Dining

As America’s first Zen-inspired life plan community, we have designed our communal eating venues, our farm, and our teaching kitchen at Enso Village to encourage residents to become even more connected to, and present, with our food and with one another. Our residents have come to regard meals as both a source of both sustenance and social opportunity.

Sonoma County is recognized worldwide as a destination for culinary and vinicultural excellence, and so there is a strong focus here at Enso Village on the pleasures of growing and procuring, preparing and sharing exceptional meals.

Meals at Enso Village are chef-prepared and include:

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• Farm-to-table cuisine and an abundance of vegetarian options
• Seasonal menus that feature daily specials, locally sourced ingredients and a dedication to sustainable practices
• A flexible dining plan providing each resident with monthly credits at all dining venues 
• On-site catering for special events 

Many residents of Enso Village are excited to learn about our affiliation with the famous Greens Restaurant, which first opened in 1979 in San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. One of our dining venues, the Bistro, will be fashioned after Greens and serve vegetarian fare. Other dining venues will offer a full range of choices that include meat and fish products.

Sustaining ourselves and our habitat.

San Francisco Zen Center has been a pioneer in growing and preparing organic food. So in addition to cultivating some of our own produce here on  campus, we are cultivating relationships with local farms and providers, in order to achieve our goal of bringing much of the food to the  community from the surrounding area.

Enso Village has been designed and built in accordance with the ecological principles of “living lightly on the land.” So, in addition to offering residents an unrivaled dining experience focusing on organic, farm-to-table cuisine, we strive to meet the highest level of sustainability and leave the smallest possible ecological “footprint” while maintaining impeccable standards of quality and flavor.

This philosophy is consistent with our Zen roots and the Quaker values of The Kendal Corporation. It also thoughtfully complements our Healdsburg location in Sonoma County, a unique region that offers both remarkable biodiversity and a notable 10-month growing season. “Think of the Zen practice, being aware of the earth and environment, and understanding Kendal’s Quaker ethos of social responsibility,” says Benjamin Butler, The Kendal Corporation’s vice president of culinary services & operations. “Then, think of northern California, where sustainability, the farm-to-table and thoughtful growth movements come from. It all comes together at Enso Village.”