TEMPE, Ariz.--(PRESS RELEASE)--The
Mint Dispensary, operator of one of the largest medicinal cannabis dispensaries
in the United States, is launching the country’s first full-service cannabis
kitchen in Tempe, Ariz., on Friday, Oct. 5. Patients seeking relief through medicinal
cannabis can now access freshly prepared, cannabis-infused meals created by a
professional chef at the dispensary’s 12,000-square-foot Tempe location.
As part of the Tempe
dispensary’s recent $2 million renovation, The Mint Dispensary’s
state-of-the-art commercial kitchen will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner
options, in addition to snacks. While pre-packaged, shelf-stable food items
have been available at dispensaries, this is the first time that patients will
have access to fresh foods that are prepared on-site with a customized dose of
cannabis.
“Our industry continues to
evolve at an exponential pace,” said Eivan Shahara, CEO of The Mint Dispensary.
“We saw a large unmet need from patients who were regularly visiting our
dispensary; they were looking to access fresh and healthy cannabis-infused
foods. We know that the right kinds of healthy foods can help people to battle
a variety of illnesses, from cancer and epilepsy to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
diseases. We’re using our knowledge about food and nutrition to help patients
in their search for fresh, healthy snacks and infused meals.”
The new kitchen will offer a complete menu of
artisan burgers, pastas, pizza, and other delicious cannabis-infused meals that
patients can order to go. The new kitchen will also have a barista, a juice
bar, gelato, and a wide assortment of pastries. Chef Carylann Principal, a
classically trained chef and cancer survivor, created all of the recipes for
the dispensary. She joined The Mint Dispensary’s team as executive chef to
share her food and nutrition knowledge with other people who are facing similar
battles.
“Our kitchen is one of a kind,” said Chef
Principal. “It’s a place where art meets science. In addition to understanding
the variety of flavors that different cannabis strains can add to any dish,
we’re also carefully calculating customized cannabis doses. We’re not only
delivering delicious and fresh foods, but we’re also meeting the often-complex
nutritional needs of patients who are living with a wide range of illnesses.”
Available in customized doses ranging
incrementally from 10 mg and up, the breakfast/snack menu includes Blueberry
Muffins, Apple Fritters, Donut Holes, Raspberry Linzer Bars, Scones and Banana
Bread, which are all available individually or in combination with coffee. For
lunch and dinner, patients can choose from Artisan Burgers, Hatch Chile Macaroni
& Cheese, Street Tacos, Fries and Pizza. A full menu will be available at themintdispensary.com when
the kitchen officially opens.
Chef Principal and her five-member team will
prepare a steady stream of foods during the dispensary’s regular operating
hours – from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Catering services for large
medicated events, as well as occasions such as weddings, birthdays and
funerals, will be offered starting in mid-November. The Mint Dispensary will
also introduce home delivery and offer specially made holiday meals for
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve/Day. In all instances, medicinal
cannabis cards will be needed for the number of people who will be served.
The Mint Dispensary kitchen will also hold
free cooking classes on Sunday mornings, starting around the holidays. Patients
with a medicinal cannabis card must register ahead of time to attend a cooking
class, as space is limited to 15 people.
Complementing the innovative kitchen concept,
The Mint Dispensary and its 70 employees will continue to deliver upon its
well-established reputation for providing high-quality products and
personalized services, with more than 10,000 items in-store, including the
widest selection of vape cartridges, flower/buds, edibles and concentrates. Additionally,
patients – from the well-meducated to those who need more
help navigating the wide variety of medicinal cannabis options – will have a
chance to tap the expertise of 25 budtenders, who are among the best and most
knowledgeable dispensary experts in Arizona.
