Why communities and markets thrive when restaurants invest in their people and the planet

Half of all restaurants will fail before their fifth year in operation. With food, rent, and energy costs skyrocketing, restaurant owners struggle daily to keep the lights on. In today’s climate, it can seem like an unattainable luxury to pay higher wages or source sustainable ingredients. Beyond the Plate reveals why it is an imperative.

Katherine Miller presents engaging profiles of Michelin-starred chefs and James Beard award nominees and winners such as Jill Marie Tyler of Rye Bunny in Washington, DC, and Kyle and Katina Connaughton of SingleThread in Sonoma County, who share the secrets of running just, green, and profitable restaurants. By reducing waste, partnering with local farmers, and developing worker-forward business models, they are cutting costs, creating uniquely delicious menus, and providing a top-flight dining experience. These eateries are not just keeping the doors open. They are changing the entire industry and the food system itself.

Miller describes how top restaurant owners and chefs are making a difference by supporting agricultural practices that improve soil health and lower carbon emissions. By paying employees a living wage instead of relying on an antiquated tipping system, they are creating stable incomes for workers and families, broadening healthcare access, and fueling economic vitality and growth.

Drawing lessons from some of the world’s most sustainable and successful restaurants, this inspirational book shows how the rewards of green and just practices go far beyond the plate, benefiting not only restaurateurs and customers but entire communities and the earth that nourishes us all.