A Greener Place to Indulge

Not only does Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach serve up some fabulous fare in the heart of picturesque Laguna Beach, but I was pleased to discover that they are an eco-friendly company that is actively committed to sustainability. On a recent lunch visit, my friend Anita of Diary of a Mad Hungry Woman and I were taken on a behind the scenes tour of kitchen to see what exactly Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach is doing to ‘green’ up its restaurant and retail operations.

First up: a whopping reduction in kitchen waste (between 83 and 93 percent), courtesy of a high-tech compost system from Somat, a leader in waste reduction technology. Part of a pilot program through the city’s waste management department, the system utilizes heat and condensate run-off to break down food waste, cardboard and compostable materials. The waste that would normally be taking up space in a landfill is transformed into a small amount of high-quality amendment that is donated to the Garden Club at El Morro Elementary School.

Secondly: an environmentally friendly water filtration system from Natura™ provides complimentary chilled sparkling and still water served from reusable glass bottles placed on each table. The system, endorsed by the national non-profit Green Restaurant Association, eliminates impurities and retains healthy minerals. Guests can enjoy the taste of premium bottled water without the environmental impact associated with manufacturing, shipping, and recycling bottles.

Third: if you can’t quite polish off that ginormous piece of Triple Chocolate Cake or only ate half your lobster mac & cheese to save room for that death-by-chocolate slice of heaven, you can take it home in a biodegradable cardboard container. And, ‘to-go’ utensils are made of a starch-based material that will break down, rather than plastic.

By this time Anita and I had worked up quite an appetite and were anxious to try more of the menu items (this was the second visit for both of us). Joined by  @FuzzDog66 we photographed, shared and savored an array of menu selections while sipping on two cocktails and a tasting flight of beers that Gretchen sent to our table for us to sample.  Thanks, Gretchen for the tour and the tastes!

(L) Sunburn or (R) Cucumber Mojito

Ahi Noodle Salad

Swordfish Sandwich

Shrimp BLT

Laguna Burger

So enjoy lunch with friends, watch the sun set over a chilled cocktail and appreciate Laguna Beach’s charm knowing that Tommy Bahama’s offers a greener place to indulge.

Check out my first review of Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach.