I often neglect to reflect on the reason for the Memorial Day Holiday. My grandfather died in World War II, so today I think of him and the ultimate sacrifice that he made to protect innocent people. His purple heart inspires me to do the most I can to make this world a better place, one that he could my grandfather would be proud of.

I don’t personally know many people who have sacrificed their lives for their country, but I have met inspiring folks and organizations that make devote themselves fully to their communities. I’d like to acknowledge some of them today.

* Marissa LaMagna works tirelessly to promote green businesses in the Bay Area through her non-profit Bay Area Green Tours.
* Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, the rest of the California legislature, and the folks in Sacramento have such a task ahead of them to balance the budget. I visited our state capital this week when Assemblymember Skinner recognized me as Small Business Owner of the Year for her district. You can help small businesses and the state of California by shopping locally.
* The Bread Project is a non-profit job-training program. The delicious chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies at Amanda’s are made by the Bread Project team.
* The Berkeley Food & Housing Project provides beds and meals for over 85 people per day.

Today, please join me in appreciating those who have given their lives in war and in devotion to their communities.

Enjoy your Memorial Day,

On the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food Restaurant hosted a table talk about Sustainable Sourcing for Fast Food with BEACN, a consulting group at UC Berkeley, Lee Bassian from Bassian Farms, Tom Franier and Mike Rose from Semifreddi’s Bakery, Tony D’Amato from Bay Cities Produce, and Ariane Michas from the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. The event was inspired by the BEACN team’s consulting project that helped Amanda’s to make goals for a more sustainable future. The student representatives discussed the importance of local, natural, food, and fair trade food items. Conscious consumers have the ability to improve the world through their food choices. One of the best ways to do this is to ask a lot of questions and to inform yourself to make better decisions. According to their survey, there is an increasing number of people who show interest in organic foods and more people are going to farmers markets.

The second portion of the event was a Q&A session with a panel of experts from different fields, including meat, produce, and baked goods. One of the panelists commented on Amanda’s Restaurant and how the goal of the restaurant is not just about serving food, but also about educating its customers so they can make conscious decisions. One of the key themes of the event was how to make these great sustainable options less intimidating, less elitist, more down to earth, and more affordable.

The panel was successful in educating and those who attended were happy with trying a free burger as well as a new pickle recipe that Amanda’s is soon to release. Amanda’s was generous enough to allow attendees to try out a new, potential ingredient: grass-fed beef burgers. The beef was juicy, well cooked, and tasty overall. Amanda’s also announced that locally-owned Semifreddi’s bakery is now supplying whole wheat vegan hamburger buns specially designed for Amanda’s. Lee Bassian explained that grass-fed beef has less cholesterol, more vitamin E, and more monoglycerides, opposed to triglycerides, which makes it less fatty. The new pickles have a one of a kind flavor and simple, all-natural ingredients.

Other topics that were discussed include how to balance a business and its social mission, understanding where your food comes from, and the importance of building a close relationship with your supplier.

Almost 20 years ago, my best friend and I launched the Environmental Club at our high school. We sold Earth Day T-shirts to raise money for the Amazon rainforest and started the recycling program in our school. Since then, I’ve become increasingly moved by Earth Day. Because of our early high school activism, I was inspired to launch a business that was founded upon environmental values.

Two years ago, before my restaurant opened, we had the chance to serve our Amanda’s Organic Apple “Fries” to students at UC Berkeley. Last year we had a celebration at my restaurant. And this year, Earth Day feels more special than Christmas or Passover to me. Since it is the 40th Earth Day, there is a lot going on:
* Berkeley’s Ecology Center is celebrating their 40th anniversary
* My restaurant, Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food, is holding a panel today from from 5-6pm on “Sustainable Sourcing for Fast Food” where we continue to improve our committment to the environment
* The City of Berkeley is celebrating Earth Day with a Festival on Saturday from 12-5pm in Downtown Berkeley’s Civic Center Park.

Finally, my high school best friend is having her second baby boy today, an Earth Baby!

It’s true what they say: time flies when you’re having fun. This past year has been a joyous mix of introducing ourselves to Berkeley, meeting new people, and helping to build a healthy community. We are proud to announce that Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food Restaurant will be celebrating our one year anniversary!

As the assistant general manager of Amanda’s for the past year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in helping Amanda’s Restaurant through our first year. From our incredible team, to our wonderful customers, to the unfailingly supportive Berkeley community, it has truly been a group effort.

On Saturday 25 July, 2009, we will be throwing an all-day party (from noon to 8pm) to commemorate our first year. We will be giving out samples of our delicious food throughout the day. We’ll have several different musicians performing in the front of the restaurant. You could also win prizes to Almare Gelato, the Oakland Zoo, Parrot Cellular, Juice Appeal, Jupiter, Comic Relief, Meridian, Half Price Books, OCSC Sailing, Pegasus Books, Marjorie Majenti Acupuncture, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, YMCA, Aurora Theatre Company, Backyard Food Project, Shotgun Players, Bobby G’s Pizzeria, Hotel Shattuck Plaza, Carsala, and The Bread Project during our raffle. So bring the kids, friends, and family down to Amanda’s Restaurant on 25 July for a day of fun, food, music and prizes! See you then!

For another gift of a free freshly made soda with purchase of a grilled item, bring in a non-perishable food item for our drive for the Alameda County Food Bank.

Look forward to seeing you in a few weeks! - Peter

Two documentaries, Fresh and Food, Inc., have recently premiered, addressing the dangers of our industrialized food systems and offering some examples of how changes are being made. Both films remind us of how we can make a difference in reducing the amount of fossil fuels, antibiotics, growth hormones, and unhealthy ingredients go into our food system.

In both films, Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, describes some of the worst impacts of our food system from reliance on corn to the loss of diversity in farming. Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm is portrayed as an idyllic diverse farm, but both films also show the struggle that a majority of farmers and ranchers have in escaping the industrialized markets. Gary Hirshberg, the inspirational founder of Stonyfield Farms shows how better-for-you foods can be affordable through selling organic yogurt to Walmart and trying to keep the perfect from being the enemy of the good. These themes are what has inspired the feelgoodfastfood.org blog to continue the conversation started by Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation. It is also what inspired the launch of Amanda’s in Berkeley, CA to offer affordable, approachable, convenient meals that use good quality ingredients and embrace environmental values.

While these topics can be discouraging, especially when most of us face limited time and budgets, there are hopeful suggestions that we can all start to incorporate. We can start to ask questions of our current food suppliers - what do you serve that is organic or local? is your meat naturally-raised without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones? We can start to make incremental choices to eat more local ingredients, less meat, and more fruits and vegetables to change our own health and the health of our world. Please see these films, discuss them with your communities, and join us in helping to change the world one meal at a time.

There’s no use belaboring the facts of climate change and its potentially drastic effects. What is important however, is how we respond to the new knowledge we have about human impact on climate change. In choosing to be more environmentally conscious, businesses and homeowners have options over how to reduce negative effects of global warming..

Some utility companies now offer green pricing programs which gives their customers the choice to pay extra to ensure all of the energy they use is produced by renewable sources. Another option is to invest money in more energy efficient technology to reduce overall electricity consumption. From an economic perspective, money being spent to reduce the impacts of global warming should be spent in the most cost effective way; thus, the greatest amount of emissions reduction per dollar spent.

As California’s renewable energy portfolio (20% renewable by 2010) continues to lead the country with its high standards, our utility companies will increase the percentage of their power mix coming from renewable sources. PG&E in Northern California, in particular, already boasts that about half of the electricity delivered to its customers comes from either renewable and/or non-greenhouse gas emitting sources, such as hydroelectricity. Utility companies dedicating a greater percentage of their power mix to renewable energy means that concerned customers may prefer to focus their emission reduction efforts on increasing energy efficiency, being able to get the same job done with less energy.

In this spirit, Amanda’s Restaurant in Berkeley, CA has dedicated itself to being more energy efficient, using the latest Energy Star rated appliances as part of its environmental commitment. Energy Star is a program backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps customers easily recognize efficient products that reliably demonstrate energy savings. Look for the Energy Star logo when supporting local businesses and purchasing new appliances for your home. Energy Star and other energy efficient products may be the most cost effective way concerned consumers like you and I can do our part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s true—gone are the days when slow food and fast food were unheard of as being one and the same.

 Because we believe in creating a community through environmentally sustainable practices and healthy foods, we support  and encourage the three principles of “good, clean and fair” foods that the Slow Food movement was structured upon.

 The Slow Food movement, as defined by Slow Food USA, is “ an idea, a way of living, and a way of eating” supported globally yet primarily reliant upon community’s involvement, with a mission to change the food system by making it affordable to all and reconnecting Americans with the people and traditions that generate our foods. Through it, there is the hope of ensuring “ equity, sustainability, and pleasure”.

Good news! There are several opportunities for community involvement available through Slow Food USA.  Not only is there a chapter established in Berkeley , but there are also national programs dedicated to expanding this food movement to areas such as elementary schools and college campuses through activities that range from improving school lunches, to examining food justice issues.

Local Slow Food events this summer:

 June 13, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

-Potluck Picnic Party in Tilden Park – enjoy summer with shared organic and locally grown/raised/brewed foods!

Thought I’d share my favorite happenings around the world to celebrate the earth!

Here are 3 to start with:

1) Freshly-made sodas for just 50 cents if you bring your own cup today at Amanda’s at 2122 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA.
2) Current.com has the coolest Green Site with a schedule for the day and earthday-related articles
3) Amy Hale’s Donation and Volunteer ideas to inspire you to get involved on Earth Day.

UNICEF’s goal is to increase the number of peope with safe water and basic sanitation. You can help, without writing a big check during World Water Week, March 22-28,2009. Just pay $1 or more for the tap water you usually get for free at restaurants like Amanda’s, Venus, Chez Panisse, and Saul’s Deli in Berkeley, CA. To find a participating restaurant in your area, click here. Or, donate online here.

I promise to post something other than the wonderful press reviews of Amanda’s. But, I thought that you all would be interested in the article about Amanda’s in the Chronicle’s 96-hour section. In a budget economy, Amanda’s is truly a Bargain Bite.

Also, please help support Amanda’s with by casting your vote for us in the Chronicle’s Best of the Bay.