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It’s so impressive to see our FarmSource program grow year after year.  It’s hard to believe this program was started just 10 years ago! In 2012, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group purchased over 23 MILLION dollars in locally-sourced food, and Eat’n Park Restaurants represented 21% of that local spend. It’s truly amazing!

You may think that FarmSource is just locally grown veggies, so you’ll be surprised to know that it goes quite a bit beyond that.  Our FarmSource program is broken down into 4 distinct categories: Produce, Dairy, Meat and Artisan.  

FarmSource Produce – These items are sourced within 125 miles from our produce distributor, Paragon. We work closely with these farms to ensure we have enough fruits and vegetables to meet the demands for our locations. You’ll see these products on our salad bars and they consist of peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and cabbage. We also have some seasonal menu items like FarmSource Vegetable Soup and Baked Chicken Bruschetta.  

Planting Day: Brenckle's Farm and Greenhouse

FarmSource Dairy – These products are sourced from farms which are within 125 miles from the dairy processing facilities.  This category includes our milk, ice cream and cottage cheese. Our milk comes from Turner Dairy Farms that has chosen not to treat their herds with rBGH (bovine growth hormone) and we’ve selected this dairy because they believe in preserving the natural credibility of our milk supply. Click here to learn more about a couple of our dairy partners: Lone Oak Farms and Turner Dairy.


Team members visit Lone Oak Farms, one of our dairy partners

FarmSource Meat – this applies to regional (located in the state or within a 3 hour drive) of the processing facility.  These meat processors are USDA inspected and source their animals from farms that are located nearby their facility. Some of the meat items that fall within the category are our Bacon, Ham and Sausage from Hatfield Quality Meats.

David Beauvais, Vice President of Purchasing and Jamie Moore at Hatfield Quality Meats

With such a successful year behind us, I can only look forward to the local partnerships we’ll make in 2013. This is my favorite time of the year. This is when I go out and visit with our local growers to get an understanding of when they’ll have local product available. Each year I feel like the local produce season is growing longer, but really it’s the innovations that our farm partners have put in place at their farms. Like what, you ask? Well, you’ll just have to stay tuned for my annual Spring Farm Tour reports! 

Until next time,
Jamie

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That’s right – The week of May 6th, 2013, all email club members will be receiving a coupon for a free slice of our famous Strawberry Pie (just click here to read the backstory). So, if you’re not already a member, make sure you join by May 4th so you can get yours!


So, what’s even better than a free slice of Strawberry Pie? How about more than $40 worth of coupons and freebies every year?!? That’s how much our email club members save, just for being part of the club. In addition to special treats on your birthday and wedding anniversary, we send out coupons throughout the year.

Of course, you’ll also be the first to know about any new menu items or special promotions we have going on, and you'll also have the opportunity to cast your vote on new menu items we're considering.

What are you waiting for? Join now! Just click here.

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Two and a half years ago, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group launched an exciting program called LifeSmiles. It’s been our commitment to our young guests and their families to offer healthier menu options, opportunities to get active, and education to help everyone make better choices.   By creating this program, we hope to make an impact in the lifestyles of these kids (and parents) – and prepare them for the future. 

One way we’ve grown this initiative is by supporting local walks and runs in our communities and neighborhoods. We’ll provide sponsorship, send volunteers, or donate Smiley Cookies for an after race treat.  Last year, we donated thousands of Smiley Cookies to hungry runners and walkers, because when you get up and active, you can occasionally enjoy a treat(in moderation of course).
Not only do these events get you moving, but they support great causes.  In fact, there are too many to list them all here. But that’s also the beauty of it – any cause that your family or friends may be passionate about, there’s likely a run/walk that supports it.  And with spring finally upon us, what better way to enjoy the weather? 

Some of our Cura team members at a Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Eastern PA

• Walk MS: Pittsburgh – April 21st
• Pittsburgh Kids Marathon – May 4th
• Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon – May 5th
• Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Red Nose Children's Run – May 18th
• Girls on the Run Greater Summit – May 19th
• Girls on the Run Pittsburgh – May 19th

If you can’t make it to any of the events listed above, don’t worry: fun for the whole family is easy to find. There are many websites that provide online registration for active family events, all across the country. Or check the websites of your favorite non-profit organizations to see what they are planning. It’s a wonderful way to support any worthy cause and stretch your legs at the same time!  We promise… the feeling of crossing the finish line, no matter what pace, is worth it!


The Eat’n Park Relay Team at the Pittsburgh Marathon

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Spring is officially here! And with it brings our new pasta deals and a new burger that you will definitely want to sink your teeth in to. But I don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer – so let’s start with our pasta deals!

Pasta Deals with Endless Soup & Salad Bar

From 4-9PM, we’re offering all of our pasta dishes at a special price, paired with garlic bread and our endless Soup & Salad Bar. Now that’s a steal! Choose from the following meals:


Spaghetti ($8.99)
With meat or marinara sauce



New! Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage ($9.99)
Ziti baked with our zesty marinara sauce and topped with Italian sausage and melted mozzarella cheese




Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo ($9.99)
Our creamy Alfredo sauce on a bed of penne pasta, topped with strips of grilled chicken breast, fresh broccoli florets, and Asiago cheese




Baked Chicken Parmigiana ($10.49)
A hand-breaded chicken breast with mozzarella cheese served on a bed of spaghetti. Topped with meat or marinara sauce




Seafood Pasta Bake ($11.99)
Shrimp and crabmeat baked in scampi butter and Alfredo sauce, served on a bed of penne pasta




New Habanero Burger

Not in the mood for pasta? Why not try our new Habanero Burger! Trust me, it’s bursting with flavor. We start with a seasoned Black Angus beef patty, then we add our housemade jalapeno sauce, crisp lettuce, grilled bell peppers, habanero cheese and red onions.

Put all of that together on a bun and your taste buds will be doing a happy dance. Plus it’s served with your choice of one side for only $7.99!



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• Beaver Valley Mall
• Belle Vernon
• Butler (Clearview)
• Cranberry
• Fox Chapel
• Grove City
• Indiana
• Latrobe
• McKnight Road at Ross Park Mall
• Monroeville
• Moon Twp.
• North Huntingdon
• Robinson
• Sewickley
• South Hills Village
• South Park
• Uniontown
• Washington
• Waterfront (Homestead)
• Whitehall

Smiley merchandise is limited, so stop in soon!

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We like to think that volunteering and giving back to our communities, guests, and neighbors is a part of our DNA.  We know the importance and value of taking care of people both inside and outside our facilities.

We encourage our team members to be active volunteers in their neighborhoods, and do what we can to support them in those endeavors.  Because volunteers give their time and energy and ask nothing in return, we take the months of April and May to recognize those that have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

From over 1,000 team  members who volunteered over 36,000 hours of their time in 2012, we’re proud to announce that this year’s Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Volunteer of the Year is Lisa Craig!

Lisa Craig with Dan Borchert from the Lighthouse Foundation

Lisa is a cook at our Hampton Eat’n Park location and has been working for us  for over 10 years.  She is involved in a variety of organizations committed to making life better for individuals in need.  She is a regular Meals on Wheels volunteer and also volunteers with several faith-based organizations such as a Bereavement Ministry through the Lighthouse Foundation, Allegheny Alliance Student Ministries and Meeting God in Missions.  For Lisa, volunteering has been a lifelong habit.  Her parents instilled the value of giving back at a young age.  Now, she teaches her own children about the importance of volunteering and helping others.

In Lisa’s honor, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group will be donating $5,000 to The Lighthouse Foundation. This organization was founded in 1985 in response to growing needs among local families and communities facing rising unemployment and emergency needs.  They annually serve more than 6,000 clients in the Butler County area by serving as a food bank, transitional housing and emergency shelter for those in need.

Please join us in congratulating Lisa and our other finalists for their extensive efforts in the community!

From left to right: Lisa Craig (Hampton Eat'n Park), Kathy Holleran (McKnight Road Eat'n Park), Ginny Rims (Parkhurst Dining), Sarah Norviel (Parkhurst Dining), Brandi Kirby (Hermitage Eat'n Park), Dean Piacentini (Parkhurst Dining)

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