We believe that putting food on the table is just the beginning of our job. We set the highest standards in the industry for socially responsible and environmentally sustainable practices. In 2009, Epicurean Group was the first food service management company awarded Bay Area Green Business certification.

Because Epicurean Group is an independent company, with no national purchasing requirements, we have the freedom to buy from local farmers, fishermen, ranchers and artisans. Here, in Northern California, we're fortunate to have the best food sources in the country right at our fingertips. The majority of our food purchases are sourced locally, within a 150-mile radius, so our food doesn't have to fly across the country before it lands on your plate. That's sustainable — and it supports the same communities where we all live and work.

Epicurean Group promotes sustainable practices. To eliminate Styrofoam® and non-recyclable plastics used in our restaurants, Epicurean Group established the GreenTown Co-op, an innovative non-profit buyers' cooperative that is replacing petroleum-based products with compostable materials to reduce landfill waste. As much as 21 tons of trash have been kept out of the landfill over the past year as a result of the co-op. Epicurean Group also is a member of Slow Food® and supports their Good, Clean and Fair sustainable food model and education efforts.

Our companywide sustainable practices include:

• We establish an eco-friendly waste reduction program in all of our facilities.
• We cook from scratch — never from cans. There's nothing processed or artificial in our food. We chose ingredients that are low in sodium, sugar and fat.
• We buy all of our seafood in accordance with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch guidelines for sustainability.
• There is no MSG or other chemical additives in our food, and we purchase antibiotic-free poultry and beef.
• We buy fair trade coffee and chocolate products.
• We purchase cage-free chicken eggs and hormone-free dairy products from local vendors.
• We use non-hydrogenated canola oil in our fryers to eliminate trans-fats in fried foods.
• We establish sustainable corporate gardens to educate diners about delicious fresh food.