04/22/2025
Menu is live! A few favorites on the menu this week because I have some news to share:
After almost 30 years in the industry (how can I possibly be that old?!) and navigating UTG through a pandemic into an upcoming recession it's time to hang up my chef coat. This was the hardest and yet easiest decision I've ever had to make.
Reaching a point in life where my age has started presenting physical limitations has been a hard realization, but my body can no longer manage the long grueling hours that this line of work demands. I've held two, sometimes three jobs at a time my entire work career and have missed countless birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and special moments. Jackie and I have been married what will be 10 years this September and I've missed out on so much with her during that time. I don't want to miss out on the rest of our lives together. And I'm tired, my goodness am I tired.
Of course there is also the financial aspect of it as many businesses are experiencing.
Sales are down, costs are up, we haven't been able to recover from the mistakes we made with the downtown location and we aren't going to put ourselves in that situation again. Times are so tough right now, please PLEASE prioritize supporting local businesses when you have the means.
To our patrons over the past five years, you have our utmost gratitude and our hearts. You always came through when we needed you the most. The community we built around plant based food was the absolute best, and we are so thankful to have gotten to meet you, to know you, and of course to feed you! We still have a few regular weekly clients who ordered from our very first menu the week of the lockdown in 2020, and that's pretty incredible!
To our crew, past and present: We love you. There would have been no UTG without you. Thank you for pouring your hearts and souls into this business, no matter how long you were here. We went through a rocky period, learned a whole lot of lessons, grew from our mistakes and became better bosses thanks to you and we hope you continue to hold your employers accountable. We wish you nothing but success in your future endeavors!
Our final menu will drop May 27th, so you'll have six more chances to order from us. Please remember that our kitchen and crew are tiny and we may sell out menus pretty quickly with this news, so make sure to get your orders in as soon as possible. We'll more than likely put breakfast burritos and bowls back on after this week for the remainder of our time, let us know if there's something you NEED to have on the menu before we close!
https://utgblono.square.site to order
We love you fam! 🌱💚
-Cecil and Jackie
