It's rare that I hear something about my home state of Missouri related to food security that is in any way positive. Thanks to Monsanto (located in St. Louis), there is generally a dark cloud floating over the whole damn state. Today, however, I'm happy to share some positive news in Missouri's food land.
The Huffington Post reports that Panera Bread Company, known by its original name in St. Louis - St. Louis Bread Company, just opened its first "pay what you want" cafe with the same menu as their 1,400 other locations. Customers are asked to donate whatever they want in exchange for the meal. It's an honour system of sorts - in that, you're asked to honour the truth of your economic situation. If you honestly don't have any money, then pay twenty-five cents. If you rolled up in a Lexus SUV, well friend, consider dropping a ten-spot on that sandwich.
The pilot restaurant is run by a nonprofit foundation. If it can sustain itself financially, Panera will expand the model around the country within months. It all depends on whether customers will abide by the motto that hangs above the deli counter: "Take what you need, leave your fair share."
Panera hopes to open a similar location in every community where it operates. Other nonprofits have opened community kitchens, where customers set the price, and the idea has spread among food enthusiasts and philanthropists. But Panera brings new scale to the idea - its community restaurants will use the company's distribution system and have access to its national food suppliers.
And here I thought it was the coolest that my local coffee shop, Jet Fuel, asks folks to pay on the honour system on their way out, instead of when they purchase the coffee. I can't tell you how many times I've walked out without paying, only to remember later and hurry back to pay and then leave a hefty tip for my mistake. Once I even gave the barista a kiss on the cheek in exchange for my latte. (This admission confirms what you probably already suspect about me - I will do anything for a good latte.) Thanks to my buddy Lisa from high school for passing this article along.
