I would like to think of my favorite on-campus restaurant as an
experience rather than feeding myself a meal. Engrained is a sustainable and
local farmed restaurant. It is a place where I can go and order a healthy,
nutritious meal that has been brought to me from the near-by farms. Not only is
Engrained all about locally grown, fresh and healthy food, but everything from
the walls to the seats in the building are recycled materials. Overall
Engrained is my escape to sustainability, health and relaxation.
If you are like me, a busy student on the hunt for some good
food at ASU, you will find Engrained to be a diamond in the rough.
Take me there:
From the moment you walk through the door you feel the
essence of the modern styled dining experience. Clear, open windows line the
back of the restaurant that allow you to look out onto the extended patio and
beyond that, the beautiful Arizona State campus. The kitchen is wide open and
you can see all the chefs and cooks working diligently. Fresh fruit and
vegetables are being chopped, and seared, local meats, eggs and fish are being
prepared, and the smell of delicious food penetrates through the air.
(Photo courtesy of Engrained Cafe)
Engrained offers excellent customer service from hostess to
chef to cashier to bussers. Every employee is welcoming and friendly. The
moment you sit down fresh, baked potato chips are delivered to the table. All
of the employees add to the positive atmosphere. It is easy to tell that the
staff works as a team and are all very well trained.
What about the menu?
Engrained’s menu has everything from appetizers to desserts.
Sustainability major Amy Fleishans emphasizes that “Diners won’t find any
mystery meat covered in gravy at Engrained—only made-to-order entrees comprised
of fresh Arizona produce and other ingredients made within the state’s border” (Fleishans).
The menu has a key for people with specific diets such as lactose-free,
dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan. This is so convenient for me especially
because between my two best friends and I, we each have specific dietary
constraints. When we visit Engrained, there are no worries because we know we
will each find something to please us all. Engrained changes their menu
according to which foods are in season. This is yet another reason to love this
restaurant. Because the menu is ever changing I do not ever get stuck with
eating my “usual and favorite” dish. The assortment that the varying menu
offers gets me out of my comfort zone and trying new things.
Sustainable? How so?
Through six steps, Engrained is able to serve as a
sustainable restaurant that focuses on reducing their environmental footprint.
The first intention is “Radius 150,” which is the rule use food resources all
within a radius of 150 miles from site. This is achievable through
“partnerships with local farms and suppliers to support the growth and
availability of fresh whole foods-raised, grown and harvested sustainably
–positively impacting our health and supporting our local economy.” Engrained
makes certain that the resources used to prepare a meal are fair, healthy, and
local.
The next intention is all about reducing their waste. 100%
of the used cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel and other alternatives. By
recycling commingle plastics, paper, aluminum, cardboard, and styrofoam
peanuts, Engrained strives on reducing the amount of landfill space needed.
Beyond the environmentally conservative building and
furnishings, Engrained engages in the positive and ethical of buying organic
uniforms, unbleached napkins and cleaning products certified by Green Seal.
This intention is important because not only does the food and restaurant
follow the idea of “Being Green” but now they are including their customers and
employees to participate in this lifestyle.
In addition to using locally grown food, another intention Engrained partakes in is to become a
part of the community. Through cooking demos, guest speaking, throwing events,
and connecting with local farms, Engrained fufills this intention. Engrained works to become involved with the
Phoenix area by informing and teaching the community about the importance to
sustainability.
The last intention is to reduce fuel use and emissions while
transporting supplies. Engrained only uses GEM Electric Cars to move their
foods around. This intention is always growing because they always look to new
technologies and better alternatives for improving their operations.
Public Thoughts:
So after all this, what do the customers think? I conducted
a survey with a regular I see on occasion at Engrained, Brittney Decker.
What aspect about Engrained brings you back so often?
“I love
the food at Engrained. Being a health freak can be hard to keep up with as a
busy student but Engrained makes it possible to eat fresh food, fast. The fact
that the whole place is sustainable is a second plus for me but just from
dining there I have learned so much about sustainability” (Decker, 2012).
Why would you be more inclined to choose Engrained over
another restaurant on campus?
“I am
always more inclined to choose Engrained over anything else anywhere! It is my
favorite place. Even though it is a bit more pricey, I can use my M&G meal plan to eat there and that is so convenient” (Decker, 2012).
How did you hear about Engrained?
“My
older brother told me about Engrained. He said that he didn’t even know about
it until the end of his freshman year. I’m sure glad that he taught me the
secret so I didn’t have to wait to find it out for myself” (Decker, 2012).Works Cited:
Decker, B. (2012, 11 10). Interview by S Ochs [Personal Interview]. Why engrained., ASU.
