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Green Tomato: At Tiato, a Commitment to Good Food and Eco-Consciousness

05 April 2013

An eco-chic restaurant and catering service in Santa Monica wins the 2013 Sustainable Quality Award Grand Prize.

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Works and the City of Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment recently announced Tiato & An Catering as a grand-prize winner of the 2013 Sustainable Quality Awards (SQA). The SQA Grand Prize is awarded to businesses for combined excellence in three areas: economic development, social responsibility and stewardship of the natural environment.

“We are so honored to be awarded for our contribution in making the restaurant industry more sustainable,” says Catherine An, founder and owner of Tiato. “It is a commitment to run a sustainable and profitable business, yet every day we make these efforts to improve the lifestyle of where we work and live.”

Tiato & An Catering are committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of their business. Engagement in the community is a major component in their success, from Santa Monica neighbors and fellow business professionals to the farmers who grow the produce to keep their shelves stocked. The restaurant and catering services source local, healthy and sustainable products, hire locally and utilize sustainable goods in their retail market, restaurant and catering services.

The restaurant décor was strategically designed by An from the ground up, with eco-conscious resources in mind and a set of eco-practices firmly in place. Illuminated by soaring, oversized windows, the restaurant receives ample daylight that eliminates the need for high-energy lighting. The space also utilizes striking sustainable woods, countertops and fabrics, making the entire design of Tiato reflective of its dedication to the highest standards of environmental consciousness.

Partnering with Carbon Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprints and help solve climate change, Tiato & An Catering have created a “Buy Two, Plant One Tree” campaign to both promote Carbon Fund and engage the community. Through the end of summer, Tiato will promote different sustainable menu items each month, encouraging customers to purchase two of the item. Tiato & An Catering will plant a tree in their honor with Carbon Fund. For March, the promotion was two orders of Jidori Chicken Potstickers or two Tiato Herbgarden Mojitos.

The restaurant, which doubles as an eco-chic event space, and is home to An Catering, has also crafted a “Welove2bgreen” Instagram campaign that prompts Tiato customers and social-media users to take a picture at Tiato that creatively symbolizes sustainability and captivates its mission in supporting the environment (adding #welove2bgreen @tiatocafe to each Instagram post to be qualified). The winner will be announced April 17, 2013, and will earn two tickets to an exclusive Earth Day Reception Brunch on April 21, 2013, as well as a Tiato $20 gift certificate.

Tiato is a gourmet eatery and retail market offering fresh bites on the go, with the choice of casual café seating, a full-service dining area or outdoor garden patio. Tiato’s menu is the perfect combination of great-tasting food with equal health benefit that offers variety, quality and balance.

Variety: Tiato’s Market Garden Café offers cultural favorites with a fresh contemporary twist to keep dishes light, flavorful and delicious.

Quality: Great taste begins with great ingredients. Tiato is committed to buying the finest and freshest ingredients from local earth-friendly farms. Indeed, some herbs and produce are grown in the café garden.

Balance: At Tiato, eating right is about eating a meal that makes you feel good. Tiato provides an intentionally balanced menu of carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and vegetables, along with An’s personal selection of sweets. These are the ingredients that are essential for a nutritional meal that keeps the body, mind and soul living well.

For more information on Tiato & An Catering, visit www.tiato.com.


Photo: Illuminated by soaring, oversized windows, Tiato receives ample daylight that eliminates the need for high-energy lighting.

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