New to Austin: September 2014
Snap Kitchen
This Austin-based eatery isn’t new; in fact, there are now six locations here, seven in Houston, and plans for a Dallas-area expansion in the works. The eat-in or take-home restaurant focuses on local, organic ingredients and healthy cooking, and that focus led to winning a coveted 2014 Hot Concepts award through Nation’s Restaurant News.
“At NRN, we are surprised and delighted every year with our Hot Concepts winners and what they deliver. They’re always bold, creative, and built to succeed with today’s consumers who embrace new ideas,” said NRN editor in chief Sarah Lockyer.
Criteria for winning a Hot Concepts award include being relatively new to the restaurant industry (first unit opened less than seven years prior to award recognition), a smaller business (a minimum of three restaurant units in different market areas or a minimum of 5 units in one market area), and having a solid financial ranking, per Dunn & Bradstreet and other financial benchmarks.
“We are humbled and honored by NRN’s recognition,” said Snap Kitchen CEO and founder Martin Berson. “Since Day One, we have focused on making it easy for people to buy tasty and flavorful entrées that meet a high standard for nutrition. This award is a sign that we have made an impact, and we hope to continue to raise the standard with further menu innovations.”
NadaMoo!
Sure, it’s been good and good for you since 2004, but Austin-based NadaMoo! is now officially Non-GMO Project Certified. This new seal is offered to help consumers identify products that adhere to best practices standards for avoiding contamination by genetically modified organisms. “Becoming Non-GMO Project Verified is a trustworthy and rigorous process, but worth it for our consumers’ health,” said NadaMoo! CEO Daniel Nicholson. “With GMOs now present in more than 80 percent of conventionally processed foods, we at NadaMoo! feel that consumers should be informed when buying products. We are proud to carry the Non-GMO Project Verification on our products.”
In addition, NadaMoo! desserts are dairy and gluten-free, contain zero cholesterol, and are made from cream of the coconut, making them a lower-calorie ice cream option.
Ignite Fitnez
The South Congress Athletic Club is under new management. Now Ignite Fitnez (after owner Inez Ysabel Escamilla, who describes her areas of expertise as “fitness fanatic, gym rat, life ninja, monkey, and welder”), this local gym offers classes in a variety of yoga forms, cardio kickboxing, MMA (including “Faux Fighting Fitness”), and Olympic and power lifting. Its location at 1109-B South Congress puts it in the heart of Austin, near the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail as well as Big Stacy Pool. Check to see if the new member initiation fee is still being waived.
