lyfe kitchen
lyfe kitchen culver city offers bicycle deliveries, catering and online ordering to take the food from lyfe' s kitchen directly to yours .
the estimated buildout cost for a lyfe kitchen unit is about $ 1. 5 million, including kitchen equipment .
donahue says 97 percent of lyfe kitchen orders are on the table in less than 10 minutes. he calls lyfe kitchen a hybrid of fast casual and fine dining .
lyfe kitchen to offer locally sourced, preservative - free dishes at new citypark development .
in addition to the restaurant, lyfe kitchen river north will offer full catering and delivery .
ceo mike roberts, along with the first lyfe kitchen owner operator carey cooper, his lyfe kitchen chicago team, local dignitaries, lyfe kitchen executive chef art smith, chicago legend and local supplier bill kurtis, and alderman brendan reilly cut the symbolic ribbon of brussels sprouts to mark the grand opening .
lyfe kitchen, 248 w. 55th st. , nr. eighth ave. ; no phone yet
i had a phenomenal experience earlier today at lyfe kitchen. i ordered a gluten - free veggie flatbread…
the restaurant' s standards require all dishes contain fewer than 600 calories, according to lyfe kitchen .
lyfe kitchen features every dietary plan, offering dishes aligned with vegan, gluten - free and vegetarian preferences .
“the lyfe kitchen mission is to ensure you love your food everyday, so we are constantly challenging ourselves to create dishes that get people excited about eating well, ” said art smith, executive chef of lyfe kitchen .
lyfe kitchen offers a vegan and vegetarian menu, a gluten - free menu, and a flexitarian “everything” menu .
“we are so happy to open the doors of lyfe kitchen in our hometown of chicago, ” said mike roberts, ceo of lyfe kitchen. “chicagoans are great foodies, and they reward restaurants with great taste. that’s what we hope to deliver with lyfe kitchen. ” alderman brendan reilly remarked, “it is a pleasure to welcome lyfe kitchen to the neighborhood and i am sure it will enrich the river north experience for residents and visitors alike. ”
new standards in sustainability at lyfe kitchen, as much emphasis is placed on where you eat as what you eat. lyfe kitchen is the first restaurant group to commit to certifying all restaurants under the leed retail: commercial interiors rating system .
, says health - focused fast casual chains like lyfe kitchen will be the next biggest growth opportunity in the restaurant industry .
lyfe kitchen’s “sausage” and mozzarella ravioli. photo by the conscientious omnivore (cc by - nc - nd 3. 0 )
a tofu taco from lyfe kitchen, buffalo “wings” with ranch dressing from veggie grill and veggie grill' s “cheeseburger” on kale .
lyfe kitchen’s 272 s. main st. location is undergoing a renovation and will reopen in early 2017. - memphis business journal
just shy of a year after its initial debut, lyfe kitchen at the chisca on main is closed for a “transformation. ”
lyfe kitchen opens in east memphis aug. 6, stages preview of food and drinks for reporter meagan nichols. - memphis business journal
lyfe kitchen' s local growers and vendors assist in providing customers with great - tasting, fresh, high - quality food, while mitigating the overall environmental footprint. following the grand opening event, lyfe kitchen donated remaining produce to local charity, chefs to end hunger .
“we believe lyfe kitchen is a response to one of america’s most significant unmet needs: the consumer’s demand for delicious, affordable food that is good for you, ” said mike roberts, lyfe kitchen’s founding chief executive officer and now a member of the board of directors .
a stroll through the kitchen at lyfe reveals fresh fruits and vegetables, grass - fed beef and free - range chicken. what you won' t find at lyfe kitchen is also notable—no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup, no deep fryer, not even a microwave .
lyfe kitchen has an overwhelming variety of fresh - squeezed juices and infused drinks to try. the lemonade was especially gingery and tasted fresh .
west hollywood marks lyfe kitchen' s 16th location in the u. s. as the brand grows and expands to meet customer needs .
the director of culinary for lyfe kitchen, chef faye greenberg, oversees menu development for the brand and lives out this motto of balance daily .
michael donahue, co - founder of lyfe kitchen, wants to convert customers “who have always thought healthy food has to taste like straw. ”
lyfe kitchen also offers catering, online ordering, and takeout, which donahue says is already a very significant part of sales in older restaurants .
lyfe kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with an all - day per - person check average between $ 8 and $ 12 .
after a long stint as president and coo of mcdonald' s corporation, mike roberts is launching lyfe kitchen, a socially - responsible brand that .
“lyfe kitchen was created to fill a need we are all seeking in our busy lifestyles, ” said chance carlisle, president and ceo of lyfe kitchen. “our restaurant provides the benefits of mindful eating to everyone in our communities through meals that incorporate wholesome ingredients, thoughtful preparation and enticing flavors. ”
in 2011, with more than 100 investors, they opened the first lyfe kitchen; now they simply refer to mcdonald’s as “the old place. ”
sustainable cuisine slated for brentwood lyfe kitchen to offer locally sourced, preservative - free dishes at new citypark development. check out this story on urltoken urltoken
whether it’s in our newly renovated vintage dining room or outside on the spacious patio, the new lyfe kitchen + chisca bar just became your new spot .
lyfe kitchen cofounder and chief brand officer mike donahue says the growing concept offers convenient, affordable, great - tasting food that just happens to be healthy .
“roberts is intense, ” says mike donahue, the former mcdonald’s chief communications officer who now fills the same role at lyfe kitchen. “he’s a maniac. ”
lyfe kitchen kicks off 2016 with continued expansion. the premier “fast - fine” restaurant expands in playa vista, making california the company’s largest market area it serves .
, president and ceo of lyfe kitchen .
with this in mind, we are making long - term technological investments to provide that expected user experience .
a restaurant’s design is a large factor of importance for the success of any brand. lyfe kitchen, as recently featured in this qsr article, living the lyfe in quick service, truly embodies the essence of restaurant design with a purpose .
relax and unwind on the best patio in memphis! enjoy your favorite lyfe kitchen entrées and even wider assortment of drinks from our expanded in - house chisca bar .
the warm and inviting ambiance of the restaurant aims to appeal to all five consumer senses, making lyfe kitchen a respite from active daily life. the sixth sense is our commitment to the highest standards in environmental responsibility. from sustainable building materials, patio furniture made of recycled milk and juice cartons, bamboo tables and salvaged sequoia wood community table, lyfe kitchen seeks to model and inspire environmentally responsible practices. working closely with sustainable builders shangri - la construction, all new lyfe kitchen locations, beginning with
the love your food everyday (lyfe) brand was founded in palo alto, california, in 2011. the memphis - based carlisle corp. purchased a stake in lyfe kitchen in 2014 and moved the restaurant company' s headquarters to memphis .
two former mcdonald' s executives are trying to bring kale, quinoa, and other upscale foods to the masses with a health - conscious restaurant chain called lyfe kitchen .
lyfe kitchen ceo mike roberts speaks with palo alto patch about his vision for the new' lyfestyle' brand, which opens its first restaurant in palo alto in august .
the first lyfe kitchen was located in health - conscious palo alto, california. after using that store as an incubator for two years, a second lyfe kitchen opened in culver city, california, in 2013. since then, the concept has expanded in california and moved into texas, new york, colorado, nevada, and illinois .
about lyfe kitchen lyfe kitchen is committed to the idea that great - tasting food can also be good for you, affordable and convenient. with choices to please anyone, from flexitarian to vegetarian, omnivore to vegan, our celebrated chefs have developed a menu that is as delicious as it is inspiring. using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible with the highest standards of quality and adhering to the highest level of socially responsible practices, lyfe kitchen is creating a new category of lifestyle restaurant. visit urltoken for more .
lyfe kitchen believes that good food plays a big role in enhancing the quality of our lives. the menu philosophy is centered on a trifecta of elements to creating mindful meals :
lyfe kitchen, which stands for love your food everyday, plans to provide a preservative - free menu filled with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner .
as lyfe kitchen restaurant opens in chicago, local suppliers will play a critical role in providing the freshest products possible throughout the year. lyfe kitchen has formed partnerships with local vendors who share the same passion and social responsibility beliefs to provide high - quality, great - tasting food and beverages, which allow a new audience to “love your food everyday. ”
members of the lyfe kitchen team celebrate the opening of their restaurant in chicago. owner operator and highland park resident carey cooper is pictured in the center of the photo along with lyfe founders mike roberts on the far left and mike donahue on the far right .
on tuesday, she announced that she' ll take the helm at luvo, formerly lyfe kitchen retail, a healthy foods start - up backed by derek jeter and jennifer garner .
at lyfe kitchen, we believe good food plays a big role in enhancing the quality of our lives. making thoughtfully sourced, freshly prepared, epically flavored dishes available - and …
lyfe kitchen' s commitment to social responsibility extends from its menu to the restaurant itself. its locations are leed - accredited and interiors feature tabletops and chairs made from recycled material .
mr. bringardner said, “chefs and restaurants have a responsibility to nourish. we have to educate and inform, build trust and confidence, and change the perception of healthy eating. here at lyfe kitchen, we are trying to inspire ‘lyfe - long’ habits. ”
lyfe kitchen menu staples include sweet corn chowder, the quinoa crunch bowl salad, a vegan garden burger, and a grass - fed beef burger. there are flatbreads with various toppings, fish tacos made with grilled mahi mahi, and art’s unfried chicken, a crispy chicken breast that’s air - baked instead of fried. there are no fryers on the lyfe kitchen premises .
lyfe kitchen, which is to open a new york city branch this fall, brought in more than $ 3 million in its first year at one store in palo alto, calif .
lyfe kitchen' s second restaurant will open in culver city in january. a restaurant in tarzana will open sometime in the spring. next—cupertino and mountain view, with chicago also being scouted .
luvo began as
lyfe kitchen
last year as the retail arm of lyfe kitchen, a restaurant chain serving healthy meals that launched in 2011. luvo meals, which are free of artificial ingredients and transfats, are available at more than 6, 000 locations of several large retailers, including target, publix, safeway, fred meyer, shoprite, amazon and hsn. com .
the first lyfe kitchen restaurant in the memphis area opened in the former sharky’s gulf grill space at 6201 poplar ave. in august of 2015. the downtown spot opened in february of 2016 .
donahue, a former mcdonald’s executive, started lyfe kitchen in 2011 with former mcdonald’s coo mike roberts and stephen sidwell, a former executive at gardein, a plant - protein food producer. in 2014, carlisle corporation, a memphis, tennessee–based wendy’s franchisee, became a minority stakeholder. carlisle corporation president chance carlisle became ceo of lyfe kitchen, and its corporate headquarters relocated to memphis .
a hallmark lyfe kitchen element, the iconic herb wall represents the flavorful herbs and spices found in the great - tasting meals guests enjoy. as an indication of their commitment to the core message of sustainability, lyfe kitchen culver city partnered with harvest to home to install a hydroponic wall that grows more than 60, 000 micro greens, including arugula, red russian kale and bok choy .
mr. bringardner listed lyfe kitchen’s standards, which include microwave - free kitchens; monosodium glutamate - and bioengineered organism - free ingredients; and no butter, cream or high - fructose corn syrup .
bloomberg businessweek reports that lyfe kitchen (an acronym for love your food everyday) is set to open roughly 10 new restaurants around the country next year in cities that include chicago and new york .
according to a post on the company’s facebook page, lyfe kitchen’s 272 s. main st. location is “undergoing a transformation and we’ll be unveiling new flavors and design elements in early 2017. ”
lyfe kitchen :
simply put, the decision was made to focus resources on the development and market presence of our top - performing restaurants in the area, while we continue to explore the right locations for future expansion ,
lyfe senior brand manager robert griffin said in a statement .
those are just the company - owned restaurants. lyfe kitchen is also unveiling a franchise model that emphasizes assigning a territory to franchisees. the company began accepting inquiries through its web site just last week .
you know a restaurant' s good when lunch patrons are lined out the door before the clock strikes noon. that was the case thursday as a crowd gathered at lyfe kitchen on hamilton in palo alto .
on our recent west coast trip, j, i and the friends who hosted us in the bay area (thanks again, v & e !) had lunch at lyfe kitchen. i first learned about the restaurant from an article by mark bittman that i blogged about as our trip got underway. in his piece on whether good fast food might be possible, bittman describes the lyfe kitchen concept and team :
but the “h” word is what sets lyfe kitchen apart. every menu item weighs in at less than 600 calories and less than 1, 000 milligrams of sodium. donahue says lyfe kitchen replaces sodium, cream, butter, and sugar with natural ingredients. the vegetables served are organic when commercially available and local whenever seasonally possible. meats are free of antibiotics and hormones and are approved by the global animal partnership .
restaurants, guests can get their food faster with apple pay, making mobile payments secure, quick and convenient. lyfe kitchen plans to roll - out apple pay into all of its restaurants later this year .
members of the lyfe kitchen team celebrate the opening of their restaurant in chicago. owner operator and highland park resident carey cooper is pictured in the center of the photo along with lyfe founders mike roberts on the far left and mike donahue on the far right. (posted by spgibson1, community contributor )
. lyfe kitchen is committed to the idea that great - tasting food can also be healthy, affordable and convenient. with choices to please anyone, from flexitarian to vegetarian, omnivore to vegan, our skilled and celebrated chefs have developed a dynamic menu that is as delicious as it is inspiring. using ingredients with the highest standards of quality and social responsibility, lyfe kitchen is creating a new category of lifestyle restaurants .
and nationally through urltoken and home shopping network (hsn. com). lyfe kitchen retail is featuring its line of frozen entrees, soups and frozen treats at natural products expo west, being held this week (
from their chef - driven dishes to a clear commitment to social responsibility, we can’t wait to welcome lyfe kitchen to the neighborhood. they’re coming to runway later this year and are making headlines left and right .
chuck imerson, a vice president at lyfe kitchen, says the plan of the restaurant founders is to create healthy food for the masses. does that sound grandiose? consider this—lyfe kitchen' s business structure resembles a major corporation as opposed to a mom and pop restaurant. the president and ceo of restaurants is mike roberts, former global president and coo for mcdonald' s. a second president and ceo, stephen sidwell, oversees the grocery division. there are nine vice presidents. the chief brand & communications officer, mike donahue, was lured from mcdonald' s. clearly, lyfe kitchen plans to rule america' s food future .
visit urltoken for more information, and follow us on facebook: urltoken and twitter and instagram @ lyfekitchen. lyfe kitchen is also hiring at this location, including lyfe ambassadors, who greet and inform guests and guide them through the menu, to baristas and dining room specialists who make up the heart of the restaurant, to a full culinary team that creates the recipes developed by its award - winning chefs. about lyfe kitchen: lyfe kitchen is committed to the idea that great - tasting food can also be affordable and convenient. with choices to please anyone, from flexitarian to vegetarian, omnivore to vegan, our celebrated chefs including art smith, and jeremy bringardner have developed a menu that is as delicious as it is inspiring. using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible with the highest standards of quality and adhering to the highest level of socially responsibility practices, lyfe kitchen is creating a new category of lifestyle restaurants. photos accompanying this release are available at: urltoken urltoken
our customers here in palo alto will decide the trajectory of lyfe kitchen. obviously we believe that this need is one of the great unmet needs in the country. great tasting food that is also good for you .
using reclaimed wood and serving its meals on china, lyfe kitchen leads the way in leveraging interior design to claim the healthy territory. food preparation areas showcase ingredients where customers can confidently see the quality of the food .
as lyfe kitchen continues to grow, the team behind the restaurant concept hopes to make a positive difference in the lives of its guests by providing healthy dishes that not only taste incredible but also make each diner feel incredible .
lyfe kitchen recently called “the future of food, ” a transformational, socially responsible “lyfestyle” brand, today opened the doors to its first - ever franchise location at the corner of clark and hubbard in chicago’s river north section .
lyfe kitchen (urltoken) launched its first restaurant in palo alto, california, in 2011. to date, the premier fast - fine restaurant chain has opened 20 locations across six states, including california, colorado, nevada, illinois, tennessee and texas. lyfe kitchen is committed to the idea that great - tasting food can also be healthy, affordable and convenient. with choices to please anyone, from flexitarian to vegetarian, omnivore to vegan, our skilled and celebrated chefs have developed a dynamic menu that is as delicious as it is inspiring. using ingredients with the highest standards of quality and social responsibility, lyfe kitchen is creating a new category of lifestyle restaurants .
yes, for the moment the only lyfe kitchen is here on hamilton avenue in palo alto. it opened less than a year ago as a sort of prototype. but imagine tens of millions of local, sustainable gourmet meals, served with the efficiency and economy that one expects from a national fast - food chain. such a feat of feeding has never before been attempted, and if lyfe kitchen succeeds, the results will reverberate far beyond our stomachs .
“our philosophy at lyfe kitchen is ‘eat good. feel good. do good, ’” he said to the group while standing in front of a wall with the painted scripted verse: the food policy that matters most is yours .
named one of the “hot concepts of 2014” by nation’s restaurant news, lyfe kitchen was selected for their emphasis on healthy eating and made - from - scratch freshness. we look forward to this refreshing addition to the playa vista community .
the downtown lyfe kitchen measures in at 3, 700 square feet and includes an 1, 800 - square - foot outdoor patio. when it first opened, there was seating for about 80 customers inside and 45 people on the patio .
with an ambitious, delicious menu and fast, friendly service, the restaurant has given me plenty of reason to come back. if lyfe kitchen is the future of fast - casual dining, then the future is in good, healthy hands .
develop an expansive variety of thoughtful recipes that include traditional favorites as well an extensive list of plant based dishes. lyfe kitchen standards require that all dishes contain fewer than 600 calories and 1, 000 mg of sodium, with most containing much less .
roberts left mcdonald' s six years ago and launched lyfe kitchen once his noncompete ran out in 2011 with about $ 15 million from 120 investors, according to businessweek. both oprah winfrey' s former chef and nba player derek fisher are investors .
the food is prepared fresh and crafted with signature herbs, spices and house - made sauces. lyfe kitchen’s standards require that all dishes on the menu contain fewer than 600 calories and 1, 000 mg of sodium, with most containing much less .
all of lyfe kitchen’s menu items contain fewer than 600 calories and 1, 000 mg of sodium, with most choices containing much less. many feature plant - based proteins and most rely on herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables to deliver on flavor .
restaurant, the seventh in california, making southern california the company’s largest geographical market. situated in the heart of the runway at playa vista, the new restaurant offers the premier fast - fine dining experience that fans of lyfe kitchen have come to expect .
established in 1873, cougle commission company is one of chicago’s largest family - based poultry processors. cougle will provide lyfe kitchen with the highest - quality, global animal partnership (gap) certified poultry products to make signature dishes like chef art’s unfried chicken .
an open kitchen allows customers to see their meal being prepared with fresh food—which also helps quell criticism if the wait times are slightly elevated .
/ prnewswire / - - lyfe kitchen, a leader in the fast - fine dining movement is excited to bring the latest technology to the table. this month it is launching the second phase of its technology innovations with the release of its new mobile app. the new app' s features include the added convenience of remote ordering from any location, and the integration of the olo platform with a new mobile app through punchh, one of the restaurant industry' s leading mobile loyalty and insights platforms. with punchh, the app allows for native, in - app ordering and will support a generous customer loyalty program to reward guests who visit lyfe kitchen. the app also features original blog content and news of lyfe kitchen happenings that will reach users through push notifications and e - blasts .
and for imerson, that' s the whole point ,
i want guests to come taste great - tasting food from my kitchen .
from the site selection to the landscaping, the décor and furnishings to the high - efficiency kitchen equipment that guests may never see, dozens of measures are taken to ensure that lyfe kitchen operates as efficiently as possible. the result: dramatic reductions in the use of water, energy and other resources from floor to ceiling, front - of - the - house to back - of - the - house .
mike roberts, the former global president of mcdonald' s, teamed up with stephen sidwell, who helped found the meat substitute gardein, and mike donahue, mcdonald' s usa' s former chief of corporate communications, to launch lyfe kitchen three years ago .
several of the healthy chain founders did time at conventional eateries. donahue of lyfe kitchen logged two decades at mcdonald' s. the three founders of tender greens met while working at the luxurious shutters on the beach in santa monica, where two served as chefs .
in culver city, i visited lyfe kitchen (that’s “love your food everyday”; i know, but please keep reading). lyfe has the pedigree, menu, financing, plan and ambition to take on the major chains. the company is trying to build 250 locations in the next five years, and qsr has already wondered whether it will become the “whole foods of fast food. ”
since lyfe kitchen’s mission is to provide healthy, fresh and gourmet fast food, in a responsible way (e. g. sustainability) we wanted to convey that through the physical aspects of the restaurant. we are very proud to say that our head design consultant, margee drews, took this concept to the extreme when working with lyfe kitchen. using materials like recycled milk containers for the sofas and countertops constructed from reclaimed materials, are just a couple of innovative ways margee incorporated green, socially - responsible principles to restaurant’s interior design .
while chicago — where lyfe kitchen is based — will be home to the first franchise location, donahue said the company is eager to line up operators in colorado, in particular, where they feel the brand will be embraced by diners in cities like denver and boulder .
the three chefs began collaborating on the lyfe kitchen menu in the home kitchen of chef smith. together they spent more than a year on a taste quest to develop signature flavors and one - of - a - kind dishes. the diverse menu offers choices to meet any guest’s personal food policies, including menus for guests who eat everything, those who prefer or require gluten - free choices, or vegetarian and vegan options .
at lyfe kitchen, which plans to open up to 20 locations next year, waiters deliver meals; diners order at the counter and then are handed a gps device so they can be easily located inside the restaurant. food is served on real china with flatware and glasses .
buedel fine meats and provisions has been providing chicago - area restaurants with the highest quality meats since 1907. at lyfe kitchen chicago, buedel will provide the all - natural, humanely raised, grass - fed beef that makes our classic burger, in a word, classic .
lyfe kitchen serves burgers with grass - fed beef and decadent chocolate desserts, all under 600 calories. donahue said the company avoids pushing the uber - healthy aspects of its dishes — focusing on the tastiness of its kale banana smoothies, for instance, instead of highlighting the kale .
i had come to the artisanally fed vale of facebook and tesla to sample the first fruits of lyfe kitchen, a soon - to - be - chain of restaurants that might just shift the calculus of american cuisine. at lyfe kitchen (the name is an acronym for love your food everyday), all the cookies shall be dairy - free, all the beef from grass - fed, humanely raised cows. at lyfe kitchen there shall be no butter, no cream, no white sugar, no white flour, no high - fructose corn syrup, no gmos, no trans fats, no additives, and no need for alarm: there will still be plenty of burgers, not to mention manifold kegs of organic beer and carafes of biodynamic wine. none of this would seem surprising if we were talking about one or 10 or even 20 outposts nationwide. but lyfe’s ambition is to open hundreds of restaurants around the country, in the span of just five years .
a pioneer in the fast - fine dining category, lyfe kitchen has created an elevated dining experience that caters to the active lifestyle and those seeking a healthy alternative to fast - food chains. the brand is proud to offer patrons a menu that is rich in variety and flavor – going beyond the simple dishes others create to offer lyfe kitchen guests beautiful meals with the ingredients they love most. this philosophy is what drives the company' s motto of
feed. your. self. ,
communicating the belief that healthy eating is delicious, approachable and affordable .
in culver city, i visited lyfe kitchen (that’s “love your food everyday”; i know, but please keep reading). lyfe has the pedigree, menu, financing, plan and ambition to take on the major chains. the company is trying to build 250 locations in the next five years, and [ industry trade magazine ] qsr has already wondered whether it will become the “whole foods of fast food. ”
most lyfe kitchen locations are between 3, 300 and 3, 500 square feet, with seating for 100–110 guests inside and another 20 on an outside patio. there are several different types of seating, including couches, soft chairs, a community table area, and traditional tables and chairs .
it' s the motto of lyfe kitchen, a new restaurant with an emphasis an environmental responsibility, slated to open at brentwood' s citypark development. the permit for the 4, 071 - square - foot restaurant is under review by city staff, according to the city of brentwood .
“we want to turn upside down everyone’s preconceived notions of healthy foods, ” he said. “we show you that healthy foods can be, first and foremost, delicious, as well as convenient, affordable, responsible, personal and an experience. these are the six truths about lyfe kitchen. ”
mr: truthfully the only thing i' m thinking about now is opening palo alto and making sure that we execute on our promise, and beyond that our guests will tell us, you' ve got to come here, you' ve got to come here, we love lyfe kitchen .
the culver city restaurant that mark bittman visited was the company’s second; the palo alto store i visited was the very first. they’re building company - owned stores and also pursing a mcdonald’s - like franchise model. franchisees will be glad for company support, since outfitting these restaurants isn’t cheap. (kaufman’s article provides a good overview of the computer - choreographed system in the lyfe kitchen kitchen .) as lisa jennings reports for the trade publication nation’s restaurant news ,
in fact, the benchmark for dishes at lyfe is less than 600 calories per serving and less than 1, 000 mg of sodium .
lyfe’s signature brussels sprouts with butternut squash and cranberries. photo by the conscientious omnivore (cc by - nc - nd 3. 0 )
as we talked, donahue referred often to mcdonald’s, where he spent two decades as the chief communications officer. he started lyfe kitchen in 2010 with another mcdonald’s refugee, mike roberts, the former chief operating officer. (roberts left his position at lyfe early this year, after the carlisle corporation became a major investor .) at lyfe there are no dishes with more than six hundred calories or a thousand milligrams of sodium. one can eat quickly, but the restaurant has electrical outlets at every table, and the owners encourage people to stay as long as they like .
the first lyfe kitchen opened in palo alto four years ago. the company has since opened seventeen more, and plans to have sixty within a couple of years. like sweetgreen, lyfe spends liberally on the physical surroundings of its restaurants, which are modern and spare. customers can sit at reclaimed - wood tables on chairs made from recycled water bottles. it feels like the type of restaurant one might find in a high - end finnish department store. many of lyfe’s buildings are even well certified, which means they meet particularly high standards for air quality, water, and light .
chicago – opening its first location just a little more than three years ago in palo alto, calif. , lyfe kitchen, chicago, a socially responsible lifestyle restaurant chain, now has 13 locations spread across california, colorado, illinois, nevada and texas, and soon will be in new york city .
the brand is slated to open 10 more locations by the end of 2015. donahue says the plan is to grow in existing markets as quickly as the infrastructure and supply chain, as well as the customers, allow. within those markets, lyfe kitchen will target locations in strong retail and restaurant areas .
lyfe kitchen is on target with its approach to feeding america, as its philosophies and business style complement findings from the culinary visions panel, chicago, a research and trend forecasting firm that explores a range of culinary topics with food industry professionals and consumers. it is a division of chicago - based olson communications .
lyfe kitchen chicago showcases the talent of chefs art smith, tal ronnen and jeremy bringardner’s with a trusted and thoughtful menu that features chef - inspired, delicious recipes, plant - based proteins, with all dishes containing fewer than 600 calories and 1, 000 milligrams of sodium, with most choices containing much less .
aaron selverston: from mcdonald' s to lyfe kitchen—that is quite a leap. of all the seemingly most improbable elements of this business plan, one might imagine it would be simply getting healthy food out to the masses. do you envision being able to scale something like this the way you scaled mcdonald' s ?
lyfe kitchen’s farro - and - beet salad in the foreground, with the sweet corn chowder on the right, baby kale salad above, and the bottom of my glass of chia water just visible in the upper left corner, . photo by the conscientious omnivore (cc by - nc - nd 3. 0 )
fortunately, i' m able to catch up with jeremy later, and we chat briefly about his role at lyfe and plans for the future .
project costs on the 6, 000 - square - foot building totaled $ 1. 1 million. hnedak bobo group was the architect. the poplar avenue site is the largest and first free - standing in the lyfe fleet. a second memphis lyfe is planned for the chisca in downtown memphis .
in celebration of its newest location, lyfe kitchen – playa vista will be hosting a community grand opening event on tuesday, feb. 9, 2016, from 10: 30 a. m. to 2: 30 p. m. open to the public, the event will showcase a brussels sprout cutting – which is the company’s culinary take on the traditional ribbon cutting. the event will also include special menu tastings, a lyfe water sample station and free giveaways throughout the day .
so the restaurant on hamilton is the beta site for lyfe and every diner a test subject. why here ?
we chose palo alto because it would be vocal ,
said imerson. all those times that someone at lyfe asked you about your meal—they were truly listening. listening, tweaking and perfecting .
( 2 cups) mature kale requires the stems to be removed before serving. lyfe avoids this by using baby kale instead—prewashed organic greens from earthbound farm .
the founders’ decades of fast - food experience contributed to developing lyfe kitchen’s systems, processes, and brand, but the menu is chef - driven like that of a fine - dining restaurant. it features dishes created by art smith, former personal chef to oprah winfrey, as well as renowned vegan chef tal ronnen and executive chef jeremy bringardner .
what is offered are a variety of lyfe waters, eight local beers that sell for $ 5 and 10 wines on tap that start at $ 6. cakebread chardonnay is $ 14 per glass or $ 50 a bottle. lyfe cocktails created by mixologist kim haasarud, founder of liquid architects llc, are also available .
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lyfe kitchen: the fast - casual chain with a wholesome food menu has closed its irvine spectrum center location after two years. a mall representative said the restaurant closed july 28. lyfe has recently closed a few other locations in the los angeles area. “simply put, the decision was made to focus resources on the development and market presence of our top performing restaurants in the area, while we continue to explore the right locations for future expansion, ” lyfe senior brand manager robert griffin said in a statement. when asked if lyfe broke its lease, the irvine co. declined to disclose details. easther liu, chief marketing officer for irvine company retail properties, said in a statement: “our policy is not to disclose specifics of our leases. at this moment, we are not ready to announce a replacement. ”
but the heart of any restaurant is the kitchen, and at the heart of lyfe’s kitchen are four energy - saving cooking technologies. the turbochef impingement oven microwaves while also blasting hot air over the food at 60 miles per hour. “combi” ovens combine steam and convection cooking so the food crisps and moistens simultaneously. and instead of a stainless steel or cast iron griddle, lyfe uses one made of 1 - inch - thick chrome, which reduces the amount of heat lost. even the cheese melters save energy: when microswitches sense the weight of a plate, they immediately kick the burner into high gear. as soon as the plate leaves the melter, the machine turns itself back to low .
lyfe kitchen signed its first franchisee, l3 hospitality group, in 2013 and owner carey cooper has opened four chicagoland locations. but the better - for - you restaurant brand hasn’t added another franchise partner since. it was a conscious decision, said ceo chance carlisle, who joined the company in summer 2014 and found the concept in need of refinement .
intelligentsia coffee is one of chicago’s premier coffee providers. chicago magazine’s reader’s choice award recognized intelligentsia as the best locally roasted coffee and in 2011 chicago time out awarded them its “best local coffee roaster” award. their fulton street roasting works is home to three gothot roasters that turnout the hand crafted, delicious coffee that will be served at lyfe kitchen everyday .
lyfe’s innovations extend even to the dishwashing station, which features a system that captures steam, condenses it, and recycles the heat for the next wash. and while a typical dishwasher may use 1. 5 gallons per wash, lyfe’s units use three - quarters of a gallon and sanitize without chlorine—a boon for local sewage systems .
lyfe kitchen is known for its use of state - of - the - art energy - efficient equipment, which is a key component of the systems that allow for the cooking of fresh food in house consistently. a turbo combine oven, for example, allows operators to turn out the concept’s signature brussels sprouts the same way every time, [ donahue ] said .
lyfe, love your food everyday, is a lifestyle restaurant. lyfe kitchen combines natural ingredients with sustainable practices and delicious flavor profiles enhanced with spices and herbs to fuel and satisfy. all dishes are preservative and additive free and contain less than 600 calories and less than 1, 000 mg of sodium. we aim to fulfill the need for delicious food that is convenient, affordable, and as important, good for you. for additional information, visit urltoken or call 310 - 507 - 7955. for additional photos, visit urltoken .
lyfe gets relatively high ratings on yelp, and the new york times food critic mark bittman wrote last year that he tried the menu and
came away impressed .
lyfe kitchen, a pioneer in the “fast - fine” dining category, has created an elevated dining experience that caters to the active lifestyle and those seeking a healthy alternative to fast - food chains. the playa vista restaurant boasts nearly 4, 000 square feet of warm and inviting dining space, including an outdoor patio for al fresco dining at its best. the brightly lit and casual yet cozy restaurant comes equipped with a three - head water tap dispensing ambient tap, chilled tap or chilled sparkling water to all guests. for those seeking something sweeter to sip, rather than sodas or high fructose beverages lyfe kitchen offers a series of infused waters called lyfe waters, blending fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs with agave, chia seeds and other ingredients to quench your thirst while invigorating your palate. those looking for adult refreshment can also enjoy a wide selection of beer and wine from some of the region’s top producers .
lyfe kitchen sells a grass - fed beef burger with 544 calories, 8 grams of saturated fat and 635 milligrams of sodium. but those watching their figures can opt for the marinated kale at a svelte 68 calories, 1 gram of fat and 74 milligrams of sodium. the quinoa crunch bowl contains 552 calories, 3 grams of saturated fat and 551 milligrams of sodium .
the company won' t stay small for much longer, as this latest expansion shows. lyfe kitchen in march also launched a line of heat - and - serve soups to be sold in costco, according to the san francisco business times .
our plan is to grow as fast as we can ,
roberts' partner stephen sidwell told the paper in march .
the team behind lyfe kitchen, which opened its first restaurant back in 2011 in palo alto, california, believes healthy, better - for - you food should not only be more accessible, but taste good, too. built on the premise that feeding your self should be feeding your whole being, the company continues to grow, providing healthier alternatives to fast food .
lyfe kitchen river north will feature a selection of eclectic and flavorful craft beers to complement its great tasting dishes. the line - up features selections sourced from some of the finest midwest brewers including tighthead brewing (mundelin, il), hopothesis beer company (chicago, il), revolution brewing (chicago, il) and boulevard brewing (kansas city, mo) .
without the fat, salt and sugar, many people doubt they will find the food at these establishments tasty. however, michael donahue, the co - founder and chief brand officer of lyfe kitchen confidently told the new yorker “…we need to attract the people who have always assumed that healthy food has to taste like straw. if they try it, we have them. ”
“lyfe kitchen is a pioneering lifestyle concept in chicago, ” said owner - operator carey cooper. “we can’t wait for chicagoans to visit us and experience what we have to offer: from the menu to the atmosphere to the hospitality of our team. we are thrilled to open our doors to the city of chicago and are excited to be part of the river north community. ”
the lyfe kitchen management team is made up of leaders, teachers, and doers. you lead with passion, you teach with patience, and you do good food every day. you’re a role model with a devotion to your team. lyfe’s mission and values align closely to your core and you embed them in your day to day lyfe. showing care and concern for your team and guests is a priority and you abide by the “we not me” mentality. your responsibilities include ensuring guest satisfaction that is personable, informative, accurate and memorable. you develop, direct, and oversee your team to attain sales and profit objectives. you also maintain the highest standards of quality food, beverage, service, cleanliness, organization, and sanitation .
a handful of rapidly growing regional chains around the country — including tender greens, lyfe kitchen, sweetgreen and native foods — offer enticements like grass - fed beef, organic produce, sustainable seafood and menus that change with the season. most promise local ingredients; some are exclusively vegetarian or even vegan. a few impose calorie ceilings, and others adopt service touches like busboys and china plates .
unlike the sit - down bistros where gourmet food is generally prepared and served, lyfe sees each brussels sprout as merely a cog in a vast clockwork, a system that is set into motion as a customer approaches the counter, gives their name, and places an order. once that order is sent electronically to the kitchen, a cashier hands the customer a coaster. rfid strips beneath every table pick up the signal from the coaster and send it back to the kitchen. that’s how the runner—someone other than the person who took your order—knows where you are sitting, what you have ordered, and your name .
• the materials in lyfe kitchen are comprised of reused and rapidly renewable materials, regional materials, fsc certified wood and high levels of recycled content. • furniture includes indoor air quality air certification from green guard environmental institute and is upholstered with pvc - free material, reducing toxins in the air. • an interior hydroponic herb wall educates guests about sustainable food growth, while reducing water use for irrigation through recirculation. the live plants help to filtrate, improving the indoor air quality. • low - flow faucets with automatic timers & low - flush fixtures to help reduce the amount of water used by a minimum of 20% - 40% . • the use of low - voltage & led lighting, in conjunction with lighting controls in the lyfe kitchen restaurants, reduces energy usage by 35% .
lyfe kitchen has a mission to go with its name (an acronym for love your food everyday) and motto (eat good. feel good. do good .). each of its 10 restaurants, strategically distributed from california to illinois, has a wall of fluffy herbs growing in the dining room, serves only grass - fed beef, uses china instead of plastic and keeps all entrees under 600 calories .
combine this with a cozy, comfortable and inviting atmosphere and you’ve got a place where few would want to leave. read more about it here at qsr: living the lyfe in quick service
at the new chains, customers care deeply about what they put in their mouths. but high - quality products require expensive ingredients. lyfe kitchen offers a grass - fed steak for twenty dollars; raising cattle on grass can take a year longer than raising livestock the conventional way, which makes the animals much more expensive to feed. mcdonald’s buys seven hundred million pounds of beef a year. no small group, no matter how popular, can compete with their prices, particularly if it stresses the quality of its ingredients. for places like lyfe kitchen and sweetgreen, it’s never easy to guarantee fresh produce, sell only humanely raised meat, and offer a wide variety of dishes, none of which exceed six or eight hundred calories. to offer those choices on a national scale will require an agricultural system that rewards regional farming networks.
lyfe kitchen is an american fast-food restaurant chain operating in california , texas , colorado , illinois , nevada , and tennessee . the company 's name is an acronym that stands for " love your food everyday " . lyfe was founded in 2011 by mike roberts , the former global president of mcdonald 's , stephen sidwell , and mike donahue , mcdonald 's former chief of corporate communications in palo alto , california . the company plans to open up to 20 locations during 2015 . in 2013 , the " lyfe kitchen retail " division was launched to sell a number of transfat-free frozen entrees through target , publix , safeway , amazon , and other outlets . the division was renamed " luvo " after being bought by its current ceo , former lululemon ceo christine m. day . the company is reportedly planning an ipo . 
lyfe kitchen is an american fast-food restaurant chain operating in california, texas, colorado, illinois, nevada, and tennessee. the company's name is an acronym that stands for " love your food everyday ". lyfe was founded in 2011 by mike roberts, the former global president of mcdonald's, stephen sidwell, and mike donahue, mcdonald's former chief of corporate communications in palo alto, california. the company plans to open up to 20 locations during 2015. in 2013, the " lyfe kitchen retail " division was launched to sell a number of transfat-free frozen entrees through target, publix, safeway, amazon, and other outlets. the division was renamed " luvo " after being bought by its current ceo, former lululemon ceo christine m. day. the company is reportedly planning an ipo.
lyfe kitchen is an american fast-food restaurant chain operating in california, texas, colorado, illinois, nevada, and tennessee. the company's name is an acronym that stands for " love your food everyday ". lyfe was founded in 2011 by mike roberts, the former global president of mcdonald's, stephen sidwell, and mike donahue, mcdonald's former chief of corporate communications in palo alto, california. the company plans to open up to 20 locations during 2015. in 2013, the " lyfe kitchen retail " division was launched to sell a number of transfat-free frozen entrees through target, publix, safeway, amazon, and other outlets. the division was renamed " luvo " after being bought by its current ceo, former lululemon ceo christine m. day. the company is reportedly planning an ipo.