Audio By Carbonatix
Chicken Kitchen founder and CEO Christian Mahe de Berdouare
was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in the Consumer Goods
and Retail category. Each year, the award recognizes businesspeople who
demonstrate extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial
performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Winners
are chosen by a panel of independent judges.
Chicken Kitchen is a local success story. It started in the mid-’80s
as a healthful spot for grilled chicken. Their “chop chop” rice and chicken
bowls have become a beloved, and oft-imitated, dish. The original chop chop has
expanded with regional versions like Cuban (tomatoes, lettuce and black beans),
Mexican (lettuce, tomatoes, black beans, sour cream and shredded cheese) and
Oriental (Asian teriyaki sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, sesame seeds and scallions).
Today, the chain has 37 locations throughout the state.
The latest Chicken Kitchen is opening in October in
Westchester. This new location will be an eco-friendly store, and will serve as
a prototype for future branches. For example, the floor will be comprised of
100 percent recycled tires, and all of the paper supplies will be similarly environmentally
conscious. “It is a real challenge to find the right balance between price and
being green, since prices are still way too high to be mass produced making it hard
to incorporate as many items as we would like to,” Christian notes. “But it is
a good beginning, and a step in the right direction to make our planet a better
one.”
