Fresh Thoughts from Fresh and Co.

Farm Fresh Friday for February 23rd - Daikon Radish Sprouts

2012-02-23T16:11:00.000-05:00

Howdy! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we are bringing daikon radish sprouts from Satur Farms to our salad bars! Used frequently in Asian cuisine, these sprouts are tangy with a light peppery finish. Daikon radish sprouts are also packed with vitamins and minerals. Make sure to stop in on Friday and add this exciting sprout to your salad! Enjoy!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - February 22nd

2012-02-22T14:50:00.000-05:00

Hi Fresh & Co. Fans! I hope you are taking the necessary steps to reach your 2012 goals as suggested in my previous blog. It is a great feeling when you enter Fresh & Co., and you are greeted with friendly faces and share the hope of great food to energize you with other customers.

We all share the goal of eating right and feeling good about ourselves. When I go in to teach a group exercise or small group training class, it is the same thing. People show up day after day to get a good sweat, socialize, feel strong, and be empowered. There is a feeling of camaraderie in each spin room. We build off of each other’s energy to push through the day’s challenges.

A recent study found that we mimic the habits of our closest acquaintances. If this is true, whom do you encounter on a daily basis? Ask yourself, how does each person affect your chances of maintaining a healthy life? Excellent social connections could make or break your health habits. Make your goals clear to family and friends. I suggest joining a group, team, or training class to keep you motivated and share your health goals. Feel good knowing that the Fresh & Co. team will support you by providing healthy meal options. If you need a snack, there is pre-made hummus and veggies or fruit and yogurt. From the salad and pasta bars to the sandwich options, Fresh & Co. will always help you reach your goals. As I reflect on who I dine with, my truest friends support my healthy decisions and understand why I would rather walk than take a cab, for example – without teasing or singling me out. Teamwork and camaraderie are amazing things that create positive growth and change. As February comes to an end, think about how your environment will impact your life.

If you have any questions on health & wellness, or you are interested in training with me, please feel free to email me: michelegfit@gmail.com; follow me on Twitter @michelegfit and check out my blog; makeitwithmich.blogspot.com

New coffee in our stores: ¡Tierra! blend from Lavazza; delicious and sustainable

2012-02-07T11:43:00.000-05:00

Hey Fresh Faces,

Continuing our commitment to the environment and helping the community, we are so excited to roll out a new coffee blend in all of our stores. Since last week, we have been serving the ¡Tierra! blend from Lavazza. ¡Tierra! is the sustainable development project undertaken by Lavazza to support three communities of small coffee growers in Latin America with the ambition to combine product quality with improved living conditions for coffee growers.

¡Tierra! comes from farms certified by the Rainforest Alliance, the international non-governmental organization active in promoting sustainable coffee. The product is an excellent blend of 100% washed Arabica coffees. ¡Tierra! is highly aromatic, with a light fruit acidity, and delicate but sweet notes.

Have you tried our new coffee yet? Make sure to grab a cup this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Farm Fresh Friday for January 20th - Carnival Cauliflower

2012-01-19T17:03:00.001-05:00

For our first Farm Fresh Friday of 2012, we brought back an old favorite! Carnival cauliflower was featured in our salad bars back in early November from Satur Farms. This veggie was such a HUGE hit, so we wanted to bring it again in case you missed it last time. Carnival cauliflower will be an awesome addition to your salad with its beautiful bright colors, and of course, since it is full of vitamins and minerals. Make sure you give carnival cauliflower a try this week, and let us know what you think!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - January 11th

2012-01-10T16:56:00.000-05:00

Hello Fresh Faces! It’s a New Year and many of us are taking steps to achieve our health goals. After just one week, I notice how hard it is for people to stick with their resolutions. You have all year to reach your 2012 goals, so slow down and plan what necessary action steps you will take to reach them.

Staying on track to meet your goals is challenging, and every day can be a battle. Fresh & Co. and I have teamed up to help you have a “fresh” focus on the New Year and the healthier, New YOU! Focus on what you CAN do this year, rather than what you cannot do. Educate yourself with the information I have blogged about with fitness & nutrition tips, stay motivated by continuously reminding yourself of your progress, and hold yourself accountable by signing up for a small group training program, group exercise class, a personal training session, or a nutrition consultation. We are going to face setbacks and obstacles this year, but prove that you are strong enough to overcome the challenges to reaching your nutrition and fitness goals.

Here are some of my tips for sticking with your 2012 nutrition and fitness goals:

1. Create a PLAN OF ACTION. For example, do not just say you want to lose 20 lbs by December. Figure out what you must do on a shorter basis to achieve this goal. Personally, I set goals for myself on a weekly basis and what must be done to accomplish them. I have my clients, class participants, friends and co-workers do the same.

2. BE REAL! Don’t say you’re going to the gym every day this week and you are not having any candy or processed food ever again – live a little! If you were only going to the gym once a week in 2011, start by going two, maybe three, times per week now. Each week or month, build up your usage or intensity a little bit more. You could also burnout or injure yourself if you do not take these gradual steps. The same goes for eating healthier. Record what you eat, seek professional guidance, and determine what you need to do to reach your fit goals. If you eat a bag of chips every day at lunch, cut back by having the bag three or four times per week, and slowly decrease that number each week or month. Replace it with fruit or a healthier meal that includes hummus or whole wheat crackers if you want that crunchy taste.

3. PREPARE yourself for what you are about to endure. Every day, or at least the beginning of the New YOU, will be a challenge. There are going to be times of high stress when you feel that eating healthy food or exercising is just not an option. Some days, you may not make it to your gym class or be able to go grocery shopping – but there are always options. Pick a day where you prepare all of your meals and snacks for the week. This makes decision making much easier! Always keep a snack handy in your bag, desk, or car. If you wait too long to eat between meals, you may get low-blood sugar, feel fatigued, and then overeat at your next meal. Have a trainer write out some “at-home” exercises for you to do or purchase a DVD so you can do something in the convenience of your own home. It’s better to be prepared than sorry!

4. BE PROUD of every step you are making to become the STRONGER, FITTER, and HEALTHER YOU!

Remember, Fresh & Co. has a variety of healthy food items to help you kick off the New Year on a healthier foot! If you have any further questions or want to work out with me, feel free to e-mail at michelegfit@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter @MicheleGFIT or on my blog makeitwithmich.blogspot.com.

January Sandwich of the Month and Breakfast Flat Bread!

2012-01-03T16:29:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year, Fresh Faces! With the new month brings some new menu additions, so let's get started. First, we have the latest Sandwich of the Month; smoked turkey ham with white cheddar, grain mustard and mayo on 7 grain bread. Yum!

Next, we have a new Breakfast Flat Bread Sandwich; the Anaheim! Eggs, chicken and apple sausage, and white cheddar on a delicious flat bread will definitely help get you going in the morning to face the day. Give these new items a try and as always, let us know what you think!

Thank You for supporting The Dine Out for Share Our Strength!

2011-12-27T16:29:00.000-05:00

Hey Fresh Faces, we hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! We wanted to take this moment to thank everyone for their efforts with the in-store fundraising we did back in September, for Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. Along with thousands of other restaurants, the promo lasted from September 19^th-23^rd in our stores, and we were able to send Share Our Strength a fantastic contribution! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who donated in our stores! We were able to take the in-store amounts from our customers and match them to double our efforts.

Just one dollar can connect a child to 10 meals, not just for today, but also the long term. Thank you again for your assistance during Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry! We hope to see everyone again next year, as we strive to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

Week of December 12th: At register promotion for City Harvest

2011-12-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

Happy December, Fresh Faces! As many of you know, we have been donating our excess food every Friday to City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, and the only one here in New York City. Each week, City Harvest helps over 300,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal.

To take our efforts a step further, we will run an at register promotion in all four Manhattan stores from December 12^th – 18^th, 2011 to benefit City Harvest. On top of that, all customer donations will be matched at the end of the promotion to help double the fundraising!

We understand that the holiday season can be difficult for everyone, but for the hungry of New York City, it hits even harder. Help us continue to help City Harvest feed the city’s hungry men, women and children every day, as they have been for the past 25 years.

Farm Fresh Friday for December 9th - Micro Greens

2011-12-09T12:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! Our Farm Fresh item this week are micro greens from Satur Farms. Micro greens are a tiny form of edible greens produced from the seeds of vegetables, herbs or other plants. They range in size from one to two inches long, including the stem and leaves, and can have surprisingly intense flavors considering their small size, though not as strong as mature greens and herbs. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - December 7th

2011-12-08T12:50:00.001-05:00

It was that time of day again where almost every guest in Fresh & Co. needed an escape. If you work in an office, you know how difficult it is to be active during the day. This week I dashed out of my 3 hour meeting to head to “Fresh” for a salad, and I found myself joined by like-minded NYC workers hoping to get a nutritious lunch. I looked around and it was great to see smiling faces, but many were just staring down at their smartphones, and not seeing the opportunity to help their fitness goals and move. When it comes to reaching certain fitness levels, daily physical activity is key. Between waiting on lines at Fresh & Co. try doing some exercises while you wait so you can easily squeeze exercise into your life.

Here are some of my tips for waiting in line or walking around a store:

· If you hold a bag or briefcase, try 12 reps of bicep curls in each arm. We are constantly picking this up and putting them down, so it is important to strengthen our arm muscles.

· Perform squats in place. This may seem silly, but if you position yourself in the right place, it will come across as normal. Check out the pre-packaged food, not by leaning over, but rather by squatting so you engage your lower body and core muscles. If you leave your bag on the floor, squat in place as you gather your things.

· While you stand, go into a wide stance, press your heels to the ground and squeeze your gluteal muscles to work your rear and thighs. You can also simply perform heel raises in place to strengthen your legs.

· If you are feeling ambitious, do knee-lifts in place and balance on one leg to exercise those core and leg muscles.

· My two top tips are to practice good posture and walk as much as possible. We hunch and sit all day, from commuting, working at the desk, or texting on our cell phones. It helps while we stand on line practice to good form and posture, which will help make you stronger. Inhale through the nose and get oxygen flowing through your body for a dose of energy. Relax and retract your shoulders, keep your core tight, chest lifted, and show the world how confident you are when you walk or stand upright. Also, walk up and down the stairs to and from work or to your desired lunch place. I purposely skip the subway every morning to get my body and mind running. Staying fit and healthy is easy if you adapt simple ways to bring wellness to your day.

The next time you are out and about, practice good posture and see if you feel better or if more people notice this new powerful aura. Try adding more movement or exercises throughout your day. As always, ask me any questions for your personal fitness and wellness goals. Please feel free to contact me at michelegfit@gmail.com, follow me on Twitter @MicheleGFIT, or read my blog at makeitwithmich.blogspot.com. Staying fit, strong, and healthy is easy when you stop at to Fresh & Co. for a nutritious meal or snack, and stay active!

December Sandwich of the Month, Side Salad and new gift card promo!

2011-12-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the new month! For December our latest Panini is one that will explore a new culinary palette. Our latest Panini, is mozzarella melted over grilled chicken, roasted red onions, and topped with a delicious chimichurri sauce.

Our new side salad for the month is Brazilian style three bean and rice in a chimichurri vinaigrette. Similar to our Panini of the month, this new side salad will give you a new and different taste to try. Enjoy these two new additions to our menu for December, and as always, let us know what you think!

Also, don't forget about our new gift card promo for the holidays:

Farm Fresh Friday for December 2nd - Yellow French Beans

2011-12-02T10:56:00.000-05:00

Hey all and Happy Friday! Today for our Farm Fresh item we are having yellow French beans from Satur Farms in our salad bars. Yellow French beans are similar to green beans, with a thinner skin and are slightly sweet and crunchy. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

Don't be a turkey, give a turkey!

2011-12-01T12:09:00.001-05:00

Hey Fresh Faces,

To keep the spirit of giving alive, we are asking for your help to donate whatever you can to help families in need put a holiday meal on their tables. Our Director of Marketing, Ty, wrote a blog post to spotlight a great cause. Click to read on.

Here's a short video about the cause and their results from years back!

See you all tomorrow for Farm Fresh Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T15:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! We just wanted to take a moment to say “thank you” to all of you who come through our doors and love our food. We also wanted to use this moment to discuss giving back; especially for a particular cause we give so much to… childhood hunger

No Kid Hungry has been an effort that we have been proud to support. For the past five years, they have been working tirelessly to help end childhood hunger, and have a goal to do so by 2015. However, with the holiday season upon us, they need our help more than ever! Please commit to the cause take the pledge below:

If you can, also please donate, no matter how small. Just $1 connects a child to 10 healthy meals! This holiday season, though the generosity of No Kid Hungry partners, ALL gifts will be matched to double the fundraising. Help every child in America get the nutritious food they need to learn, grow and thrive.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Fresh Faces! May it be filled with good food, family, friends and love.

Farm Fresh Friday for November 18th - Watermelon Radish

2011-11-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! This week we are featuring watermelon radishes for Farm Fresh Friday in our salad bars. Our good friends at Satur Farms are bringing these to us. Watermelon radishes are excellent raw and in a salad, but also roasted or pickled. They are also milder and sweeter than a regular radish, and of course, have a gorgeous bright pink color. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

New Choice for Bottled Water in our stores!

2011-11-15T14:14:00.004-05:00

Howdy! We at Fresh & Co. are thrilled to bring to you a new beverage choice within our stores. We are now offering bottled water from NYCH2O, one of the most environmentally friendly companies we have found. NYCH2O bottles are BPA-free, recyclable and the ONLY water bottles currently on the market made with EcoPure, a fully biodegradable plastic that naturally breaks down. It is also sourced, bottled and sold locally for minimal carbon footprint.

NYCH2O is NOT New York City tap water; instead it is from a cold, fresh, 10,000 year old spring in the Catskill Mountains. The goal is to eliminate imported water to New York City and provide clean New York State spring water for all. Check out NYCH2O water today!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - November 9th

2011-11-09T10:32:00.003-05:00

It’s that time of year again! The season is changing, people are sneezing or coughing, and my clients, friends, and family are saying, “I think I’m getting sick.” Spending time in NYC during the colder months makes it easy for us to catch a cold; germs are EVERYWHERE. However, with my knowledge, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset of a cold, decrease the severity of symptoms, or shorten a cold’s length of time.

There is no doubt that exercise is key, but nutrition is the determining factor on how sick you will be. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants, iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, will help your body fight free radicals, be nourished with oxygen and vital nutrients, maintain a strong immune system, and feel energized. Here is a general rule to go by when choosing produce; the more colors – the more antioxidants. Try fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, guava, and mango. Or stock up on veggies such as carrots, bell peppers, sweet potato, pumpkin, spinach, beets or kale. Try adding tuna, legumes, anchovies, salmon, flax, walnuts, almonds, or soybeans to your diet as well.

Eating foods with high antioxidative properties will make you feel good! Dining at Fresh & Co. is great for your nutrition. At the salad bar, ask for mixed greens or spinach and toss in as many colorful veggies and fruits as you can. Fresh’s to go section offers yogurt blends with fruit and quinoa, edamame and fruit salads, and sandwiches made with a variety of vegetables. From feeling energized to fighting off a cold, choose foods that help your body grow and heal. Luckily, Fresh & Co. makes it easy for us to do so!

If you ever need a tip on what to eat at the restaurant or around your workouts, advice on exercise, or you are interested in taking a class with me, find me on Twitter @MicheleGFit, read my blog: makeitwithmich.blogpost.com, or send me an e-mail directly at michelegfit@gmail.com.

Farm Fresh Friday for November 4th - Carnival Cauliflower

2011-11-03T15:55:00.001-04:00

Its the end of the week, so Fresh Faces know what that means! Check out carnival cauliflower in our salad bars this week from Satur Farms. Carnival cauliflower is the best of both worlds. Full of good for you vitamins and minerals, with added visual excitement from their bright colors. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think! :)

November Sandwich of the Month and Side Salad

2011-11-01T15:25:00.000-04:00

Happy November, Fresh Faces! A new month means new changes to our menu. Our Sandwich of the Month for November will be a welcome sight for vegetarians! Edamame, hummus, tomato, arugula, cucumbers and sprouts on 7 grain bread make up this delightful and delicious sandwich.

Our new Side Salad for the month features sweet potatoes, jalapeno, and candied ginger in an agave vinaigrette. ALL Fresh & Co. locations will be offering side salad sampling on Wednesday, November 2 from 12-2 p.m., or while supplies last. Stop by and give the newest side salad a try.

Enjoy these two terrific addition to our menu this month!

Farm Fresh Friday for October 28th - Roasted Brussels Sprouts

2011-10-27T16:47:00.000-04:00

Howdy, Fresh Faces! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we are excited to have roasted Brussels Sprouts from Satur Farms in our salad bars. You've probably had Brussels sprouts pan fried or sauteed, but when roasted, their flavor is enhanced! They are also jam packed with vitamins C and K, potassium, and calcium. Give this super food a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think!

Enjoy!

Fresh News & Views for Thought: October 25th

2011-10-25T13:09:00.002-04:00

For today's blog post, we wanted to feature a story we recently covered for our monthly newsletter. We really believe in bettering the environment, and hope you do too. Don't receive our monthly newsletter? Click here to sign up!

Happy October, Fresh Faces! This month we want to focus on an ever growing trend around the country that we have taken part in. At Fresh & Co., we do not use plastic bags for customer use of any kind.

If you look at many recent news stories, communities around the country such as Aspen, Colorado have started to place a ban on plastic bags, or are currently looking into this as an option like San Clemente, CA and the campus of UC Berkeley. More municipalities and cities are bringing the idea of banning plastic bags to life every day.

Focusing on the environment is something that we strive to do at Fresh & Co. It is estimated that 380 billion plastic bags are used every year in just the United States alone. That startling statistic breaks down to about 1200 bags per US resident, and only 1% of that number are actually being recycled.

Help the environment and use paper bags that can be recycled, like we do here at Fresh & Co. Even better, invest in reusable bags that are being sold in numerous stores across the city to help you carry your belongings around.

We only get one Mother Nature; let's take care of her together.

Farm Fresh Friday for October 21st - Heirloom Tomatoes

2011-10-21T11:37:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we will be featuring heirloom tomatoes from Satur Farms in our salad bars. Heirloom tomatoes are a variety that have been grown from seeds passed down from one generation to another. Plus, they are juicy, delicious and packed full of vitamins. Give them a try today, and as always, let us know what you think!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - October 19th

2011-10-19T13:26:00.000-04:00

Happy Wellness Wednesday Fresh & Co. fans! Wednesdays are commonly known as the “hump” of our weeks, and is one of the reasons why I am so happy to write on this day to push you and help reach your goals. We, especially as New Yorkers, have to constantly deal with obstacles and be strong enough to get through them.

When people ask me how I survive my long days and still have the energy to do more, my answer is simple: I find ways to get fitness into my day to feel strong and I eat right to feel nourished. More than ever, many of my family, friends, and clients are struggling with their weight loss and fitness plateaus. This is a tough personal obstacle to get through since there are many factors that can come into play. This week, if you are trying to overcome fitness plateaus or hurdles at work, try monitoring your daily caloric intake and your physical activity with honesty. There are tons of free online tools or cell phone applications to help you, as well.

A calorie is energy and we need a certain amount to keep our engines running. Therefore, you want to have enough, but not too much than you can utilize. Variety is key to getting through a challenge too. Fresh & Co. is a great way to get exercise in. Walk or run to a location and nosh on satisfying combinations of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Think: am I getting enough protein and fat in my diet? Is there a variety and ample sources of colorful fruits and vegetables throughout the day? Am I trying to push myself at the gym, even just a little bit?

Releasing stress through exercising is a great way to have lasting energy throughout the day. Small things can greatly impact how you feel and perform in all aspects of your life. Be patient with yourself and discover what is truly important to you, so you can take steps to being healthier, fitter, stronger, and happier. I hope you stop by Fresh & Co. a day this week to help keep you on track! Feel free to contact me at michelegfit@gmail.com or on Twitter @MichelegFIT to help keep you motivated through some of the roughest times of your day or week!

Farm Fresh Friday for October 14th - Roasted Parsnips

2011-10-14T15:20:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday! This week we are bringing you Roasted Parsnips from Satur Farms. Roasted Parsnips are a sibling to carrots, and when roasted, their flavor comes alive! Loaded with vitamins and minerals, Roasted Parsnips will be a terrific addition to your salad. Give them a try this week, and as always, let us know what you think! :)

NEW Season, NEW Salads, NEW Sandwich of the Month!

2011-10-11T10:08:00.000-04:00

Good day, Fresh Faces! October is here, and you know what that means… brand new Seasonal Salads, and a brand new Sandwich of the Month! Boy, do we have a fantastic lineup for the new fall season. We really think you’re going to love them. Matter of fact, we want you to have a taste! On Tuesday, October 12^th, ALL Fresh & Co. locations will be having sampling events of the new seasonal salads from 12-2, or while supplies last.

First up is the Apple Walnut Salad; Avocado, Mesclun Mix, Sun-Dried Cranberries, Walnuts, Apples, Feta Cheese, Scallions, Beets with a Cranberry Vinaigrette.

Next is the Palm Beach Cobb; Grilled Chicken, Mesclun Mix, Tomatoes, Avocado, Pepper Jack Cheese with a Mango-Agave Vinaigrette.

Last is the Southwestern Caesar Salad; Grilled Chicken, Crispy Romaine, Scallions, Grilled Corn, Red Onions, Jalapenos, Corn Bread Croutons with a Southwestern Caesar Dressing.

Also in stores is our new Sandwich of the Month, The New England Lobster Salad finished with greens on 7 grain bread. Treat yourself to this delicious delight today; they have been flying out our doors!

Give one of our new seasonal items a try today, and as always, let us know what you think! :)

In-store promotions for the week of 10/4

2011-10-04T15:57:00.001-04:00

Hey Fresh Faces, just wanted to let you know about the super exciting in-store promos we will be having this week!

On Wednesday, October 5th, all Fresh & Co. locations will be doing samplings of our new wild rice side salad, from 12-2 or while supplies last.

Some of you may have tried a new snack we have been carrying recently called The Better Chip. We have gotten a terrific response, and want more of you to get your taste buds rocking with their exciting flavors! The Better Chip is gluten and cholesterol free, all natural with no preservatives, and contains 40% produce. Deliciously addicting AND good for you!

All Fresh & Co. locations will be hosting in-store sampling events for The Better Chip on Thursday from 12-2, or while supplies last. Make sure you stop in to give them a taste, these chips are guaranteed to be your new favorite!

See you in stores!

Guest Blog: Michele Gordon w/ Wellness Wednesday - September 28th

2011-09-29T13:44:00.000-04:00

Whew! What a week here at Fresh & Co.! We just had a sponsor booth at the WPIX Health & Wellness Expo on Sunday. Michele Gordon, personal trainer and our wellness expert was with us for the event and wrote a terrific guest blog for us! We know its Thursday (technically) but we had a slight technical glitch yesterday here on the blog. Without further ado, "Wellness Wednesday" for September 28th. Enjoy!

Happy Wellness Wednesday! One of the best ways to leading a healthy and fit lifestyle is to surround yourself in a positive environment with people who can help you stick to your exercise and diet regimen.

On Sunday, September 25, the Fresh & Co. team and I reached out to the masses at the WPIX Health & Wellness Expo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. If you attended the Expo and stopped by our booth, then you got to try some of our delicious and nutritious samples of the tofu edamame and Israeli couscous side salads, and learned some more ways to stay fit with Fresh & Co. The Expo was a great way to see other people that are just like you---hoping to lead the healthiest life they can. Sometimes we all fall off the horse, but we just need a push to get back on it and stay on track. We are constantly going to have obstacles that get in our way to getting healthiest. However, by having people in your life who support what you are doing, will help you overcome! At the Expo, you not only had the Fresh & Co. team by your side, but also the WPIX 11 network, nutritionists, personal trainers & fitness instructors, doctors, nurses and the everyday average person just trying to live life to the fullest.

This week, stay motivated to leading a strong, healthy and well-balanced life, check into Fresh & Co. to keep you energized, and remember to encircle yourself by those that will boost your spirits and not bring you down. For more motivation, check me out at makeitwithmich.blogspot.com or email me at michelegfit@gmail.com!

Farm Fresh Friday for September 22nd - Rainbow Sprouts

2011-09-22T16:54:00.000-04:00

Hey Fresh Faces! This week we are bringing you Rainbow Sprouts from our pals at Satur Farms. Rainbow sprouts are a terrific way to add a delicious peppery flavor to your salads, with hardly any calories. Packed with vitamins and minerals, rainbow sprouts might just be what you are missing. Give them a try, and let us know what you think. We love feedback!

When it can hit close to home... a personal blog for The Dine Out

2011-09-15T15:58:00.000-04:00

Hi all,

Ty, our Director of Marketing here at Fresh & Co., recently blogged about why The Dine Out for Share Our Strength is so important. At the end of the day, this cause can also hit close to home. As you saw in the PSA, the adorable little girl is Ty's daughter. She wanted to help her Daddy help other kids just like her, so she (at the tender age of 3!) agreed to be part of the PSA.

Click here to read Ty's post on his personal blog.

We will be having brand ambassadors in all of our Fresh & Co. locations. Hope to see everyone from the 19th-23rd in our stores to participate!

The Dine Out - September 19th-23rd

2011-09-13T14:03:00.001-04:00

More than 17 million kids in America struggle with hunger. Share Our Strength connects these kids to the food they need, not just today, but for the long term. Fresh & Co. is proud to announce our participation, along with thousands of other restaurants, in Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, a week-long national restaurant event in cities across the United States.

Take the No Kid Hungry Pledge and commit to coming to Fresh & Co. between September 19th and the 23rd, where a generous portion of the proceeds from a selected specialty salad and the Sandwich of the Month will be donated to No Kid Hungry, Share Our Strength’s national campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

As an industry we raised more than $1.5 million last year through Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, a record high and twice what was raised the year before. Our goal is to involve as many restaurants and their customers as it takes to make No Kid Hungry a reality by 2015. Please join us as we once again participate in this worthy cause. Remember, just one dollar can connect a child to 10 meals.

Please support the Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Visit DineOutForNoKidHungry.org for more information on how you can get involved and take the pledge at NoKidHungry.org

Farm Fresh Friday for September 8th - Roasted Fresh Apples

2011-09-08T12:59:00.000-04:00

Hey all! Doesn't it feel like autumn with the chilly weather we've been having? Why not add some roasted fresh apples to your salad this week to get in the fall mood? We teamed up with Black Horse Farms in Coxsackie, NY to bring you a great salad addition, but with the volume turned up! Raw apples are delicious, full of vitamins, and healthy for you; but when roasted, their sweetness comes to life! Give roasted fresh apples a try in your salad this week, and let us know how you liked them.

Enjoy!

Farm Fresh Friday for August 25th - Roasted Leeks

2011-08-25T12:05:00.000-04:00

Hey Fresh Faces, hope you're ready for another week of yummy veggies, direct from the farm! This week, we are offering roasted leeks from our good friends at Satur Farms on Long Island. Not only will they add a mild and sweet onion flavor to your salad, but they are packed with vitamins A, C, K and E. Give roasted leeks a try this week, and let us know what you think!

Fitness Expert Michele Gordon Launches Wellness Wednesday

2011-08-23T10:34:00.002-04:00

We are excited to connect you to our featured fitness expert, Michele Gordon. Michele is a nationally certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Fitness Presenter, Entrepreneur and Blogger with business all over the New York City and Long Island regions. Michele will be joining us for posts on our Fresh & Co. blog, as well as a new feature called "Wellness Wednesdays" on Facebook and Twitter.

Ever since she was a child, Michele has had a strong interest in nutrition, exercise, and how what we do to our bodies affects our lives. While attending Binghamton University, she saw how detrimental unhealthy lifestyle choices could be and how difficult it was for many people to adopt healthy habits. During her college years, Michele taught innovative fitness classes, trained numerous clients, lead seminars and workshops, and launched a youth fitness business that gained significant press and recognition.

Now, Michele utilizes her experiences, humor, knowledge, motivation, ambition, energy, and passion to help hundreds of people overcome obstacles to leading the healthiest lives they can — mentally and physically. We are thrilled to have Michele team up with Fresh & Co. Michele understands how difficult it is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program with busy schedules. She strongly believes that keeping everything in moderation, picking up some quick and healthy snacks or meals from Fresh & Co., and learning to apply the facts of fitness, each person can achieve his or her own wellness goals!

Michele can be found on Twitter @MichelegFIT and on her blog at MakeItWithMich.blogspot.com

Food miniseries wrap-up!

2011-08-18T11:32:00.000-04:00

Hey Fresh Faces, thanks for joining us on our food journey with Hazel from Tasty Pursuits. I think we all can agree that this was one terrific miniseries, and one we hope to do again soon with Hazel.

Did you perhaps miss a post? Here's a rundown of Hazel's tasty creations, inspired by our sandwiches:

Steak Crisps with Caper Aioli are a delicious appetizer inspired by our Steak Fontina Panini

Our Lemon Grilled Chicken Sandwich became a fantastic main entree; Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken

And finally as a side dish, our Greek Feta Baguette became Greek Feta Couscous

Did you try any of Hazel's amazing recipies? Leave us a comment below, we would love to hear your culinary experiences! Happy eating :)

Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken Inspired by Fresh & Co.

2011-08-11T11:40:00.003-04:00

Hazel Sy from Tasty Pursuits is back with part 2 of our food miniseries! This post, its Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken inspired by our Lemon Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Enjoy!

Food is art. Plating a dish is an exercise in graphic design as you arrange shapes and colors on a white canvas. Food styling for photographs blends architecture and sculpture. Photography is, well, photography…encouraging you to explore angles and perspectives so that even everyday macaroni and cheese evokes emotion and a good amount of stomach grumbling. (A quick tip for the next time you snap a shot of your dinner: sit in front of the dish as if you are going to eat it, then take a photo from every angle BUT that one.) Best of all, you have the vast palette of flavors and ingredients to play with. And just as a painter can create multiple masterpieces using the same set of colors, a cook can create an array of dishes using the same set of ingredients.

But you don’t need a muse to make dinner. Inspiration is as close as the Fresh & Co. sandwich that you had for lunch…that’s what I did. In fact, I created a full meal with each dish inspired from a Fresh & Co. sandwich (you may even see a Fresh & Co. inspired dessert in a future post!):

Appetizer: Steak Crisps with Caper Aioli inspired by the Grilled Steak and Fontina Crisp Panini Melt

Entrée: Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken inspired by the Lemon Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Side: Greek Feta Couscous inspired by the Greek Feta & Tomato Baguette Sandwich

So how does inspiration work? In some cases I taste something and just know what I would like to create. Who knows, maybe an artist’s muse had extra time on her hands and felt generous that day. However, most of the time I mentally disassemble the dish and think about each component’s flavor and texture. Can I tweak an ingredient’s texture before adding it back to the dish? Could I swap a sour ingredient with something else that is tangy? What if I put them back together in a different order? The process is similar to pulling apart a shiny new Lego fire truck, and using the pieces to create something from your imagination. (When I was seven, I used to take the legs from the Lego people and slap on clear two-holed Lego bricks to create an army of robots in outer space. My imagination and Lego building skills have since improved.)

Once I had a rough plan for the dish, I was excited to hop into the kitchen and get started. Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken was an opportunity to figure out how to keep roasted chicken breast moist (as it turns out, ribs have the right idea with low and slow). It was also a new combination for me: dill and chicken. Delicate dill is often found on seafood, and chicken is usually spruced up with rosemary or tarragon. Thank you Fresh & Co. for this inspiration!

How about your culinary masterpieces? What would you create based on a Fresh & Co. sandwich? Leave a comment and let me know. Then stay tuned for the Greek Feta Couscous recipe, which will be featured next Tuesday on TastyPursuits.com!

Click read more to get this yummy recipe!

Photo courtesy of Fresh & Co.

Lemon Dill Roasted Chicken

2 split chicken breasts, bone-in, with skin

2 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dill, chopped

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat the oven to 300F.

In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chicken. Set aside.

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels.

Spread the butter mixture on the chicken and in between the skin and the meat.

Roast the chicken in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes, until the internal temperature of the thickest part is 160F.

Remove the chicken from the oven and turn on the broiler.

Broil the chicken for 1 - 2 minutes until the skin is lightly browned.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Steak Crisps with Caper Aioli from Hazel at Tasty Pursuits

2011-08-09T11:20:00.000-04:00

Hey Fresh Faces! Hazel from Tasty Pursuits has posted the first recipe in our food mini-series together. She used our delicious Steak and Fontina Panini and turned it into a fabulous appetizer.

Click here to find out more and get this delicious recipe! Remember to check back here on our blog this Thursday the 11th to get the next recipe in our series.

Farm Fresh Friday August 4th - Edible Flowers

2011-08-04T12:39:00.002-04:00

How pretty! For Farm Fresh Friday this week, our very good friends at Satur Farms have brought us Edible Flowers. Enhancing the visual appeal of a dish, these beauties also carry different flavors depending on the flower used, as well as numerous vitamins and minerals! When you're at one of our stores this week, be sure to give them a taste.

Enjoy!

Salad Challenge Followup w/ Alex Suazo & Contest!

2011-08-02T12:07:00.000-04:00

Guest blogger Alexandra Suazo is back with another post of the Salad Challenge. As she recently started a weight loss endeavor (you can see her first post here), Alex is back to bring us up to speed on her latest salad addiction. You can follow Alex on Twitter at @la_suazo. We at Fresh & Co. added a little Twitter contest to the bottom of her post as well. Read on to learn more!

Designer what you may ask? Designer SALADS! As if we all don’t love drooling over Madison Avenue’s most desired designers… here’s the chance to feel as exclusive when you EAT! Luckily, this won’t be as stressful on the checking account, either!

Hit up a Fresh & Co anywhere between noon and 2 p.m., and you’re looking at a hefty salad line… and why? These designer salads are perfection and solve the same old salad problems whether you are faint-hearted or someone who can’t deal with a limited number of toppings either available, allowed to mix in, or both. In a crazy twist of irony, the longer the salad line, the better! You have just a little more time to decide on the delicious already mixed designer salad options.

My black label, red-bottom designer salad of choice? The Aegean Salad. For the weight losers out there that know a salad isn’t JUST greens… you’ll probably be a little nitpicky about most of the salads available. Not to say they aren’t healthy but depending on your diet to maximize weight loss, you may skip out on some of the goodies.

This is how I order MY Aegean Salad:

… no cheese is the key takeaway, and order it with the suggested low-fat lemon vinaigrette dressing. Maybe throw some almonds in there for a little protein and TA-DA! Enjoy with a side of black iced coffee or unsweetened iced tea. Way better for you than designer “therapy shopping” AND it’s healthy!

How will you order your own designer salad? Tell us your salad order via Twitter (@freshandconyc) with our Salad Challenge hashtag contest! Tweet it to us using the hashtag #fcsaladchallange

We will randomly select 2 winners to win lunch on us! Deadline is August 9, 2011 at 10 a.m.

Have fun!

Farm Fresh Friday for July 28th - Pea Shoots

2011-07-28T13:30:00.001-04:00

Hey all! We are at it again with Satur Farms for Farm Fresh Friday this week! We have yummy and delicious pea shoots. I know what your thinking, pea shoots? What are those? But trust us, they are terrific! Pea shoots have fresh and tender leaves, as well as seven times more Vitamin C than blueberries! Give them a try in one of our stores this week, we think you'll be glad you did :)

Enjoy!

Farm Fresh Friday for July 22nd - Yellow Wax Beans

2011-07-21T14:54:00.001-04:00

For Farm Fresh Friday this week, we went to our good pals, Satur Farms on Long Island, for some yellow wax beans! They are practically fat free and cholesterol free, and also full of Vitamin C and iron. Yellow wax beans are great in a side salad, or sauteed in a pan with some olive oil and garlic.

Enjoy!

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and what YOU can do about it!

2011-07-14T12:46:00.002-04:00

With the summer here, many of us will be walking around and spending time outdoors. In an effort to stay hydrated in these warmer temperatures, we will likely be drinking more water. Fresh & Co. asks you to think of the environment and the impact plastics have.

This is The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and yes, it’s real. Estimated to be twice the size of Texas, it stretches from California to Japan. The Atlantic Ocean also has its own version in the Sargasso Sea. Due to the ocean currents, garbage from around the world that makes its way to the ocean ends up in these floating garbage dumps. Plastic material does not break down easily, causing it to be the biggest type of garbage in these patches. The severe impact these have had on our environment is mind blowing. All types of living beings from fish, birds, and other marine life have been impacted. The water quality in these areas have also gotten significantly worse. Click here to check out a recent piece Good Morning America did on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Here at Fresh & Co., we utilize our resources to help the environment. If you have eaten one of our salads, you may have noticed the container we used. Bottle Box™ is a terrific product that is the first of its kind. Using nothing but 100% recycled bottles, Bottle Box™ uses the plastic from five 16.9 fl oz bottles to make one of our salad containers. Pretty cool, huh? It’s our way of knowing that we are doing the right thing when it comes to bringing you an environmentally sound product.

Fresh and natural foods. Environmentally friendly packaging. Partners with local farms. Simply put, this is what we at Fresh & Co. believe in. What are you doing to help the environment? We would love to hear!

New Sandwich of the Month!

2011-07-07T13:05:00.000-04:00

Hi all! We hate to do this, but there is no Farm Fresh Friday this week. Our chef, Adam, is currently away searching for new culinary tastes and delights to bring to you. We will be back next week with something new, exciting, and of course, fresh!

However, we are super excited to bring you the new sandwich of the month! It is the Chicken Roma; yummy all natural chicken, sundried tomato pesto, avocado and arugula. Delicious and yummy flavors for the summer! Give it a try today; we would love to hear what you think.

Are you following us on Twitter? What about "liking" us on Facebook? Click the links on the sidebar and make sure you are! We have tons of exciting things coming up like product info, store events, and giveaways!

The Great American Bake Sale

2011-06-23T16:04:00.001-04:00

As many of you know, we here at Fresh & Co. have been working with the terrific organization, Share Our Strength, to help bring an end to childhood hunger. This past Tuesday, the 21^st, we were part of the TwEAT OUT in support of the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. We were able to reach a myriad of people; from influencers in the food world like chefs and celebrities, to directly reaching out to restaurants themselves. We helped get a lot of attention, for an extremely important cause. We’d like to take a moment to say thanks to the great number of you who reached out on Twitter with us. As part of the #nokidhungry movement, we sent over 5,000 tweets and reached 40 MILLION impressions. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

To keep this alive, we here at Fresh & Co. are asking for your time with another effort, the Great American Bake Sale. Please consider this call to action. We are all busy, I get that. But this is a great opportunity to make this a group event in many ways. Whether it’s with your kids on a lazy summer day, or maybe it’s something bigger like a church or civic group you are in. Through the efforts of such programs like the Great American Bake Sale, Share Our Strength was able to provide more than 150 grants totaling more than $1.1 million across the country to help connect children with meals this summer.

Do it when you can. Do it where you can. Please consider participating in the Great American Bake Sale this summer. Sign up today. We can end childhood hunger by 2015.

WE NEED YOU! To Help End Childhood Hunger

2011-06-15T16:38:00.000-04:00

We Need You…

Remember that call to action for the old Army ads? Well we have a new mission for that statement and a powerful army to build in joining us in ending childhood hunger. For the second year we have joined up with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to combat this by 2015.

Now, how do we do that? We need to enlist you, our followers and guests to getting your favorite restaurants to get on board with helping raise money for the No Kid Hungry campaign. The bigger the army the best chance we have of raising the projected 3 Million dollar goal for the Dine Out program.

Why are we asking you to speak to our competition and other restaurants? Because it’s not about competition in this matter it’s about collaboration. There are no boarders between us and other restaurants when it comes to making a difference. There is no room for selfishness, only the bottom line results we can achieve together.

On June 21^st we will be joining a national Tweet-Up raising awareness for The Dine Out. We will be tweeting under the hashtag #nokidhungry in an effort to get on the boards as a trending subject. We need you to RT our alerts to your Twitter followers to get them on board and raise awareness.

We can’t do it alone. We are stronger together.

The person that get’s the most of their followers to Re-Tweet to their followers using your twitter handle, the #nokidhungry hashtag and @freshandco in the subject line wins lunch for you and 3 of your friends at any Fresh & Co.! The more they Re-Tweet that info the more points you get! Simple. We will track it from this end.

Then in September during the Dine Out program we will be raising money in our store through specially selected products where the proceeds will go to Share Our Strength. Just with the purchase of one of our salads or sandwiches will be enough to feed between 65-80 children.

For more information please visit

A great example of why this is so important can be seen here in this piece by "60 Minutes"

New Month, NEW Sandwich of the Month and Seasonal Salads!

2011-06-01T10:29:00.000-04:00

MAN!

Do we have a busy week here at Fresh and Co.! It’s the top of the month and that means there is a NEW Sandwich of the Month as well as NEW Season Chef Designed Salads!

Ok, you can stop jumping for joy and start getting down to the business of ordering and enjoying our healthy and delicious options.

First up is the BRAZILIAN BBQ STEAK SALAD: Crisp romaine lettuce, Flat Iron steak, crispy onions, ripe avocados, tomatoes scallions and red beans in our amazing homemade Chimichurri Vinaigrette.

Next is WASABI TOFU SALAD: Again, crispy romaine with Grilled tofu, julienne carrots, scallions, wasbi peas, red radishes, cucumbers in our homemade Sesame Ginger Tahini Dressing.

Last but not least is the THAI CHILI SHRIMP: Succulent grilled shrimp, spinach, cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, red onions, cilantro in our very own Sweet Thai Peanut Vinaigrette

I don’t know about you, I’m thankful that there are 5 days in the work week so I can get all of them in during the week!

Also arriving today is our NEW Sandwich of the Month, The Deviled Turkey Ham with Butterchip pickles and frisee. I’ll let the picture now speak for itself…

Did it say enough to you? I know, I heard it calling me too!

Now go forth and tell all your friends about what is FRESH at Fresh & Co. this week!

Farm Fresh Friday 5/20 Rosted Golden Beets

2011-05-19T15:20:00.001-04:00

Description/Taste
The gold beet is a plant in the Chenopodiaceae family. It is made up of both an edible root and edible leaves. The plant has a pale orange, round root whose skin encases an earthy, sweet golden-orange flesh. Its smooth skinned (up to 4") globes are topped with bright green leafy stems.

Nutritional Value
Beet greens are actually more nutritious than the beets, containing twice the potassium and are exceptionally high in beta carotene and folic acid. Beets have the highest sugar content of any vegetable.

Applications
Steaming and roasting bring out the best flavor that the beet can offer. The skin must be peeled, which is easiest after it has cooked, as it simply slips away from its flesh. Beets pair well with cheese, bacon, apples, fennel, citrus, potatoes, shallots, vinegar, walnuts, smoked and cured fish. Toss roasted beets with apple slices, roasted parsnips and hazelnut vinaigrette, then serve the salad over greens. Very thinly slice raw beets and serve with crumble goat cheese, dressed with olive oil. Toss roasted, diced beets with with cooked lentils and vinaigrette and serve as a side dish. Chop roasted beets and combine with minced garlic, onions, tomatoes and cilantro for an earthy salsa. Beets with keep, refrigerated, for up to a week or longer if their tops are removed.

Geography/History
Beets are descended from a wild seashore plant called the sea beet. Beets prefer a cooler climate although they are tolerant of heat. They can be harvested any time during their growth cycle. Growers say the faster beets grow, the better the flavor.

Guest Blogger Alexandra Suazo asks if Your Ready to Take the Salad Challenge!

2011-05-16T12:20:00.001-04:00

One photo. That’s all it took for me to get up and change my life.

That photo of myself and weighing in at 244lbs on Dec. 4^th, I knew it was time to reassess my life, my eating, get up off the couch and MOVE.

What once was a “diet” of the following:

- Plain bagel with cream cheese and iced coffee for breakfast

- Massive Chicken Caesar salad for late lunch

- An IV of Diet Coke, rarely water

- Subway foot-long with those equally gargantuan fountain drinks

- Ridiculous joke of a dinner-

Is now a real, healthy diet of 6-meals/per day at a mere 1,100 calories; AND I’m never hungry!

What helped me kick it off? MediFast, a program I paid for; sometimes you need a push. I’ve done the past two months completely on my own though, which means I had to stick to my new eating lifestyle and find replacements for the program meals. I’ve done so, EASILY! I thought it’d be the most difficult part but really, I learned how to eat, how many calories certain foods have, and most of all, when I’m actually full and hungry!

I weighed in recently at 181lbs, that’s minus 63lbs. Now, I’m sure you’re curious, “she must have a trainer too,” well I haven’t. I’ve learned to be resourceful by making friends with trainers that can give me advice, watching people at the gym and reading fitness magazines and blogs. At the end of the day though, it’s your eating habits that have to change! Eat Fresh, Light, and Healthy!

I have about 16 lbs to go and am keeping my head held high: working out as hard as I can, and again being resourceful- switching up my calories, proteins, carbs etc. to get a balance that will maximize my working out.

So? What will it be for you?

All that being said, one of my biggest recommendations is to switch out one of your junk meals with a good healthy salad. When all else fails, greens and a few different toppings with a low-cal dressing…perfecto!

While I personally don’t eat a salad everyday- I have indulged in some of Fresh & Co’s chef designed salads with slight modifications. The salads are to die for, and healthy. What more can you ask for!?

So Suaz and Fresh & Co are putting you up to the challenge! Try a salad per day for 5 days by choosing healthier options in your salads. Let us know that you’re up for the challenge! If your on Twitter let us know how you’re doing on thethe #SaladChallenge, and we might just come get you on camera ordering one of your challenge salads!

Happy healthier living!

Alexandra Suazo, AKA any likeness of Suazo, is a tenacious, social butterfly, Marketing & Social Media Professional. She’s worked as a PR/Marketing associate for a heavy hitter in the events industry and presently as an Interactive Program Manager at an email marketing/social media agency where she manages the social platforms for their largest account. She develops her network and professionalism with every new experience, and manages to have time to even build her own brand "La Suazo". Follower her on Twitter @La_Suazo and her blog!

Suaz has more recently become quite the gym rat, and healthy lifestyle groupie. She absolutely adores tweeting, talking, tumbling, wordpressing, flickering, starring on the tube, checking-in, linking-in, meeting-up, baking and aspires to be a powerful woman like Loren Ridinger.

Farm Fresh Friday for May 6th: Rainbow Micro Greens

2011-05-05T14:09:00.002-04:00

It's the end of the week which means it's the beginning of eating better here at Fresh & Co. And this week is no exception with our farm Fresh Friday selection which this week comes from the famous Satur Farms.

Also, check out our video about following us on Twitter. You are following us right?

Guest Blog: Amanda Hite- Use Your Social Influence To End Childhood Hunger in America. 2011 Dine Out for No Kid Hungry Restaurant Rally

2011-05-03T09:04:00.001-04:00

Use Your Social Influence To End Childhood Hunger in America. 2011 Dine Out for No Kid Hungry Restaurant Rally.

sexythinker | May 3, 2011 at 7:53 am | Tags: amanda hite, be the change, dine out for no kid hungry, no kid hungry, share our strength, social influence, tweet-a-thon, twitter | Categories: Be the change | URL: http://wp.me/psI8I-4S

1 in 4 children in U.S. will face hunger this year. Without the security of knowing where their next meal will come from, these children lack the energy to learn, grow and thrive. Share Our Strength is an organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. The money raised through Share Our Strength's Dine Out for No Kid Hungry will connect kids with nutritious food where they live, learn and play
In 2010, over 4,000 restaurants joined Share Our Strength's sponsors and partners to raise more than $1.5 million for the Dine Out For No Kid Hungry^™!
Last year, many of us joined together to support Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. Over 1,000 people spread the word online posting over 10,000 tweets about the campaign in just one week. Those 1,000 contributors helped Share Our Strength and the restaurant industry increase donations by 108% over the last year.
This year, the goal is 3 million dollars and to start we need to rally over 5,000 restaurant locations to participate in the program. Now it’s time to rally restaurants around the cause. This Wednesday, May 4th Share Our Strength is hosting a twEAT OUT for the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry all day long! Let's focus our network's enthusiasm on this one day to really grab the attention of restaurants.
Here's how you can help:

If you have a blog repost this blog on your network asking people to join this Wednesday’s twEAT OUT linking to the TwEAT OUT page:
Post a request to join us Wednesday and the link to the TwEAT OUT page on your Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin networks
JOIN us THIS Wednesday for the TwEAT OUT (Tweet-a-thon)

Let’s rally our networks to help end childhood hunger in America!
GET STARTED BY CLICKING HERE
If you want to hear more about how to do more things like this and "Use Your Influence" to make meaningful change. Join Be The Change Influencers.

Fresh and Co. is teaming up with Cafe Metro and other restaurants to help spread the word about this very important program. Please do what you can to help!

Guest Blog from Sarah Ellis: Fresh To NYC & Back

2011-04-29T11:41:00.000-04:00

This month our Guest columnist comes to us from across the pond in England. Sarah Ellis is a writer for Inside Soap in the UK and is a BIG fan of our pancakes as you will see! Oh and she did not attend the royal weeding as is her invite was lost in the mail...Sad but true.

Going to New York for the first time is a bit of a surreal experience. Although it’s on the other side of the world to England, everything about it is familiar, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s grown up watching it on TV and in the movies. From the moment I touched down at JFK, I already had a lot of preconceptions about what my time in the world’s busiest city would be like.

One thing I had learned from seeing this infamous city so much on both the big and small screen was that there’s a lot of food to be eaten in the Big Apple! I’d been led to believe that all New Yorkers eat at McDonalds and drink Starbucks, so I had visions that my entire trip was going to be spent gorging out on junk food, followed by weeks of starvation when I got home to make up for it (just kidding – I like my cake too much!)

On our first morning in the city, we set out in search of breakfast. Being four English girls in New York we already knew what we wanted to eat – pancakes! After all, that’s what everyone eats for brekkie (breakfast in America) across the pond, right? Thankfully, just two blocks down from our hotel we stumbled upon a glorious little eatery called Fresh and Co. Not only did it have a counter full of delicious looking cakes (you may have guessed I’ve got a sweet tooth), but it was serving up pancakes for breakfast. Hurrah!

One of my favorite things about Fresh and Co was that we could stand and watch the store’s chefs whip up our pancakes right before our eyes, so we knew they were truly fresh. And the fruit on top was always ripe and juicy, making me feel good that I was getting one of my five a day along with my lovely fluffy pancakes.

After that first day, Fresh and Co quickly became our favorite place to eat in town – in fact, nowhere else got a look-in! We loved their freshly prepared sandwiches and salads. It was great to know we could pick up some freshly made, healthy food while on the go without having to resort to the traditional holiday diet of greasy burgers and fries. Best of all, I could even get a decent cup of tea there, which definitely got the thumbs up from me.

I’m heading back to NYC again this summer with my friends, and you can bet that Fresh and Co will be our first stop – before we’ve even unpacked our bags!

A Tsunami of Hope for Japan

2011-04-04T09:23:00.001-04:00

The following blog is an editorial by Ty Sullivan the Director of Social Media & Marketing for Fresh & Co. The intent of the article is intended to stir fund raising efforts to help the people of Japan. We hope you have and will continue to help the people of the nation rebuild.

Last month as the media and music savvy minds gathered in Austin Texas for the South By Southwest Conference to marvel at the advancements we have made with our technical evolution, Mother Nature gave us a reminder of who is really in charge of this planet and how frail we are as humans.

For all our Twitter, Facebook, Four Square and whatever shiny new toy it is of the moment, at the end of the day it means nothing in the wake of the devastation that has been brought down upon Japan. As the waves of Mother Nature’s fury paint a canvas of chaos across Japan one must wonder what it all means at the end of the day.

Is it the one who dies with the most toys wins?
Will this Tsunami affect the Klout scores of the dead and missing?
How many friends lost on the Facebook pages of Japans population?
Will those affected ever rebuild the number of their Twitter followers?

Who cares.

We are so enchanted by how clever we are that we sometimes forget that in ONE second none of what we THINK is important IS. What is important is what we can do with the technology and knowledge we have at our disposal to make a difference in times of crisis. I have written in a previous post of how social media can help make a difference in times of change. We must remember to harness its outreach capabilities to help raise money, awareness and connecting people to sources of where and how they can assist.

If we are going to sit around on our iphones, laptops, BlackBerry’s all day, instead of updating our social media sights with what marvelous things we think are important, do something that IS important.

Be the change. Make the difference. Remember: We are a billion children rolled into one.

Here are some ways you can make a difference through social media:

The American Red Cross has launched a texting campaign to raise money for assistance efforts in the Pacific region. Last year, they were able to raise over $20 million for Haiti relief through simple text donations. If you would like to donate to the American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake Relief, just text REDCROSS to 90999. Each text will provide $10 towards the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts.

The Red Cross has also launched a Campaign on Causes to raise at least $25,000 for relief efforts. By logging in to Facebook, you can donate anywhere from $10 to $500 to help Tsunami victims and their families.

The folks over at Explore.org are donating $1 for every “Like” of the “Dog Bless You” Facebook page, up to $100,000. Explore.org founder Charlie Weingarten delivered the challenge at South by Southwest this weekend. “Search and rescue dogs are a critical resource for emergency situations,” he told the audience.

Harness the power of your Twitter account to do some good for the people of Japan. Twitter published a blog post detailing ways you can help with the relief efforts. Not only have they updated Japan’s mobile website with the latest information on the disaster, but they have also published a list of hashtags to tweet and/or follow related to the crisis. Here are some key hashtags to remember:
• #Jishin: focuses around general earthquake information
• #Anpi: a hashtag for the confirmation of the safety of individuals or places
• #Hinan: Evacuation information
• #311care: a hashtag regarding medical information for the victims
• #PrayforJapan: A general hashtag for support and best wishes for victims of the crisis

The great people at South By Southwest Conference along with the amazing Natalie Petouhoff stepped into action while in Austin during the event. Go to sxswcares.org and make a donation via the website. It goes directly 2 Red Cross and you get an email receipt from red cross.

Julian Lennon - Saltwater - MyVideo

This article was proudly featured in The Japan Sun on line news. The more eyes that see this, the more we can help.

Building Fresh London Bridges: Reaching Beyond NYC

2011-03-29T07:01:00.003-04:00

Not only do we appeal to the locals of our fair little hamlet known as Manhattan but we have become a favorite with our tourist friends as well! You might remember the story we did on our friend from France, Marguerite Czarnecki, who became a great pal of ours and still stays in touch via email. Now, we have a group of amazing fans from “across the pond” that traveled here to see The Backstreet Boys and made Fresh & Co. their own!

We met them “officially” during our Tuesday and Thursday Free Lunch Trivia where they started raving about their experience with us and in particular our pancakes and desserts!

Let me introduce you to our English “cousins”! We have Sarah, who writes for the magazine Inside Soap and the whole trip started with her treating herself to a visit to NYC and seeing the band for her Birthday “pressie” (British for “present”).When she isn't busy bringing us up to date on all the British soaps she is chasing down The Backstreet Boys in hopes of marrying one of them some day. Hahaha...just kidding Sarah!

Next meet Lisa, our friend who works in retail over in London and resides in Borehamwood, which is the Hollywood of the UK. They have done such small independent films as Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and Indiana Jones (just to name a few). She would love to live in NYC just because of Fresh & Co. and…OK, kidding about that but has have dreams of coming here one day.

Kavita, a self professed “chaos princess”, works as a copywriter for a website. In other words, she is proofing this just as I post it! She says she and Sarah were first taken by our delicious homemade desserts like the Red Velvet cupcake and the Oreo Pie. I can’t say I blame her. No, not at all.

Last but not least, Anna, or Anna Banana as she goes by, is a night supervisor for a major hotel in London and is mad for cakes and baked goods. Originally from Liverpool she is not related to any Beatles and don’t ask her to do imitations of them either.

Nice to know that not only are we making an impact here in NYC but in London as well. As a matter of fact, a couple of these amazing Londoners will be guest blogging here so keep your eyes out for that!

Until next we eat and meet…

Being Salad Bar Savvy- Guest Blog by Alexandra Oppenheimer

2011-03-23T10:45:00.002-04:00

Welcome to our 1st Guest Blog here at Fresh & Co.! We are proud to feature Alexandra Oppenheimer, RD who has been a guest of ours since we opened our first location at 681 Lexington Ave. Alexandra is a Registered Dietitian in Westchester and New York City, a Graduate Student at New York University and a Graduate of the NewYork-Presbyterian Dietetic Internship.

We asked Alexandra to give us and you some healthy eating hints and tips regarding salad as we quickly approach salad season:

Hello everyone this is Alexandra with a few tips on being "salad savvy"

Be Salad Bar Savvy

Salads are often thought of as the epitome of a healthy meal. Trying to lose weight?—“I’ll just have a salad.” Don’t want to eat too much? – “Oh, just a salad for me!” While we know how nutritionally fabulous salads can be, it is essential to make sure we’re not reversing their healthfulness. While freedom of choice can be a fun part of designing your dream salad, we need to learn to not abuse this power and avoid salad sabotage.

Balance your ingredients:
Individually, most salad ingredients can be great additions, but it’s possible to go too far. Sodium and fat are two nutrients that can add up surprisingly quick in salads. Items like beans, cheese and olives may contain higher amounts of sodium, although they still have redeeming nutrients. The same goes for fat-containing foods. Although they may contain heart healthy fats, a large amount still add up to excess calories. The solution? Balance your ingredients and stick to one serving of salad dressing. Pay attention to which toppers have extra sodium or are higher in fat. They are still healthy items that can be included but try not to pile them up. Keep the higher sodium and fat foods to only one or two per salad.

Don’t be fat-phobic with your salad:

While we want to be mindful about the amount of fat in our salads, it is not the time to go fat-free! Vitamins A and K are abundant in vegetables and are best absorbed in your body when they are eaten along with good fats. By adding heart healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, sunflower seeds or nuts in your salad, your body can better use those great nutrients. Why eat a salad unless you can get all of its goodness?

Maximize nutrition with color:
Fruits and vegetables have powerful disease-preventing nutrients called phytochemicals. These various phytochemicals are displayed by their unique color (red, orange, green, yellow, blue/purple, brown, white), and yes even white mushrooms count as a color. Utilize a salad bar, like Fresh & Co.’s, for their extensive salad toppers (likely way more then you’d even have at home at one time). It is the perfect opportunity to create a bright and multi-colored salad in order to get those diverse nutrients.

Channel your New Yorker pride!
It’s a fact, New Yorkers are extremely proud of where they come from… now shouldn’t we feel the same about our food? One of the biggest movements in food is the utilization of local and seasonal ingredients, and rightly so. Don’t we want to support our neighboring farmers… you bet! Local farmers help us put some of the most nutritious food in our bodies. Produce stays on the plants longer and gets into our stomachs sooner, giving nutrients the least amount of time to degrade and lose their power! In addition to buying local for your home, when dining out, find businesses (like Fresh & Co.) that get their ingredients from local farmers as much as possible.

Salads can make a great meal, but sometimes we just need to take a step back and evaluate our choices. By being mindful about your salad toppers and where the ingredients come from, you can truly maximize the healthfulness of your salad!

Read more from Alexandra on her website Ambitious & Nutritious and follow her on Twitter at @AlexOppRD

Farm Fresh Friday Cancelled 3/18

2011-03-18T10:31:00.001-04:00

Hello friends! Rather than put out inferior or mundane product for this Farm Fresh Friday, we have decided to pull it this week. We believe in freshness and quality. What we were seeing in the market this week were not confident in purchasing.
We thank you for your support and understanding in this matter and can't wait to see you next Friday with our own Chef Adam's latest creation!
Until then, be fresh and be well.

Help Make a Fresh Start in Japan

2011-03-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

Fresh and Co. is asking all it's patrons to make a difference in helping the people of Japan.

Be the change. Make the difference. Remember: We all a billion children rolled into one.

Here are some ways you can make a difference through social media:

The American Red Cross has launched a texting campaign to raise money for assistance efforts in the Pacific region. Last year, they were able to raise over $20 million for Haiti relief through simple text donations. If you would like to donate to the American Red Cross for Japan Earthquake Relief, just text REDCROSS to 90999. Each text will provide $10 towards the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts.

The Red Cross has also launched a Campaign on Causes to raise at least $25,000 for relief efforts. By logging in to Facebook, you can donate anywhere from $10 to $500 to help Tsunami victims and their families.

The folks over at Explore.org are donating $1 for every “Like” of the “Dog Bless You” Facebook page, up to $100,000. Explore.org founder Charlie Weingarten delivered the challenge at South by Southwest this weekend. “Search and rescue dogs are a critical resource for emergency situations,” he told the audience.

Harness the power of your Twitter account to do some good for the people of Japan. Twitter published a blog post detailing ways you can help with the relief efforts. Not only have they updated Japan’s mobile website with the latest information on the disaster, but they have also published a list of hashtags to tweet and/or follow related to the crisis.

Here are some key hashtags to remember:
• #Jishin: focuses around general earthquake information
• #Anpi: a hashtag for the confirmation of the safety of individuals or places
• #Hinan: Evacuation information
• #311care: a hashtag regarding medical information for the victims
• #PrayforJapan: A general hashtag for support and best wishes for victims of the crisis

Julian Lennon - Saltwater - MyVideo

Farm Fresh Friday March 11th

2011-03-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what a Watermelon Radish tasted like? Ever wonder what it was? Ever even hear of it? Find out Friday March 11th as we feature it on our salad bar all day or at least while supplies last! See you in the stores and on line at www.freshandconyc.com

Teach Your Children Well: Fresh Business Mentoring

2011-03-08T11:11:00.001-05:00

Two weeks ago my Marketing and Social Media Mini-Me, Christina, came to me before my first cup of coffee on a Monday morning and informed me she was leaving the company. Her reasons were solid. She is involved in the art world and we were a restaurant group. Her passion job came up and she needed to strike while the irons were hot. I was both thrilled and greatly saddened at the same time.

Let me take a second to just tell you about this 19 year old Supergirl. She is NOT from this time. It’s as if she stepped through a temporal distortion. Her music tastes were early Elton John, Beatles, Leon Russell and Neil Young. She is a vegan with a great knowledge for food of all sorts and a vocabulary and writing style that would make most writers stop and wonder what they were doing wrong. She could also talk at a mile a minute with the enthusiasm of a school girl that would be the only hint to her true age.

While working with me I trusted her with all the Social Media, blogging, Tweeting and brand building for our entire concept for Fresh & Co. What she did with it was short of sensational for someone her age as she created her own voice for the brand. I called her Kent, as in Clark Kent for her newsletter reporting and heroic results.

On her final day as we stood at the elevator to say our “see you later” (I never say good-bye) she buried her head into my chest cried and said, “you have been like a father to me”. At that moment I felt terribly old and proud all at the same time. I had always looked at her as a daughter figure as is we got along on so many levels and I mentored her the best way I knew how.

Two minutes after the elevator door had closed and she had spread her wings to leave this nest I texted her three simple words. “You Are Awesome!” What I got back was this:

“You’re one of the most beautiful and inspiring people I have ever met. I’ve learned so much from you and you are one of the people I can truly call a friend. From boyfriend issues and more you’ve been with me at one of the pivotal points in my life. I’m growing up and becoming an adult and because of you I will continue to become an even better person. You showed me the way- and you’ve provided the next chapter of my life with a phenomenal soundtrack”

WOW! I felt like the teacher who watched his students graduate or the parent who witnessed their child leave for school for the very first time. I felt like a father. I felt like a teacher and mentor.

Here’s the point: If you have the chance to mentor someone, do it. Take them under your wing and show them everything you know and fill them with as much as information that their heads can accumulate. We are all teachers. It’s what we do with the knowledge on a personal and educational level that makes the true difference. We can dazzle clients and big business all we like. We can walk the walk and go on all the golf meetings and Martini lunches we like and make a difference. But the real payback for your knowledge is what you pass on to the next generation.

Christina was with me and Fresh & Co. for 9 months. The same time it takes to bring any child into this world and prepare them for what awaits and prepare them to take flight.

Here are some resources you can connect with to find your own Clark Kent

http://www.youtern.com/

http://yellowdogrecruiting.com/

Or reach out to your local universities to find that young person to guide!

Fresh From the Farm this Friday for Farm Fresh Friday

2011-03-03T11:40:00.000-05:00

This Friday we are featuring fresh organic Pea Shoots!

Come on in and help us support our local farmers and tell all your friends about Farm Fresh Friday!

Careing and Sharing with Share Our Strength

2011-03-01T16:19:00.002-05:00

Help us to help make a difference. Go to www.Strength.org today!

Farm Fresh on Feb 18th - Roasted Turnips

2011-02-17T10:11:00.000-05:00

FARM FRESH FRIDAY FOR FEBRUARY 18TH! French Turnips lightly seasoned and oven roasted from Bodhitree Farm in Jobstown, NJ - uber awesome!

Quick Fact: The most common type of turnip is mostly white-skinned and are purple, red, or greenish wherever sunlight has fallen. Turnips are also high in vitamin C.

PROUD SPONSOR'S

2011-02-10T10:43:00.003-05:00

TRUE STATEMENT.

Farm Fresh on FEB 11th - Lightly Seasoned Braised Celeriac

2011-02-10T09:24:00.001-05:00

For this Friday February 11th, we will be featuring lightly seasoned braised celeriac. This wonderful root vegetable was picked fresh from Madura Farms, in Orange County, NY

Quick Fact: Also known as celery root, celeriac is grown for it's large root or "bulbous hypocotyl" rather than it's stem and leaves. It's low in starch for a root vegetable, and is high in phosphorus and vitamin K.

FARM FRESH on FEB 4th - POACHED BOSC PEARS

2011-02-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Now as you all know, we've changing this around a bit with how we roll out Farm Fresh Fridays. We've decided to omit the video process, and provide you all with some quick facts and pics instead! For today, we're featuring Local Orange Scented Poached Bosc Pears fresh from Migliorelli Farms in Tivioli, NY. They pair wonderfully with blue cheese and make an excellent edition to any fruity salad!

Fresh Farm Friday with Fresh & Co.

2011-01-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

Here's something great and funky! WATERMELON RADISHES - unconventionally grown specialty produce from Windfall Farms in Montgomery, NY. "A farm growing around 200 varieties of vegetables and fruit with no pesticides, no herbicides, no insecticides, or chemical fertilizers=unconventional". A light flavor, with an excellent crunch. A wonderful accessory for your salad :)

Farm Fresh Friday with Chef Adam Jan.21st, 2011

2011-01-21T09:30:00.005-05:00

Today we decided to do something a little different. Due to seasonal conditions, we had to get creative with what we're serving for our farm fresh Friday. So what did we do? We went to the man who knows best- our executive chef, Adam. Today he shows you how we prepared today's fresh veggies, roasted local sun chokes (a.k.a Jerusalem artichokes) and purple fingerling potatoes from Berried Treasures Farm in Roscoe, NY. Check it out!

Purple Fingerling Potatoes Sunchokes

Farm Fresh Friday 1/14/11

2011-01-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

Sometimes things are beyond our control and such was this week with the situation with our Farm Fresh Friday. With the perfect storm of the weather being harsh this week, the selection and quality of the produce we were seeing, we felt it best to postpone purchasing this week.
We stand by or philosophy of fresh, healthy eating and if we are not thrilled by what we are seeing out there, we wouldn't want to compromise good eating and quality for the sake of maintaining our themed Friday.
Have a great weekend and we will see you next week!

In Season: Winter

2011-01-12T11:23:00.001-05:00

With temperatures dropping to their lowest of the year, only a few vegetables are geared to bare this brutal weather. Cool weather crops are always a delectable treat, as such vegetables are perfect for making hearty soups and thick stews. Although you can get most veggies during their off season as well, it's best to get them in their prime, as most cold climate crops are sweet in the winter, but turn bitter in warm weather.

Here are some healthy choices to add to this seasons grocery list:

Brussel Sprouts: Brussel's grow on a stalk, so if you see them for sale like that, grab em! They last much longer than when they're cut. They're a good source of iron and fiber. Saute them in a pan with some canola, salt & pepper - YUM!

Cabbage: Beautifully bright and perfectly crisp when raw. The cooler the climate, the sweeter is tastes. This effect is called "frost kissed". Cook it down for an even sweeter, more mellow taste.

Fennel: Excellent flavor enhancer for soups, fish, sauces, or slow roast with root vegetables. Its prime time is fall through early spring (bolts, and turns bitter in warm weather). Good source of niacin (vit B3), calcium and iron. Helps promote a healthy digestive tract.

Kale: Kale is one of the healthiest, most nutrient dense foods you can eat. It's not a commonly used item in most American house holds, but it sure should be! Cook it down and saute with some oil, salt & pepper and you can't go wrong. Plus, you'd be getting your dose of super food, which is always important. Kale is rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and manganese as well as many others, making it one of the best things to put in your body.

Farm Fresh Friday for Jan 7th 2011

2011-01-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

Farm Fresh Fuji Apple are on the menu today folks! Enjoy and have a GREAT (and not so snowy) weekend!

New Years Resolutions: Just Do It

2010-12-28T09:27:00.001-05:00

New Years resolutions - something we can all relate to. Every year we decide to raise our glasses and make a declaration of something new or improved we wish to accomplish. We always say, "this year is going to be different" or, "this year, I'm going to try something new". This year, we all need to take a step back and genuinely say, "this year, I'm going to actually do it". Believe it or not, this is actually a very simple philosophy. We put it to the test by instilling this idea into our own practices this past year. As a small and growing business, we've put a lot into solidifying our mission, and then putting our goals into action.

For 2010, we felt that sustainability was a good word to use to consolidate our goals into one solid idea. Once we sketched that out, we set out to the field to carry out our mission. As each month passed by, we were able to accomplish tasks that had an impact on our business, and on our environment. From recycling methods and energy efficient equipment, to organic snacks and local ingredients we've done alot to come this far. We even teamed up with multiple charities and non-profits to extend an even longer hand.

So I'd say, it's been a pretty good year. We did a lot in 2010, and now it's time to do even more. It's always gratifying when you can set out to do something and then actually, well, do it. Let's keep this mentality for 2011. Make your New Years Resolution a reality. Besides, we all only have one year left to live right? At least according to the ancient Mayan calander and that unnecessarily epic 2012 movie.

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 17th: Organic White Button Shrooms'

2010-12-17T10:27:00.002-05:00

Today's the day for a shroomy farm fresh Friday! We've got some Organic White Button Mushrooms from Madura Farms, who specialize in mushroom farming. And if I do say so myself, they sure are cute as a button!

Native to grasslands in Europe and North America, Button Mushrooms are one of the most commonly consumed mushrooms. When mature, the button is known as the Portobello Mushroom - making this mushroom pretty unique as it's name changes as it matures. Button mushrooms are high in vitamins B3, 5, and vitamin C - eat up, shroom on!

Charity:Water

2010-12-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

Charity: Water is a non-profit working to bring clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. And essentially, it all started with a birthday party.

A couple of years ago, founder of Charity: Water Scott Harrison was working quite successfully as a professional NYC club promoter. At age 28, he suddenly had an epiphany and decided to volunteer for nine months on mercy ships as a photo-journalist. And so, he embarked on his journey to India and Africa where his ship had 3,000 available slots to offer health aide to those in need – 7,000 showed up. As difficult as this was to deal with, he continued to travel from town to town, continuously becoming more and more affected by the situations at hand. Once he returned home to the states, he decided something had to be done – he wanted to make a d i f f e r e n c e. He had an exhibition of his photos from his voyage and then, he started planning his birthday party. Being that he used to do this professionally, gathering a crowd for his big day was a simple task, but this time, it was for a much bigger purpose. Instead of asking for gifts for himself, Scott asked that each person donate a mere $20. 700 people showed up, and everyone donated. He was able to build six wells in Uganda to bring clean and safe drinking water to the people. It was that very moment that Charity: Water, was born.

We’ve teamed up with Charity: Water because we believe that water is a basic human right. Clean and safe drinking water is something that no one should be deprived of, so we’ve decided to do something about that. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

For every $20 we raise, Fresh & Co can build a water pump for a village in Africa. In Africa, the people say that “water is life”. Help give life to those who suffer without it. Please, donate $1 today.

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 10- Carrots

2010-12-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! Sorry about the lack of video for todays Farm Fresh Friday! We had some issues uploading the video so today we'll have to rely on the power of words.

We'll be serving Carrots (yellow,white,orange) from Migliorelli Farms in Tivioli, NY

Today seemed like a good day for some good ol' Betaceratine :) stay warm everyone!

New Store Opening!

2010-12-07T09:35:00.001-05:00

To Our Fresh Following:

As a small and passionate business, it is our goal to grow to be accessible to all sorts of neighborhoods with all sorts of people. Tomorrow, we'll kick off the soft opening of a new addition to our list of locations! Coming to you on West 57th Street & 6th Avenue, a new Fresh & Co will be born.

Some cool things to expect will be our newer products such as the Wai Lana Yogi Chips as well as the Kopali Organics. Our menu will continue to rock on with it's current dishes but something completely new to expect will be Hint water! The newest edition to our fresh item list. You'll notice a slightly more relaxed look for our frontline employees with new fresh t's and awesome aprons - custom made, and wonderfully embroidered.

But my personal favorite part of this new store will be our social media podium. Equipped with an iPad, we'll be able to be plugged-in to social networks such as twitter and facebook from an in-store level. Also, if anyone is curious about what Fresh is up to as far as twitter, blogging, etc. they can be easily shown right then and there!

We hope everyone gets a chance to check out the new store, and we hope to see some new fresh faces!

From,
The Fresh & Co Team

Farm Fresh Friday Dec. 3rd - Scallions

2010-12-03T11:59:00.001-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving! For todays Farm Fresh Friday we've got fresh, and vibrant green Scallions from one of our favorites, Migliorelli Farms from Tivioli, NY

Harvested for their taste, scallions are milder than most onions, making them an excellent choice for a delicious, yet suttle flavor for your salad!

Farm Fresh Friday Nov.19th- Red Onions HD

2010-11-19T10:11:00.000-05:00

Another beautiful Farm Fresh Friday! Today we'll be serving these lovely organically farmed red onions from Madura Farms located in Orange Co, NY . Although this farm does not bare the USDA certification, they do in fact use organic farming practices. Attaining USDA Organic certification is quite expensive and not always accessable to small farms - so we support them!

Support your farmers - GO LOCAL!

A Local Thanksgiving with all the fixins' - Including Martha Stewart!

2010-11-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

Animal Friendly™, No Antibiotics, Veggie Grown™, Heart Lite™

I’m sure everyone feels as lost in time as we do over here – thanksgiving is a week away! The holiday hustle and bustle is in full swing as everyone picks and chooses what they’ll be bringing to the table on Turkey Day. So, what’s on your menu? Imagine if all items in your cornucopia of food could all be locally sourced, free range, antibiotic free, all natural, and even some organic. Well, it can!

When it comes to eating healthy, it’s not necessarily all about veggies or tofu. It’s about the whole life of everything you put into your body. On Turkey Day, the main focus of the meal is well – TURKEY! When shopping for your perfect Turkey, I’m not suggesting going out and buying a football shaped tofurkey to try and start off this holiday season with a spongy excuse for a main course. This goes for all dietary preferences – I’m a vegan, and I do NOT suggest a tofurkey. For my fellow veggies, bring something to the table that will make the rooted food stand out – don’t be the one munching on sculpted soy.

Now, for those of you on the hunt for your savory centerpiece, it’s incredibly easy to purchase a local, antibiotic free, veggie grown Turkey. For our fellow foodies, many of us would ask ourselves: What would Martha Stewart do? Well, she would do exactly what we here at Fresh & Co. do everyday – order your turkey from Plainville Farms. Thanks to their team effort, Martha and Plainville Farms have joined forces to provide us with humanely raised and antibiotic/growth hormone free turkeys, tips on how to spruce up your turkey and easy access for ordering guaranteed in time for the holiday! Compliment that with produce from your local farmers market (organic wherever possible!) and there you have it. The perfect, local, and sustainable Thanksgiving Dinner. GOBLE UP!

Farm Fresh Friday Nov 12: Low Acid Yellow Tomatoes In HD

2010-11-12T10:39:00.000-05:00

Because we love em' so much, we went back to Migliorelli Farms from Tivioli, NY for some fresh Low Acid Yellow Tomatoes - EAT UP!

Quick Fact: Low acid tomtatoes are great for people with sensitive bladders as well as those with acid reflex problems. They're gently disgested and will serve you with a pain free meal :)

Interview w/ Kopali Organic Snacks - KOPALI PT II

2010-11-11T09:10:00.000-05:00

HEAR IT, SEE IT straight from the man's mouth - Zak Zaidman, Co-Founder and CEO of Kopali Organics

FROM LIVING EARTH: KOPALI PT I

2010-11-09T11:23:00.002-05:00

All natural foods are born from our mother earth. A small seed nestles its way beneath the soil and from there – the journey of life begins. A culmination of nutrients and living enzymes take hold beneath the ground and root themselves into their very own niche in Mother Nature’s gallery of permacultures. Through passion, love, and care, Kopali Organics has been able to capture this live, organic experience and put it into its very own package for us to take a bite out of natures finest.

Kopali works closely with all hands on board alongside contemporary eco-villages in Costa Rica where Kopali started, as well as many other farms all over the world. Due to the many tropical climates and healthy organic environments, Koplai is able to grow and cultivate the best, most nutritious super-foods. When in search of finding out what exactly characterizes a Kopali Community, this is the answer I received: “a Kopali Community is a celebration of life, a living and breathing organism in which lives are harmoniously enriched through healthy and sustainable lifestyles” – I describe this response with one simple word: authentic.

At Fresh&Co, our latest editions to our nutritious snack menu will be Kopali’s mango, pineapple, and super food mix as well as their chocolate covered goji berries, chocolate cacao nibs, and chocolate covered espresso beans. All of these bags of nature’s wonders are organic, fair trade certified, purely nutritious and naturally delicious.

FarmFreshFri Nov.5th- Rainbow Carrots in HD

2010-11-05T08:54:00.002-04:00

**This video was shot on Nov.3rd in anticipation of the weather for Nov.5th when we met with the vendors from farms we were choosing from. Have a great weekend!**
FARM FRESH FRIDAY for November 5th, bringing to you Rainbow Carrots just pulled from the ground. These carrots were born and raised at Paffenroth Gardens in Warwick, NY.

Some rainbow carrot facts:

The yellow ones get their color from the pigment xanthophylls, which is also found in spinach, and is known to promote good eye health.

The purple vegetables have anthocyanins to thank for their deep color- a pigment rich in vitamins C and E that feed and nourish the brain, and are a powerful antioxidant.
White carrots may lack pigment, but contain other health-promoting substances called phytochemicals, which can aide in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. (eat up boys!)
Orange carrots get their color from beta carotene with a hint of alpha carotene - a pigment the body turns into vitamin A. This is vital for healthy skin and vision in low light.

Saving the Land That Sustains Us

2010-11-02T10:18:00.005-04:00

New York City – a place with over 12,000 restaurants all serving dishes equipped with some amount of produce. Local farms surrounding this metropolitan area are the root source of produce and other foods for majority of our cities restaurants, and THE source of produce, plants, milk etc. for our cities farmers markets. Chefs rely on these farms for getting everything they need fresh, and we civilians rely on them as our only direct source of farm fresh food. In fact, without these farms, our entire nation wouldn’t have farm fresh food at all. Without these farms, we would have to rely on imported food. Not exactly what I would call environmentally friendly.

America is losing 1.2 million acres of farmland annually, much of it the best and most productive farmland near where most Americans live. Farming has been a vital part of our nation’s culture since it was founded. It’s a part of our history, and it’s a part of our everyday lives.

We’ve decided to do our part in supporting these farmers by buying their produce directly from them every Friday down at the Union Sq. Market to provide food that serves a larger purpose than simply satisfying appetites. Everything about it helps us lead our mission in sharing what we love and believe in with the public – quality, fresh, and local sustainable food.

Join us in our strive to keep our nation’s farms alive – support your local farmers.

visit FarmLand.org to learn more about how to get involved!

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 29th- Broccoli in HD

2010-10-29T11:03:00.002-04:00

Hey Guys! It's Farm Fresh Friday! Today we're featuring Broccoli from Van Houten Farms in Orangeville, PA. Just picked this morning, we got these bright, lush Broccoli heads with the stalk leaves still in tact so we can do all the trimming ourselves :) Right off the bush, still looking like a bush. That's how we like it - FRESH. Hope everyone has a safe, and happy halloween!

Farm Fresh Broccoli from Van Houten Farms Orangeville, PA. Photo taken by me this morning - right in the market :)

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 22: Cortland Apples In HD

2010-10-22T10:46:00.001-04:00

Cortland Apples in season September - March! We got our apples from Migliorelli Farm, located just 100 miles away in Tivoli, NY. Apples are one of those fruits that are a delicious representation of autumn. Cortland apples have a sweet taste with a hint of tartness - GO STICK YOUR SALAD FOR IN EM'!

Soup's On

2010-10-20T11:48:00.004-04:00

With temperatures running steadily in the 60’s, it finally feels like fall is officially here. Rich vibrant pumpkins and colorful squash fill store windows in celebration of autumn, while patrons enjoy their favorite warm comfort foods. Steaming hot cauldrons of hearty loaded soup fill your eyes with excitement, and your mouth with salivation. As the intriguing steam dances above the pot with the inviting smell of hot sustenance you make your way to the soups to sample and pick which one you want.

As you know, our priority with our food is the quality of our ingredients married with our support of our community. And just like everything else on our menu, our soups are equipped with local market fresh ingredients. That’s all a part of what sets our soups aside from others. Our soups are brewed every morning to instill that farm fresh taste and allow the locked in flavors to be savored to the fullest. In order to serve the best food, you need to know the best food, and have an understanding and appreciation for its origins. We take the time and put in the effort to really get to know our food, so we can pair the best possible combinations of soups and satisfied customers. From pumpkin bisque and butternut squash chili to beef stroganoff we’ve got a variety to satisfy all types of dietary needs and preferences.

Farm Fresh Friday Oct 15th in HD - Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes

2010-10-15T10:43:00.002-04:00

Bright and colorful cherry heirloom tomatoes from Oak Grove Plantation in Pittstown, NJ for our FIRST Farm Fresh Friday. Naturally, I tried a few, and they're nothing short of delicious :)

Farm Fresh Fridays HD VIDEO

2010-10-12T09:50:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone! Here's our latest video to give you a visual on what to expect on Farm Fresh Fridays! EAT UP!

REduce REuse REcycle

2010-10-05T11:10:00.006-04:00

Over this last year or two, we the people have become more involved in what’s been dubbed the Green Revolution. More and more people seem to be waking up to the fact that recycling is quite pivotal to an environmentally friendly world. There’s no denying that as a culture, we waste a lot. Whether it’s food, gasoline, electricity, paper, you name it we’re a society of over indulgence. However, the biggest problem with this picture is not necessarily the amount that which we use, but the amount that which we don’t re-use. It’s actually quite incredible at which how much of our most used materials are reusable. To think that we spend money on sinking garbage into the depths of the ocean, or smuggling it into landfills when a lot of it can be reused is quite unsettling. What’s the benefit to using new plastic for garbage bags when it ends up in the garbage anyway? We’ve found there is none.

Doing our part, and doing what we simply believe in, we’ve ensured that every bag, container, and piece of cutlery is environmentally friendly. Even our napkins and coffee cup sleeves are made from recycled content. Our plastic bags are made for us by EnviroJolt™. They are designed and manufactured to be environmentally friendly. They’re even printed with water based inks and are fully recyclable. Alongside our bags, we have salad containers known as: The Bottle Box™. Made from 100% post consumer PET beverage bottles – guaranteed. This process is the very first of its kind in the US to utilize 100% recycled bottles to make each Bottle Box™.

And now, for those of you who prefer not be bothered with “baggage”, we have our very own reusable tote bags. For just a buck, you purchase one of our totes and receive 25 cents off your entire purchase EVERYTIME YOU USE IT in store. So now that you’re aware of our involvement with the Green Revolution, what can you do to get involved yourself? Be mindful of where your eateries source their materials. Whether it’s the food, or the packaging – it all can end up in the same place when you’re finished with it. Let’s make sure that place is in a recycling bin.

In Season: Fall

2010-09-30T11:03:00.001-04:00

As the weather gets colder, and the leaves start to turn to shades of autumn reds and oranges, we are presented with a whole new line of produce that are officially in season. This new colony of vegetables will be making their way to the markets and then to their born fate – our plates. From root vegetables and leafy greens, to legumes and herbs, the fall has some tasteful, healthy produce in store for us to indulge.

Although you can get most produce year round, regardless if it’s “in season” it tends to not be quite as good. So when the time of year comes around when particular things are in their prime, it’s a very exciting time down here at F & C. Because we’re in such close contact with where we get our produce, we’re quick to make sure that we are fully stocked the minute what we need is in full bloom.

Here are a few rooted greens to expect, and what to look for as you pick and choose your perfect produce:

Avocados: Great source of vitamins A,C, and F, potassium, fiber and iron.

Choose ones that yield when you gently press them with your thumb. They should be a uniform shade of bluish black.

Beets: Great source of folate, potassium and vitamin C.

Choose beets that are firm, with smooth roots without any splits. You know they’re freshest when the greens are still attached.

Pumpkin: Great source of vitamin C, A, and folate.

Choose "pie pumpkins" or small pumpkins - they're easier to cook with. Pick ones that seem heavy for their size, with thick hard skin and no blemishes.

Broccoli: Great source of vitamin C, folate, and fiber.

Choose broccoli that has firm stems, with heads that are a dark green/purple color. The buds should be closed, with no evidence of any yellow flowers.

This is the season for a vast variety of excellent fruits and veggies. Listed above were just a few! Happy hunting on all of your produce endeavors for this fall!

Taste Of The Nation

2010-09-23T11:11:00.001-04:00

For those of you that follow us on twitter, or have dined out at any of our restaurants this week, you’ve been made aware of our participation in the Share Our Strengths™ No Kid Hungry campaign. I’d like to take a moment to thank, and appreciate those who donated this week, whether it was at one of our restaurants, or any other participating eatery – you’ve contributed to our goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 and for that, we thank you.

With so many restaurants participating in the Great American Dine Out, it was really great to see everyone support each other during the tweet-a-thon on Monday as we all “RT’d” for each other, promoting one another’s contributions to No Kid Hungry. Speaking of the tweet-a-ton…WOW! What a success! The tweet-a-thon drew so much attention I was literally watching thousands of dollars being donated by restaurants all day long. We even got No Kid Hungry to be a trending topic in Dallas, Texas.

Although this may be the end of the Great American Dine Out for us, this is not the end of our fight to end childhood hunger in America nor is it the end of our efforts with Share Our Strengths™. As Share Our Strengths™ continues their fight year round, you can too! Visit them at http://www.strength.org/ to learn more about how YOU can get involved. As time goes on, we will continue to do our part and take action, and we hope you do the same. To everyone that dined out at a participating restaurant, this week, you took a bite out of something that really mattered. You took a taste of the nation, and made a difference with every bite.

The Great American Dine Out

2010-09-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

As the season begins to turn, and the weather starts to turn cold, we all prepare for the next few months that will be spent mostly inside. During these months, we’ll put down our salad forks and pick up a soup spoon to compliment the weather with warm and cozy comfort food. However, this is not a luxury that we are all able to endure. Try to imagine being a young child, coming inside after hours of jumping in leaf piles, and not being able to refuel with a nice meal. Think about how it feels to go off to school, and when lunch time comes around, everyone around you unloads their lunchboxes but yours is nothing but empty. These are all scenarios that we plan on changing, but we need YOU to help!

September 19-25, 2010 we will be taking part in the Great American Dine Out. We’ve partnered up with Share Our Strengths™ in effort to end childhood hunger, right here in America. Here are the steps we’re taking to make a difference:

• The Share Our Strengths™ Tweet-A-Thon: Lend a helping hand and log on to Twitter on Monday September 20th from 9am – 4pm and join us on our Twitter feed for all day contests and giveaways! The twitter follower that RT's the message to the most people that day wins a $50 and a secret super surprise. Not too shabby huh?

• In Store Donation: Come on in and donate just $1 and get $1 off your next in house purchase. Just by dining at one of our restaurants you're supporting our endeavor to end childhood hunger in America.

More than 16 million kids who are eligible for meals don't get them, but we plan on changing that. Only 1 in 6 eligible kids get free meals, but we strive to fix that. Help end the year on a good note by contributing to a bigger picture and changing a child’s life. We’re asking you to join us in our stride towards ending childhood hunger in America, and help bring a full plate to a child’s table.