Now that summer is here and we can’t hide behind bulky coats and sweaters, it’s probably time to take a step back from indulgent eating. While we love dining out as much as the next person, now is a great time to realign our diets, think healthy and detox. But that doesn’t mean tasteless salads and munching on baby carrots. This month, we spotlight five healthy, antioxidant-rich meals to get you on track.
Healthy Garden Café: Rainbow Green Wrap
This colorful wrap sandwich is jam-packed with grilled tilapia, Monterey Jack and feta cheeses, fresh avocado, crunchy green sprouts, spinach and organic brown rice with a miso dressing. A hearty bite, but also full of fiber, protein and antioxidants.
200 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Voorhees, (856) 616-9300
Animo Juice: Spicy Split Pea Soup
At this all-natural eatery and funky juice bar, you can warm up with a bowl of from-scratch soup that rotates daily. Try the spicy split pea with a scoop of added organic quinoa, a nutty grain that adds protein and a bit of nutrient-rich love for your belly.
113 Kings Highway E., Haddonfield, (856) 427-9070
The Blue Fig Café: Blue Fig Salad
Salads don’t have to be ho-hum. This one, named for the Mediterranean grill where it originates, starts with mixed spring greens and is piled high with sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh antioxidant-rich strawberries, mandarin oranges, roasted walnuts and grilled halloumi cheese, dressed in fig vinaigrette.
200 Young Ave., Moorestown, (856) 638-5186
Muscle Maker Grill: The Godfather
At this chain geared toward fitness enthusiasts, you can skip the carbs but keep the flavor.
Char-grilled chicken breast is layered over a bed of roasted portabella mushrooms, red peppers and fresh broccoli, topped with mozzarella cheese and fat-free balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
2010 Route 70 W., Suite B, Cherry Hill, (856) 663-4000
Green Zebra: The Tomatillo
At this hip café, healthy eating is a lifestyle. This big lunch salad includes spring mix lettuce, tomatillos, grilled chicken, avocado, jalapeno, corn, cilantro and organic chipotle ranch dressing, with a sun-dried tomato or whole wheat mini bagel on the side.
328 Rowan Blvd., Glassboro, (856) 226-3850
Fast Food
Culinary news to chew on
• New owners have taken over the former location of Brian Zoubek’s Dream Puffz cream puff bakery. Hollingsworth Cookies and Fine Desserts is now baking specialty cookies, confections cakes and cupcakes.
• Burger 21, a Florida-based fast casual burger chain, opened its first out-of-state location in Voorhees Town Center. The franchise offers 21 varieties of burgers, along with hot dogs and sides, including gluten-free options.
• The owners of Collingswood’s IndeBlue have begun work on their second location with the same name over the bridge in Philadelphia.
• Chef Josh Lawler, the owner of The Farm and Fisherman in Philadelphia, announced plans to open a second outpost in Cherry Hill. The Farm and Fisherman Tavern, which replaces Andreotti’s Viennese Cafe, is set to open in the fall. Meanwhile, owners of Andreotti’s will make the switch over to a full-time catering company.
• The owners of Riverton’s District 611 closed the doors indefinitely after just six months, with tentative plans to re-conceptualize and open a new location with a liquor license.
• Zoë’s Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant chain, opened its first New Jersey location at the Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton. Their focus is on Mediterranean-inspired food, with options like hummus, chicken kebabs and tabouli.
• Chef Markese Beverly has returned to his post as head chef at the ChopHouse in Gibbsboro.
• Local developer Stanislaw Stachowski announced plans to open a new Polish restaurant in Magnolia at the end of July. Royal Cracovia will cost an estimated $3.5 million to complete, feature 250 seats, and serve traditional Polish food in an upscale setting.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 10, Issue 4 (July, 2013).
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