Cooking Light Restaurant

[marshalynne]

I don't know about you guys, but with all these great recipes and not enough time to try them all, I think the only option left is to have the Cooking Light folks open a chain of restaurants!! Not only would the food be delicious...but it would be good for us too!!

[Jewel]

But that would take all the fun out of it! If anything, I'd do what my hubby's been begging me to do for two years, and that's open a restaurant of my own with ONLY a lowfat menu! I think even if the CL restaurant was down the street I would still cook myself most of the time. Much more satisfying and fun! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[marshalynne]

I see what you're saying but I just don't have time to try all the recipes I want to. This way I could still make some and have time to try the ones I couldn't make. If you do open your own...let us know!

[emilycat]

Jewel,

How about you and I go into business together? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[funnybone]

You can always go on a cruise on NCL - they serve some CL recipes.

[Jewel]

Emily, I swear...there's a market for that type of restaurant! I've even thought about doing it as a type of 'Take 'n Bake' thing. Not pizza, but a lot of main dishes that could be pre-prepared 'low fat' and then taken home and baked in those disposable foil pans! Like lasagna, manicotti, casseroles, meat sauces, soups, just to name a few! That way I wouldn't have the hassle of running a restaurant, but I'd still be cooking, and people could make it in their own homes. The ultimate convenience food! Home-cooked food that they cook but don't prepare!

Anyone want to invest in a new business venture in the Seattle area?? Come on, take a chance!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Hubby said he's perfectly willing to make our big bay window in the front of the house into a Drive Thru, and he said he'd wear one of those paper hats... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[SusanL]

Jewel, too funny!! Think I would make a trip to Seattle to see the take out window and your husband in his hat http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by SusanL (edited 03-25-2001).]

[julia]

There is definitely a market for this type of restaurant - I've been finding that greasy, salty restaurants just don't agree with me. It seems that restaurants use the shortcut of using fat and salt to enhance flavours when we know that you can do it other ways.

If one opened in the Toronto area, I'd be there.

[kwormann]

DH and I have also talked about that several times....I would LOVE to see healthy fast food....when we travel we always have to pack food, and sometimes it can be a pain! There is a healthy fast food chain in FLA, and I emailed them and requested they come to HOuston, but no such luck yet. I just dont think ENOUGH people are interested.....look what happened to Taco Bell....they were using low fat cheese and low fat sour cream....put that on a chicken soft taco and that is a fairly healthy fast food feast....no one would order it and they had to bumb it off the menu!

Ive said it before...we all need to start our own private town....we could exercise together, have block parties, and encourage healthy restaurants to come to town!

kim

[Hoosier65]

What is the healthy fast food chain in FLA. I'm going there in a couple of weeks.

[aka]

Jewel,
I'm in Vancouver, BC....wish I lived a little closer. Between the two of us (and probably a few others in the area) we could probably become personal chefs with a twist....or caterers of some sort. It seems so possible!

Lilia

[woodsl]

I travel a lot in my job and would love to be able to eat at restaurants that serve healthier, but tasty, food. A couple have opened in Dallas and they failed, but I tried both of them and they were not very good. Surely a good one would succeed.

[kwormann]

hoosier65....I dont remember the name of it....it was a blurb in a mag....possibly CL...maybe email CL and ask them if they know....they are real good at getting back to people who email with specific questions!

kim

[Hoosier65]

I will be glad to email CL if I could find where to do it? I've looked around everywhere and can't find a place it. Help please. In the mean time I'll keep checking.

[slknight]

I just read this article in the Boston Globe this morning. It looks like someone's trying healthy fast food in Maine. Thought you all might be interested.

As for already prepared food that people can take home and cook, there is a place in my town called The Hungry Fox. They have fancy meals (mainly entrees and veggies) that are prepared and ready to bake. They're quite good, but very pricey (usually at least $14.95), and most assuredly NOT low-fat.

-------------------
Fast food meets farm: A natural chain concept

By Murray Carpenter, Globe Correspondent, 3/25/2001

FALMOUTH, Maine - Where critics see problems in the fast food industry, Mac McCabe sees opportunity.

McCabe, former head of the L.L. Bean empire's Freeport flagship, is about to
open O'Naturals, the first in what he envisions as a mainstream national chain
serving prepared natural foods.

Think Bread & Circus meets McDonald's.

Despite the Harvard MBAs and other bona fides, observers say he's got a big
hill to climb. His ingredients are pricey, and a meal will run about $8, more
than the flailing Boston Market tried to charge for its ''wholesome'' fast food
of similar busy-professional appeal.

In May, the experiment begins, and McCabe's hopes are high.

''I want to change the face of fast food in the United States,'' he said recently.

He signed up some industry heavyweights to lend their names - and contacts -
to his vision: eco-entrepreneur Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farms; Legal
Seafoods president Roger Berkowitz; and Peter Roy, former president of
Whole Foods Market, Bread & Circus's parent company.

McCabe chose Falmouth for the test run because the demographic is right,
and so is the rent. He said he wanted to start the restaurant in an affluent
Boston suburb such as Weston or Lexington, but was unable to land an ''A''
location on a startup budget. Consequently, the restaurant is in a Route 1 strip
mall, sharing a parking lot with Staples.

Falmouth is growing fast, and McCabe hopes its momentum will rub off.

Right now, the restaurant is a cavernous space of raw sheet rock, but soon it
will be full of National Geographic magazines strewn amid cushy seats. And
soon, McCabe hopes, it will be full of people, too.

The menu's a dietician's dream: brothy miso with noodles, fresh-tossed
balsamic bleu salad, a free-range bison sandwich on freshly baked flatbread.
Burgers and fries? Well, yes and no. Burgers, yes, but lean. Fries, no - well at
least not fried.

Organic Maine-grown Yukon Gold potatoes will be baked and served as oven
fries. Canton's Equal Exchange cooperative will supply the coffee, and
lemonade will be fresh squeezed in-house.

Ron Poitros, who runs a program connecting local farmers with restaurants in
eastern Maine's Hancock County, says traditional fast food restaurants have
been a tough nut for them to crack.

''We just couldn't match the regularity and convenience they have with their
regular suppliers,'' Poitros said.

Still, Maine has proven itself time and again as a successful incubator for
health-conscious and socially progressive businesses, like Tom's of Maine and
Fresh Samantha.

But many people will be watching O'Naturals carefully, wary in the wake of
so many eco-friendly chains that were forced to compromise as they grew.

Eric Schlosser, whose bestselling book, ''Fast Food Nation,'' takes a skeptical
look at the industry, says well-intentioned companies almost always face
hurdles as they evolve. But Schlosser says it's possible for fast food to be
decent, too.

''I think all these changes ultimately have to come from consumers,'' Schlosser
said. ''People really have to take responsibility for what they are buying and
eating.''

In Falmouth, at lunchtime on a sunny weekday, people were choosing
McDonald's. The parking lot was jammed with 30 cars, and another 10 were
snaking through the drive-through line. The O'Naturals banner was just barely
visible across Route 1.

McDonald's doesn't plan any major changes to its menu to compete in a
changing market, said spokeswoman Diane Wiffin. Still, last week
McDonald's introduced a new fruit, yogurt and granola parfait to its regional
menu.

Stephanie Bowe, a local mother of five, is one of McCabe's target customers.
But she says she's probably a tough sell.

''If you're trying to eat healthy, you're doing that at home, not the few times
you go out,'' Bowe said. ''They'd better make it delicious.''

This story ran on page 10 of the Boston Globe on 3/25/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.

[This message has been edited by slknight (edited 03-25-2001).]

[ama47369]

I have been telling my husband for years that there should be a low fat fast food place that has a variety of food styles. I think it would sell. I think the reason why places like Taco bell can't keep the low fat items selling is that most people who eat there aren't planning on eating low fat. If there was a place that advertized that they make "fresh, healthy" food, I think it would be wonderful and popular. Most people end up eating junk just because it's convenient--

:-)

[This message has been edited by ama47369 (edited 03-26-2001).]

[kwormann]

Here is their address.

cookinglight@spc.com

When you hit the Talk button to get to the BB, your choices are Contact Cooking Light or Bulletin Board. That is where I got the address. At one time, they mailed me a whole article with several recipes because I didnt have that issue!
kim

[MrsReber]

It's a great idea, for folks like us. Unfortunately, I think that people who go out for fast food are looking for precisely that- a convenient fast meal- and they usually aren't too concerned with quality. Also, most people who eat fast food are afraid of anything that says low-fat or low-cal. That was already proven by the couple of chains that did try to introduce lower fat items. It'd have to be a nice restaurant and not a fast food place. But I also agree that I'd rather cook at home since it is enjoyable to create a healthy, tasty meal in my own kitchen.

[hka]

I've actually had the same thought about opening a restaurant that offers lowfat food. I thought it would be cool to have all the calories and fat etc. at the end of the selection on the menu so they could see what they're getting. I would frequent a restaurant like that. My husband and I usually go out on Friday nights for dinner. I do know the restaurants where I can get low fat versions of things that taste good but I always thought it would be neat to have a restaurant that made CL type food. My husband gets amazed all the time at how good the food is. I agree with MrsReber that it would have to be a sit down type of restaurant and not a fast food type. I think the nicer type would go over better.

[KathrynY]

kim - glad to hear that DH and I aren't the only ones who bring our own food when we travel! It's particularly difficult when visiting relatives and you have no choice as to what's on the menu. We've been known to hide apples and low fat granola bars in our suitcases!

I can say we don't eat out as much as we used to, since the choices for healthy food are so limited. I would certainly frequent a CL-type restaurant. I think those of us who look for healthy foods when dining out are definitely in the minority, judging from the number and type of restaurants out there now.

[KellyD]

There's a restaurant in San Diego called Daily's that was opened by a cardiac surgeon. It's been a huge success, and they've expanded on the west coast. All meals at Daily's contain 10 or fewer grams of fat and no more than 20 percent of calories from fat per serving. The food is great.

I also travel a lot for business, and I've ben really pleased with the number of hotels that have added spa cuisine to their room service menus. On the whole, I've been pleasantly surprised.

[Jewel]

You know what they say about those 'amazing inventions' don't you?? Someone saw a problem and invented a solution to the problem. That's where the Miracle Mop came from! Lady was tired of bending and stooping to rinse and squeeze out her string mop! She invented a better way, and suddenly 'Average American Housewife' is 'Not-So-Average-Millionaire-Corporation'!!

I agree that Fast-Food Healthy Menus won't usually fly because most of the people who frequent those types of places don't care too much what they put in their mouths. We, as CL lovers and cooks, have become accustomed to the way WE care about the preparation of food! We know exactly what's in it, and who's hands have touched it. We know whether the raw chicken was cleaned off the cutting board before the veggies were sliced, and we KNOW that there is no coconut oil in the stirfry. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif I think that's one of the reasons we all take pride in our cooking! We know it was all us doing it! You can't expect that 16 year old burger-flipper that eats Doritos by the bagful to go easy on the sour cream and add that 'pinch' of cayenne for extra flavor.

Yep...it's decided then. We get together and open our own place. My husband and I joke that all of the technology that's taking over the world, that we will all be living a 'Jetsons' type-life within 10 years. How 'bout we all meet on the Vacation Planet at a designated date and make Gail's Psycho Chicken and Vidalia Onion and Feta Risotto for the whole gang? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Julia1Pin]

Around the corner from my house is an El Polo Loco (a fast food chain in the LA area). It's the "healthiest" fast food I know of. We just pick up 3 piece chicken meals, or chicken bowls (which is rice, beans and chicken). The salads have all that plus lettuce. Basically, chicken burritos without the tortilla. And all the chicken is flame broiled.

It's better than the McD's alternative next door.

[ama47369]

I do think that most of us know how to make alterations to restaurant food. But one thing I would really love about a restaurant that already made healthy food is not having to say, "I'll have the Chicken Sandwich, with no cheese, butter, or mayo!"
As someone who used to be a waitress, I know a lot of waiters don't like menu alterations, but sometimes, it might be the only healthy option. So, if there was a CookingLight restaurant near me,(when I get back to the U.S.) I'd go for sure!

[hka]

Julia1pin, we have a El Pollo Loco in my area too, San Jose, CA. I've never actually gone but was curious to know what was in the rice, chicken and bean bowl? That sounds really good and like something I'd like to make at home. Do they put a sauce in it or is it just the rice, beans and chicken. Thanks!

[Leanne]

About 15 years ago (when I was in High school - scary!!) there was a fast food chain called D'lights. It was great - salads, turkey burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, whole wheat buns, etc. The girls in my high school all loved it. Boys - not so much. I just think they were way too ahead of their time. I'd go there now if it existed. Not sure that my DH would - he loves his fried steak/chicken sandwiches & french fries too much. He shys away from anything green. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif

[Julia1Pin]

The Polo bowls are just rice, beans and chicken (a bit of cilantro and onion too). I also get salsa and add it to the bowls.

The flame-broiled salads (I get "no dressing") have the previous ingrediants plus lots of lettuce and some tortillas on top.

It's a very good "fast-food" dinner.

[AvrilH]

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif My dh and I and have discussed all of these ideas many times over. A take and bake place (which I advocate) and sit-down restaraunt, or even light catering. God knows we would be frequent customers! I seriously get sick of subway if we want to eat out for lunch and not bloat up on fats and sodium, and for dinner? Good luck.

But for anyone in the Minneapolis area - I LOVED the restaraunt Good earth or Mother Earth (I can't remember which). It's been a while since I visited, but they had a great menu, and featured top ten lists: Our top ten veggie meals, our top ten lowest fat meals..... And the food was all excellent.