We're big fans of the University District's
Chaco Canyon Cafe. As one of our staff members said after a recent lunch visit: "This is the kind of place that makes you feel like you actually did something good for your body after you've finished your meal."
Congratulations, Chaco Canyon, on your recent certification!
Take advantage of a good deal by using your Chinook Book
coupon:
Receive 50% off a vegan sandwich, raw entree or any other item when you buy one at full-price of equal or greater value with both the 2009 and 2010 edition books!
Press release follows:
WASHINGTON RECEIVES ITS FIRST CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGETARIAN CAFÉ
Seattle, Washington. August 31, 2009. Five years after its conception, Seattle’s Chaco Canyon Organic Café is now Washington State’s first fully certified organic vegetarian restaurant and one of only approximately 10 certified organic restaurants in the country.
While the café has always sourced about 95% organic ingredients, the Oregon Tilth certifying agency has now verified the café’s compliance with the USDA National Organic Program standards.
For an entire restaurant, the organic certification process is rare and far from easy. It requires adherence to strict guidelines for the handling and storage of every product the restaurant sells, ensuring each item is kept out of contact with a lengthy list of toxic, artificial, or otherwise harmful substances. This systematic change took the café six months to achieve.
Owner Chris Maykut opened Chaco Canyon in September of 2003 in Seattle’s University District with the vision of providing delicious, fresh, homemade organic food at an affordable price. He wanted to demonstrate the possibility of business existing beyond the bottom line; with people, the planet and profitability all in balance. Organic certification was not an initial feature of this business model, but ultimately fulfilled the mission with integrity and brought added value to customers.
“It seems as if half the restaurants in town claim to ‘use organic ingredients whenever possible,’” says Maykut. “But when you start to ask staff about what’s organic, you find out that those claims are often somewhat empty. Anyone can throw around words like ‘organic’ or ‘natural,’ so I wanted to let our customers know that we actually walk the walk all year round, not just when it’s cheap or convenient. Our certification is now proof of this!”
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For more information on Chaco Canyon Organic Café, the organic certification process, or for an interview with Sarah Coyle, please contact her at 206.522.6966 or sarah@chacocanyoncafe.com.