Thursday, August 30, 2012
Partner Spotlight of the Month: Community Food Banks
Every month here on our blog, we'll be highlighting one of our non-profit partnerships. This month, learn a little more about Community Food Banks.
Two years ago when we launched our LifeSmiles initiative, we made a promise to support under-served communities by helping them gain access to healthy foods. It may be an ambitious goal, but we know the importance of well balanced meals and making them available to anyone.
Since then, Eat’n Park has expanded upon its relationships with the local food banks in the communities we serve. In Pittsburgh, we support the local Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Farm Stands by helping to provide fresh fruits and veggies in areas where they would normally be unavailable. Some very talented chefs from across the company have lent their expertise to visit the farm stands and do cooking demonstrations. Even in this summer’s sweltering heat, they were slicing, dicing, and sautéing up a storm!
But that’s not all. Across Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, many of our restaurants and corporate office team members have volunteered their time to visit their local food banks or pantries to help pack food or unload trucks. Each and every hand helps to make food more accessible to those who need it most.
In the next few months, we will be fostering even greater partnerships with food banks in the neighborhoods we serve through grants, donations, and volunteer time. We hope to help make an impact in providing everyone with a healthy and hearty meal.
Are you interested in getting involved with your local food bank? Here’s a great place to start: http://feedingamerica.org/. Learn more about the fight to end hunger in America.
Share
Tweet
Since then, Eat’n Park has expanded upon its relationships with the local food banks in the communities we serve. In Pittsburgh, we support the local Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Farm Stands by helping to provide fresh fruits and veggies in areas where they would normally be unavailable. Some very talented chefs from across the company have lent their expertise to visit the farm stands and do cooking demonstrations. Even in this summer’s sweltering heat, they were slicing, dicing, and sautéing up a storm!
But that’s not all. Across Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, many of our restaurants and corporate office team members have volunteered their time to visit their local food banks or pantries to help pack food or unload trucks. Each and every hand helps to make food more accessible to those who need it most.
In the next few months, we will be fostering even greater partnerships with food banks in the neighborhoods we serve through grants, donations, and volunteer time. We hope to help make an impact in providing everyone with a healthy and hearty meal.
Are you interested in getting involved with your local food bank? Here’s a great place to start: http://feedingamerica.org/. Learn more about the fight to end hunger in America.
Share
Tweet
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Labor Day Pies & Cookies at Eat'n Park
Don’t “labor” over baking a pie for your Labor Day picnic this weekend – let us make it for you!
We have fresh-baked pies everyday like Strawberry, Lemon Meringue, Blackberry and many more! Plus, if you call ahead, we can have it ready for you when you arrive. Click here to find your local Eat’n Park.
Another great bakery item to take to a Labor Day picnic – Smiley Cookies! Available in both regular and mini, these delicious cookies always put a smile on someone’s face.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Share
Tweet
We have fresh-baked pies everyday like Strawberry, Lemon Meringue, Blackberry and many more! Plus, if you call ahead, we can have it ready for you when you arrive. Click here to find your local Eat’n Park. Another great bakery item to take to a Labor Day picnic – Smiley Cookies! Available in both regular and mini, these delicious cookies always put a smile on someone’s face.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Share
Tweet
Monday, August 27, 2012
8.27.2012 Eat'n Park FarmSource Listing
Here's what's fresh & local this week at Eat'n Park!
Tomatoes
Grape Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Zucchini
Cabbage
Yellow Squash
Cucumbers
Pickles
Share
Tweet
Tomatoes
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Grape Tomatoes
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
Green Peppers
- Brenckle’s Farm – Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm – Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Zucchini
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cabbage
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Yellow Squash
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cucumbers
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
Pickles
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Share
Tweet
Friday, August 24, 2012
Brenckle's Summer Update
A few months ago, our team members visited Brenckle’s Farm in Butler to help plant some of our FarmSource vegetables for the season. Time has been flying by this summer and it's crazy how quickly those little seedlings have grown. It’s really cool to see our labor pay off as we enjoy those items that we helped plant. The zucchini and peppers that we planted are now being used in our restaurants for our Hand-breaded Zucchini Appetizer and on our salad bar.
We’re also pretty excited to now have local tomatoes, including the ones we planted at Brenckle’s!
But those aren’t the only items that are local in our restaurants; this week alone we have eight featured FarmSource items (look at the plaque on our salad bar to see the featured local items for each week, or just click here.)
The San Marzano tomatoes take a little longer to mature than the Eat’n Park tomatoes, so these guys won’t be ready to be canned until the end of August. Once I’m done though, I’ll make sure that I update you on how my canning went!
Until next time,
Jamie
Tweet
 |
| Picked zucchinis for our restaurants |
 |
| Our pepper plants |
We’re also pretty excited to now have local tomatoes, including the ones we planted at Brenckle’s!
 |
| Fresh tomatoes for our restaurants |
 |
| Our FarmSource items on our Salad Bar |
A little secret about me: I’m what you might call a closet canner, and tomatoes are what I enjoy canning. Not only do the Brenckle’s supply our restaurants with locally grown produce, they also provide me with some unbelievable canning tomatoes. I purchase their San Marzano tomatoes, which are a variety of plum tomatoes that are considered by many chefs to be the best sauce tomato in the world.
The San Marzano tomatoes take a little longer to mature than the Eat’n Park tomatoes, so these guys won’t be ready to be canned until the end of August. Once I’m done though, I’ll make sure that I update you on how my canning went!
Until next time,
Jamie
ShareTweet
Monday, August 20, 2012
8.20.2012 Eat'n Park FarmSource Listing
Here's what's fresh & local this week at Eat'n Park!
Tomatoes
Grape Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Zucchini
Cabbage
Yellow Squash
Cucumbers
Pickles
Share
Tweet
Tomatoes
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Grape Tomatoes
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
Green Peppers
- Brenckle’s Farm – Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm – Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Zucchini
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cabbage
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Yellow Squash
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cucumbers
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
Pickles
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Share
Tweet
Monday, August 13, 2012
8.13.2012 Eat'n Park FarmSource Listing
Here's what's fresh and local this week at Eat'n Park. Love zucchini? Try our Zucchini Appetizer, on the house! Click here for a coupon, valid through August 19, 2012.
Tomatoes
Grape Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Zucchini
Cabbage
Yellow Squash
Cucumbers
Pickles
Share
Tweet
Tomatoes
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Grape Tomatoes
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
Green Peppers
- Brenckle’s Farm – Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm – Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Zucchini
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cabbage
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
- Hills of Home Farm, Indiana County, PA
Yellow Squash
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cucumbers
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
Pickles
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Share
Tweet
Monday, August 6, 2012
8.6.2012 Eat'n Park FarmSource Listing
Here's what's fresh and local this week at Eat'n Park.
Love zucchini? Try our Zucchini Appetizer, on the house! Click here for a coupon, valid through August 19, 2012.
Tomatoes
Grape Tomatoes
Apples
Zucchini
Cabbage
Yellow Squash
Green Beans
Cucumbers
Pickles
Share
Tweet
Love zucchini? Try our Zucchini Appetizer, on the house! Click here for a coupon, valid through August 19, 2012.
Tomatoes
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Grape Tomatoes
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
Apples
- Dawson Orchard, Lawrence County, PA
Zucchini
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Cabbage
- Yarnick’s Farm, Indiana County, PA
Yellow Squash
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
- Harvest Valley Farms, Butler County, PA
- Yarnick’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Green Beans
- Laurel Vista Farms, Somerset, PA
Cucumbers
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
- Wexford Farms, Butler County, PA
Pickles
- Brenckle’s Farm, Butler County, PA
Share
Tweet
Coupon for Free Zucchini Appetizer at Eat'n Park
Local crops are ripening up, and here at Eat'n Park, we're taking full advantage of all that fresh, local produce! You'll find a whole truckload of local goodies in our restaurants - from tomatoes to cucumbers, zucchini, apples, squash, and green beans.
Our hand-breaded zucchini appetizer is at its peak flavor right now. Local farmers send us their freshest zucchini, and then we slice it, hand-bread it, and fry it to a crispy golden-brown. It's absolutely delicious, and if you've never tried it, now's your chance!
Print this coupon to try a full-size Zucchini Appetizer, on the house, with the purchase of two entrees! Click here to print your coupon now.
Share
Tweet
Our hand-breaded zucchini appetizer is at its peak flavor right now. Local farmers send us their freshest zucchini, and then we slice it, hand-bread it, and fry it to a crispy golden-brown. It's absolutely delicious, and if you've never tried it, now's your chance!
Print this coupon to try a full-size Zucchini Appetizer, on the house, with the purchase of two entrees! Click here to print your coupon now.
Coupon expires August 19, 2012.
Must be printed to be redeemed.
Tweet
Team Smiley Visits Big Reach's Back to School Event
Team Smiley traveled to Greenford, OH this weekend to bring
smiles to families at the Big Reach “Back to School” event. The 2012-2013 school year is quickly
approaching, and we attended Big Reach’s event to help encourage students to
pursue their education!
Smiley and a few new friends, all ready for school!
Since Big Reach was founded in 2004, the organization has
reached out to tens of thousands of underprivileged families, and has provided
students with necessary school supplies, book bags, clothing, food, and health
information. Big Reach even gives these
children haircuts before their first day of school!
Team Smiley was honored to return to this event, and to
share smiles with all of the families impacted by Big Reach’s admirable
efforts. We were truly humbled by the many volunteers who distributed these
materials to families in need, as well as the incredibly modest students who
were so grateful for these donations.
Smiley takes a break with a few of Big Reach's volunteers
Tweet
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Anything That Floats Race
Ahoy matey’s! A few weeks ago, some of our team members participated in the annual “Anything That Floats Race” which benefits Pirates Charities. This year, team S.S. Smiley and its crew of Pirates set sail down the Allegheny River…AND WON FIRST PLACE! That’s right folks, for the first time ever, we won the race!
Tweet
Thanks to everyone who cheered us on to victory – we’ll see you next year! ARRRGH!
Share
Team S.S.Smiley
Tweet
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Check out our newly-remodeled Squirrel Hill Restaurant
You may have already heard (or seen) – we’ve remodeled our Squirrel Hill restaurant on Murray Avenue! We decided it was time to give this location a facelift – after all, we’ve been in the community for over 30 years and haven’t changed a thing…until now! Let’s start with the outside and work our way in.
We’ve completely resurfaced the outside of our restaurant with stone, giving it an updated look to match the feel of Squirrel Hill. We also tapped into our inspiration from The Porch and Hello Bistro and added garage doors to give guests a chance to enjoy “open air” seating. There are also a handful of bistro tables if you would rather be sitting completely outside. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?
Moving inside, you’ll find that same feel with an updated salad bar, new restrooms, new booths, tables, and chairs, a new counter with flat screen TV, a takeout station and a new community wall!
Check out the before and after pictures – you’ll definitely want to stop by and see us in person! And speaking of stopping by to see us, why not also see Smiley! Smiley will be visiting on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 from 5-8 PM. Hope to see you soon!
Share
Tweet
We’ve completely resurfaced the outside of our restaurant with stone, giving it an updated look to match the feel of Squirrel Hill. We also tapped into our inspiration from The Porch and Hello Bistro and added garage doors to give guests a chance to enjoy “open air” seating. There are also a handful of bistro tables if you would rather be sitting completely outside. Sounds inviting, doesn’t it?
Moving inside, you’ll find that same feel with an updated salad bar, new restrooms, new booths, tables, and chairs, a new counter with flat screen TV, a takeout station and a new community wall!
Check out the before and after pictures – you’ll definitely want to stop by and see us in person! And speaking of stopping by to see us, why not also see Smiley! Smiley will be visiting on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 from 5-8 PM. Hope to see you soon!
Before....
And After!
Tweet
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)