bobeau

Photo courtesy of BO-beau kitchen + roof tap.

BO-beau kitchen + roof tap is the first restaurant in Long Beach to be given the Long Beach Chapter Surfrider Foundation’s Platinum Level award, designating the local spot as an Ocean Friendly Restaurant.

“It is our hope that recognizing restaurants like BO-beau will set an example to other restaurants, and to their customers, that implementing environmentally conscious behavior isn’t impossible, but it is the direction we want to go in as a community,” said Sona Coffee, vice chair of the Surfrider Foundation, Long Beach Chapter.

Coffee says that any restaurant can jump on board by taking a few small steps, such as avoiding the use of plastic bags and foam takeout containers or providing reusable utensils instead of disposable plastics.

To be a Platinum Level Ocean Friendly Restaurant (Surfrider’s highest honor), BO-beau has committed to avoiding the use of plastic bags, plastic and styrofoam take-out containers and does not provide plastic tableware.

“The overuse of plastics is a serious issue that’s affecting our natural resources and Surfrider is an impactful organization helping to fight this growing problem,” said James Stephenson, Operations Manager, BO-beau kitchen + roof tap. “We encourage other restaurants and businesses in the community to pledge to make an effort as well.”

Twenty-seven restaurants in Long Beach are currently participating in the Ocean Friendly campaign, while Steamed is the only other restaurant in Long Beach to receive this recognition at the Platinum Level. The restaurant received the title shortly after BO-beau was honored.

Other recent Ocean Friendly Restaurant awardees include Lola’s Mexican Cuisine, The Green House, ZPizza, Crooked Duck, Simmzy’s and The Factory Gastrobar.

In addition, BO-beau and Surfrider’s Long Beach chapter are partnering to throw an upcoming community event open to the public on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:30PM in conjunction with the Rise Above Plastics awareness month in October. The Long Beach Chapter seeks to educate the public on the dangers that plastic pollution poses to the marine environment.

For more information on Ocean Friendly Restaurants, click here. Click here to view the Criteria for Ocean Friendly Restaurant Recognition. And for the most up-to-date info on events thrown by Surfrider’s Long Beach Chapter, click here.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].