Our Standards
Guckenheimer is an environmentally conscious organization that is committed to being the leader in our industry with regard to the quality of our food, the ingredients we use and the practices we follow in our operations to support and protect the environment.
It is our goal to serve great tasting foods that promote the health and nutrition of the customers we serve and create a high level of guest satisfaction.
Our operating initiative, “Health, Nutrition and the Environment®” has been designed exclusively to promote the benefits our customers receive from the standards and guidelines we follow in our kitchens.
The following are the high standards we have set for ourselves:
- Our menus are designed to be nutritionally balanced and feature an exciting variety of today’s most popular styles of healthy eating.
- Meals are prepared fresh each day, using a “scratch method of preparation” and such nutritional cooking practices as braising, broiling, roasting, steaming and poaching. We adhere to lifestyle appropriate portion sizes.
- Our kitchens are “Trans Fat Free” and we offer certification by the “Green Restaurant Association”.
- We feature fresh seasonal ingredients and emphasize the use of local, natural and organic ingredients. Authentic recipes are followed to ensure both consistency and the nutritional content of foods.
- We source our food locally and proudly serve food that is humanely raised, sustainable, non-endangered and hormone free. We use healthy quality brands such as Niman Ranch Grass-Fed Beef, Range Grown Diestel Turkey, Petaluma Ranch Certified Organic Chicken, Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheeses, and Kansas Raised Bison, from a specialized group of farmers.
- Organic and conventional fresh produce is purchased from local farmers from the surrounding areas whenever possible.
- Milk, dairy and cheese products are hormone free; we exclusively use only whole cage-free eggs that are certified humane, raised and handled with the highest standards and fed a natural vegetarian diet.
- Ranch Grown Diestel Turkey and sustainably farmed Petaluma Ranch Chicken are hormone and antibiotic free, raised with dedicated farming practices that renew natural and human resources.
- In order to preserve the freshness, flavor and nutritional value, we roast all of our meats daily for all of our deli bars, entrees and catered events.
- Natural Buffalo and Bison are featured weekly as a healthy alternative to beef. Bison are wild animals therefore the meat is naturally leaner, has less fat and calories and more protein and iron than a comparable portion of beef, chicken or even some fish. Also, non-allergenic, raised naturally without the use of hormones or antibiotics.
- Fresh herbs and spices are used throughout our recipes to enhance both the nutritional value and flavor of our foods. MSG or products containing MSG are never used.
- Fresh fish and seafood is purchased following the guidelines established by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. White albacore tuna is water packed and dolphin-safe.
- Vegan and vegetarian selections are offered daily. This includes a full selection of non-meat protein sources such as tofu, tempeh, nuts, legumes, whole grains, dried fruits and vegetables.
- Salad dressings, salsas and aioli’s are housemade and contain no pre-prepared or frozen products. Soups and sauces are made from fresh stock.
- French fries and mashed potatoes are made using only fresh kennebec and russet potatoes that provide a healthy source of complex carbohydrates.
- A wide selection of muffins, whole grain breads, cookies and cakes are fresh baked on site each day.
- A selection of fully organic, fair trade, shade grown coffee and teas are offered daily.
- Our Nutritional Program features information that will educate our customers and help them to make food choices to better their personal health.
- Our chefs, sous chefs and pantry personnel are “Serve Safe” certified by the National Restaurant Association.
- We partner with environmentally conscious groups for the reprocessing of all cooking oils.
- Innovative environmental techniques such as, composting, advanced recycling and waste management are carefully followed. A large percentage of disposable products used come exclusively from renewable resources.
- Food Safety and Sanitation are our highest priority. Our operations are supervised daily by a dedicated “Food Safety Specialist” to ensure the highest standard. Our food safety and sanitation standard is rated excellent and we are considered a model by the Health Departments in the areas we serve.
We embrace these standards and give a challenge to ourselves to be the most progressive, innovative and professionally driven leader of quality in the restaurant industry.