Join us in congratulating Sassafras Café as achieving our highest star rating! Sassafras Café is one of our Flagship Members – a sustainability leader in the region that joined the GDA during our pilot phase. And now, upon their re-certification, we have a great story to share. As the result of upgrades to their kitchen equipment, as well as increasing their sustainable business practices, Sassafras has advanced from a 3-star to a 4-star certified member restaurant!
Sassafras offers “green fun facts” on every table order card, and their table ‘tents tell the story of composting: explaining how and why.
What makes them a sustainability leader? Sharing knowledge is an integral component of the culture at Missouri Botanical Garden. Sassafras Café plays a big role in this process by increasing the awareness of and educating their guests and vendors. The Cafe places “green fun facts” on every table order card, and their table tents tell the story of composting: explaining how and why. A sign is posted near their dock that reminds vendors and service providers of the City’s “No Idling” ordinance.
Not only is Sassafras Café a Green Dining Alliance member, they have also committed to the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, the St. Louis High Performance Building Initiative, and the Garden’s own Better Business Through Biodiversity Initiative. These are just a few of many indicators of how deeply Sassafras is committed to the environment; and now they can receive recognition for all that they do through our comprehensive certification process.
There are new Energy Star appliances & programmable ovens.
Over the past year, Sassafras made several upgrades to their kitchen, which is now fitted out with equipment and fixtures that greatly reduce water and energy consumption. They have programmable ovens, a high-efficiency dish washer, and Energy Star appliances everywhere you turn.
Internally, the Garden has instituted a policy for zero waste when it comes to lunch-n-learns, seminars, and meetings – Sassafras Café plays a big role in facilitating such waste reduction.
Talk about innovation… After dining at Sassafras, should you choose to take the elevator to the lower level, you’ll be carried by hydraulics lubricated with discarded vegetable oil – no petroleum! Bonus points for sure!
