Asheville Becomes America’s First Green Dining Destination

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—For the first time, one of America’s cities, Asheville, N.C., has earned the official designation of being a Green Dining Destination. This achievement means that locals, tourists, and businesspeople can dine at a plethora of Certified Green Restaurants throughout Asheville. This accomplishment was driven by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR), and the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute (BRSI), who formed a local coalition to encourage more environmentally sustainable practices within the city’s restaurants.

This month, Asheville has met and exceeded its goal of having 15 Certified Green Restaurants throughout the city, all of which have met the GRA’s certification standards. As the 16th restaurant in Asheville recently earned its certification, the coalition has now reached its goal of Asheville becoming the nation’s first Green Dining Destination.

“I am both proud and honored that the Green Restaurant Association has designated Asheville as America’s first Green Dining Destination,” says Asheville Mayor Terry M. Bellamy. “Asheville’s 15 Certified Green Restaurants are leading the way toward zero waste, energy independence, and sustainable food. When you visit Asheville you will have an amazing selection of extraordinary green restaurants.”

Enhances Asheville’s Culinary Reputation

“The Asheville area prides itself on a food culture that embraces fresh, innovative cuisine that integrates product from local growers and artisan food producers,” Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director Stephanie Brown said. “The prestigious designation of ‘Green Dining Destination’ is an accomplishment that adds to Asheville’s reputation as a distinctive culinary destination.”

All of Asheville’s Certified Green Restaurants have met the GRA’s certification standards by earning at least 100 GreenPoints in the categories of food, water, waste, energy, chemicals, and disposables. Additionally, each Certified Green Restaurant has eliminated use of polystyrene foam, (aka StyroFoam), and has implemented a full-scale recycling program.

The 16 Certified Green Restaurants in the city are: Bouchon, Cedric’s Tavern on the Biltmore Estate, The French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Homegrown, Laughing Seed Cafe, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Plant Restaurant, Neo Cantina, Posana Cafe, Rosetta’s Kitchen, Strada Italiano, The Corner Kitchen, The Green Sage, The Green Sage South, Tupelo Honey Cafe, and Tupelo Honey Cafe South.

“We are thrilled to be one of the Certified Green Restaurants that has helped Asheville become the nation’s first Green Dining Destination,” says Randy Tally from The Green Sage.

Program Adds Transparency

“Our customers care greatly about the environmental impact of the restaurants they visit,” adds Leslie H. Armstrong from Plant Restaurant. “Because our menu is exclusively plant-based, our ecological footprint is inherently light. As a Certified Green Restaurant, we’re pleased that we can provide transparent details about how we’ve become even more environmentally sustainable across our operations.”

Green-minded consumers can easily locate the continually expanding list of Certified Green Restaurants online by visiting DinegreenAsheville.com, which also features the detailed environmental accomplishments of each location. Further, on the website, diners can learn more about the environmental impact of the restaurant industry, and encourage even more local restaurants to go green.

For those with mobile devices, an Asheville Certified Green Restaurant Finder mobile app is available for download at the top of DinegreenAsheville.com and will soon be accessible in the Apple and Android app stores. The app was created by Squiggle IT and features map-based and cuisine-based green restaurant searches.

Go to the Green Restaurant Assn.