Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... El Nino's effects remain uncertain for Southern Oregon ... Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded ... El Nino's effects remain uncertain for Southern Oregon ... Josephine County brothers die in single-car crash ... This tiny salad chain backed by Shake Shack's founder is about to blow up Comment By Melia Robinson MailTribune.com By Melia Robinson Posted Aug. 9, 2015 at 9:55 AM By Melia Robinson Posted Aug. 9, 2015 at 9:55 AM » Social News Melia Robinson/Business Insider Tender Greens is about to blow up. Earlier this summer, the California-based salad chain received a minority investment from Danny Meyer , the founder of Shake Shack and CEO of one of the most successful restaurant groups in New York City. Tender Greens told The New York Times it will use the investment to open more restaurants in California and beyond. The chain, founded in 2006, currently has 22 locations in California. We recently stopped by a Tender Greens' downtown San Francisco location to see what the buzz is about. "Every now and then," Danny Meyer, who founded Shake Shack, said in a statement, "I�ll visit a restaurant and love the idea � the food, the people, the culture � so much that I wish I�d thought of it myself." Melia Robinson/Business Insider "That�s exactly what happened with Tender Greens," Meyer said. Earlier this summer, his restaurant company, The Union Hospitality Group, made a minority investment in the fast-casual chain � its first time taking stake in an outside concept. Melia Robinson/Business Insider I recently stopped by Tender Greens' downtown San Francisco location to see what the buzz is about. Melia Robinson/Business Insider A box of menus sits just outside the entrance, which makes sense considering the long line of customers I see wind out the door every day during lunch hour. Melia Robinson/Business Insider The menu gives customers a choice of protein � such as herb-brushed albacore or salt-and-pepper chicken dusted with garlic, oregano, and thyme � and asks how they'd like it served: on a sandwich, as a hot plate, or on a salad. All cost $12. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Presentation platters just behind the counter boasted the day's special sides, including roasted corn, rainbow carrots, and a salad comprised of quinoa, summer squash, and watermelon. Melia Robinson/Business Insider These peaches looked drool-worthy. They were used in the day's special Harvest salad, a mix of red and black plums, peaches, and candied almonds over a bed of greens, drizzled with plum vinaigrette. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Further down the counter, I saw hearty slabs of steak, tender barbecue chicken breasts, and fried chicken. Melia Robinson/Business Insider I quickly realized that Tender Greens, despite its herbivorous name, is so much more than a salad joint. And I was very jealous of whomever walked away with this hot plate. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Tender Greens sources the food on its menu from local farmers, ranchers, artisans, boutique wineries, breweries, and coffee roasters � which means the menu varies greatly by location. Melia Robinson/Business Insider There's another reason for the difference in menus, and it involves this guy. This is Chef Todd Renner, executive chef of the downtown San Francisco location. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Every Tender Greens location has its own executive chef, typically with a background in fine dining, who shapes the restaurant's menu based on their culinary influences and preferences. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Renner cut his teeth in craft pizza restaurants and backyard barbecues, after he and a buddy found an old meat smoker in college. He studied at the Italian Culinary Institute, which gave him an affinity for simple seasonings and salami. Melia Robinson/Business Insider His background seeps into the menu. At Renner's suggestion, I ordered a hot plate of salmon over saut�ed caponata, a popular Sicilian side dish made of vinegar-sweetened eggplant, roasted vegetables, and capers in a sweet and sour sauce. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Meanwhile, a sizable piece of salmon, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, was tossed onto the grill. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Renner plated the salmon-topped caponata on a beautiful piece of natural wood. This felt far from being a fast-casual experience. Melia Robinson/Business Insider And it tasted nothing like a fast-casual meal would. I was mesmerized. The perfectly cooked salmon, which I mopped in a pesto drizzle on the side, fell apart in my mouth. Melia Robinson/Business Insider And the caponata was, was � I'm still speechless. At first, I mistook the eggplant for morel mushrooms, a five-star dining ingredient, because of their tender, juicy flavor. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Of course, I couldn't leave Tender Greens without trying one of its famous signature salads. They all cost $12. Melia Robinson/Business Insider I opted for the Chipotle Barbecue Chicken salad, which you can find at any Tender Greens location. A chef cut the meat to order. Melia Robinson/Business Insider And I watched another cook slice the tortilla strips. The amount of teamwork needed to execute a single order reminded me of being behind-the-scenes of fine-dining restaurants in New York City. Melia Robinson/Business Insider It was plated on a textured ceramic dish, of course. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Typically when I think "chipotle salad," I imagine a bed of greens drowning in canned corn, black beans, cheddar cheese, and spiced chicken. This masterpiece went beyond ... Melia Robinson/Business Insider Each bite had something new to offer, with romaine hearts, avocado, queso fresco, crispy tortilla strips, green onion, and a cilantro lime dressing. The hint of barbecue in the chipotle chicken was surprising and original. Melia Robinson/Business Insider I took home some desserts, including this dulce de leche coconut bread pudding that was rich but not overly sweet. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Though I ran out of room, these cupcakes also looked divine. Melia Robinson/Business Insider Tender Greens bills its menu as "slow food done fast," and I couldn't think of a more fitting description. Within 10 minutes of ordering, I sat doe-eyed over plates that could easily have emerged from kitchens at one of Meyer's James Beard-awarded restaurants. Melia Robinson/Business Insider So, yes. I will definitely be back. (And no, lovely commenters, Tender Greens did not pay me to write this.) Melia Robinson/Business Insider See Also: McDonald's has unveiled its restaurant of the future Little-known Mexican-food chain run by former Chipotle exec is ranked best in US A teenager has been taking photos of abandoned fast food restaurants SEE ALSO: Little-known Mexican-food chain run by former Chipotle exec is ranked best in US By Melia Robinson MailTribune.com By Melia Robinson Posted Aug. 9, 2015 at 9:55 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501