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Raw Juce, Miami

Need a Miami juice bar? Raw Juce has established itself as the go to take away juice spot in Miami with a choice of twenty delicious organic juices,. The local juicer from Boca Raton, up the coast, offers cold-pressed fruit and vegetables juices, smoothies, organic snacks and raw vegan desserts.

The setting

Raw Juce has branches in Aventura, Brickell, Coral Gables and Weston. The Brickell branch is in the shopping mall at Mary Brickell Village., There’s also a branch of Dirt nearby.

The space

It’s more of a grab and go with a few seats and tables. The vibe is metal industrial chairs with super friendly staff.

The fresh juice test

We were quite overwhelmed with the choice of 20 innovative and tempting flavours of juices. not to mention the 11 Smooth-e-lixirs with names such as Dragon Bomb and Hercules.

We decided to review the Turmeric Soul and the Square Root juices.

The first was a blend of orange, turmeric, ginger and reishi and delicious. Refreshing with a zingy twist. The Square Root took a common blend of beet, Gala apple and ginger to a new level with the addition of aloe water and lemon.

What we ate

It’s not all about the juice. Raw Juce also do organic grab n go snacks like raw oatmeal parfaits, kale and quinoa based salads, açaí bowls, and a selection of raw desserts such as the yummy cashew butter cups (like Reese’s but guilt free). We went for açai and chose the Power Bowl. It was a generous mix of banana, mango, açai, almond mylk, protein and almond butter. The topping was equally generous. It was loaded with blueberries and bananas, flax seed, granola, hemp seeds and almonds and drizzled with honey. We loved it.

Next we had the Blue Majik Cheesecake. Magic hit the nail on the head .

It was a creamy, dreamy mix of almond, coconut, agave, cacao, cashew, lemon sea salt, spirulina, blueberry, pistachios and raspberries. It tasted as good as it looked.

The bill

Turmeric Soul $11.50
Square Root $11
Power bowl $13.50
Blue majik cheesecake $7

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Seed and Soil, Singapore

Seed and Soil is a must visit grab and go in Central Singapore. They make all their food and drinks fresh each day and avoid the use of dairy, gluten, chemical additives and preservatives. We couldn’t wait to review their signature smoothie bowls and test the large, cold-pressed juice selection.

The setting

Seed and Soil is in a tiny space in Tanjong Pagar Plaza near Chinatown. Take the green line to Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park.

The space

Seed and Soil is in a little open area set back from the traffic. You are welcomed with a large glass door featuring the Seed And Soil logo. Inside, there’s not a lot of space. There are two tables, four chairs and two wooden benches, as they’re essentially a take away. It wasn’t very busy when we sat down, although there was a stream of grab and go customers.

Seed and Soil blend the smoothie bowls fresh at the bar in the shop, which can be noisy.  There isn’t any wifi, but there is a public wifi signal to use.

The fresh juice test

What I liked about the large juice menu is that they divide the juices into four categories-rest and destress, protect and strengthen, care and preserve and detox and heal.

I got the 350ML Golden Palm juice which was a blend of Manuka honey, pineapple, orange, lemon, ginger and basil leaves from the rest and destress category.  The juice was a little spicy, because of the lemon and ginger, but the Manuka honey made it very smooth and soft on my throat.

What we ate

Seed and Soil serve 100% plant based smoothie bowls. Their best selling dish is the açai bowl. We ordered the large Morning Glory chia pudding and the large Green Glow smoothie bowl.

The chia pudding was soaked in some unsweetened soy milk and came with some fresh fruits, seeds, coco chips and nuts. We added some extra peanut butter on top.

The chia pudding wasn’t sweet, which meant the flavours were very pure.

However, although we ordered a large bowl, it was still quite small in terms of the toppings, especially as we paid more for extra peanut butter.

 

 

We also ordered the Green Glow which is a blend of spinach, banana, pineapple and coconut water. The bowl came with the same toppings as the Morning Glory: fresh fruits, seeds and coconut chips. Both the bowls had some hidden ground flaxseed as a first layer, which added a nice texture. The bowl wasn’t too sweet, but it was also a small portion.

The little things that make the difference

Seed and Soil also do cleanse packages featuring the juice range.

The bill

Morning glory (large) 12SGD
Green glow (large) 12SGD
Toppings top up 1SGD
Golden palm 350ml  10SGD

 

 

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Moon Juice, Los Angeles

Moon Juice is a must visit if you’re in the Melrose area of LA. We visited recently after stocking up at nearby cult make-up store Glossier and on our way to thrifting at nearby Fairfax. If it’s a scorching LA day, as it was when we were there, then there’s a huge variety of  delicious juices on offer and an adaptogenic alchemy bar mixing supercharged drinks on site. It’s a perfect grab and go pitstop and a great place to stock up on plant powered products of all sorts.

Moon Juice was created by Amanda Chantal Bacon. She  describes it as a “modern alchemist’ store celebrating the healing force of plants. There’s no food, but there is an amazing selection of plant-based, supercharged drinks to grab and go.

The space

Outside are cute white tables that shine bright in the LA sunshine. Inside there are wooden walls, a raw copper alchemy bar and a spiral patterned floor. The wall of fridge juices provide a rainbow of colour.

The fresh juice test

Moon Juice stocks a wide range of organic cold-pressed juices, mylks, coffees and tonics.

We picked the refreshingly, zingy Cilantro Celery Punch with the help of the super friendly staff. Described as a heavy metal detoxer meets gatorade, it hit the spot with its original combo of celery, green apple, coriander, ginger and lemon.

 

There’s a wide selection of smoothies on offer at the alchemy bar.

Here you can customise your lattes or teas with adaptogens and power blends including including Sex Dust. It’s described as “a warming potion that will send waves of blood to all the right places”.

What else?

The shop. It’s great to browse as it stocks everything nutritious that you could think of. You can stock up on their adaptogenic Moon Dust and Protein blends, Moon Pantry goods, super supplements and their Beauty Shroom skincare range.

The bill

Cilantro celery punch juice  $9

 

 

 

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Juice Generation, NYC

I am always on the lookout for a cool juice pitstop when I am travelling. New York’s Juice Generation is a must. Famous for their signature juices, smoothies and now açai bowls, Juice Generation try to make eating enough fresh ingredients a day more accessible. I decided to check out their Lexington branch to see if it is really the best grab “n” go across NYC if you are craving a little freshness in your day.

The setting

The branch I reviewed is between 52nd and 53rd street on buzzing Lexington. It is a short walk from the famous 5th Avenue shops and Central Park. I recommend grabbing a juice and then going for a stroll in the park.

The space

Juice Generation has several different locations and they all vary in size. This one is compact, but I have also been to the one in the Financial District which is larger with a seating area. E53rd St just has a standing bar. But it’s not really a place where people sit and linger, the style is much more takeaway.

There are nice design touches like the wooden countertops, subway tiles, black and white drawing of fruit and veg and chalk boards.

The crowd

The crowd is very diverse : students rushing to class, mums wearing yoga pants, business workers, carers and children. Juices are good for everyone after all.

The fresh juice test

I chose the Hi-Fibe green smoothie which is large blend of spinach, kale, cucumber and green apple. This juice is rich in leafy greens and they told me it was rich in vitamin K, iron, vitamin C, folate and fibre. All of which are good for skin health and a natural glow. The smoothie itself is very fresh, but still has a nice thick texture.

 

What we ate

As this meal was my brunch, I decided to go all raw vegan and have a selection of what Juice Generation offers. As a fan of açai bowls, a taste I developed living in LA, I had to order one. I chose the Aloha Açai for its many fresh toppings including strawberries, banana slices, pineapple, mango, kiwi, coconut, hemp and granola. It was just as I like my açai, not too watery and lush.

In the spirit of going fully into a detox, I tried their Defender Shot which burns! I’m a fan, but it is definitely not for everyone. It is a strong concentrate of ginger, lemon, turmeric, cayenne and oil of oregano which is supposed to reduce inflammation and support recovery. I also got one of their Vital Shots to go which has a blend of ginger, lemon and cayenne.

The little things that make a difference…

I loved that they have large open fridges with a selection of juices to grab and go. They also serve fresh coconuts to drink from. The service is very fast, which is nice considering how hectic and people packed New York feels.

What we’d go back for…

All the utensils and cups are made from sustainable materials.

You can also get a discount by using a glass container. Juice Generation prioritises using locally sourced fresh ingredients and supporting farmers. They have a “grow it back” programme to help communities, as well and donate a portion of ever sale to charity like Harlem Grown and animal sanctuaries. Also, actress Salma Hayek has collaborated with Juice Generation to create a line of juices and a cleanse home-delivery programme.

The bill

Hi-Fibe Smoothie  $8.95
Aloha Açai Bowl  $10.95
Defender Shot   $3.95

 

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Juice Press, NYC

Juice Press’s vision when it launched in 2010 was to bring a healthier lifestyle option to the market. Juice Press now have multiple branches in NYC and other US cities and are the number one organic “grab and go” in the States. They are more of a take-away than most sit-down café style Glowcations we review, but we couldn’t ignore their signature juices and healthy lunches.

The setting

We went to the 22nd St branch, between 5th and 6th Avenue. The metro stop 23th Street on Madison Square Park is close by – just take the Q or R. As this is the buzzing Flatiron district where you are surrounded cool shops. ByCHLOE is based in the same street.

The space

Juice Press is designed as a grab and go so there is limited seating.

We took one of the four small wooden tables at 10 am, but our order was still shouted from the counter. As an eat in, sadly we got all the extra plastic which we thought was unnecessary.  The café has an industrial vibe and, as it’s constantly busy, I wouldn’t recommend getting your laptop out. It’s less a sit and chat than a useful pitstop.

The crowd

I spotted mums with buggies and workers grabbing a juice or smoothie. Around lunch break 12-2pm, this office based area of New York,  can get very crowded.  So we suggest avoiding that time or going to another of their locations if you want a seat.

The fresh juice test

Juice Press, not surprisingly, has a wide range of cold pressed juices split into “mostly veggie” and “mostly fruit”.  They also do a wide range of smoothies and boosters. I’d tried the ginger fireball and the rehab boosters before which are two of their most popular drinks. This time, I wanted to try the greenest juice they had, so I chose the Mother Earth juice.

It was a raw veggie blend of cucumber, celery, kale, Swiss chard, dandelion, parsley, lemon and ginger.

And, I’m going to be honest, it made me feel very, very healthy, but the taste wasn’t the best. However, that’s only my taste and I did feel it was detoxing my body.

The little things that make the difference

They have added posters and postcards on the wall to make the café more welcoming  and you can take the postcards away for free!

What we ate

Juice Press is a 100% plant based and organic. Food wise, they focus on açai bowls, snacks, soups and salads. The smoothies and bowls are freshly made, but the salads, snacks and juices are pre-made off-site.

We ordered two signature smoothie bowls.

The green smoothie bowl, was packed with veggies and we chose home made granola, goji berries and a chia and flax seed mix for toppings.

The granola added a nice crunchy texture and sweetness to the veggie bowl.

Our other bowl was an açaï bowl which we also loved! It wasn’t too sweet, and was made with water instead of a nut mylk, so it lacked a little creaminess. We topped it off with cacao nibs, maple toasted coconut chips and almond butter. The topping portions are very generous.

For dessert, we had the Sin-o-buns which were gluten free and made out of buckwheat, flax, gluten free oats, coconut, cinnamon and coconut nectar. The frosting was a little splash of coconut, Irish moss, vanilla, coconut nectar, cinnamon with a raisin on top. The frosting complemented the buns perfectly and they had a delicious cinnamon-y flavour.

What we’d go back for…

We’d grab the juices, boosters and smoothie bowls and go picnic nearby.

The bill

Mother Earth   10.99$
Sin O Bun  5.00$
Açai blueberry bowl   10.85$
Green bowl   10.85$

 

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Avobar review

London first all-avo dining concept began life as a pop-up. It took off and now has a permanent site.  Avobar does pretty much what it says on the tin – it’s a restaurant where everything on the menu has avocado in it, on it or blended into it.

It’s the perfect green homage to the humble fruit. Set away from the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, Avobar is the perfect spot for a lazy weekend brunch or a quick work time lunch with colleagues.  There’s something on the menu for everyone so expect queues.

The space

Walking into Avobar will bring a smile to your face. The lobby is full of avo-merchandise: t-shirts, bowls, jumpers and quirky gifts ideal for the avo-lover. There are plants everywhere you look- lining the seating area and intertwining above the tables. Green tiles and the wooden seats are lined with colourful cushions and create a cosy atmosphere.

In the middle of the restaurant you’ll find the quirky coffee and smoothie bar  which constantly churns out superfood lattes and vegetable-packed drinks. While the back of the restaurant offers extra seating for large groups and is perfect for an evening dinner party.

The little things that make a difference

Impressively, Avobar sources their avocados ethically and sustainably working with growers and farmers all over the world.

The fresh juice test

Upon the waitress’s recommendation, I chose the The Rocket Smoothie.

It was a creamy blend of avocado, agave syrup, chia seeds, rocket, spinach, lime and oat mylk.

The flavour of the rocket really comes through and adds a ‘peppery’ edge to the drink. It was perfectly sweet due to the agave and oat mylk, It was smooth, thick, and uplifting. They also have a range of Daily Dose Juices in the well-stocked fridge.

What we ate

We ate avocado. And lots of it! Any which way you like, Avobar caters to all your avocado cravings and then some. To start with, we enjoyed deliciously warming Red Velvet Oat Mylk Lattes with a gorgeous pink colour thanks to the fresh beetroot juice and raw cacao powder. The red velvet latte was their special of the day, although they do have a delicious core range.

Next we enjoyed the classic avocado toast – presented and served to perfection. Thickly sliced sourdough toast topped with creamy smashed avocado, chilli flakes and a deliciously thick and ‘cheesy’ coconut labneh. The fresh watercress and herbed oil added a refreshing touch to the dish. This Smashed Chilli Avo packed a real flavour punch. They also offer a variety of topped toasts and even sweet potato ‘toast’ to go with their all-day brunch options.

To follow, we shared their vegan (and gluten free) dessert: white chocolate, lime and avocado cheesecake. A de-constructed dessert with a biscuit-y crumb and the creamiest quinelle-style “cheesecake”.

It beautiful balanced sweet and tangy thanks to the dairy-free white chocolate and zesty lime juice.

The avocado added a creamy rich touch – so rich but refreshing. A winning dessert!

What we’d go back for…

Avocados! Despite consuming avocado in three forms in one sitting, I didn’t feel like I had ‘over-done it’ at all, as all the dishes and drinks were fresh, high quality and delicious. I’d definitely go back for The Rocket smoothie!

The bill

Special red velvet latte £4.00
Smashed chilli avo £9.70
Avo cheesecake £6.30
The Rocket smoothie £5.50

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The Cold Pressed Juicery, Amsterdam

‘What was missing for us?  A “McHealthy””, says Nathalie Alica Streng, founder of The Cold Pressed Juicery. So, she decided to fill the gap and developed the first cold pressed juicery and raw food grab n’ go bar in The Netherlands.

The Cold Pressed Juicery now has four branches in Amsterdam all famous for their organic, raw  juices, delicious smoothies and their superfood lattes. And we also love those tiled green walls!

The location

We went to the original location on the Willemsparkweg, which is right next to the Museumplein and Vondelpark. The closest tram stop is “van Baerlestraat”-just take the 2, 3,5 or 12 . The café is located near the the expensive shopping street, PC Hoofdstraat – where you can find shops like Armani, Gucci and Dior.

The space

The café has huge windows. In front of the restaurant, there are two benches under the windows to sit out on if it’s warm.

Since it’s on the corner of a side street, there’s more of a neighbourhood feel.

Inside, there are a few pillows on the wide window ledge. Or one level up, there’s a little bar area with a few designer wooden chairs, which are -to be honest- not the most comfortable chairs. All the walls are covered with beautiful, vivid green tiles where they display menu options.
It’s mostly a grab and go type of café and you can also order online at Uber eats. We arrived at around 1pm, and a lot of people were popping in for a quick  juice, but there weren’t  long queues.

The crowd

Expect yoga pants, or workout clothes with a mix of tourists.

The fresh juice test

Where to start? There’s 13 juices and 7 superfood smoothies.

Glowcation fans should go for The Glow (pineapple, strawberry, beetroot and ginger).

But it’s hard to ignore The MOAJ or The Mother Of All Juices ( a mega mix of spinach, kale, fennel, cucumber, green bell pepper, aloe vera, nettle, romaine, parsley, watercress, lime and jalapeño).

Since it was a cold day,  I went for one of their special lattes. I chose the Blue Majik and Ginger latte which you can have either hot or cold. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and had a herbal flavour. It tasted pretty special and boasts great benefits for energy and health, as it contains a lot of minerals and vitamins.

What we ate

The Cold Pressed Juicery makes 99% organic, pure and local food, without chemicals, added sugar, preservatives, pasteurisation, HPP, animal products, gluten and dairy. It is primarily juice bar, but they do have a lot of different menu options like wraps, smoothie bowls, salad jars and raw snacks.  All the portions are medium sized, so you may need a snack or a starter as well. Wraps are freshly made in the kitchen, but most dishes are pre-made in the fridge.

We chose the dragon bowl, a raw wholesome pesto wrap and a banoffee parfait.

The dragon bowl was a really beautiful pink smoothie bowl made of pitaya, raspberries, mango, pineapple, fresh coconut, almond milk, lucuma and raw cacao.

It had a lovely tropical flavour mixture. As toppings, we had raw sprouted buckwheat granola, chia seeds, raspberries, grated coconut and  passionfruit. The granola was super crunchy, definitely a must try!

The Pesto wrap was very thin and super crunchy and was filled with spinach, carrots, courgette, alfalfa and home made pesto (made of basil, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, almonds, maple syrup, Himalayan salt, nutritional yeast, Tamarini and black pepper). The wrap was very well filled and contained a lot of pesto. My only comment would be that the pesto was mostly on one side which made the other side a bit dry.

For dessert, we chose the Banoffee parfait which was a triple layered pot. The bottom layer was like cookie dough made of almonds, maple syrup, cacao, cinnamon, dates and vanilla. The second layer was a little darker, made of banana, cashew and cinnamon and the last layer was made of banana, coconut and cashews.

It was all topped off with a little almond and some cinnamon The flavours all matched each other perfectly. It was heavenly!

The little things that make the difference

The green tiles are stunning and create a lovely, plant based, organic feel.

The bill

Raw wholesome pesto wrap  10.50EU
Dragon bowl  9.90EU
Banoffee parfait 5.50EU
Hot blue latte  4.75EU
Juices  4.75-5.25EU

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Stanley, Melbourne

Julien Moussi is the undisputed creative king of the Melbourne brunch café scene. With Stanley,  he’s launched another winning eatery located in a former milk bar on a corner of a residential street in Mount Waverley. Stanley is now the talk of the town.

The presentation is always on point with these guys! They know how to break the boundaries and take food art to a whole new level. It’s worth a visit just for the pics… but who are we kidding? You’ll want a taste it too. 

The space

With a classic, white and grey finish, this cafe has an understated design allowing the amazing menu do all the talking. There’s lots of indoor seating – room for 60 – and the linear space has calming pale wood furniture and plants.

They also have an outdoor courtyard, which is heated all day long and designed to work in all seasons.

The little things that make a difference

The super friendly staff who greet you with a huge smile as soon as you walk in! Coffee comes from Moussi’s Inglewood Coffee Roasters, and those passing by with the dog can order from the takeaway coffee window.

The fresh juice test

Stanley has no green juice, but offers three smoothies, coconut water, plus orange, mango or apple juice. I chose instead a deliciously, creamy turmeric coconut latte.

What we ate

The menu features colourful favourites from Moussi’s other cafes, such as granola and acai bowls, and avo on toast, but new to the mix are chocolate waffles oozing with nutella, and a crunchy golden schnitzel with slaw heaped on top.

Can I jump straight to dessert? I’m still dreaming about those ‘Nutella Hong Kong Waffles.’

Warm, fluffy and oozing with runny Nutella on the inside… what a dream! All served with vanilla mascarpone, banana brulée, berry purée and crushed pistachios.

Don’t worry, there is healthy food too! Their smashed avo toast wasn’t just any smashed avo toast. They used the most delicious thick toasted multigrain bread, a huge serving of smashed avo (which always makes me happy), a crispy potato rosti, sesame, chilli, feta and the most perfectly poached egg on top.

Once that egg was cracked open, it was just bliss from there on.

We also tried their Breakfast Bowl which was a mix of smoked yoghurt, quinoa, kale, avocado, halloumi, tomato and poached egg…the perfect option for anyone who loves a good savoury brekkie.

What we’d go back for…

Their turmeric coconut latte (drank too quickly to photograph)… but seriously makes you feel golden on the inside.

The bill

Nutella waffles  $20
Smashed avo Toast  $16
Breakfast bowl  $18.50
Turmeric coconut latte  $6

 

 

 

 

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Sloe, Paris

Sloe, a new concept store in the North Marais, has fast become the go-to hot spot for health-conscious Parisians. It brings together a gym, where you can practice yoga, Pilates and cross training, a shop – we loved the organic skincare – and café.

It’s conveniently located close to Gare du Nord, and so a great pit stop when stepping off the Eurostar or before a train journey.

The space

This interior is light with white walls and large windows.

The vibe is relaxed and the yoga studio in the basement adds to the chilled and informal atmosphere.

On one side is a bar where the food and baked goods are freshly made and the wall is decorated with delicate black and white animal sketches. On the other side, it’s bare brick, with naked bulbs and open shelving. There are four small outside tables.

The little things that make the difference

We loved the beautiful marble tables dotted with tiny flowers and metal chairs with cool patterned cushions.

The fresh juice test

We went for a green juice and a green smoothie, which came with each of our set menus. The green juice was a mix of pineapple, cucumber, fennel and ginger. I’ve never had a juice with that flavour combination before and it was a hit! The fennel with the ginger made the juice so fresh, but the pineapple kept it sweet.

The smoothie was exceptionally green and contained elderberries which added a very special taste.

It also contained melon, lemon and mint and we preferred it to the juice.

What we ate

In typical French fashion, we had two set menus – the petit dejeuner (breakfast) which was an açai bowl with the juice and the set lunch menu – a spring veggie bowl with the smoothie and dessert.

The açai was a perfect blend, without too much banana and super-chilled.

The toppings were generous – mega-crunchy cinnamon granola made with almonds and hazelnuts, plus coconut chips, fresh blueberries and raspberries. A big dollop of creamy peanut butter was the perfect finishing touch.

The spring veggie bowl was packed with red cabbage, stir-fried broccoli in tamarind, grated carrots with pumpkin seeds, grilled zucchini, beetroot hummus, bean sprouts and egg.

Finally, for dessert we chose the pecan muffin, which had an amazing airy structure and was creamy in consistency. I think it had some pieces of banana in it adding a special twist

What we’d go back for…

The green smoothie, the taste was so pure and it was such an interesting combination. Plus I felt really clean and glowing when I left!

The bill

1 dish + 1 soft drink + 1 dessert  16.50EU
Açai bowl + soft drink  14.50EU
Additional cake  1 EU

 

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Downtown, LA: Wild Living Foods

Wild Living Foods has inspirational mantras on the walls and ceiling such as “Live dirty, eat clean”, “Food is Spirit”, “Rise like the Eagle”.

Located bang in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles in the Fashion District, this deli specialises in plant-based, organic fresh foods with an emphasis on South American and Native American cuisine and art. Wild Living Foods aims to bring fast and nutritious food to busy LA residents…and it certainly succeeds!

The setting :

Wild Living Foods is on the corner of 8th and Main Street. It is easily recognisable with its neon lettering and bright red arrow pointing to the entrance. The bold colours of the traditional Native American tiles on the bar and floor, plus the wall art, create a warm atmosphere. The vibrant mosaics and the thick wooden tables combine perfectly to make the light filled  space welcoming. Large windows, and its position on the corner of two busy streets, also let you enjoy the outside view while eating.

I always love an open kitchen – and this deli has two of them!

One bar is dedicated to salads and packed with fresh ingredients. The other is called the “remedy” bar where you can order juices, wellness shots and smoothies. Next to the remedy bar, is a wall entirely lined with steel fridges containing a rainbow selection of juices. The deli has plug sockets and wi-fi if you want to recharge or browse.

Downtown Los Angeles is for me one of the most under-rated areas of the city. It used to be dangerous and felt abandoned, but the neighbourhood is experiencing a new boom in investment and gentrification. It is now a busy hub of sky-scrapers (the rest of LA is completely flat!), warehouses, museums, cafés and new points of interest for foodies. My suggestion would be to also visit The Last Bookstore, an incredible bookstore and vinyl shop with cool installations. Then maybe, check out Grand Central Market, the Bradbury Building, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum.

The little things

The touches of colour and emphasis on Andean and Native American culture in the middle of Los Angeles is so refreshing.

The campaign against  single use plastic and straws is close to my heart, so I was pleased to see the staff use either sustainable or compostable utensils.

The fresh  juice test

I was a little intimidated by the massive selection of freshly pressed juices to choose from! I eventually chose the Habanero Hallelujah. As the name suggests, it is spicy ! I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you can’t handle spice, but I personally love it. The other ingredients were green apples, kale, cucumber, lemon and ginger, but the habanero pepper dominates. If spicy is not your thing, Wild Living Food has plenty of other green or non-green juices, wellness shots and smoothies.

What I ate

Wild Living Foods’ specialty is their bowls. The menu offers raw as well as warm salad bowls with fresh ingredients and the staff make them in front of you. The base for warm bowls is “Andean gold”, as they call it, but more modestly quinoa! I chose the Machu Picchu bowl with quinoa, romaine, carrots, beets, bell pepper, brazil nut cheese and a sesame sauce. I was surprised by the large size of the portion and it was very nourishing. The creamy dressing contrasted perfectly with the crunch of the vegetables.

I couldn’t walk by the dessert station without being tempted by their raw creations, dairy-free ice-creams or chocolates!

So, I ordered a slice of raw strawberry cheesecake with a berry swirl. It was smooth and delicious as expected!

What else?

Wild Living Foods emphasises organic and locally grown produce which explains why everything tastes so fresh and hearty!

The dishes are also prepared under 118ºF to keep their enzymes intact and  preserve nutrients.

There is a little corner in the shop with more South American art and organic products for sale.

What made us glow

The fresh ingredients, large quantities, vibrant colours and proximity to my favourite spots in Downtown LA!

The bill

Machu Picchu Bowl  $12
Habanero Hallelujah juice  $9
Raw cheesecake slice  $8
+ taxes

 

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By Chloe, fast food vegan pioneers-Greenwich Village, NYC

Super cool swinging chairs, decor to dine for and vegan fast food- did someone say vegan fast food? Head to By Chloe.

By Chloe’s flagship café on the corner of Bleecker and Macdougal has turned a salad on its head by creating fast food out of plants. Creative Director and brand genius, Samantha Wasser, oversaw the transformation of this historic café favoured by Warhol in the 70’s after a fire. And now this ‘oh so clever ‘vegan fast food hotspot has taken New York by storm. But it’s not style over substance – the food not only looks good, but is quite simply some of the best vegan food we have ever tried.

The setting

By Chloe sits on the corner of the block with striking black and white striped awnings, open sides and super cool tiling on the counter.

Forget vegan food of past- this is 21st century plant-power with every stylish twist and turn you could hope for.

You can swing from a hanging basket, sit on a  plush rainbow-coloured  banquette lining a vintage  mirrored wall or grab a communal hotspot in the centre table or, if you are lucky, sit at an outdoor table.

The little things

Playful design is everywhere- on the recyclable food cartons, napkins and signage. You only have to look at the By Chloe Instagram feed to see that Samantha Wass is a branding genius.

And there are even coconuts stamped with the By Chloe logo for $5..

The fresh juice test

By Chloe cold press their own juices. They have two green options The Giving Tree and Junkie – we went Junkie – a refreshing mix of  kale, spinach, wheatgrass, cucumber, parsley and lemon. We also tried their Cuckoo’s Nest-a near perfect beetroot-based juice with apple, romaine, lemon and ginger.

What else?

They offer GF alternatives on all breads and buns. And they adore dogs so watch out for their pooch treats,

What we ate

There’s a huge choice of fast food favourites.

We had the Guac Burger – a delicious black bean, quinoa and sweet potato patty with corn salsa, onion, guac, chipotle aioli on a whole grain bun-amazing!

We also tried the pesto meatball sandwich – the meatballs were a yummy portobello mushroom and veg combo accompanied with marinara, sweet peppers, basil pesto cashew mozzarella, almond parm and a filling potato sub roll. Finally, we had a stunning side of avocado pesto pasta wth cashew pesto, grape tomatoes and almond parm.

What made us glow?

The food, the food and the food!

The bill

Sweet potato fries  $3.95
The Guac Burger  $9.95
Avocado Pesto Pasta  $4.95
Pesto Meatball Sandwich  $8.95
Juices  $9.95

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Copenhagen: 42 Raw

If you are looking for plant-powered perfection then head to 42 Raw.

It’s almost a Copenhagen landmark and it is such a vegan food paradise that even meat eaters enjoy eating here!

Everything is 100 % plant-based, mostly organic and free from dairy, gluten, sugar, lactose, eggs, fish and meat. They have added the odd cooked element on the menu.

The Setting

We chose to eat at the Frederiksberg location. It is placed just by the metro station making is super convenient and easy to access. It’s in the mall and the restaurant has a very modern and streamlined look.

Some of the tables are huge and communal, so you can fit in all of your friends if you would like to share the experience.

 

The little things

There is plenty of seating so you don’t have to rush through your meal.

The branding is fun and contemporary and there are racks of magazines to dip into.

The green juice test

You can chose from 6 organic green juices. They range from mild to mean.

The staff recommended the in between juice, “Pure Green” with pear, lemon, celery, broccoli, and spinach..

The juice was fresh and not too sharp as the pear and lemon disguised the more bitter components. Even my boyfriend liked it, and he is usually not a big fan of green juices.

What we ate

We had a matcha bowl of avocado, banana and matcha topped with coconut, granola, blueberry and goji.

The bowl had a nice smooth texture and it was delicious and filling. The homemade granola on top was to die for! We wanted to ask for more…

We also had the one and only burger on the menu with a gluten-free bun. It’s a quinoa patty, romaine salad, sprouts, tomato, marinated onions, aioli dressing and sweet potato fries with chili “mayo” on the side.

 

 

And boy was this burger good! I loved all of the components (especially the aioli dressing and onions), but the quinoa patty is the best vegan patty, I have had for a long time.

It was moist on the inside and crispy on the outside and tasted like a grilled meat patty.

In addition to the green juice, we had an ice cold organic cacao and date smoothie. It was rich in chocolate and banana and worked as a perfect after meal treat.

We have visited 42 Raw a number of times before and often had the brunch with pancakes and the granola bowl. The warm matcha latte with homemade organic, creamy almond milk is also to be recommended.

42 Raw

42 Raw

What else?

You will find three additional 42 Raw places around Copenhagen, including one in the airport so you can grab a quick bite before you board.

I also very excited to learn that everything is actually homemade by 42 Raw.

That includes the dressings, buns, marinated onions, nut milks and cakes.

The bill

Cacao/date smoothie  60 kr.
Pure green juice  65 kr.
Burger  129 kr.
Sweet potato fries  20 kr.
Matcha bowl  89 kr.

What made us glow?

The taste! No matter what we order at 42 Raw it is always a great pleasure and that’s why we will keep coming back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mantra Raw Vegan, Milan

Mantra Raw Vegan is the very first raw, vegan food bar in Milan. It’s curated by chef Alberto Minio Paluello, who trained at the Matthew Kenney Academy in Santa Monica.

Paluello brings his Italian passion for food and expertise in raw “cooking” to this trailblazing, innovative kitchen. It’s  an Instagram delight and a favourite of the King of Fashion, Karl Lagerfeld.

The setting

The café is based in the more contemporary east side of Milan. I went with a friend and as we entered there’s a market space where you can buy take away options like raw desserts, juices and snacks.

There’s also a half open kitchen where you can see the chef creating his artworks.

At the back of the restaurant is the dining room. The setting is minimal and modern with a stripped back palette, aluminium lighting and coloured vinyl chairs. A few little cactuses add warmth to the room. I loved the cosy the grey blankets.

The little things

They have a shop and a selection of containers where you can scoop your own portion of one of their treats. There are kale chips, chocolate walnuts and raw crackers.

The green juice test

Our green juices came in a wine glass. All the green juices were sold out so I went for the Purple Zen and my friend chose the Yellow Aim.

The Purple Zen was a mix of beets, apple and ginger and tasted more like a green juice – it wasn’t sweet at all (despite the apple).

The Yellow Aim was really special, because it was made of melon, lime and rosewater! The rosewater and the melon combined together to make the juice really delicate, but the lime gave it zing.

What we ate

We both had the two choice menu – a starter and a selection dish of the day which was pumpkin ravioli and walnut with mushroom balls. We ordered 2 different dishes and starters and shared everything between us.

The starter was a homemade carrot bread topped with a very thick layer of avocado smash, cherry tomato, lettuce, pretty edible flowers, e.v.o oil(extra virgin oil) and lemon marinated fennel on top, which gave the dish a very fresh flavour. The mushroom and walnut balls came with marinara sauce and some lettuce garnish.

The “no meatballs” were very crispy which was pretty impressive for raw food!

Our other plate was carrot bread with “feta cheese” and mushrooms. The feta cheese was stunning, it was really thick like real feta, but was made of soaked almonds and nutritional yeast! The pumpkin ravioli were filled with pine nuts and spinach fondue and came with some cilantro/pumpkin seed pesto and sweet and sour apple.

For dessert we had the tirawmisu (as we are in Italy)!

The base of the tirawmisu was made from hazelnuts soaked in caffeine-free coffee, and it did really taste like the traditional soaked lady finger cookies. The cream was made of coconut with beetroot juice (for the pink colour).

We also had a raw pie with a base of dried mango and a topping made from from soaked cashews with lime. Delicious!

The bill

Two Choices menu x 2   24EU
Purple Zen   5,90EU
Yellow Aim  5,90EU
Tiramisu  7EU
Raw pie  7EU

 

What else?

Mantra Raw Vegan is the first raw and vegan food bar in Italy so massive applause to them!

What made us glow?

It’s a real feast on your plate, all the food looks so pretty that you almost don’t want to eat it! Plus, the variety of ingredients they combine make the dishes very special …and it’s all raw, so packed with nutrition!

 

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Cobham, Surrey: The Juice Smith, including their very own Running Club

The Juice Smith was founded in 2013 by Richard Smith-Bernal, who became passionate about juicing after recovering from a gastric illness.

After meticulously researching juicing and cleansing, he wanted to make healthy delicious food available to all.

This Cobham hotspot offers a delicious menu which is 100% free from gluten, dairy, refined sugar and soya.

The Setting

Based on Cobham High Road, The Juice Smith has a sophisticated urban vibe. It’s airy, stylish and sleek with pale wood floors, white tables and metallic leather chairs.

I loved the feature, mirrored wall with uplifting quotes and leafy plant display.

It gives the whole café an eco-friendly and healthy feel. There’s also a couple of outside tables the sun is shining.>

The Little Things

The cafe had a charging point right by my table and free wifi, which makes it a great working lunch pit stop. I managed to get through some emails whilst enjoying the food and drinks. The Juice Smith is also dog friendly.

The Green Juice

I went for Fountain of Youth (cucumber, spinach, kale, mint, lemon and pink Himalayan salt).

It certainly wasn’t sweet and it really packed a refreshing punch.

Definitely my ideal green juice… I’d go so far as to give it a 10/10!

What Else?

There’s a fridge filled with delicious looking treats, nuts and a range of juices and milks to take away. And they do home delivery in the area and you can order healthy hampers or cakes.

What We Ate

I ordered the Mexican chilli bowl, which was loaded with quinoa, Mexican beans, lentils, beetroot hummus, lettuce, smokey cashew cream, tomato salsa, cucumber and sweetcorn. I absolutely loved the range of textures and flavours in this dish.

The combination of the beans, quinoa and hummous left me feeling super full and content all afternoon.

The beetroot hummus was my favourite as it was bursting with flavour and vibrant in colour!

I also ordered a matcha latte, which despite being told was unsweetened appeared very sweet.

It looked stunning, but it was a little too sweet for my palate.

My friend ordered the apple pie, which I couldn’t resit trying. It was a healthier version of a classic apple pie with maple syrup and coconut sugar- absolutely delicious, not too sweet and had the perfect filling ratio. There’s nothing worse than a poor pie to filling ratio!

The Bill

Matcha Latte – £3.00
Mexican Chilli Bowl – £8.50
Green Juice – £4.25
Apple Pie – £4.95

What Made Us Glow

The Juice Smith also has a Running Club every Wednesday Morning at 8:30am.

It’s in partnership with Sweaty Betty and caters for all abilities from beginners to marathon runners and all runners get the chance to enjoy a discounted post run breakfast with 10% off the bill.

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Notting Hill: Farmacy, superstylish plant-power

The founder of Farmacy, Camilla Fayed, believes that people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the ‘conscious eating’ movement, so she opened Farmacy two years ago to reflect this.

Serving vegan food (plus eggs) and including many gluten-free, refined sugar free and raw dishes on the extensive menu…it has to be on our Glowcation hit list!

The setting

Farmacy occupies a large corner space on Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove. As you approach, you see hanging plants and twining ivy surrounding the large windows and entrance.

Once inside, the plant theme continues and there is a useful, small waiting area (since it can be very busy).

The restaurant has been designed around a central green wood and brass bar. There are lots of wooden tables, plus plush booths and banquettes around the walls. The large windows flood the room with light and the many plants create a natural vibe which tones with the green upholstery and ties in with the food.

The little things

In every window there are coloured vases with plants. They have clearly thought really well about all the little details in the restaurant. There are plug sockets at the wall and window tables.

The fresh juice test

For my very first green juice test, I chose the greenest juice possible: the Alkaline booster – cucumber, kale, celery, spinach, romaine, lemon and parsley. Normally,

I like to include a sweet component like apple or pear, so this one was very green for me and not sweet at all.

I did like it though, as I got a huge vitamin boost, but the celery was too strong for me, so that’s why I’m not 100% sold on my choice.

What we ate

My friend and I shared two plates, one sweet, one savoury. Seeing they had waffles on the menu, I was sold in ten seconds and so we had the Chocolate Chip Warrior waffles and the Macro bowl. We started off with the waffles. As a serious waffle fan, I have to admit  I’ve never had such crisp waffles before – which I think is even more impressive for vegan waffles.

The delicious waffles came with house made “nutella”, coconut yoghurt, banana and cacao nibs.

The “nutella” had a very rich cacao flavour and no sign of crunchiness from hazelnuts. I t was a smooth paste, like real Nutella! That – together with the co-yo – was a great combination with the super crunchy waffles and cacao nibs.

Farmacy
Farmacy

The Macro Bowl was basic, minimal and clean – quinoa served with avocado, seaweed, sauerkraut, steamed seasonal greens & sweet potato with a miso ginger dressing.

I normally don’t really like salad dressing, but the miso ginger dressing had a very rich, nutty flavour and finished off the dish.

The bill

The green juice £7
Matcha latte £6
Waffles £10.50
Macro bowl £14.50

What else

You can get a chance to see the chefs at work on the way to the toilet as you pass by the kitchen. Plus there’s a private room with a huge square table, plants, posters and candles

What made us glow

Our dishes and the dishes around me. They were all so pretty that I couldn’t stop looking to see what someone else had ordered.

I really liked the interior.

Interiors are always important for me, as a well furnished restaurant makes me more excited about the food! And last, but not least, the waffles really made me glow! I was so impressed by the crunchiness of them!

To read our interview with the founder Camilla Fayed click here. 

Farmacy

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Soho: Mildreds, the vegetarian trailblazer

Behind its pretty blue facade on Greek St, Mildred’s has been a Soho institution for over a quarter of a century.

This vegetarian trailblazer first opened its doors in 1988 and has served international vegetarian cuisine ever since.

The menu remains modern, innovative and delicious. There’s no reservations, but it’s well worth queuing for!

The setting

Set in the heart of Soho, just a side street away from Regent Street, Mildred’s is a vegan and vegetarian delight. With the option of grabbing a takeaway or sitting down for a leisurely lunch, it makes the perfect healthy pitstop. Its bright blue, signature window frame is hard to miss and the warm, basic interior is normally packed full.

Design-wise, it might not be as “cool” as it’s rivals, but Mildred’s put all their effort and energy into making good value, plant-based food incredibly tasty and exciting.>

The little things

I love the fact that on busier days I can pop into Mildred’s and pick-up a selection from their array of salad options, soups and mains such as stuffed aubergine. A large salad will only cost you £6.50 which I think is great value for a house-made healthy meal in the heart of London.

The green juice test

Mildred’s has a choice of five fresh juices. The green juice (apple, kale, cucumber and lemon) didn’t really do it for me.

The juice was predominantly apple, so it was far too sweet for my taste.

Personally I prefer a much sharper green juice, but for those with a sweeter tooth, I’m sure it would hit the spot. I preferred the carrot, apple, beetroot and ginger juice, which had a delicious kick to it.

What else?

Mildred’s is dog friendly, which I think is a lovely feature in a West End Glowcation. There are also three other branches in Camden, Dalston and King’s Cross.

What we ate

More like what didn’t we eat! We ordered a selection of the small plates to try a range of the dishes.

We tried tenderstem broccoli with chilli and a soya sauce, miso aubergine with ginger and spring onions, hummus with rose harissa, chickpeas with persian limes and rose petal harissa and roasted squash with spinach, hazelnut and almond dukkah and tahini.

All the dishes were absolutely bursting with such a range of flavours.

The chickpeas were plump and meaty and the aubergine had just the right amount of miso; often you find they drown the aubergine, but this had clearly been brushed with a light coating ensuring it had just the right hit, but wasn’t too sweet.

This is a perfect example of how plant-based foods can be totally delicious and creative.

The bill

Green Juice: £4.50
Beet Juice: £4.50
Hummus: £6.00
Roasted Squash: £5.00
Chickpeas: £5.00
Broccoli: £5.00
Aubergine: £4.00

What made us glow

I really appreciated that all the dishes came out at the same time (fairly quickly too).

It meant we could enjoy a range of flavours together rather than eating one dish and waiting for the next ones.

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Shoreditch: Aussie Grind and avocados

Founded by an Australian musician, Shoreditch Grind features a healthy Antipodean-inspired menu and an upstairs recording studio.

It’s cool, quirky and hip and the brunch is pretty amazing too!

Shoreditch Grind is the original of four restaurants across London. It opened in 2011.

The setting

Located on Old Street Roundabout, right above the underground station, Shoreditch Grind is quick and easy to get to and perfect for people-watching. Our tip is to sit on the bar facing out through the full-length windows – which also  provides great lighting for that Instagram shot!

There’s a vintage cinema display outside and exposed brick walls.

The décor is minimalist – metal pipes run along the high ceiling and a neon sign spells out “cocktail baby” above the bar. Rumour has it, they make the best expresso martini in town! There are plenty of tables available both indoors and outdoors, plus you can take-away.

The staff are particularly accommodating for allergies and are happy to make adjustments, such as swapping almond milk into the porridge instead of dairy.

The little things

I loved the gorgeous ceramic crockery and the red coffee cups and saucers that perfectly match the red neon signs. The free wifi makes this an inviting place to sit with your laptop and catch up on emails.

Each dish is made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, ideally sourced locally, and the presentation has clearly been carefully considered.

Plus, you know you’re in good company given there’s a wall stacked with the autographs of the celebrities who have visited, from Kate Nash to Gabrielle Aplin.

The fresh juice jest

Their juices and smoothies come bottled from Press London but taste very fresh and are made from high quality ingredients.

I got the Green Smoothie, made from spinach, avocado, cucumber, apple and banana, as well as a cold-pressed Amber Juice – orange, carrot, apple and ginger. Both were divine!

They also offer a variety of multi-coloured lattes such as a fluorescent pink beetroot latte and a golden turmeric latte.

What we ate

We ordered three mains (and three drinks) between two very hungry girls. The smashed avocado was ripe and chunky, freshly mashed with lemon juice and chilli flakes. It came with two runny poached eggs with bright orange yolk, and crisp sourdough toast – although I was surprised that they do not offer gluten-free toast.

The açai bowl is a delicious blend of frozen açai berries and banana, decorated with coconut flakes, flaxseeds and blueberries.

We also got gluten-free porridge, which I requested with almond milk.

It had a creamy consistency and was topped with crunchy granola for a contrast in texture, as well as a handful of berries.

What else?

If you’re a coffee fan, they sell tins of their Grind House Blend Coffee, both in whole beans and ground, which is roasted daily, plus they mix a mean cocktail.>

The bill

Smashed avocado and eggs  £8.50
Acai bowl   £6
Porridge   £5
Amber juice   £4.25
Green Smoothie  £4.50

What made us glow

Beautiful and nourishing food in a landmark hipster setting with a laid back vibe.

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Covent Garden: By CHLOE. iconic vegan NYC sensation hits town

By CHLOE. is an award winning, plant-based, fast-casual, vegan sensation in the US.

It has nine branches and has served over 610,000  ‘Guac burgers’ since July 2015.

In February their first location opened in Covent Garden’s theatreland. “We have wanted to expand internationally.” says Founder and creative director Samantha Wasser.

“We started looking at where the requests were coming from. There were so many requests coming from London. We looked at our Instagram stats and it was NYC, LA, London. The reception has been incredible.”

The Setting

By CHLOE. lures you in with it’s iconic swinging chairs, pink neon signs, mosaic topped tables and signature banquettes.

It’s on Russell Street just opposite the stage door for 42nd Street.  The black and white striped floors and monochrome tiles are covered with a mixture of small and large tables, a selection of potted plants are dotted throughout and the staff are super-friendly.

Even the toilets have super-cool plant power wallpaper.

We could have stayed all afternoon just swinging around admiring the view.

The Green Juice Test

There are six cold pressed juices on offer with a choice of two green ones- The Giving Tree (kale, spinach, wheatgrass, apple and lemon) and the Junkie (kale, spinach, wheatgrass, cucumber, parsley and lemon).

Our tip is to also try the Seasonal Lemonades. We tried Clementine and went back for another.

The Little Things

By CHLOE. is exceptionally dog friendly. Dogs have their own section of the menu Woof By Chloe featuring Pupcakes (organic whole oat K 9 cupcakes) and BagO’ Dog Bones (house-made organic peanut butter dog bones).

There are also plug sockets for working diners.

 

What we ate

There’s a huge choice, including some UK specials like a vegan take on Fish and Chips made from tofu, but we couldn’t resist their best sellers.  We tried and adored The Guac Burger, a fabulous black-bean, quinoa and sweet potato pattie with corn salsa, guac, tortilla strips, chipotle aioli in a wholemeal bun.

The Mac N’ Cheese with sweet potato and cashew cheese sauce was a hit with us on a recent trip to New York and it didn’t disappoint in London.  In fact we can’t wait to go back and have it again with its almond “parm” and a super tasty shitake bacon topping.

The amazing avocado pesto pasta with grape tomatoes and almond parm was so good that we might go for this as a main next time. And finally we tried some more-ish air baked sweet potato fries. Make that a double next time!

The Bill

Green Juice £4.80
Seasonal Lemonade £2.75
The Guac Burger £9.00
Quinoa Taco £9.95
Mac N’ Cheese  side £4.80
Avocado Pesto Pasta side £4.80
Air baked Sweet Potato Fries £4.00

What Else?

By CHLOE. is spacious,  a cool place to chill and it’s good value for well made vegan cuisine using great ingredients. The packaging is pretty and recyclable.

They also have a wide selection of cookies and cakes although it is worth noting these contain vegan sugar.

What Made Us Glow?

The vibe, all the food… and we didn’t even try the range of cakes and cookies! We’ve already put a return date in the diary.

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TriBeCa: Mulberry & Vine, “Live Dirty, Eat Clean” in NYC

Mulberry & Vine is a fast-casual eatery whose motto is “Live Dirty, Eat Clean.”

With four locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, they serve seasonal, plant-based food.

Founded by Michelle Gauthier in 2013, the hip cafés serve a flavourful and exotic menu with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan options! 

The setting

We visited the two-storey TriBeCa branch, which offers dine-in or grab and go. The café features bright, vibrant décor, wooden tables and on-trend, punchy music. If in TriBeca’s not handy, it’s good to know that their NoMad and Midtown East branches are also pretty cool.

The staff are super-smiley and you can try before you buy which is always helpful when faced with a huge choice.

The little things

Paperless receipts, glass and plastic recycling, composting, washable utensils and plates all make Mulberry & Vine an environmentally friendly champion.

The fresh juice test

Sadly, Mulberry and Vine don’t sell juices. They do sell delicious house-made pomegranate or green iced tea; turmeric and ginger lemonade and refreshing infused waters.

What we ate

The menu rotates seasonally and is based on a “pick three” options plate or bowl.

You can choose a protein and two side or three vegetables. 

The plate features 3 vegetables for $9 or 2 vegetables and 1 protein for $10.50. The bowl (a bit more expensive and larger) features 3 vegetables for $10 or 2 vegetables and 1 protein for $11.50, all served over romaine or spinach leaves. 

We tried their tangy Thai Chili Noodles, light Turmeric-Lemon Zest Cauliflower with Golden Flax, spicy-sweet Broccoli with Honey Sriracha, Acorn Squash with nutritional yeast, Roasted Brussels with Nori-Hemp Vinaigrette and, of course, their delicious Roasted Sweet Potatoes in coconut oil!

We also had their creamy Vegan Thai Curry over brown rice and gingery Sesame Scallion Tofu. Their tofu, grains and greens are all organic and local when possible.

All the sauces are made in-house, are preservative free and use local seasonal herbs. It’s great value with large portions.

The bill

“Pick 3 plate”- all veg $9
“Pick 3 plate”- 1 protein, 2 veg $10.50
Single veggie $3.50

What else?

Mulberry & Vine doesn’t do desserts, but, for those with a sweet tooth, there’s a good variety of sweet treats for purchase at the check-out area. 

What made us glow?

The nutrient packed food and the charming atmosphere.

We want to try their Midtown East and Nomad branches next! 

 

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Mad & Kaffe, Copenhagen

Mad & Kaffe was right at the top of my list to visit for brunch in Copenhagen as I’d heard great things about it.

With branches in two of the city’s hotspots, we visited their Vesterbro cafe – bustling with locals and Instagrammers keen to get that perfect shot.

The vegan and veggie friendly menu works by choosing 3, 5 or 7 small breakfast dishes from their categories of Greens, Dairy, Bakery, Meat & Fish and Treat of the day.

The Setting

The decor is Copenhagen stylish – extremely trendy with exposed bulbs and beautiful mosaic table tops. There’s lots of seating –  room for 30 outdoors and 60 indoors.

There are  several plug sockets if you want to use your laptop or charge your mobile especially at the counters.

The little things

The menu is so easy to follow, you simply tick what you want, choose your drink and write your name and it comes on a beautiful wooden board (perfect Insta moment!).

The fresh juice test

Like other places in Copenhagen, green juices are difficult to come by. They offer a freshly squeezed apple or orange juice which was delicious.

What we ate

We went for 8 dishes altogether including a mix of avocado, beet salad with apple, balsamic vinegar & parsley,  blueberry soya yoghurt with homemade muesli, scrambled eggs with chives and mushrooms, organic fried eggs, organic rye & sourdough bread.

Finally we couldn’t resist an organic cinnamon bun (from their Treat of the Day selection).

The bill

5 items from the breakfast menu: 129DKK
5 items from the breakfast menu: 129DKK
Orange Juice: 37DKK
Oat milk latte: 38DKK

What made us glow?

The bread in Copenhagen is always the showstopper and Mad & Kaffe’s rye bread was definitely a highlight.

 

 

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Marylebone: Meditation pods at Yeotown Kitchen

From the second I entered Yeotown Kitchen, I was in love.

The peaceful atmosphere, the welcoming faces, the inspirational quotes on the walls and tables…

Yeotown Kitchen is happy. It’s bright. It’s colourful and it’s oh so feel good!

Yeotown Kitchen’s mission statement is“Strong in body, clear in mind”. The cafe is the latest move from Mercedes and Simon Sieff, the couple behind Devon’s award winning Yeotown health retreat.

It provides an oasis in the city to replenish and rejuvenate with their trend setting kitchen, juice bar and meditation pods.

 The setting

Yeotown Kitchen’s double fronted space fits in neatly with its neighbours on upmarket Chiltern Street. Chiltern Firehouse is opposite, and Daylesford and Sweaty Betty round the corner. The vibe is inclusive and relaxing.

It’s spread over two floors and you can grab ‘n’ go or eat in.

Warm wood and yellow hues dominate creating a calm and cheerful atmosphere.

What else?

Quite a lot! There are five mind boosting meditation pods on hand:  The Basic Break (for a quick rejuvenation of mind and body); The Bravery Break (for a boost of courage and confidence).

The cutting edge pods give you a mental boost in just five minutes.

The Beauty Break (to encourage self-love and finding beauty within); The Brain Break (to soothe anxiety, gain better clarity and perspective); and The Balance Break (to restore focus, direction and equilibrium).

The fresh juice test

Yeotown Kitchen specialises in organic dairy free smoothies (with an impressive ten on offer), plus six juices pressed on site. The signature green is called Love – a combo of cucumber, kale, celery, lemon, romaine, pear, lime, green apple and parsley.

My lunch date had the Wisdom juice – a mix of beets, apples, lemon, spinach, ginger and baobab.

And I can confirm, it was pretty damn delicious!

I also had the Adaptogenic Latte, which uses medicinal mushrooms for their amazing de-stressing properties, with added cinnamon.

What we ate

Anything seasonal, plant-based, gut friendly and full of healthy fats will always be a winner for me – so Yeotown was a winner! Plus, as they don’t use refined sugar or gluten, you know you’re in safe hands.

For the main event, it had to be the Courage Bowl – a delicious mix of quinoa, chickpeas, sprouts, avocado, perfectly seasoned sweet potatoes, sea veg, cherry tomatoes and the most amazing pink kimchi.

It came with a cute pot of tahini dressing, which made for the perfect accompaniment for the salad.

The Benevolence Bowl was a delicious all day breakfast concoction of  organic local eggs, greens, bean and grain of the day, pickles, avo, super seed crumble, sprouts and microgreens served with Zaatar tahini.

The bill

 Benevolence Bowl £11.95
Courage Bowl £11.95
Adaptogenic Latte £4.50
Juice £4.95

The little things

Many little personal touches are dotted around the café truly making the experience very special. Potted plants, hanging yellow pineapples, colourful graphics on the table surfaces and, of course, the meditation pods. There was also wifi and plenty of sockets, enabling yo to create a remote office space if you’re a laptop lover.

 What made us glow?

Just how healthy the food was! As a super health conscious eater, I like to know exactly what is in my food, and Yeotown’s menu really put me at ease. There were options to swap out, add in and to takeaway ingredients entirely if you wished, and the selection of smoothies and juices were all delicious as well as each targeting a different health concern.

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Notting Hill: Be Kind to Yourself at Bodyism

Bodyism’s founder James Duigan has made it his mission over the past 10 years to spread his ‘clean and lean’ philosophy first through his personal training, books and supplement sachets so loved by supermodels and now through his gym and café.

The stylish café in Westbourne Grove is an oasis of calm and clever ways to make us all slow down and be grateful.

“Be Kind to Yourself” and “Love always wins” are written over the entrance and “love is the only superpower we need” is splashed across the window. There is a smiley welcome and the menu is seasonal, ethical, nutrient rich…and delicious.

The setting

Bodyism is a compact, pretty café and grab ‘n go. The mosiac tiled bar lines one wall, and opposite is a large window overlooking Westbourne Grove with counter seating and a few small tables.

You can also sit outdoors on the street at blue wooden tables with plant pots.

They have cosy rugs in the winter. Bodyism also has an athleisure wear shop and the vibe is welcoming and relaxed.

The little things

We love the hand-made paper sign offering peace, wisdom, confidence or warmth depending on how you feel that day which is stuck to the wall as you enter. We took inspiration and friendly James stopped us and asked us what we took as we did it.

There are a few plug sockets on the walls if you want to work from a laptop.

The fresh juice test

Bodyism doesn’t do juices, but it does offer power smoothies and ayurvedic teas.

We had the Long and Lean protein excellence smoothie – a delicious mix of ginger, almond butter, banana, Himalayan salt and almond milk.  It was filling, tasty and not too sweet.

What else?

Bodyism is attached to a gym offering a team of top performance coaches and fat loss specialists. It is also dog friendly.

What we ate

We visited at breakfast and went for Duigan’s signature dish of protein pancakes.

These are possibly the best pancakes we’ve ever had – not too sweet, amazing texture and perfectly complemented by the berry compote and coconut yoghurt.

You can find his receipt here. We also had a ‘Nourish Me’ Acai bowl. It was very pretty, but also delicious with a generous sprinkling of nuts, berries and cacao nibs.

We finished with a showstopping matcha latte made with brown rice milk and a dash of cinnamon for an extra energy boost. Again, it tasted as good as it looked.

The bill

Nourish Me Açai Bowl £8.50
Protein Pancakes £8.00
Long and Lean smoothie £6.50
Matcha Latte £3.80

 

What made us glow

The attention to detail, the food looks sensational and it tasted delicious.

We also like the hands on and friendly approach by James stopping to ask us what we took from his inspiration sheet.

We were complete strangers but it is clear that this founder practises what he preaches.

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Chiswick: Crucial Cafe a hidden oasis of calm

“Nutrition for Life” is the mantra of Chiswick’s Crucial Cafe. Ruth Wood the founder, and a clinical nutritionist, is passionate about the life-changing power of nutritionally balanced foods.

Alongside her team, she creates super healthy meals, salads, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and snacks using the highest quality fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers.

There’s plenty of raw dishes and you can enjoy them all in the spacious and relaxed space as well as delivery free to your door if you live locally.

The good news is you don’t need be a member to use it.

The setting

Crucial Café is a well kept local secret. It’s tucked away in the Hogarth Health club – in a side road off Chiswick High Rd.

The café has a relaxed feel and you can sink into one of the red velvet sofas or lose yourself in their Eames black lounge chair for hours on end. It’s an open, large space with an in-built conservatory and plenty of outdoor tables in the garden that overlook a much-used tennis court. The conservatory is also home to laptop friendly counters and two communal tables.

Expect post workout lycra and a selection of individuals armed with laptops and lattes. The staff are super-friendly and Ruth herself is often on hand checking on the food and giving nutrition tips.

The little things

There’s free wifi and lots of plug sockets available. Crucial use biodegradable packaging and the space never feels crowded.

The green juice test

Crucial presses two green juices on site – Supergreens and 4 Greens. Supergreens (featuring celery, kale and pineapple) is slightly sweeter due to the pineapple. 4 Greens has kale, celery, cucumber, lime and coconut water. Both are large, refreshing and served in a Kilner jar.

What we ate

The fresh salads and specials change regularly and there’s plenty of choice.

Between two, we had: a perfectly poached egg with avo on toast; a wild rice and kale side salad with halloumi; sliced avocado and halloumi on a courgetti salad with kale and heritage tomatoes; and a deliciously, substantial protein bowl of beetroot, banana, nut milk, strawberry and brown rice protein topped with chia and pumpkin seeds, nuts, blueberries and coconut shavings.

Finally, we caved into the spiced apple and date crumble with creamy almond milk custard.

The portion came in its own tin and was enough for two. We managed one each (!) and it is quite possibly the best crumble we’ve ever tasted!

The bill

Poached egg and avo on toast  £7.00
added Halloumi  £3.00
added Avocado  £2.50
Protein Smoothie bowl  £6.00
Spiced apple and date crumble with almond milk custard  £4.00
Green Juice  £4.00

What else?

Crucial offer detox packages they can deliver to you door locally and for a small charge beyond their area.

What made us glow

The friendliness and attention to detail in the delicious food.

It’s a Glowcation HQ favourite we visit time and time again.

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Notting Hill: Juicebaby opens in Westbourne Grove

Juicebaby’s philosophy is simple, “little by little”.

They believe that it’s the little choices that make a big difference. They’re all about the small switch ups, from fizzy drinks to cold-pressed juices, processed to unprocessed and dairy to nut mylks.

Juicebaby supports local, organic farmers and offers sustainable, healthy food on the go.

The brand began life on the King’s Road in Chelsea and their second branch has just opened on Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove.

The setting

Although it’s primarily a grab and go, Juice Baby does have a good amount of seating in their light, bright space. Cushioned banquettes line the walls and there are several small wooden tables.

The vibe is industrial in tone with a pretty, hexagonal mosiac floor.

The walls feature polished concrete engraved with mottoes and a colourful striped mural. The staff are friendly and the clientele as cool as you would expect for Notting Hill.

The little things

We liked the handy plug sockets, free wi-fi and taster samples of juice on the counter.

The fresh juice test

We were absolutely spoilt for choice…Juicebaby has a whopping total of five green juices on the menu: Green Glow, Skin Balm, Thai Greens, Green Easy and Green Mean.

We were naturally drawn to the Green Glow a refreshing combo of cucumber, apple, seasonal leafy greens, celery and lemon with a welcome kick of ginger.

What we ate

It’s not all about the juice here, the salads and snacks alone are worth the trip. We had a Holy Kale salad – a crisp mix of their signature massaged “kurly” kale, avocado and toasted pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and hemp seeds.The price includes a dressing and there’s a large and interesting choice in small, separate bottles. We had the turmeric mustard (turmeric, olive oil, mustard lemon juice, black pepper and pink salt) which really added a kick to the salad.

The Cheezy Kale crisps are our favourites. Top tip -they are great for travelling.

Finally, desert…and Juicebaby does desert brilliantly. Don’t miss The Snix – layered almond shortbread, with gooey date caramel, roasted peanuts and homemade raw chocolate. It was amazing in both texture and taste.

The bill

Holy Kale salad £7.25
Cheezy Kale Crisps £4.95
The Snix £4.95
Green Glow juice £6.95

What made us glow

The massive choice of delicious juices and The Snix!

 

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Fulham: Hally’s or Little H?

Two cafes, two menus, two vibes. Hally’s and Little H sit across the road from each other in Parson’s Green.

They share the same owner and the same Californian farm-to-table philosophy. But both offer different experiences and menus. Hally’s is the larger. It’s a café offering organic, ethical produce.

It has an extensive menu and it’s a place to linger with a relaxed vibe.

Little H equally offers fresh well-sourced ingredients, but has a more contemporary feel. It’s more of a deli with a few tables and an extensive juice and smoothie menu.

The space

Hally’s has reclaimed wood floors, a main area and back seating area  complete with pastel-dipped chairs and white clapper-boards.

Little H is more edgy with a neon sign and a feature wall. It has a few small tables and a counter area.

Little H felt friendlier and more personal. Hally’s was packed with locals and families, whereas Little H had more single visitors and customers on laptops. Both are in a great position for shopping on the New King’s Road.

The little things

Both are dog friendly and the owners’ Irish Terrier Arthur is a regular feature by the bar in Hally’s. It also ticks the environmental box in not automatically putting plastic straws in drinks.

The fresh juice test

Both offer juice – with Little H having a much more extensive menu. We tried the Green Dream from the choice of three juices at Hally’s. It was a mix of cucumber, pear, spinach, apple and lime. The addition of pear and lime made it very refreshing.

Little H nails this test in terms of choice and features eight smoothies and seven juices, plus you can create your own juice.

We loved the choice of added extra superfoods (including maca, lucuma, goji, spirulina, wheatgrass, matcha, cashews, bee pollen and turmeric). The Fruit Loop smoothie was  a deliciously light mix of apple, banana, pineapple, strawberry and ginger with added goji berries.

The bill

Hally’s

Goodness Bowl £12.50
Green Juice £4.30

Little H

Chia Seed and Almond Milk Pot £3.75
Fruit Loop smoothie £3.80 (plus added goji berries £.60)
Polenta slice £2.80

What we ate

At Hally’s we ordered the ‘Goodness Bowl of The Day’- a delicious combo of sweet potato, pearl barley, sun dried tomato, baby spinach, sprouting broccoli and feta cheese.

At Little H we chose the GF chai seed and almond milk pot with blueberries, toasted almonds, cacao nibs and coconut yoghurt. A filling combination and not too sweet. Finally, we had the GF lemon polenta slice which was deliciously moist and zingy.

What else?

It’s hard to call, but overall we preferred Little H as it was less busy and therefore the service was quicker.

However, we would certainly return to both.

What made us glow

The huge smoothie and juice choice at Little H and the Fruit Loop smoothie with goji berries.

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Fitzrovia: Discovering The Detox Kitchen

Lily Simpson founded The Detox Kitchen in 2010 when she opened in Kingly Court in London.

Since then she has opened two more cafes in Fitzrovia, one on Mortimer Street and the other on Bernard Street.

There are rumoured plans to expand to ten cafés.

The Detox Kitchen serves up an eat-in or take away menu. It specialises in gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and vegan options.

What can we expect?

The menu ranges from pre-made salads to freshly made ones. There are smoothies, juices, homemade treats and hot drinks. I stopped by with some friends at their Bernard Street location for lunch. They open all day serving breakfast, lunch and an early dinner (open to about 7pm on weekdays).

A little insider’s tip is to stop by after 5pm on weekdays.

Their fresh salads are half-price in an attempt to minimise food waste at the end of the day.

The setting

I was welcomed by a cheery young girl into a meticulously clean deli. It was packed full of vibrant plates of salad. Once my two friends arrived we decided to share everything to really taste the whole menu. It was a beautiful sunny day so we went for takeaway to enjoy it in the cute Bloomsbury Square just next door.

What we ate

We made up two cold salads boxes plus protein and chose one of the many hot dishes. We chose the the chicken and sweet potato stew (£5.95 for a really filling pot also served over quinoa).

The salad boxes are a ‘build your own’ concept so the choice of three salads (or two for a lesser price) and the option of an added protein side.

Each bowl is £8.95 for a really generous portion. We made up one box of Korean BBQ Aubergine, Mustard and Caper Cauliflower and Super Greens Salad plus Roasted Salmon.

Our other box was made up of Squash & Chickpea with Tahini Dressing, Winter Pad Thai and Pesto Courgetti with a Cauliflower Frittata for our protein. We also shared a basil and tomato savoury muffin (gluten free).

The green juice test

I decided to give their Green Machine fresh pressed juice a test. It was a blend of broccoli, celery, cucumber, spinach, courgette, ginger and lemon.

Green indeed it was!

I would have personally loved it with a bit more ginger and lemon so recommend you ask for that if you ever give it a go. It was however a great price at on £3.95.

The little things

They had little flower pots on each table and offered lemon cucumber tap water which is always a nice touch.

What made us glow

For dessert, we did a tasting of their chai latte with almond milk, Ginger Cake, Raw Cacao & Coconut Slice, Coconut Truffle, Pistachio Truffle and Raw Cacao Bites. They were all gluten, dairy and refined sugar free, but some do contain eggs.

The ginger cake made me glow the most as it was just so delicious and I will definitely be back for more!

My only feedback would be that some of the food was a bit bland so if you like food that packs a flavour punch I would recommend adding a little extra salt and maybe some chili flakes.

The bill

The total came to about £50 for all that goodness!

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The Good Life Eatery in London, Chelsea

The Good Life Eatery is the brainchild of co-founders Yasmine Larizadeh and Shirin Kouros who have brought a new, fresh menu to the London’s food scene.

They offer a range of cold pressed juices and delicious all day foods. There are incredible cakes, delicious salads and a whole heap of mouth-watering gluten free options including falafel wraps.

About 6 months ago an allergy test showed I’m gluten intolerant, so when my daughter told me about it I was keen to go as one of the first gluten-free Glowcators! The chain began in Los Angeles and launched in London five years ago with obvious success.

I loved it so much, I bought the book when I left !

The setting

We went to their ‘flagship’ on Sloane Avenue, which was the first to open in London in 2013. It was a bright autumn Friday lunch time. We had to get there by 12.30 to get a table.

The setting was relaxed and easy, with distressed wooden tables and industrial large light bulbs handing down on wires.

The music was fun- if like me you love Lionel Ritchie and Al Green. We joined the super chic Chelsea families devour plates of delicious looking avocado on rye & mountains of quinoa and kale salads. You order at the bar and they promptly brought our food.

The green juice test

We tried three which had fun names. My least favourite was ‘Drink Your Salad’ a too-strong for me mix of lettuce, kale and ginger. The ‘Pro Greens’ was a spicy pep-up, a mix of Kale, turmeric and chilli and actually cleared my lingering headache.

But my favourite was Coco Verde, also very green with kale but sweetened with pineapple and coconut.

We did wonder why they came in plastic bottles rather than a more recyclable material like glass?

What we ate

We tried three dishes. ‘The Lean Machine’ was a hot bowl of baked sweet potato balls on a bed of quinoa and a tomato and pepper sauce. It was delicious and very filling with a mountain of quinoa.

‘The Good Life Salad’ was a mix of Sweet Potato, quinoa, lentils and a nice orange tahini vinaigrette.

The real winner was ‘The Good Bowl’ – a truly perfect salad mix of zucchini fettuccine, sweet potato, falafel, Kale, feta cheese and the most delicious minty beetroot dip.

What made us glow?

For an instant lift, The Pro Green juice with its Jalapeno bite is a brilliant wake-up call and the multi coloured Good Bowl salad was five star in its mix of crunchy zucchini, soft avocado and hot quinoa seed balls and basil cashew cream dip.

Seriously good.

On the way out we spotted a mountain of mouth-watering chocolate and banana wonders – which were all gluten free! Next time ….

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Chelsea: Protein Haus (Lomax)

We love the idea of a gym, café and clinic combo. Lomax Chelsea is just that. It’s on the Fulham Road and you don’t need to be a member to use the café.

Protein Haus is a frontrunner in intelligent fitness nutrition.

It covers all diets from “paleo, low carb, vegan, vegetarian, to highkcal or Weight Watchers”. All as grab and go or eat in. We chose to eat in.

The setting

It’s on the ground floor of the Lomax. The vibe is energetic, lycra clad and fun. The soundtrack of a La La Land workout drifted through the high ceiling into the stripped back seating area.

 

The setting is light and airy. A glass wall looks out onto London.

Metro tiles, wooden flooring and industrial metal create a lofty feel. The food is protein-centric. It’s welcoming with chatty and helpful staff. The fridge is stacked with protein rich options and there’s a limited hot food menu.

The little things

We loved the central tasting table. You can sample a homemade killer smoothie before buying– Strawberry Warrior and Popeye The Sailor Man were our favourites. Protein Haus is dog friendly and you’re not out of place if you’re not in athleisure wear.

The green juice test

We sampled the 3 x Green juice made of cucumber, kale and celery. It’s a refreshing taste of cooling cucumber with a hit of kale.

However, for the sweet toothed, the Popeye The Sailor Man green smoothie may be a better option with almond milk, spinach, banana, flax seeds and whey protein.

What we ate

We tried the grilled halloumi salad served in a reusable lunch box. It came with wholemeal rice and lentils, roasted red pepper, sweetcorn and spinach. It was good value at £5.00.

We loved the label detailing the calorie, fibre, fat and sugar content. The natural vanilla protein pot was packed with protein oats, chia seeds, almond milk and fresh strawberries and blueberries. Filling but satisfying!

What else?

Protein Haus has outlets at select London gyms and kiosks at some Tube stations. For more information go to their website

The bill

Halloumi Salad box £5.00.
3 x Green Juice £4.00
Vanilla Protein Pot £3.00.

What made us glow?

The buzz, the value for money and the practical, reusable boxes.

Plus, Protein Haus founder Carli is happy for customers to email her for bespoke nutrition advice: proteinhausph@gmail.com. What’s not to like?

 

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Cocobeet, Downtown, Boston

Cocobeet describes itself as Boston’s original organic juice bar and offers a huge variety of cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, raw vegan treats and detox juice cleanses.

Everything is organic, raw, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, non-HPP and above all, locally sourced.

They say their juice cleanses “offer more nutrition” than any other on offer in Boston.

When we travel we like a dash ‘n’ go breakfast so we can get out and explore as quickly as possible especially if we only have 24 hours in a city.

Boston is no exception and so Cocobeet was the perfect pitstop for a healthy start to the day.

The setting

Light, bright, clean and fast is how we would describe the branch we visited in City Hall Plaza. The fridges were stacked with bright-coloured freshly made smoothies and juices.

Local office workers were queuing up for their breakfast.

The little things

We think it is a big thing – the story behind the brand.

Co-founder Kyle began Cocobeet as a very personal quest for pure, healthy, and delicious grab-and-go food.

After his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, his family began eating plant-based meals.

But the daily sourcing, preparation and creativity needed to make great meals was overwhelming when also dealing with a busy family and work. Finding pre-made, good food they could trust was of highest nutritional quality and tasty was impossible.

They knew they were not alone in the search and so along with co-founder Onur, a certified holistic health coach, they started Cocobeet, a community oasis in Boston.

Kyle is passionate about the importance of supporting local, small business in order to maintain the vibrancy and uniqueness of neighbourhoods.

The fresh juice test

There is a wide variety of green juices on offer. We liked the unusual blend called Green Gold – fennel, spinach, kale, pear, celery and cucumber.

It was refreshing to find a new mix-up of green ingredients.

What we ate

We tried the chocolate protein bowl, a blend of almond butter, cacao, strawberries, avocado topped with berries, pecans and coconut.

And we tried the açai berry bowl – açai, strawberry, and sunflower seed butter topped with granola and coconut. Both were delicious – fresh, beautifully presented and tasty.

We also liked the Blue Coconut smoothie which was a soothing mix of almond butter, blueberries, coconut oil and chia seeds. It was served in a handy bottle rather than cup which was useful for sightseeing.

What else?

Don’t forget that everything comes with an added city tax.

They deliver throughout the city which is good news if you need a juice cleanse at your hotel.

The bill

Juices $7.50 – $9.95
Smoothies $7.95 – $9.75
Breakfast Bowls $8.95 – $9.95

What made us glow?

Co-founder Kyle is passionate about creating a local business to keep neighbourhoods intact.

We sat and chatted to a native Bostonian on the wall outside as we ate our breakfast and he gave us a whistle-stop history of the city – community at its best!

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Fitzrovia: Roots Juicery

Founded by Santa Monica-trained raw food chef Chantal Ward in 2015, Roots Juicery brings a taste of LA to London.

The health hub on Charlotte Street is on a mission to fight against processed foods, and promote raw, plant based goodness.

Their speciality is exactly what it says on the tin – organic, unpasteurised, coldpressed juices, prepared on site daily from 100% organic local produce.

The setting

A stone’s throw from Goodge Street, Roots Juicery is in the heart of Fitzrovia. With a minimalist exterior of dark grey and white, the outdoor tables spill down a narrow but buzzing side street.

The interior is just as minimal with white-washed walls and wooden floor and tables, mostly communal, which give it an almost Scandinavian feel – or perhaps a Californian’s view of Scandinavia.

Most of the food is ready prepared, with just a few things on the menu to be made to order, and is stored with the juices in cabinets along one wall.

It’s light, airy, and spacious, although sadly missing the LA sun!

The little things

They offer a mind-boggling selection of fresh juices – enough to make any health food lover’s heart skip a beat! If you are a serious cold-pressed juice fan, then this is the place for you.

All the juices are cold-pressed on site to maintain the raw state of their fresh produce supplied by the closest local farmers. This guarantees the maximum nutritional benefits. Their tag line is ‘Revitalise, Rejuvenate, Replenish’ so if you are in need of that then this is one of those finds you will have on repeat visit.

 

The green juice test

Roots actually has several green juices but we opted for what looked like the greenest of them all – juice #4, Lettuce Be Green. Containing celery, leafy greens, green pepper, batavia, lemon, and coriander, this one is for serious, die-hard green juice fans, as it’s earthy to the point of bitter, largely due to the absence of fruit.

There are three different green juices, so pick wisely if you don’t like the bitter taste.

What we ate

We also tried the açai bowl and the vegan wrap. Although the açai bowl was tasty, we missed the beautiful and lavish toppings we had seen online and which we have grown used to around London.

What else?

They deliver juices for a variety of different cleanse options, so you don’t necessarily have to visit the store in person to get your juice fix.

Packages include Detox & Cleanse, Heart Healthy, Skin Glow and Your Best Weight from £65.00

The bill

Green juice
Açai bowl
Vegan wrap
£16.30

What made us glow?

The commitment to organic and wholesome food really shines through – this is the definition of tasting the rainbow. It’s particularly ideal if you’re looking to grab juice on the go without waiting for it to be pressed, but still want it as fresh as possible.

But it is mainly about the juice – the food options are not as extensive as you might find elsewhere.

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Chelsea: Raw Press

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

Tucked away on Ellis Street, which is a five-minute walk from Sloane Square, we discovered healthy cafe and juice bar, Raw Press.

The founders say “over the past few years, cold-pressed juicing has exploded in popularity in the US, where juice bars look to be on track to become as popular as coffee chains.

This trend is here to stay and we boast two of the first stand-alone stores in London.

Swap your soft drinks for some cold-pressed kale, embrace your brassicas and discover that being healthy doesn’t have to be hard!”

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

Boxes of Monopoly and draughts are on the shelves crying out to be played in this healthy cafe and it is so tranquil that we were tempted to pull them out and get going.

The setting

First impressions are that Raw Press feels like a secret gem of a Glowcation hidden away from the rest of the world. We walked into a super calm and relaxed environment.

The little things

The decor is cool and fresh – tables lined in bright yellow, wheatgrass running along the walls and yellow toasters sitting on the tables waiting to be used, we are told, by customers at lunchtime who fancy some toast and nut butter.

The green juice test

Raw Press is all about the juice and we had not one but three green juices to choose from:

/ Super Green – cucumber, celery, coconut water, spinach, Swiss chard, lemon, ginger and mint

/ Green – cucumber, celery, apple, spinach, kale, ginger and lemon

/ Sweet Green – pineapple, apple, kale, Swiss chard, lemon, ginger and mint

We tried the Green and loved it – by far one of the best green juices in London.

What we ate

We loved the help-yourself-buffet breakfast bowls. We had fun filling beautiful bright china bowls with overnight Bircher muesli made with green juice, matcha, dates and oats.

Don’t let the green colour put you off. It is delicious!

We added chia seed pudding made with almond milk, coconut yoghurt, blueberries and strawberries. And we got creative with the jars of bee pollens, nuts and seeds that we could sprinkle over the top.

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

We were told that lunch is a selection of superfood salads prepared on site by the resident chef. These include courgette, roots and slaws, grains, greens, beans and kale as well as hot bowls of cauliflower cheese and courgette lasagne.

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London
Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

What else?

The staff were super friendly and some of the best we have come across on our search for London Glowcations.

They are passionate about the business and they are knowledgeable about the juices.

There is activated charcoal in the water on the tables and free WiFi with the motivational password “healthynothard”! The music is chilled out and current.

This healthy cafe also runs a delivery service with Quiqup.

The Bill

We paid £7.80 for our delicious breakfast bowl and £6.50 for a small juice (375ml).

What made us glow?

The whole place made us smile and glow- the bright colours, the toasters, the creative ‘make your own’ breakfast bowls.

The atmosphere is friendly and the format original.

Oh, and did we mention we sneaked one of their home-made Bounty-style bars in as we left?!

Breakfast review at Raw Press, London

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Chelsea: Juicebaby

juice bar review of london based juicebaby

Juicebaby is an ‘on the go’ juice bar in an area called World’s End at the end of the Kings Road.

They say “we source the absolute best produce, cold-press our juices on a daily basis and maintain the highest standards possible.

We never pasteurise, water down or add sugar to our juices. We avoid the use of dairy, eggs, gluten, soy, chemical additives or preservatives of any kind. We avoid cartons and cans.” They sell juices, acai bowls, homemade soup and takeaway salads.

Juice bar review of london based juicebaby
Juice bar review of london based juicebaby

The setting

Juicebaby is at the end of the Kings Road in Chelsea. It’s a busy drop-in cafe with a small amount of seating so be prepared to wait for a seat at busy times. It’s a self-service Pret-a-Manger vibe which is perfect if you need to grab and go. There were also people sitting working on their laptops.

The little things

We like the take-out small bottled salad dressings – turmeric mustard, macadamia balsamic, miso sesame, sunflower cheese, aioli, Caesar and Thai peanut.

The walls are covered with power statements and the music is upbeat.

We found it difficult to find the WC so some signposts would be appreciated.

The green juice test

We tried the Mean Green which was £6.95 for 500ml. It was bright green, cold-pressed and contained cucumber, seasonal leafy green, celery, ginger, lime and parsley. We were not offered a glass or a straw. It was very watery.

What we ate

We came for a late lunch. We asked to try the soup and bean stew before buying as we couldn’t decide which to go for and we were offered tasters happily. We chose the pea and mint soup which was homemade and super delicious. It tasted fresh and well seasoned and came with plain gluten-free toast with no butter.

The bowl was a cardboard take-out kind of thing so don’t expect china.

We also tried the kale crisps – simply the best we have ever tasted and worth a trip to Juicebaby for these alone. They contain curly kale, cashews, red pepper, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, salt and lemon juice and come in a cool zip-lock bag.

At £4.95 they are not a cheap snack but they are a super tasty treat and great to pack when you travel.

What else?

We noticed lots of people dashing in with sports gear on post-workout. Others were working away at their laptops although we struggled to get on the house WiFi. It’s a conflicting environment – relaxed but busy.

Juice bar review of london based juicebaby

We also chose an acai bowl (acai, banana, dates and almond butter) which came in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon. It looked beautiful with vanilla granola and coconut chips but was too sweet and heavy.

The Bill

£26.10 for soup, kale chips, green juice and an acai bowl so Juicebaby isn’t a cheap option.

Juice bar review of london based juicebaby

What made us glow?

The cheezy kale chips were a huge hit and think they are the best we have found in London.

It’s a great Glowcation if you are on the run or you are working or playing in World’s End.

We like the take-out salad bowls – the power, taco, yam yam and the market Caesar salad and the mix and match salad dressings.