Healthy is happening right now, and in the food world, that means juice bars. A year ago, the juice-bar craze was just taking off in South Florida, with several popping up across the area. Today, things are only busier in the world of juice. The concept is often an easy, one-stop shop for those looking to lead a healthier life. The fast-casual ambiance combined with easy-to-order, to-go juices make the juice bar the ultimate spot for people who want a quick and healthy fix.

That's certainly the case for Raw Juce, a Boca Raton-based cold-pressed juice company located in the Glades Plaza. Over the next year, the local juicer has major plans for a South Florida expansion, beginning with several new locations in cities like Palm Beach Gardens, Miami, and Aventura. 

The idea is to grow the brand locally with a ten-store plan, says Raw Jucecofounder Barry Rabkin, before moving outside Florida, possibly to cities in New York and California.

"It's amazing to see how people have embraced our brand and our concept over the last two years," says Rabkin. "When we first opened, our customers were women, moms stopping in after a workout to grab a juice. Today, we see everyone coming in here, from men and pro athletes to college students and kids."

Confirmed Raw Juce locations currently include Palm Beach Gardens (2616 PGA Blvd.), East Boca Raton (197 S. Federal Highway), Miami Beach (959 West Ave.), and Aventura (19915 Biscayne Blvd.). More are being considered in Jupiter, Wellington, and Coral Springs.

Raw Juce's new East Boca Raton location will open later this fall.

Raw Juce first opened in October 2013 with a signature line of about 16 cold-pressed fruit and vegetables juices, smoothies, a short menu of organic snacks and raw vegan desserts. Today, the product line has grown to more than 20 juices, three premade protein smoothies, and a dozen health "shots." Juices are cold-pressed daily and are made using organic fruits and vegetables sourced both locally and nationally.

"We stand very firmly beside our commitment to being 100 percent organic," says Rabkin, whose stores will list nonorganic produce used that day. "But because we juice daily, it's not always possible to find every ingredient. When we can't find organic, we let our customers know."

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The store also offers several organic take-and-go snacks, including raw oatmeal parfaits, quinoa or kale-based salads, acai bowls, and several raw desserts like cashew butter cups (think peanut butter cups made with cashew butter, coconut oil, and cacao).

The most popular menu item outside the juice are the açaí bowls, says Rabkin, a dish served for breakfast at most juice and smoothie bars. The purple-hued Brazilian super fruit is blended into a thick, ice-cream-like consistency and served in a bowl topped with fruit, oatmeal, granola, honey, or peanut butter. 

There are six different açaí bowls on the Raw Juce menu, including the Cacao Protein Crunch (banana, mango, strawberry, almond mylk, Vega Sport protein, cacao powder and raw cacao nibs, raw honey, flax and hemp granola, almonds, and hemp seeds). The best-seller is the Dragon Bowl, made with pitaya (also known as dragon fruit) and topped with gogi berries and bee pollen.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the New Times Food & Drink Instagram.

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