Seed Oil-Free Dining at Proper: 2025’s New Standard for Wellness and Nourishment

“The First Luxury Hotel Group In The World To Become Seed Oil Free”
– Forbes

Seed oil-free dining isn’t a trend at Proper, it’s the new culinary standard. At Proper, wellness has never been a service; it’s a way of life.

From the way we design our spaces to the way we source ingredients, every detail is designed to support how guests want to live: vibrant, vital, and fully present.

Every Proper and By Proper kitchen, from Austin to San Francisco, Santa Monica to Miami Beach, has removed seed oils entirely. No canola. No sunflower. No soybean. None of the heavily refined industrial oils that, over time, became the invisible base of so much modern cooking, even in kitchens where everything else is considered.

In their place: cleaner, more stable fats. Oils chosen not just for flavor, but for how they function in the body and the environment. This bold move establishes Proper as a leader in seed oil-free dining, creating culinary experiences that are both indulgent and health-conscious. Proper is the first national hotel group to partner with Zero Acre Farms, using their fermented, high-heat oil for deep frying across all properties. Beyond that, each Proper kitchen selects from a range of carefully sourced, non-seed oils, choosing fats that align with the flavor, integrity, and rhythm of their culinary approach.

It’s a continuation of a sourcing philosophy we’ve championed from the start, rooted in grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, heirloom produce, and trusted, sustainable partnerships.

Where Sourcing Meets Philosophy

Proper’s commitment to seed oil-free dining is the latest evolution in a sourcing philosophy we’ve championed from the beginning. It’s a kitchen ethos that reveres integrity over expediency, rooted in transparent partnerships with sustainable purveyors and shaped around nutrient-dense foods that both nourish and delight. 

Here’s what that looks like on the plate:

• Organic Heirloom Produce sourced from trusted local farms and farmer’s market vendors.
• Regenerative Grains like toothsome farro, earthy lentils, and nutty quinoa.
• Wild-Caught Seafood and Grass-Fed Meats, raised with respect and care.
• Gut-Supportive Fermented Foods like kimchi, miso, and artisanal yogurts.
• Thoughtfully Integrated Dairy Alternatives including almond, oat, and coconut.
• Cold-Pressed Juices to hydrate and rejuvenate.

We also employ low-temperature cooking methods, such as steaming, sous vide, and slow-roasting, to preserve vitality. This approach ensures dishes aren’t just flavorful; they’re actively restorative. 

“The way we cook is part of the way we care,” says Vincent LaRusso, Proper’s Vice President of Food & Beverage. “This isn’t a marketing story, it’s a values decision.“

Seed Oil-Free Dining in Practice

The practical implications of removing seed oils go far beyond swapping one ingredient for another. Oil is among the most foundational tools in a chef’s repertoire; it defines how dishes are cooked, presented, and even experienced. Changing this element at scale required rethinking systems, steps, and even habits developed over decades.

“Changing your cooking oil changes everything,” one Proper executive chef shares. “Not just how you prep or plate, it changes how food lands. It becomes cleaner. Lighter. It leaves space for other flavors to speak up.”

• At The Peacock in Austin, hearth-roasted vegetables arrive with vivid, vibrant flavors.
• At Palma in Santa Monica, cold dishes taste brighter, while hot dishes feel more grounded and comforting.
• At Caldo Verde in Downtown LA, vinaigrettes gleam with a clarity that elevates even the simplest greens.

This transition doesn’t come with green checkmarks or “wellness bowls.” It doesn’t ask guests to choose health over indulgence. Instead, it’s an invisible assurance. Proper’s dishes are as decadent, comforting, and satisfying as they’ve always been, but now, they’re crafted with even greater care for how they make you feel.

“You shouldn’t have to choose between indulgence and integrity,” says LaRusso. “We still serve incredible pasta, wood-fired meats, handmade desserts. But we serve them in a way that respects how you want to feel.”

The result? A dining experience that feels lighter, more vibrant, and effortlessly nourishing.

A Broader Vision for Wellness

This shift is part of a larger evolution across the Proper portfolio. For years, Proper has worked to redefine wellness, not as a premium offering, but as a lived philosophy woven into every stay.

Wellness at Proper is built around five guiding pillars, each one intentionally reflected in our kitchens, our spaces, and the rhythm of every guest experience:

• Movement – Thoughtfully designed spaces and programming that support intentional movement, at your pace, in your flow.
• Recovery – Sensory and science-backed tools that help you reset and restore, whether through heat, cold, stillness, or tech.
• Nourishment – Ingredient-conscious menus that prioritize flavor, function, and the joy of the table, crafted with care, never compromise.
• Rest – Elevated sleep environments, calming interiors, and restorative design details that support rest in all its forms.
• Connection – Moments to gather, learn, and slow down, through conversation, community, or simple presence.

From movement classes to cold plunges, natural wines to nutrient-dense plates, every offering is created with presence in mind, designed to feel good in the moment, and even better after.

“Wellness isn’t an offering at Proper, it’s a mindset,” says Brian De Lowe, President and Co-Founder of Proper Hospitality. “It’s how we think about space, service, food. Going seed oil-free was a natural next step in that journey.”

Hospitality, Rewritten in the Details

What seems small, an oil, a method, a base, often turns out to be the foundation. At Proper, the decision to go seed oil-free isn’t about a label. It’s about honoring the quiet details that shape how you feel, on the plate, and far beyond it.

Because when we talk about modern wellness, we’re not talking about restriction. We’re talking about presence. And presence lives in how you feel after a meal, not just during it.

This is the kind of hospitality Proper was built to create: designed with emotion, executed with restraint, and refined to meet the way people really live now.

From the kitchens to the guestrooms, every choice is part of a larger rhythm: food that nourishes, spaces that restore, experiences that feel as good as they look.

Seed oil-free dining is just one step. Proper wellness is designed to live with you, not for you.

Seed Oil-Free Dining at Proper Hotels: Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Proper Hotels remove seed oils from its kitchens?
At Proper Hotels, wellness is more than a service. It is a way of life. Industrial seed oils like canola, sunflower, and soybean are highly processed and often linked to inflammation. We removed them to support a healthier, more vibrant dining experience for our guests. This decision reflects our long-standing commitment to wellness and ingredient integrity across all Proper Hotels and By Proper properties.

What oils does Proper Hotels use instead?
We use a thoughtful selection of healthier, more stable oils that enhance flavor and support well-being. These include extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, and Zero Acre oil, a sustainable, fermentation-based oil ideal for high-heat cooking. This approach ensures Proper’s seed oil-free dining experience delivers on both taste and nutrition.

Is this just about following a wellness trend?
No. This is a values-driven decision that supports Proper’s sourcing philosophy. Seed oil-free dining at Proper Hotels is about creating meals that taste incredible and help you feel your best after you leave the table. It is not a marketing initiative. It is a permanent shift toward better living.

Will the food taste different without seed oils?
Yes, and for the better. Proper Hotels’ chefs have found that removing seed oils results in dishes that are lighter, cleaner, and more vibrant. Flavors become more pronounced, and meals leave you feeling satisfied without heaviness. This is luxury hotel dining reimagined for modern wellness.

Does a seed oil-free menu mean the options are limited?
Not at Proper Hotels. You will still find indulgent dishes like handmade pastas, wood-fired meats, and beautiful desserts. Our chefs have redefined these classics using seed oil-free cooking methods, delivering the same comfort and decadence with even greater attention to how you feel during and after the meal.

Is Proper Hotels the first luxury hotel group to make this change?
Yes. Proper Hotels is the first national hotel group to fully eliminate seed oils from every property. We are also proud to partner with Zero Acre Farms to offer a healthier, high-heat cooking oil in all of our kitchens. This leadership sets a new wellness standard in luxury hotel dining.

Can I ask which oils are used in a specific dish?
Yes. Transparency is part of the Proper experience. Our culinary teams are happy to share details about the oils and ingredients used in any dish. We believe that informed choices create a more mindful and fulfilling dining experience.