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The Plant Cafe: Organic & Sustainable Eats in the Bay Area
Written by Stephanie Stevens | February 13, 2021
đź“· @jetkatphoto
The Plant Cafe is a beloved spot in San Francisco with an amazing menu made up entirely of organic, and almost always local, ingredients. Started by friends Matthew and Mark, The Plant Cafe works with local farmers and suppliers to make healthy, organic, and sustainable food more accessible to the mainstream.
After a friend passed away from cancer in 2004, Matthew spent three weeks at a health retreat where he was introduced to plant based, organic food and juices. This experience allowed him to see firsthand the power of consuming a diet free of chemicals, hormones, and other additives that are so often added to food. This inspired him to get into the food business to make healthy and sustainable food more widely accessible. And so, The Plant Cafe was born!
Commitment to Organic Ingredients
The Plant Cafe is wholeheartedly committed to organic food and everything on their menu is 100% organic. While organic food is typically more expensive than non-organic, the team at The Plant Cafe believe it’s worth every penny due to the myriad of health benefits it can provide people and the planet.
Compared to conventional, organic food is grown and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Instead, the organic farming process utilizes more natural techniques with the help of crop rotation, cover crops, and biological fertilizers. This results in food that is higher in vitamins, enzymes, and minerals, as well as healthier soil and cleaner air. The organic label also means that the food is not genetically modified (GMO) and that it is free of synthetic dyes.
While the menu at The Plant Cafe is mostly plant-based, some sustainable meat options are available such as wild seafood, organic chicken, and organic bacon. Just like organic produce, organic meat offers many benefits when compared to conventional. Organic meat comes from livestock that is given access to the outdoors and fed an organic, hormone-free, and GMO-free diet.
Source: @theplantcafeorganic
Sustainable Sourcing & Operating
The Plant Cafe looks to shorten the supply chain by working closely with local farmers and suppliers. Rather than sourcing from big corporate food conglomerates, The Plant Cafe sources products for their menu from local San Francisco businesses such as Acme Bread, Point Reyes, Riverdog Farm, Full Belly Farm, and Hooray Foods.
Sourcing locally helps to cut the distance food has to travel, which makes it a great way to lower your carbon footprint and ensure optimal freshness. The team at The Plant Cafe believe strongly that by sourcing organic food from local sources, they are ensuring the freshest, highest quality, and most delicious ingredients. And on top of that, supporting local, organic farms helps to boost the local economy and the health of local ecosystems!
Sustainability is an important consideration in other aspects of the cafe’s operations, too. Each of The Plant Cafe locations are created with local, recycled, energy efficient, and nontoxic materials and packaging is also almost entirely compostable, with bottles and cans being recyclable.
Menu Highlights & Awards
The diverse menu at The Plant Cafe consists of breakfast, salads, sandwiches, bowls, desserts, juices, and smoothies that are perfect for any time of day. The menu items feature contemporary California and Asian inspired flavors and almost everything on the menu is made from scratch, which ensures top quality and freshness! With a wide variety of menu options and full ingredient transparency, The Plant Cafe is perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and conscious meat eaters alike.
Given their amazing commitment to sustainability and greater health, The Plant Cafe has been on the receiving end of awards and recognition. It was the first restaurant to be awarded platinum level of health and sustainability by the nonprofit Eat Real and was also awarded Most Sustainable Restaurant in the Bay Area by Nature Conservancy in 2013.
Like most restaurants, The Plant Cafe has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and has had to cut back on operations. They are now offering takeout, meal kits, and groceries that are available for pickup and delivery! If you are unable to support this wonderful spot in person, please consider contributing to their GoFundMe if you are able.
You can find out more on their website: www.theplantcafe.com
& on Instagram at: @theplantcafeorganic
meet the author
Stephanie Stevens
Stephanie is a writer and photographer passionate about sustainable living, mindfulness, and exploring the outdoors. She loves microadventures but her favorite part about traveling abroad is immersing herself in other cultures. When she’s not writing, you can find her drinking coffee, playing soccer, or backpacking.
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