by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Organic fast food might not be an entirely new concept on the West coast but it’s still a fairly fresh idea here in Florida. That might be why Michael Johnigean, the owner of the Healthy Way Café, has already received 160 applications to open one of his restaurants. The huge response wouldn’t be so shocking, but the Healthy Way in the St. John’s Town Center is less than six months old, and Johnigean hasn’t advertised what he hopes will become a successful franchise. Despite the number of applications, Johnigean wants to wait so that everything can be done right.
The majority of the menu features items that most of us are used to eating: wraps and salads. Taste something as simple and straight forward as a Chicken Caesar wrap and you’ll get to experience how dramatically using organic ingredients can boost the taste of a simple meal. Though they have sauces on hand to pump up the flavor of their wraps, you’ll find that they aren’t necessary. When the basic ingredients are this good—why cover it up? Says Johnigean, “Why have carrots, sprouts and all that and not be able to taste your vegatables? When I eat salmon, I want to taste the salmon, though we do have organic dressings.”
The café’s patrons range from health conscious weight lifters to moms looking for a healthy meal for themselves and their toddlers or vegetarians looking for a place that respects their needs.
I sampled a ham sandwich, fashioned with Boar’s Head Organic Ham. It wasn’t even the color of the ham we’re used to eating because it doesn’t have additives or extra coloring added. It’s a real shock to the senses when you realize just how unnatural most food is. A notable side item you will love is the slaw served on side with most of their wraps and sandwiches.
I took a few spoonfuls of the peanut butter chocolate protein drink, which amazingly tastes like a Reese’s Cup. It’s no wonder that several of the Jaguars have taken to buying Johnigean’s protein supplements. While I was in the café, one of the patrons was looking for something to serve her hung-over boyfriend. Johnigean suggested one of his protein shakes with an organic banana and a touch of chocolate thrown in.
Ever had an organic banana? Until I plunged a fork into Healthy Way’s fruit salad, I never had. It was so full of life and flavor that regular bananas will be forever ruined for me.
Salmon-lovers simply must try the Healthy Way Wrap, a delicious combination of wild salmon, organic romaine lettuce, tomatoes and spouts.
On the dessert menu, you won’t want to pass up the heavenly banana spilt, made from organic ice cream, topped with bananas, pineapples, strawberries, organic chocolate sauce and chopped nuts.
The food isn’t the whole story here, even the seemingly plastic knives and forks are made of a “potato-plastic” that biodegrades in less than two months in a compost heap. The clear cups are also made of another biodegradable material, derived from corn, though they look and feel like conventional plastic. Their biodegradable meal pack containers are made with processed sugar cane stalks. Even the water they cook and serve with is treated by a reverse osmosis process. Only one item that the restaurant uses is regular plastic, and those are the little solo cups that they serve slaw in. When I asked Johnigean about it he said that he was unable to find a biodegradable product in that size. Even with this tiny bit of plastic waste, I’ll bet the restaurant has a much lighter non-bio waste footprint than any fast food joint in Jacksonville. So if you want to do something positive for the Earth, your body and your taste buds, get a bite to eat at the Healthy Way.
For some other healthy eats here in Jacksonville head to Heartworks Bakery in Five-Points. Home of the vegetarian carrot dog, they also serve up wraps, sandwiches and organic coffees. Just a few miles North of St. Augustine, you can find The Manatee Café, a favorite spot for vegetarians and the otherwise health conscious here in the area. They serve a Veggie bugger, Veggie omelet and tofu chili, among other tasty selections on their menu.
|
