Ever talk to a juicer? Not the apparatus (or, for that matter, the kind of athlete who's prone to relying on "special enhancements") but rather, a person who juices? Rest assured, if someone in your life juices, you know about it; people are positively evangelical about this stuff. Must be all the vitamins. Anyhow, local juicers have a new mecca -- Juiceateria, a bright little juice bar that opened August 8 in Royal Palm Place in downtown Boca Raton.
Clean Plate Charlie partook of a few gratis samples of the store's offerings during a media event last Thursday. The store's health director, Chelsea Silverman, was on-hand to discuss the benefits of consuming nutrient-packed juices and smoothies made with whole fruits and vegetables.
Silverman -- whose glowing complexion and fit stature are apt endorsements of the whole foods lifestyle -- has a background in health and nutrition, and attended raw/vegan chef school. She's responsible for developing the recipes for the store's selection of grab 'n' go items, like bright veggie salads and the "guiltless superfood parfait" made with avocado, cacao, and cashew "whipped cream." She also reviews the independently-owned store's recipes for juices and smoothies to make sure they're up to snuff, nutritionally speaking.
Everything on offer is soy-free, vegan, and gluten-free. There's no dairy or white sugar, though they use agave nectar (which has mixed reviews in the health industry) in some recipes. Other creations, like the signature American pie smoothie, forgo added sweeteners, and instead rely on the inherent flavor of green apples and other fruits (plus spinach), accented by cinnamon and nutmeg. Superfoods, like chia, flax, and maca, are available at $1.25 each to add to any menu item. And since everything is made to order, you can ask for something to be left out if it doesn't match your own diet.
Smoothies run $7.50 (16 oz.) to $12.75 (32 oz.) and juices are $7.50 (16 oz.) to $12.75 (32 oz.). While juicing newbies may balk at these prices, they're about on par with the average cost for a similar product. Each smoothie or juice is essentially a meal in a glass, which may make paying $10 for "a drink" easier to stomach.
The company offers a juice-based cleanse, as well, with options for a one-day cleanse ($75) to five days ($325). Store owners plan to start introducing on-site health-centric activities like cooking classes, movie nights (with films like Forks Over Knives), and educational and non-profit events. Silverman said that's in line with the juice bar's intention to help foster healthy habits in the community.
"This has at least planted a seed in people's minds," Silverman said.
Juiceateria is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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