How Good Is Your Food?

The Lempert Report
March 08, 2017

Good Food 100 is a new seal of approval for trust and transparency which recognizes chefs and restaurants that are transparent with their purchasing and sustainable business practices.

This is a new, annual survey and list of U.S. restaurants and food service businesses – fast casual, fine dining, food service and more – designed to educate eaters and celebrate restaurants.

The objective according to food industry veteran Sara Brito, the founder, promises to move the restaurant industry forward by underscoring how chefs and restaurants are building a better food system and supporting state, regional, and national good food economies.

"Good food is more than just taste,” she says, “eaters look to ratings, lists and awards to help navigate the proliferation of food choices. Good Food 100 Restaurants is a game changer, shifting away from recognition based on opaque standards and subjective criteria to recognition based on objective standards and transparent criteria defined by economic impact.” 

The data collected will be used to quantify restaurants on a link rating system of 2-5 based on percent of total food costs spent to support state, regional and national ‘good food’ producers and purveyors.   

“Chefs are no longer just cooks. They are trusted authorities and advocates who have the power to educate and catalyze change among not only their colleagues, but the general public as well,” added Brito. 

The big questions are whether consumers will actually understand the rating system and how it fits in with other ratings like Zagat and Yelp – and whether we have the time and energy to use it.