CEO resigns from job to open Island Fin Poké in Greenwich
GREENWICH — Former photo-printing company CEO Jamie Darnow resigned from his job in January 2021 to build something he believes his community needs: a healthy spot for foodies. And Saturday, his vision comes to life when Island Fin Poké holds a pre-opening.
“I wanted to wake up every day with something I was excited about, and I brought together my three passions of fitness, food and business and landed here,” he told the Greenwich Time.
Island Fin Poké, a Hawaiianthemed franchise, allows customers to build their own poké bowls with proteins, like chicken, tofu and tuna, and toppings, such as avocado and edamame. Darnow said 99 percent of the menu is gluten free.
Darnow, who learned about nutrition when he took up CrossFit in 2015, tried a poké bowl one day as a healthy option and started craving them. When he followed his desire to pursue a career in the restaurant business, it led him to a Florida-based franchise that specializes in the food he loves: Island Fin Poké.
“I'm emulating (nutrition) career-wise with the food offering and doing something even better than just living it myself; I'm trying to get others to live it,” he said. “To be able to deliver that and hopefully influence thousands of people in their eating habits is so appealing to me.”
An Old Greenwich resident of 17 years, Darnow saw an opportunity to bring something new to his hometown. He chose a space at 136 E. Putnam in Cos Cob to try to reach all of Greenwich's neighborhoods, he said.
His restaurant is a fast-casual space, but he doesn't want customers to feel pressure to grab their food and leave. Those who eat in will receive the 'ohana treatment — referencing the Hawaiian word that refers to a person's extended family.
“I thought if I could deliver this new form of food to the community, as well as unprecedented customer service, it can really be successful,” Darnow said.
Staff will help customers build a customized bite and bring the food to the table for diners and tidy up afterwards. Partway through the meal, they will get a complimentary sample of Dole whip, a gluten-and-dairy-free soft serve.
In a space designed to look like Hawaii's tropical beauty, Darnow has thought about the restaurant's impact on the ocean. He chose compostable bowls and utensils that breakdown more quickly than other plastics. He incorporated a grease interceptor into the grill, though he thought it was unnecessary for cooking poké's ingredients, because of the restaurant's proximity to Long Island Sound.
Darnow believes his conscious choices will appeal to a younger generation, one that is choosing food carefully.
“It's just the right food for the
right market at the right time. Our kids are listening to us; they're eating less fried chicken and pizza, and they're gravitating to the acai bowls and things,” he said. (Island Fin is located next to an acai spot.)
The ingredients and a nutrition
calculator are available at islandfinpoke.com. Island Fin will host a pre-opening from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with free poké bowls and Dole whip samples. The restaurant will open its doors and stay open starting Monday.