Dining with a Conscious

Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine and Cocktails is a shining example that business and service can mix really well together.  Natalia Olenicoff opened the restaurant in 2005 with her father Igor.  Natalia wanted to honor the memory of her brother Andrei, who died in a tragic automobile accident.  Naming the restaurant after Andrei was not enough to pay homage to their loved one.  Instead they decided that 100% of the restaurants profits would go to charity.  Yes, you read it correctly, 100% of the profits. 

The charity of choice is the Andrei Foundation. Andrei suffered from Retinitis Pigmentosa(RP), a degenerative eye disease. According to the restaurant’s website, RP and similar diseases affect 1 in 28 people in the United States causing life-altering vision impairment or loss. The Foundation’s goal is to help find a cure for these diseases, and to help people who currently are affected.

Not only does all of the profit from the restaurant go to helping improve the lives of others, but Andrei’s is also an advocate for the environment. They call their food Conscious Cuisine because they use locally grown and organic produce, naturally raised meats and sustainable seafood on their menu. They even strive to use only organic ingredients in their cocktails.

The restaurant is located in Irvine, California. Go to their website to learn more about them: http://andreisrestaurant.com