{"id":4814,"date":"2011-02-12T20:44:17","date_gmt":"2011-02-13T04:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=4814"},"modified":"2014-08-18T12:32:10","modified_gmt":"2014-08-18T19:32:10","slug":"a-greener-place-to-indulge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/a-greener-place-to-indulge\/","title":{"rendered":"A Greener Place to Indulge"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not only does Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach<\/a> 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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

First up: a whopping reduction in kitchen waste<\/em><\/strong><\/span> (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.<\/p>\n

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Secondly: an environmentally friendly water filtration system from Natura\u2122<\/em><\/strong><\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

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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<\/em><\/strong><\/span>. And, ‘to-go’ utensils are made of a starch-based material that will break down, rather than plastic.<\/p>\n

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 \u00a0@FuzzDog66<\/a> we photographed, shared and savored an array of menu selections while sipping on two cocktails and a tasting flight of beers that Gretchen\u00a0sent to our table for us to sample. \u00a0Thanks, Gretchen for the tour and the tastes!<\/p>\n

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(L) Sunburn or (R) Cucumber Mojito<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ahi Noodle Salad<\/p><\/div>\n

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Swordfish Sandwich<\/p><\/div>\n

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Shrimp BLT<\/p><\/div>\n

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Laguna Burger<\/p><\/div>\n

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<\/em><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Check out my first review of Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n