Category: The Project Team

My Last Four Months as a Research Assistant

Over the course of the past four months, my desire to start a career in the hospitality industry has grown much larger due to the wonderful experience I have had as an Undergraduate Research Assistant for UGSRP. I have become well versed in many aspects of the hospitality industry, and have gained an attentive interest … Continue reading My Last Four Months as a Research Assistant

Paintbox Bistro Gives Regent Park Neighbourhood a Splash of Colour

Since opening date in fall of 2012, Paintbox Bistro has been a big part of the revitalization of Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Chris Klugman, the proprietor and chef of Paintbox Bistro, a BCorp certified for-profit social enterprise, has brought more than just a restaurant and catering service to Regent Park– he is also serving up … Continue reading Paintbox Bistro Gives Regent Park Neighbourhood a Splash of Colour

Biodynamic vs. Organic wines: Do you know the difference?

Last semester I took a wine course at the university, and throughout that time we had several speakers introduced to the class, and one was Brian Hamilton of Southbrook Vineyards from Niagara-on-the-lake. He spoke about biodynamic and organic practices at their vineyard, which led me to my interest in researching this topic a bit further. … Continue reading Biodynamic vs. Organic wines: Do you know the difference?

Save the date: UGSRP Presents ‘Tipped Out?’ Forum

Save Monday April 29th, 2013 in your calendar, you do not want to miss this free event, discussing the issues surrounding tipping in the hospitality industry. A BIG THANK YOU to our event partner George Brown College Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts and also to all the speakers who are providing their time and thoughts. Please … Continue reading Save the date: UGSRP Presents ‘Tipped Out?’ Forum

Pj’s achieves LEAF Certification!

Congratulations to Pj's restaurant for recently achieving Level Two Certification from LEAF. (Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice) http://leafme.ca/  LEAF is a non-profit third-party organization which offers certification for restaurants and food service facilities that meet and adhere to strict environmental criteria. LEAF helps restaurants reduce their environmental impact, and makes it easy for diners to identify green restaurants. … Continue reading Pj’s achieves LEAF Certification!

Social Innovation and the Sustainable Restaurant

Last semester a class of 4th year hospitality students at the University of Guelph were asked to come up with a socially innovative idea that related to hospitality.  Working with a partner, the students were challenged to prove the feasibility of their idea and be prepared to present their work to their peers. Students found the work challenging and engaging.  Not only were … Continue reading Social Innovation and the Sustainable Restaurant

Embracing Seasonality

In many ways Pj's Restaurant acts as UGSRP's home base.  It is where the project started with the introduction of new sustainably focused curriculum  for students taking our Restaurant Operations course.  The leadership team at Pj's has embraced sustainability seeing the restaurant recognized as one of Canada's 'greenest' restaurants.  http://leafme.ca/leaf-releases-latest-list-of-canadas-greenest-restaurants-in-honour-of-environment-week/  It's even a place where Mike, Simon and I will gather for … Continue reading Embracing Seasonality

Is innovation the key to restaurant sustainability?

In order to have a 'sustainable' restaurant industry we need to continue to innovate, create, and re-engineer most everything we do.  Restaurants are not necessarily known for their innovative business practices.  Many people point to the fact that most restaurants operate as SME's (Small and Medium Size Enterprises) which typically focus more  on the day-to-day operations then pushing the innovation envelope. Even … Continue reading Is innovation the key to restaurant sustainability?

A big statement made at PJ’s restaurant!

PJ's Atrium Restaurant , the student run restaurant of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Guelph has made a huge commitment with its dairy program.  Years ago PJ's made the move away from 'individual' portioned cream and milk containers to using ceramic holding vessels, thereby saving a considerable amount of plastic waste to landfill.  This past week, … Continue reading A big statement made at PJ’s restaurant!