FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
Serving up
Safety
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BIG MURPH
WE ARE BUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CERTISTAR TO ENSURE EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EAT GREAT FOOD AND BE SAFE WHILE DOING SO.
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Each year in the U.S., 200,000 people go to the emergency room for allergic reactions to food. Local favorite, What’s Crackin Café, has partnered with restaurant software creator, CertiStar, to provide a safer and better experience for their customers with food allergies. “Food allergies have become a huge awareness point in our industry and we have many friends and family members that are affected by this,” said owner Craig Arnstingstall. “We are building our relationship with CertiStar to ensure everyone has an opportunity to eat great food and be safe while doing so. Food is about happiness and we want to spread it!” The program will also alleviate some of the concern and responsibility for his staff. Phoenix-based CertiStar was founded by CEO Shandee Chernow in 2017. Shandee herself endured many poor restaurant and hotel dining experiences as a result of her food allergies. She was traveling and eating out all the time, entertaining clients and prospects and always felt (and oftentimes still does) like a “burden that the food service industry would rather avoid.” Shandee launched her company to provide a solution to the hospitality industry and equalize the experiences for every diner, regardless of dietary restrictions. With her background and skill set heavily in software and data, the birth of what is now CertiStar was a perfect match made in heaven. CertiStar provides an individualized menu for each guest with a dietary restriction, such as a food allergy. All of the menu items are categorized for them stoplight-style in green, yellow and red.
— What’s Crackin Café owner Craig Arnstingstall
Green is for friendly, yellow is for friendly with modifications and red is unsafe. The company makes it as easy as possible on the wait and kitchen staffs to provide accurate and complete information to their guests, in very little time. Each search takes just a few seconds to perform, and with CertiStar implemented into their daily operations, the staff no longer needs to take on the burden of figuring out the answers. CertiStar’s local partnership with What’s Crackin Café is particularly exciting because not only are they working on their food menu, but also on their famous drink menu. Shandee says, “People don’t often consider all of the ingredients that go into popular cocktails, so it’s great to see a local restaurant being so thoughtful in this regard.” You can learn more about the company at CertiStar.com.
SECKOND CHAYNCE
KATIE NOEL
Visit What’s Crackin Café Monday through Wednseday 7am to 2pm, Thursday through Saturday 7am to 8pm or Sunday 7am to 4pm. Located at 6663 East Mcdowell Road.
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