eat

You weren’t expecting that were you?

I decided to recommend a restaurant that I love, that does good things for the world, and lots of you have access to. We aren’t traveling these days, but we still deserve to eat delicious food! (and support businesses that are doing something good in our world.)

Shake Shack may be best known for a premium fast food experience, but did you know they also “Stand for Something Good“? That’s the name of the program that spells out the company’s deep commitment to doing good through their ingredient selection and sourcing, business practices, design of their stores, their employment practices, and commitment to the communities they operate in.

As a New Yorker and food service professional, I feel a personal connection to Shake Shack for so many reasons… their meat blend comes from a friend, waiting in the long line at the original location in Madison Square Park is a right-of-passage, and so on.

Now, I’ve got a new reason to cheer them on. When Shake Shack opened at Greenbelt 5 in the Philippines, they set an example for other international companies by promoting local crafts/artisans and culture in the design and decor of the restaurant. This included sourcing handwoven aurog vine pendant lamps from Hacienda Crafts.

Hacienda Crafts is an organization from Negros Island that helps local craftspeople (mostly women) become self reliant micro-entrepreneurs building sustainable income for their families. All while preserving traditional weaving arts that were at risk a few decades ago. Their fair trade, one-of-a-kind creations now appear in interior designs internationally.

So, to sum it up…

• Eat and drink at: SHAKE SHACK
• Wander to: lots of places world-wide, if they’re not there already, they probably will be soon!
• My favorite things: Shack Burger but sometimes I get the Chicago dog; crinkle cut fries with Shack sauce; seasonally flavored shakes and concretes; and local wines and beers. Their veggie burgers are also awesome, even if you’re not vegetarian!