Founding Farmers iPhone app

It’s no surprise that iPhones and smart gadgets that offer limitless uses and life’s little ‘helpers’ in the form of user applications (‘apps’) have expanded into the restaurant business.  VSAG is at the forefront of directing new apps for client restaurants and concepts Founding Farmers, and two new soon to be launched iPhone apps for sister restaurant Farmers & Fishers and new concept Sauca mobile restaurant.

The Founding Farmers iPhone app has been so popular, in fact, that developer Sweb Development has been featured in a number of articles and stories of note, including this recent one from the Wall Street Journal from December 8, in which VSAG Principal Dan Simons is interviewed as a business owner and also as a big fan of the iPhone app that he commissioned from Sweb.   “What we’re able to provide for our guests through the apps is convenience and interaction,” said Simons.  ”We’ve received great feedback from our guests and we want to try and use the app in as many different ways as possible to really engage with our guests.  It’s been a super addition to our marketing strategy and outreach.”

From Dan Simons, VSAG Principal, in Response to the December 7, 2009 article by Jane Black that appeared on the front page of The Washington Post:

We’re thankful to Jane Black for bringing such an important topic – sustainable agriculture and what it means to be a green restaurant committed to sustainable business practices – to the front page of The Washington Post. How much more important can this topic get for foodies and restaurateurs? Not much more, but we’re glad that there is focus on a successful business in Washington, DC, that is working to help American family farmers and pushing the envelope on a broad array of topics that go well beyond the superficial, easy topics. Read the rest of this entry »

VSAG is proud to share that DC’s Greenest Restaurant Founding Farmers has been featured in Hotel Magazine’s annual Gold Key Hospitality Awards as a finalist for the 2009 Casual Dining Restaurant Awards, as one of 3 international projects (and the only one in the U.S.!) that were nominated in this category.

The Gold Key Hospitality Awards are hosted by Hotel Magazine and Interior Design Magazine and recognizes design firms who have done the most innovative work on hospitality renovations or new builds from around the globe, for hotels, restaurants and spas. Congratulations to CORE and the whole restaurant team for Founding Farmers for a great showing and for garnering international attention. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s no wonder that environmentally conscious diners think twice about ordering bottled water from the restaurants that they frequent, but for patrons of VSAG client restaurants Founding Farmers and Farmers & Fishers, there’s not bottled water available.  At least not the ‘fancy’ imported kind – their water comes from the Washington DC water authority – right out of the tap!  Since the opening of Founding Farmers in fall 2008, the Natura water filtration system has been used in house, and was installed at Farmers & Fishers last spring to eliminate bottled water and the waste it creates.   The system intakes tap water from the local supply and superfilters and mineralizes it for fresh, clean water to serve to guests, all without the use of chemicals and with a choice of room temperature, chilled, or sparkling.

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‘Planet Forward’ sounds like a cool new hang out at a university campus, but it’s actually a co-production of the Public Affairs Project at The George Washington University and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications. Program students Madeline Twomey and Juliette Dallas-Feeney sat with Dan Simons recently to talk about going green in the restaurant business, specifically at Founding Farmers.  The women are part of a reporting class that uses advanced multimedia platforms to create stories about sustainability and going green. The two spent some time in the restaurant filming the interiors, the high filtration water system, the recycling center and of course the food!  Check out the video, Serving Up a Platter of Green, after the break.

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VSAG Principal Dan Simons, an alumnus of George Washington University in Washington DC, was featured in the university’s GW Today newsletter article “From the Farm to Foggy Bottom Restaurant.” The article praises Founding Farmers’ commitment to sustainability, eclectic menu, and unique cocktails, as well as details Simons’ role in Founding Farmers’ success.

Though he majored in international business at GW,  Simons says he realized early on that the restaurant business was for him. After working at the Exchange, Simons joined the local T.G.I. Friday’s his junior year and worked his way up to the company’s corporate training program by graduation. Read the rest of this entry »

VSAG Principal Dan Simons was quoted in the BusinessWeek article “Do-It-Yourself iPhone Apps.” Simons explained the iPhone app developed by Swebapps for VSAG restaurant client Founding Farmers. The free Founding Farmers iPhone app allows users to make reservations, view the menu, and even use the Wine Shake, a fun way to get a great wine pairing with a dinner selection.

Read the full BusinessWeek article, and be sure to get your free copy of the Founding Farmers iPhone app from iTunes!

VSAG award-winning LEED Gold restaurant Founding Farmers was recently featured as an in-depth case study by GreenSource magazine, the green building industry’s leading trade journal.    The multi-page article in the September issue highlights the green / LEED requirements through the various design elements and the design process, as executed by Washington, DC based CORE architecture + design.    Read the rest of this entry »

VSAG client Founding Farmers – the first LEED Gold certified full-service upscale-casual restaurant in the U.S., as well as the first LEED-certified restaurant in Washington DC - was recognized for its outstanding commitment to sustainability, appearing as the cover story for the 2009 bonus edition of The Consultant magazine. Read more for the full article, or click here. Read the rest of this entry »

On Labor Day Monday (9.07) Founding Farmers Mixologist Josh Tugjnyam appeared on the WUSA9 morning show and prepared the official cocktail of Brazil – the caipirinha – in celebration of Brazilian Independence Day.   Founding Farmers Chief Mixologist Jon Arroyo is the DC Brand Ambassador for Cabana Cachaça the upscale double distilled Brazilian Rum that is the key ingredient in the caipirinha.  Jon was away on holiday, so Josh stepped in to shake up some great cocktails.   See the video for yourself, and the food demo with Farmers & Fishers Sous Chef Mario Pineda, who prepared the very popular Heritage Truck-style Fish Tacos. No holidays for busy restaurants!