Community Day: connecting and serving

By Edyn Jada Mai on June 24, 2024

CAVA, a Mediterranean restaurant chain, hosted its opening event, Community Day, for its Fullerton location on Thursday, June 6th. The restaurant chain is widely loved for its healthy and flavorful menu. However, due to its wide assortment of add-ins, the menu could be a bit overwhelming to navigate. Nonetheless, staff members Venice Meija and Ibrahim Khen shared some insights into their favorite menu items to make the ordering process more approachable. Both staff members highly recommend the Harissa Honey Chicken and the Lemon Herb Tahini dressing. Although the Harissa Honey Chicken is slightly more expensive, it offers a delightful combination of hot and sweet flavors with CAVA’s juicy chicken, and according to Meija, it’s “totally worth it.” Furthermore, the Lemon Herb Tahini dressing is a perfect creamy yet fresh addition to any pita or bowl at CAVA.

During a recent event, CAVA emphasized its commitment to generosity by partnering with FoodCycle LA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food waste and providing for families in need. The Fullerton CAVA location manager, Edwin Castellanos, highlighted the company’s priority of giving and announced the partnership. Burcin Celik, representing FoodCycle LA at the event, expressed the organization’s mission to “feed people, not landfills.” CAVA’s community day offered free entrees, sides, and drinks while also encouraging donations to FoodCycle LA. Additionally, CAVA committed to matching the donations made during the event, aligning with their core value of “humanity” and their motto “heart, health, humanity.”

CAVA’s commitment to reducing food waste is evident in every new location they open. When launching a new restaurant, CAVA sets a goal to donate leftover food to those in need. With over 300 locations, CAVA partners with a food donation organization for each opening. This partnership is crucial as every detail, including their spice mix, is made from scratch in CAVA’s kitchen. The intricate preparation of CAVA’s recipes requires extensive training, leading to some food waste before the openings. By collaborating with food donation partners, CAVA ensures that surplus food is not wasted but instead goes to families who can benefit from it.

Castellanos and all of the CAVA Fullerton staff were elated with the opening of the location and the many donations received from customers. Every donation was greeted with an exuberant cheer, with staff exclaiming, “we’ve got another donation!” CAVA Fullerton is proud to share its generosity with the Fullerton community. The restaurant is located at 450 N State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92831 in College Plaza.

Food Banks in Fullerton: