Health & Fitness
Good Food Practices at the (Restaurant) Table: 2013 Diners' Guide to Ethical Eating
The Restaurant Opportunity Centers-United has published their 2nd annual Diners' Guide. It ranks restaurants around the country based on employee policies. A must-read for all who support good food!
Courtesy of a podcast by Nicole Taylor, host of Hot Grease, on the Heritage Radio Network, we've learned of a new type of restaurant review that is a compelling fit for our farmers markets shoppers. It's called The 2013 ROC National Diners' Guide to Ethical Eating, published by the Restaurant Opportunity Center United, and it rates restaurants based on worker relations. It addresses the topics of living wage, paid sick days, and opportunities for advancement within the organization, among others. In the opening pages, the ROC explains their reasons for creating the guide, including ideas like this one: "Over 90% of the more than 4,300 restaurant workers we surveyed report not having paid sick leave."
The guide is both a 40-page booklet, available online as a pdf, and a mobile phone app with location-based searching to help diners select restaurants. Many of the restaurants listed are national, fast-food chains that have dismal employee policies. There are also numerous restaurants who win the "Gold" prize for a strong commitment to worker rights, including the worker co-operative restaurant, COLORS in Manhattan, started in part by the ROC. In addition to the national chains, the guide reviews the "150 most popular restaurants in America in 9 major cities across the country." It also has a series of "tip cards" on its back cover, and the publishers suggest giving one to the restaurant staff after a meal. Here's an example of one:
I Eat ETHICALLY
Dear Restaurant Owners & Managers,
I use the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United's Diner's Guide 2013, which I want all restaurant owners and managers to know about. I care about a restaurant's practices with regard to wages, benefits, and opportunities for worker advancement.
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For all of us who want "good, clean" food to include a good livelihoods for food workers, take a look at this important guide. If you use it soon in New York City or beyond, please let us know! We're curious to hear your feedback and experiences.
