Raw foodism is the new way to eat. From vegetarians to vegans to now this -- eating only raw, uncooked foods, just the way nature intended.
Is it really better than heated, pasteurized, and processed? Just ask Boca Raton resident Barry Rabkin, one of the founders -- and also the source of inspiration -- for Raw Jūce, a new juice and smoothie bar set to open next month.
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For most, a raw food diet relies only on uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods, including a selection of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted vegetables or whole grains. Although there are numerous variations of this diet, one fact remains: You can't heat food above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes it one of the hardest diets to follow. The best way to incorporate it all: juicing.
And in case you've been in a junk-food-fortified stupor, the Raw Jūce mission is to educate you on the benefits of juicing and make it easy to adopt a healthier lifestyle with fresh-pressed, convenient bottled juices. Made daily, each one of Raw Jūce's signature cold-pressed juices will be prepared using juicers that maximize nutritional density and ensure maximum vitamin and mineral yield. How? By cold-pressing fruits and vegetables, a method that delivers long-lasting bioavailability -- and the best possible flavor.
Rabkin told Clean Plate Charlie he first learned about juicing the hard way: while fighting a battle against thyroid cancer -- one that he believes he has won thanks to a diet of cold-pressed juices and raw foods. Rabkin wanted to share what he learned about the benefits of a raw food diet with others. Alongside partners Steve Shaffer and fellow Boca Raton resident Jeff Levine -- also president and CEO of Florida-based Salad Creations -- he is sharing this life-changing experience with the world starting with the company's first location in Boca's Glades Plaza.
The 1,500-square-foot juice bar will be offering bottled cold-pressed juices, made-to-order smoothies, health "shots," and a menu of raw food dishes that cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Look for drinks like "Kickin' Greens," made with celery, Romaine lettuce, Bartlett pear, red grapefruit, and cayenne pepper; or the "Pina Kale-ada," made with young coconut water, pineapple, kale, and almond milk.
This is a place you can grab-and-go or sit and hang out. Pull up a seat at the bar and order a fresh-poured glass of any of the three juices "on tap" -- then pair it with an order of the house kale "chips," also made fresh daily using the store's own dehydrator. Raw Jūce food options will be available for those who want a little more, including specialties like a kale caesar salad, acai bowls, and raw oatmeal parfaits, just to name a few -- each nutrient-dense meals packed with organic vegetables, fruits, and superfoods.
Levine told Clean Plate Charlie he hopes to create a brand that is recognized for its ability to change the community for the better. During a recent interview, Levine and Rabkin said they see Raw Jūce being more than just your average juice bar.
"Raw Jūce's goal is to create a juicing community, a place that feels like home, for people to come, meet friends, and feed their bodies what they're asking for," said Levine. "And by partnering exclusively with local farmers and purveyors, Raw Jūce isn't just helping everyone eat healthier; we're also supporting sustainable local organic farming."
Raw Jūce is located at 2200 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Visit the Raw Jūce website, and stay tuned for the grand opening by following Facebook.
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