News

Giardino supports breast cancer awareness with pink salad

December 10, 2013

Giardino Gourmet Salads honored breast cancer victims this past October by putting a twist on its signature homemade Ambrosia Salad, giving it a pinkish hue and serving more than 500 pounds of the creamy dish at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, according to a company press relese.

More than 20,000 runners participated at the Oct. 19 event. Several of Giardino's restaurant operators and executives were there giving away more than 2,000 samples of the pink ambrosia.

The Giardino team was there in support of Paula Lopez, the new owner of Giardino Downtown Miami and a breast cancer survivor. Her investment in the company was due in part to her medical history.

"Since my double mastectomy, I've been focused on living and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Giardino's menu represents a healthy way of eating," Lopez said.

In addition to participating in the race, the Giardino chain featured the Pink Ambrosia Salad —  made with low-fat strawberry yogurt, fruit and several special ingredients — on its menu for the remainder of the month.

Proceeds from the salad benefitted the Susan G. Komen Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate.

"We founded Giardino to promote good health and well being. It is part of our mission to look for and invest in organizations like Susan G. Komen that align with this goal," said Giardino Owner Ody Lugo, a former schoolteacher, who founded the franchise with her husband Kenny in 2004. It has since expanded to eight licensed locations in South Florida.

Read more about promos.