On June 18 Sustainable Gastronomy Day was established by the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization to promote sustainable cooking and dining methods in restaurants and at home.
Baylon Greenhouse Restaurant Source: Flicker/Flowcom
What Is Sustainable Dining
Sustainable dining is a method of cooking and eating that focuses on ingredient sources, how food is grown, and choosing food that is good for your health and for the environment. Sustainable dining in restaurants and at home has the ability to reduce food waste. It is associated with upscale cooking but can be effective using simple entrees with just a few ingredients.
Sustainable Gastronomy In Restaurants
Sustainable Restaurant Three Ladies Cafe Source: Davis/Local Wiki
Restaurants that participate in this movement will design a menu that reduces food waste, promotes vegetarian entrees on the menu, and uses seasonal produce and entrees on the menu. Some chefs use specialty ingredients and focus on certain types of food vegetarian, seafood, grass fed beef, and chicken.
Restaurants will use smaller plates and portions to avoid food waste. They will purchase produce from local farms and farm markets and dairy, meats, poultry, and fish from local vendors that raise food sustainably. Some restaurants grow their own produce in greenhouses and on farms they own.
They manage food waste by using leftover food in other dishes , and the whole animal not just parts. Many have a composter to use for fertilizing crops and they donate leftover food to soup kitchen and food pantries. They purchase energy efficient appliances, use green cleaning products, and eliminate the use of plastic.
Tilth Restaurant Source: The Bitten Word/Flicker
Ways to Celebrate Sustainable Gastronomy In Restaurants and At Home
Farm Market Photo Source: Flicker Natile Maynor
Farm Market Source: Pxhere
Purchase from local farms and farm markets and buy produce, dairy, meat, poultry and fish. Check your local supermarket for local food and buy from these vendors when you shop.
Add more vegetarian entrees to your menu: soup, salad, vegetable side dishes, and main entrees. Eat grass fed meats and poultry without hormones and antibiotics when possible. Choose vegetarian dishes that appeal to you, and that you want to eat.
Eat at restaurants locally and support those that practice sustainable dining. Try some new entrees that you never had before.
Look for recipes online or get a cookbook from your library with sustainable recipes.
When traveling eat at local restaurants and try some new types of food.
Try to avoid food waste by making less, eating leftovers, and cutting down on portion size to eliminate throwing out food.
Sustainable Recipes
Red Lentil Spinach Soup
Soup: Animation Source: Giphy
You will need a cutting board, bowl or container, knife, wooden spoon, measuring spoon, measuring cup, strainer, and medium pot.
1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
2 stalks of celery diced
2 stalks of carrots chopped and diced
1/2 cup spinach diced
2 cup or more of vegetable stock
1/2 to 1 cup of red lentils
1 teaspoon curry powder
Directions:
First soak the vegetables in warm water in a container for 5 minutes. Strain water and bring vegetable to cutting board in a container. Cut the ends off celery and discard dice into bite size pieces. Cut the carrots into bite size pieces put in container with celery. Remove stems from spinach and cut into fine pieces.
On the stove over medium heat add the oil. Add the carrots and celery and sauté for about five minutes. Add the spinach and stir letting it cook. Add the vegetable stock and let the vegetable cooks for 10 to 15 minutes stir occasionally. Add 1/2 cup or 1 cup of red lentils and let boil or cook for 10 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of curry powder or more. Serves 2 to 4 people.
Gluten Free Pizza With Tomato Sauce, Thyme and Mozzarella Cheese
Pizza Source: From Wix Media
You will need a baking pan, parchment paper, spoon, knife, measuring cup, and measuring spoon. You will find the pizza crust in health food stores, some supermarkets ,and bakeries.
1 frozen gluten free Sourdough Crust from Ugly Bakery at Baba Louies 10 oz. or other brand
2 tablespoon of olive oil
1/4 cup jar or homemade or jarred tomato sauce with low sugar
1 package mozzarella cheese shredded
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves removed from stalks and sprinkled over tomato sauce toppings
Directions:
Defrost the frozen pizza crust to room temperature. Line the pizza pan with parchment paper and spray or use some olive or parchment paper before placing pizza crust on pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Rub olive oil into crust using a paper towel. Add sauce and spread evenly on crust with a spoon. Remove thyme leaves from stalks discard stalks. Sprinkle leaves evenly over sauces. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and spread evenly over crust.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes and remove. Cut into bite sized pieces serve immediately. Serve 2 to 4 people.
Animation Source: Giphy
References:
Social Gastronomy Movement, SMG Team, Social Gastronomy Organization, May 2023
Sustainable Gastronomy, EHL Insights, by Dr. Carolos Martin Rios, June 2020, Hospitality Insights.
Sustainable Gastronomy 101, by Caroline Williams, Chefs Pencil, June 2020