--- title: "Culinary Snapshot: Local, Global and Sustainable - SSA Group" description: Local, yet global and sustainable - these are a few culinary trends from the latest National Restaurant Association Culinary Forecast. We’re proud to partner with zoos, aquariums and museums across the country to innovate in this space.   image: https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Blog-Header-Images-13.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.thessagroup.com/2023/10/24/culinary-snapshot-local-global-and-sustainable#main-content) [![SSAGroup-2026Logo-Black](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/Assets%20-%20June2026/images/SSAGroup-2026Logo-Black.svg)](https://thessagroup.com/) - [Who We Are](https://thessagroup.com/who-we-are/) - [Our Services](https://thessagroup.com/what-we-do/) - [Industries We Serve](https://thessagroup.com/what-we-do/) - News & Insights - [Blog](https://blog.thessagroup.com) - [Case Studies](https://landing.thessagroup.com/case-studies-ssa-group) - [Careers](https://thessagroup.com/careers/) [Talk to Our Team](https://thessagroup.com/contact/) # Culinary Snapshot: Local, Global and Sustainable [SSA Group](https://blog.thessagroup.com/author/ssa-group) October 24th , 2023 ![\Culinary Snapshot: Local, Global and Sustainable\](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Blog-Header-Images-13.png) ##### Local, yet global and sustainable – these are a few dining trends from the latest [National Restaurant Association Culinary Forecast](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/research-reports/whats-hot-food-beverage-trends/). We’re proud to partner with zoos, aquariums and museums across the country to innovate in this space. ##### We’re driving sustainable programs: ![20201119\_200824905\_iOS-scaled](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/20201119_200824905_iOS-scaled.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=20201119_200824905_iOS-scaled.jpg) At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, our Culinary teams feature menu dishes inspired by local ingredients – green chiles, Colorado beef and bison, and local honey. ![shutterstock\_527679685\_de770e5b-14cc-436c-8e0e-3ac1bce2b413\_900x](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/shutterstock_527679685_de770e5b-14cc-436c-8e0e-3ac1bce2b413_900x.webp?width=1200&length=1200&name=shutterstock_527679685_de770e5b-14cc-436c-8e0e-3ac1bce2b413_900x.webp) At The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, our Culinary teams are proud to partner with Sun Shrimp, a Florida shrimp farm located just 130 miles away from the Aquarium. ![SSA-Conference-556-1](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/SSA-Conference-556-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=SSA-Conference-556-1.jpg) Over 9 months, we have purchased 126,250 pounds of compostable serviceware from US Foods which includes plates, bowls, deli containers, cups, cutlery, and straws – helping to bring awareness to compostable options and keep material out of the landfills. ![SSA-04160-1](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/SSA-04160-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=SSA-04160-1.jpg) Since June 2022, we have purchased 139,000 compostable popcorn bags to be used across our partner organizations.  ![WWS\_DisRelief](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/WWS_DisRelief.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=WWS_DisRelief.jpg) SSA has edible food recovery programs at 5 locations across the United States: National Western, Florida Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo, MoPop, and Columbus Zoo, resulting in more than 10,000 pounds of edible food that has been directed to hungry people in these communities.    ![South American Flavors](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/pexels-los-muertos-crew-8279713.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=pexels-los-muertos-crew-8279713.jpg) Denver Zoo’s new Café Costa is bringing Argentinian food to guests.  ![SSA-04160-1](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/SSA-04160-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=SSA-04160-1.jpg) Since June 2022, we have purchased 139,000 compostable popcorn bags to be used across our partner organizations.  ![WWS\_DisRelief](https://4990538.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4990538/hubfs/WWS_DisRelief.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=WWS_DisRelief.jpg) SSA has edible food recovery programs at 5 locations across the United States: National Western, Florida Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo, MoPop, and Columbus Zoo, resulting in more than 10,000 pounds of edible food that has been directed to hungry people in these communities.          ##### We’re keeping it local: Local Flavors![20201119\_200824905\_iOS-scaled](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20201119_200824905_iOS-scaled.jpg?width=316&height=257&name=20201119_200824905_iOS-scaled.jpg) At Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, our Culinary teams feature menu dishes inspired by local ingredients – green chiles, Colorado beef and bison, and local honey. Local Partners At The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, our Culinary teams are proud to partner with Sun Shrimp, a Florida shrimp farm located just 130 miles away from the Aquarium.       ##### And, we’re spicing it up! ![pexels-los-muertos-crew-8279713](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pexels-los-muertos-crew-8279713.jpg?width=418&height=278&name=pexels-los-muertos-crew-8279713.jpg)South American Flavors Denver Zoo’s new Café Costa is bringing Argentinian food to guests. Mediterranean Flavors We’re testing new flavors like Mezze bowls and Moroccan chicken wraps. Some SSA menus across the country feature Chard Chili Aioli, a Hot Maple Chili-Glazed Chicken sandwich and an Argentian Chiropan.   Culinary Inspiration At our recent 2023 Culinary Summit, we spent time with over 40 of our chefs from across the country, reviewing new and creative recipes that feature international flavors created using familiar ingredients.     Let’s talk if you want to keep testing some new dining concepts that keep guests engaged and are good for our communities!     Share ### About the Author #### SSA Group Stay Connected ## Enjoyed This Article? Get more insights on guest experience, attraction operations, hospitality trends, and revenue growth delivered straight to your inbox. ## Related Posts [![Café Seventy One hospitality experience at The Florida Aquarium](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/cafe_Seventy_one.png)](https://blog.thessagroup.com/cafe-seventy-one-the-florida-aquarium?hsLang=en) 21st May, 2026 ### [How Cafe Seventy One Became a Guest Experience Strategy](https://blog.thessagroup.com/cafe-seventy-one-the-florida-aquarium?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://blog.thessagroup.com/cafe-seventy-one-the-florida-aquarium?hsLang=en) [![](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/feature-3.png)](https://blog.thessagroup.com/on-the-go-with-chef-matt-desert-heat-global-voices-and-the-plate-that-connects-us-reflections-from-the-iucn-world-conservation-congress-2025-abu-dhabi?hsLang=en) 18th November, 2025 ### [Reflections from the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, Abu Dhabi](https://blog.thessagroup.com/on-the-go-with-chef-matt-desert-heat-global-voices-and-the-plate-that-connects-us-reflections-from-the-iucn-world-conservation-congress-2025-abu-dhabi?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://blog.thessagroup.com/on-the-go-with-chef-matt-desert-heat-global-voices-and-the-plate-that-connects-us-reflections-from-the-iucn-world-conservation-congress-2025-abu-dhabi?hsLang=en) [![](https://blog.thessagroup.com/hubfs/feature-2.png)](https://blog.thessagroup.com/zero-waste-success-how-ssa-and-the-florida-aquarium-achieved-a-96-waste-diversion-at-the-aza-icebreaker?hsLang=en) 7th October, 2025 ### [Zero Waste Success: How SSA and The Florida Aquarium Achieved a 96% Waste Diversion at the AZA Icebreaker](https://blog.thessagroup.com/zero-waste-success-how-ssa-and-the-florida-aquarium-achieved-a-96-waste-diversion-at-the-aza-icebreaker?hsLang=en) [Read More](https://blog.thessagroup.com/zero-waste-success-how-ssa-and-the-florida-aquarium-achieved-a-96-waste-diversion-at-the-aza-icebreaker?hsLang=en) Links - [Who We Are](https://thessagroup.com/who-we-are/) - [Our Services](https://thessagroup.com/what-we-do/) - [Our Industries](https://thessagroup.com/what-we-do/) - [Careers](https://thessagroup.com/careers/) [Talk to Our Team](https://landing.thessagroup.com/connect-with-ssa-group?hsLang=en) Contact Information [info@thessagroup.com](mailto:info@thessagroup.com) [303-322-3031](tel:3033223031) 4624 Central Park Blvd. Suite 100 Denver, CO 80238 Subscribe ### Let’s stay connected! 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