Yalla Mediterranean, an emerging, authentic fast-casual concept with seven restaurants currently in California and expansion plans throughout 2016, launches “Seeds to Snacks,” an Earth Day campaign that educates children on the importance of sustainability and nourishing food. In partnership with FARM to KIDS, a philanthropy-based organization, Yalla will sell almond bags at all locations and will provide one pound of almonds to children in need for every pound purchased, with the opportunity for onwards of 700 pounds to be donated. Yalla will also join forces with selected local neighborhood school districts, including educational organizations, such as Culver City Education Foundation, Fremont Unified School District, Dublin Unified School District, and Garden School Foundation to plant lemon trees to teach kids about food sourcing. These schools include El Rincon Elementary School, La Ballona Elementary School, Linwood E. Howe Elementary School, and El Marino Elementary School in Culver City, Dublin High School, Wells Middle School, and IHTA Academy of Mount Diablo High School in California.
In honor of the spring season and Earth Day, Yalla will also introduce bright and flavorful spring dishes on April 4 that reflect the company’s dedication to high-quality ingredients. Prepared from scratch each morning, the restaurant’s new dishes feature ultra-seasonal ingredients, such as lemons, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and cucumbers. These items include a Chopped Greek Salad with romaine, tomato cucumber salad, Feta cheese, and Kalamata olives in a house-made Mediterranean vinaigrette; as well as two new Mediterranean side dishes: tabouli with bulgur wheat, parsley, dill, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, and kosher salt; and a White Bean Salad with Cannellini beans, celery, diced red bell peppers, red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and black pepper in an herb sauce of cilantro, scallions, dill, parsley, garlic, and olive oil. Yalla solely utilizes 100 percent compostable packaging, napkins, straws, utensils, and cups, and each restaurant features a large lemon tree as the dining room’s focal point, offering guests the opportunity to view the fresh ingredients used in the food.
Yalla Mediterranean’s new partnerships in celebration of Earth Day are exemplary of the company’s dedication to providing premium and locally sourced vegetables and produce when possible. “As soon as we open each Yalla location, our mission is to support local organizations that align with our core values, including supporting groups that provide youth with valuable and practical nutritional education,” says David Wolfgram, president and chief executive officer.
The FARM to KIDS partnership will be visible at all Yalla locations, including Fremont, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and Dublin in California’s Bay Area as well as Burbank, Culver City, and Seal Beach in Southern California. Yalla will also plant lemon trees at local neighboring schools specific to each restaurant location.
