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| New Chief of Produce, Bennett Haynes |
From our friends at Beefsteak...
The Vegetable-Centric Fast-Casual Introduces Chief of Produce, Bennett Haynes, to Work Alongside Executive Chef Pat Peterson
Beefsteak the vegetable-centric, fast casual developed by award-winning chef José Andrés, is thrilled to announce its newest team member: Chief of Produce, Bennett Haynes.
In keeping with Beefsteak's philosophy of good food, fast, Haynes' role focuses on sustainable vegetable sourcing and solutions for the expanding fast casual, which currently has five locations. Using his expertise and network of top-tier producers, Haynes ensures that Beefsteak's guests can enjoy the freshest, most flavorful vegetables available. Haynes will work closely with executive chef Pat Peterson, to ensure that the menu reflects peak seasonality, freshness and local sourcing wherever possible.
* To note, Pat and Bennett will demonstrate Beefsteak's new Oh My Squash soup (Roasted Butternut Squash soup, topped with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, lemon honey dressing, pumpkin seeds and cranberries) at the Dupont Farmers Market (20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036) from 10 AM - 12 PM on Sunday, November 20.
"It's essential for all restaurants to employ someone who is fully focused on the quality and safety of the ingredients used in the kitchen and at Beefsteak we are in a unique position with how much fresh produce we use," says Bennett Haynes. "As we grow, it becomes that much more important to know our supply chain, connect with local, small-medium scale farmers and coops, and communicate seasonality with an entirely different level of detail. It's a full time job and I'm thrilled to own that responsibility for one of the most respected hospitality groups in the country."
Prior to joining Beefsteak, Bennett Haynes spent his career following his passion for feeding others as an entrepreneur and community organizer. Haynes got his start in agriculture as a student at Bowdoin College, where he majored in environmental studies and anthropology before going on to become a Fulbright scholar. His studies eventually brought him to Southeast Asia, where he began his career as a community organizer in Thailand for The Alternative Agriculture Network. His accomplishments with AAN reached well beyond Thailand, when he implemented network-wide Green Market policies and represented AAN at the UN Climate Meetings in Bangkok, Slow Food International Conference in Torino, and EcoFarm Conference in Monterey.
Upon his return to the United States in 2011, he started Ralston Farm, LLC, where he specialized in diverse produce farming, cultivating high quality products and overseeing a Community Supported Agriculture. In a few short years he grew his business to serve more than 175 families and numerous restaurants, working closely with chefs to develop menus and trial heirloom produce varieties. His major restaurant clients included the Michelin starred Uncle Boons, Jockey Hollow Bar and Kitchen, and Brick Farm Tavern.
About Beefsteak:
Beefsteak, created by chef José Andrés, and led by executive chef Pat Peterson, is a new kind of fast casual concept where farm-fresh, market-driven vegetables take center stage to create hearty, vegetable-centric meals packed with flavor and nutrition. To fuel busy lifestyles and the growing desire to eat well, the affordable and accessible concept executes good food, fast. Beefsteak currently has three locations in Washington, DC (Dupont Circle - 1528 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Foggy Bottom - 800 22nd Street, NW Washington; Tenleytown - 4531 Wisconsin Avenue, NW), one location in Maryland (Montgomery Mall - 7101 Democracy Blvd.) and one location in Philadelphia (UPenn - 3417 Spruce Street.)
For more information, visit www.beefsteakveggies.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
