Off The Menu

by Juliet Fletcher

Whole Foods has announced a new goal for the new year: the introduction of a new standard of humane treatment for animals on its supplier farms. The supermarket chain, which operates two stores in Center City and five more in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area, proposes to work with third-party auditors and local farmers’ groups to ensure its new standards, which will apply to different varieties of meat and poultry. Currently the store, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and describing itself as the "world’s largest natural and organic foods supermarket," requires farms to pass a humane slaughter audit and safety assessment, but only asks for a farmer’s affidavit on the animals’ raising and handling conditions. The new "compassionate" rules, developed in discussion with animal rights organizations, most notably Viva!, will focus on "providing environments and conditions for each species that support the animal’s natural physical needs, behavior and well-being." Qualifying products will be marked by a gold badge. According to a company spokesperson, the first species to be affected will be ducks, for which new standards will be in place by the end of 2004.

Iron Hill Brewery has just installed equipment at its third Pennsylvania location: This past weekend saw the arrival of 14 brew tanks at 1460 Bethlehem Pike, some holding 750 gallons and weighing 1,600 pounds, made to specifications and shipped from Victoria, British Colombia. Who'll make use of them? That'd be Lawrence Horowitz, who takes over the North Wales location as a brewer in time for its opening in March; Horowitz has won awards at the World Beer Championships, and most recently, he held the position of brewmaster at Manayunk Brewing Company.

Meanwhile, over at Iron Hill's Wilmington location, six West Coast brewers will compete this Friday night as part of a Special Brewers' Reserve night. Among those battling for the title of Most Hoppy Handcrafted Ale will be Stone Brewing Company of San Diego, Santa Barbara Brewing Company of Santa Barbara and Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, Colo. Fri, Jan. 30, 8 p.m., 710 S. Madison Ave.; call 302-658-8200 for more information.

In Short: Talk about preaching to the converted: Thinkers Grille has moved from its Old City location to a somewhat more fitness-oriented environment -- 12th Street Gym (204 S. 12th St., 215-985-4092). The healthy fast-food joint -- which, besides offering fruit smoothies, lean hoagies and salads to customers, tempts employees with free gym membership -- has found a new home in the gym lobby. That makes it the only sandwich shop in town that's open to members only (although outsiders can call for takeout).