Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant Champions the Environment by Using Hay Straws

Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant replaces all of its plastic straws with hay straws to help protect the fragile environment.

Hay straws do not come with any packaging, and can go straight into composting. “I care about the environment and about making Ernesto’s a more environmentally friendly business,” said Chris Wegner, owner of Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant, who has been part of the Beaverton composting program since June and was raised in the community. “Additionally, the compost gets turned into energy.”

According to Compost at Work, in the Portland metropolitan region about 20% of the 1.3 million tons of trash generated each year is food and about half of that comes from businesses. Furthermore, food is energy, and scraps can be used to make electricity.

Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant also recently made history by becoming the first Purple Table Reservation restaurant on the West Coast. This special reservation restaurant training program is designed for people who are living with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, PTSD, TBI, a hearing or vision impairment, or other physical or cognitive condition that may benefit from a more predictable environment and additional accommodations when dining out.

For more than thirty years, Ernesto’s has offered its patrons a cozy atmosphere that is both family friendly and appealing to adults. They take pride in creating a place for friends and family together.

About Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant 
Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant’s extensive menu ranges from traditional pasta, lasagna, fettuccine and pizza to chef-inspired specials, handcrafted soups and homemade tiramisu. The generous meatballs are hand-rolled daily, along with the fresh focaccia bread and pizza dough. Its full-service lounge is a place for the neighborhood to meet for food, drinks and fun during the great happy hour. For more information, please call 503-292-0119, or visit http://www.ernestositalian.com. Ernesto’s Italian Restaurant is located at 8544 SW Apple Way, Portland, OR 97225.

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