Tips from Mr. Turner on Eco-Friendly Food Spots

Who doesn’t like to save themselves the stress of the kitchen, and treat themselves to a night out at a nice restaurant? We don’t have to worry about what’s in the fridge, how long to leave the oven on, or even washing dishes afterwards. But before you jet off to your favorite restaurant, there is something that you should worry about. Are you dining green?

Treehugger.com reports that Turner’s restaurants print their menus on recycled paper, and eco-friendly paper straws and wooden drink stirrers replace the typical plastics. Turner makes sure that any soft drink is served in a recyclable glass bottles, and low voltage lighting is used in the waiting areas of the restaurant.

            -Take the time to fix any leaky faucets or fixtures. Not only does this waste earth’s precious water, it spikes the water bill as well. Help yourself and the environment by nipping that drip drip dripping faucet in the butt.

            -Another water saving tip: serve customers water upon request. Many times, restaurant-goers sit with that glass of water in front of them and never touch it. Consider only serving water to customers who ask for it.

            -Also consider installing motion sensors in offices, back rooms and other less used parts of the kitchen. When that part of the kitchen is not in use, the sensors will automatically shut the lights off, saving money on the energy bill. Turner suggests that unplugging computers, coffee machines and other small appliances is also a great idea.

            -When it comes to a green restaurant, you can’t do it own your own. Take a weekend and train restaurant staff on small tasks to help keep the restaurant environmentally friendly. Pass the word on to your customers as well. Get the word out that the restaurant is going out of its way to make sure it’s eco-friendly. When customers learn this, they’ll feel better about eating there, and share the cool news with others.

Turner is making history with his quest to conquer the “green” restaurant, but don’t try and pat him on the back. To Turner, being eco-friendly is a simple application of common sense. His thoughts on using stirrers to stir your beverage? “I mix my drink with my finger. Or use your butter knife. You don't need them.” I suppose he’s right. Just make sure to check the temperature of that coffee before you stick your finger in.