Ecorazzi

Though his new show on Planet Green won’t be airing until next month, popular Chef Emeril Lagasse is already making an impression on those looking to become more eco-friendly in the kitchen.

For an upcoming episode, Legasse met with three members of Friends of Oak Grove, Inc. (FOOGI) — a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the health and betterment of the community. The group was looking for a way to ‘green’ up their upcoming block party and the producers thought Emeril would be a great fit.

“We had to shop for all of our ingredients and Emeril created a menu that promoted healthier eating,” said one of the members. “And, during the episode, he held a faux block party for us at the Whole Foods headquarters in Fairfax, Va., and it was just great.”

Besides the food, the chef also gave advice on sustainable supplies — like forks and knives made from corn starch or plates from bamboo. Emphasis was placed on items that could be reused, but also break down quickly once disposed. Since a new law is under consideration in Boston (where the block party will be held) that residents pay $2 additional for every bag of trash they throw away, learning to recycle, reuse, and reduce is being pushed hard. To that end, the producers also taught the organization how to compost a large portion of the leftover scraps and avoid copious amounts of trash.

If you get Planet Green, look for the episode to air sometime this summer. Check out the official site here.

via wicked local