I love to eat out as much as anyone, but the negative environmental impact of the activity (wasted food, Styrofoam takeout containers, ingredients of indeterminable origin) has never been that savory to me. Eating out has become a key part of our culture, whether it's done during first dates, business meetings, or a birthday celebration, it's not going away anytime soon and will continue to have a negative impact on our environment. So recently I set out to find restaurants or fast food establishments which are both delicious and eco friendly.  

Pizza Fusion's organic pizza will soon be available across the U.S. They opened their doors in July 2006 and already have 75 franchises in the works. Soon people in states such as Pennsylvania, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida, and California will be able to push aside the Dominoes and Pizza Huts and dial up Pizza Fusion for an eco friendlier pizza. 

Seeing that most of you will be staring a chain in the face soon I decided to drop in and see what the experience was all about. I visited the Pizza Fusion in San Diego's bohemian Hillcrest neighborhood. Knowing I am biased towards organic foods, I brought along two male compadres who are not humored by anything short of excellent food. Organic is fine with them, but they made it clear they would not sacrifice taste in the name of "being green." When we first arrived, owner Mike Walker pointed out some of the cooler elements of the restaurant's construction including: solar lighting tubes, a bar countertop made out of recycled glass, and tables made of reclaimed barn wood by Heritage Salvage. I even made a special trip to the restroom just to see the bamboo sink.

The restaurants interior is hip enough to be date worthy but the food sparkled. We ordered a Greek Pizza covered with fresh kalamata olive, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. Each flavor popped and reminded me of the squares of pizza you can buy from shops in Rome. The stubborn carnivore at the table got an individual Meat pizza and was thrilled with the palm-sized pepperoni on each piece. To finish the meal off we dug into a vegan and gluten-free brownie. As an avid baker I was highly skeptical of this dessert but the cake was dense, smooth, and chocolaty. The fresh raspberries on the plate were a nice addition. The meal got huge thumbs up all around the table and the organic skeptics were converted.

Besides standard pizzas and desserts the Pizza Fusion menu offers vegan and gluten-free pizzas as well as salads, ciabattas and wraps. They also have a full bar with organic beer or root beer for the non-drinkers. With all the chains opening up this year there should be one coming to your neighborhood soon - check this list to find out.

Another place to grab a quick bite during your lunch hour is Organic To Go. Right now, only residents of California, Washington, and Washington D.C can enjoy this restaurants handy food, but they are expanding quickly. They are even making the move into busy airport terminals - the decent food wasteland. Organic To Go says, "that healthy plants and animals raised with care and integrity provide the finest tasting, most flavorful and nutritious food available...our cafes and catering kitchens offer a delicious and convenient alternative without harmful additives such as antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides." As you probably guessed you can pick up sandwiches, salads, soups, pizzas, and organic beverages.  The catering menu is extensive and covers lasagna to holiday fair like Turkey Roulade. They deliver your food in hybrid cars and the staff promptly and professionally sets everything up.

Now you're probably saying: Great but what if I don't want pizza or what if I need a special occasions restaurant? The Certified Green Restaurant website is an excellent resource for filling all of your dining needs. They track down Green Restaurants across the U.S. and even go an extra step by telling you how many "Environmental Steps" each restaurant has completed. Steps include Sustainable Food, Biodegradable Products, Recycling and Composting, among many others.

If you like eating out, vote with your wallet and patronize establishments with ecologically responsible practices. Hopefully this will encourage other business owners to evaluate their procedures and maybe soon there will no longer be Certified Green Restaurants - it will just be the standard in the industry.