Environmental Respect is the Future
… And not just in the food and hospitality industry. Respect for the environment is something which is being increasingly practised across a variety of industries, including the fashion and styling world and the technology world to name but a few examples. With that said, and with environmental awareness at an all-time high, this blog considers a few of the ways that we can fight against climate change by harnessing dietary changes and carefully selecting the way we support different businesses and their sustainability initiatives.
For us here at Humble Grape, environmental respect isn’t just what gets us the finest wines from the most flavoursome grapes. It is also what allows us to work with small local producers and is what sparked the zero food waste commitment across our menus. So, how do we do it the Humble Grape way?
Practicing sustainability in an industry where luxury is in high demand
To discuss how sustainability is propping up the Humble Grape ethos, Head Chef Dane shared a few of his observations and ideas.
“There are no questions that sustainability can be difficult to balance when you are dealing with the luxury food and wine industry, particularly when you are as committed as we are to selling an experience as much as a glass of wine or a plate of food. A lot of what Humble Grape offers is built from customer demand – so it is up to me and my team to educate them to try and look for different things. For us, it is about being flexible with the ingredients that are available rather than creating menus from ingredients which are difficult to source – for example out of season fruits that then have to be imported. We would rather spotlight a seasonal fruit for a few weeks while it is fresh here in the UK, then cut it completely during its down-season, until we can once again source it from our local suppliers.”
As well as vegetables and natural produce, one of the greatest impacts that Humble Grape is having is in relation to the fish industry – one which has garnered plenty of attention with the release of Netflix and other streaming platform programs which look at the fish industry under a microscope and bring the sustainability problems to the surface.
When asked what Humble Grape does differently, the answer from the kitchen is remarkably simple. Humble Grape source and purchase fish directly from the fishermen rather than through marketplaces – meaning everything served is one day fresher. The fish suppliers and fishermen selected by Humble Grape also manage their own sustainability drives, picking up waste that they see in the ocean and only catching fish with a line rather than large nets.
“In a choice between a large fish and a smaller one, we will always take the smaller one – as we know the larger one will get snapped up by a large scale restaurant visiting the same supplier. If we didn’t take the smaller fish, neither would they – and that fish would have been caught and killed for nothing.” – Dane, Head Chef
How Humble Grape are urging customers to join their mission
Despite the Humble Grape kitchen putting some pretty ‘out there’ and bizarre items on their menu (in comparison with other London eateries and restaurants), the response from guests is largely positive – with Head Chef Dane committed to discussing his menu with all those who present questions.
“Every wine in our wine list has a story – from its origin to its producer, and what the flavours represent. Similarly, every dish on our menu has a story too – and when customers are able to get to know that story, the whole experience makes more sense.”
And it’s not just in our restaurants that customers and guests can make a difference. Some of the other advice we share with guests and followers includes changes they can make at home to support the environment, including:
Find your local plastic-free store and stock up on pantry goods there where possible
Opt for plastic-free and loose vegetables in your local food store
Cook with natural and unprocessed ingredients
Think about where you eat out and even where you buy your takeaway coffee - supporting business that are environmentally conscious
Check out our blog on Food Waste and learn more about the impact that YOUR small changes can make
To experience the Humble Grape menu first-hand and join the team on their mission to become zero food waste and more sustainable, we invite you to visit one of the Humble Grape sites across London.
