a yarn specialist from Taiwan, and a Taiwanese weaving partner spent four years developing the new material, which is being revealed at the 2019 Milan Design Week. The strong, flexible material, called Banantex, offers a new universal option in the search for sustainable materials . Beginning at the source, the banana leaves come from a natural ecosystem of sustainable forestry in the Philippines. The banana trees grow naturally without the use of pesticides or other chemicals. Plus, they do not require any additional water. The banana plants are a boon to an area previously eroded by palm plantations, bringing back vegetation and a livelihood for local farmers. Related: See how banana trees are recycled into vegan “leather” wallets in Micronesia With a long history of creating materials from sustainable resources, QWSTION saw the strength and dura

Diet for Depression: 8 Foods To Eat And Avoid

According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people suffer from depression globally. [1] Symptoms of depression can include sadness, lethargy and a general loss of interest in life. There are a number of ways to combat this and a diet for depression can help not only your mental health but your well-being as well. In fact, a 2017 study found that the symptoms of people with moderate-to-severe depression improved when they received nutritional counseling sessions and ate a more healthful diet for 12 weeks. [2] Just imagine having higher levels of optimism, energy, positivity, focus, and a greater interest in life. Well, you can. Making some adjustments to your diet can help with your depression. Not only are there foods that you could eat to help with your depression but there are foods that you should avoid. Foods That Help With Depression 1. Oily Fish Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, herring, light tuna and mackerel are a healthy source of Vitamin D. [3]

New biofabricated clothing made from algae goes through photosynthesis just like plants

There are a products that completely revolutionize the fashion industry for their eco-friendly approach and innovative vision. Although the fashion industry has made strides over the past few years in terms of sustainable clothing production, there is still a long ways to go. Thankfully, a handful of designers are coming up with incredibly innovative solutions to really change the concept of eco-fashion . One such visionary is Canadian-Iranian designer Roya Aghighi , whose new line of clothing, Biogarmentry, is made from algae that turns carbon dioxide into oxygen via photosynthesis. Made in collaboration with University of British Colombia (UBC) and Emily Carr Univeristy, the Biogarmentry line is a revolutionary design within the world of eco-fashion . While most sustainable designers are searching for fabrics that don’t harm the environment, Aghighi went straight to the environment for her unique fabric, using living, photosynthetic cells in its design. Related: SAOLA offers su

Eco Vlog News

Welcome to my Vlog about the environment and general news related to it. The advancement of technology and the expansion of the human being are inevitable and an essential mark left by progress as a race, but it is important in the process not to lose respect for the environment and the world in which we live. Become aware of its deterioration as an initial measure to begin to become aware of how to take care of it. For these reasons, our little grain of sand as a contribution to an ecological blog in which we offer you the latest Internet news as a reference so that you can inform yourself and become aware of it. In the articles you can find the respective news sources and most current magazines on which the subject in question is being addressed.

Eco-Vlog

Buscar este blog