(Credit: Shane Redsar)
Navigating: liquid summer
Where ice blending bears fruit
By Katherine Spiers, Special to Metromix
June 9, 2008
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Ana's Bionicos
10977 Rosecrans Ave. - Norwalk562-868-9549
An agua fresca is the perfect antidote to a hot day: a concoction of fruit, ice and seasoning that’s the very definition of liquid refreshment. Ana’s serves some of the best in town; papaya or watermelon is a must. In the mood for something heartier? The bionicos themselves are a delight to behold and consume, combining all kinds of fruit, granola and a dairy product of your choice. (If you’re asking us, go for the “cream,” which is a different secret recipe at every bionico joint.) The fruity-grainy-dairy concoction is icy too, and you’ll end up drinking straight from the bowl.
BodyFactory
6366 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles323-469-2639
If juicing up Venice Beach-style—legally, of course—is your thing, this is the smoothie shop for you. Most blender options, it seems, are composed of various powders, with the occasional teaspoon of fresh fruit juice thrown in just for the hell of it. But we imagine the clientele isn’t overly concerned about artificial enhancements. Wraps and energy bars are also available, but it's really all about the smoothies, especially if you add the Hulk, the most popular muscle-bound supplement of them all.
D'Lush
6801 Hollywood Blvd. - Los Angeles323-467-2811
If Coyote Ugly were a shake shop instead of a bar, it’d be D’Lush. The staff is sexy (it's obviously a prerequisite for getting hired), the energy is pumping, and the whole theme is "get addicted." Most everything is sweet, creamy and calor-iffic. The strawberry smoothie is practically ice cream, but other fruit flavors (such as mango) are a little more fruit, a little less cream. Rumor has it that lassis (Indian fruit drinks) are available if you ask nicely.
Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
2301 Main St. - Santa Monica310-392-9501
The vibrant oceanside storefront is one part organic market and one part raw-food counter; it sits on a stretch of Main Street dedicated to healthy living. (How many yoga studios does Santa Monica need?) A higher state of consciousness can be had in liquid form at the self-proclaimed Alchemy of Euphoria Elixir Bar. Prices are pretty outlandish, but hey, rapture doesn’t come cheap. Smoothies feature exotic flavors like durian (there’s an acquired taste), while goji berry lemonade is a popular juice combo.
I Love Boba
534 S. Western Ave. - Los Angeles213-384-5030
It’s a local mini-chain with two locations in Koreatown and another in Little Tokyo. Strawberry-peach is the most popular flavor, and it can be had as a slushie (non-dairy) or a smoothie and (you guessed it) with or without boba. In fact, those chewy, disarmingly dark-looking globes of tapioca can be added to practically the entire menu. If you’re feeling adventurous, go for a taro smoothie. It’s sweet, starchy goodness in a frosty cup.
JC Cafe
843 N. Broadway - Los Angeles213-621-2642
This jolly, friendly little place has noodles, fried chicken and other Asian fast-food goodies, but smoothies, slushies and milky teas form the main event. Absolutely everything can be ordered with a scoop or two of boba, whether it's the popular guava smoothie or the unusual aloe jelly drink. None of the powdered stuff here: Hot and cold teas are brewed fresh from actual leaves and things, then flavored with fruit juices like strawberry. Weekday mornings host Nutrition Club, during which smoothies and other breakfasty items are available at even cheaper prices than usual.
The Juice Fountain
6332 Hollywood Blvd. - Los Angeles323-464-8986
This family-owned juice counter blends what may be the most fruit-packed shake in Hollywood. It’s called the Fruit Rainbow, and they’re not kidding around. There’s bee pollen and ginger for those looking for supplements, but you’re out of luck if you’re into the powdered stuff. That’s OK, you’ll get your healthy fill from the huge serving sizes: Orders come served in the blender with a cup on the side to fill at your leisure.
Leaf Cuisine
11938 W. Washington Blvd. - Los Angeles310-390-6005
The bright green facade is impossible to miss—it’s the one bit of color on an otherwise barren stretch of Washington Boulevard. Even the spare, modern interior offers an inviting point of entry for the extensive raw-food menu of collard-wrapped sandwiches, mock nori rolls, and an acre’s worth of micro greens and alfalfa sprouts. Juicers and blenders are on a constant whir, whipping up smoothies with nut milk, naturally. One particular PB-chocolate gem wins the name game, hands down: Nutter Butter Naner Choco Coco.
Mateo's Ice Cream & Fruit Bars
1250 S. Vermont Ave. - Los Angeles213-738-7288
This emporium of all things sweet and Mexican is a happy, happy place on a warm day. Frozen fruit bars and house-made ice cream in flavors of yellow cherry, guava, coconut and watermelon (with or without a scalded milk flavor accompaniment) attract those looking for something a little more exotic in their ice-cold treat. These same flavors (and many others at the counter) are also available as smoothies or blended juices. Or, request the fruit itself, chopped up and topped with crema and granola as a bionico.
The Natural Cafe
968 S. Westlake Blvd. - Westlake Village805-449-0099
In a sea of burger joints and steakhouses, this cafe is a vegetarian oasis. Once you’ve had your fill of tofu, indulge in a smoothie or two. These concoctions are really more like fruit slushies, as no sherbet or yogurt is added: just fruit and juice. The names themselves are a hoot, such as Aloha Bra (with pineapple, banana and pineapple-coconut juice) and Screaming Blue Meany (apple juice, peaches and blueberries).
Olimpus Juices
7107 W. Sunset Blvd. - Los Angeles323-436-7509
The name (almost) gives it away: This place is Greek. The simple menu of salads, sandwiches and smoothies is adorned with ancient Greek references. The tuna sandwich, for example, is called the Golden Trident. Many of the smoothies are sweetened with honey—no surprise there!—and bear excellent names, such as Aphrodite's Magical Desire (blackberries, yogurt, pineapple and honey), Eros' Blanket of Clouds (orange juice, cantaloupe and strawberries) and Zeus' Thunderbolt (milk, cashews, dates and protein powder). The gods must be fruit-combo crazy.
Rainbow Acres Natural Foods
13208 W. Washington Blvd. - Los Angeles310-306-8330
This grocery store/deli has been making health-food fans out of ardent grease-burger lovers for years. The soups and sandwiches are good, as are the smoothies, which don't come with powders but are full of freshly mushed and smooshed fruit—that’s nature’s supplement for you. For something sweet after one of the Acres' famous (and potentially pungent) tuna-and-avocado-on-wheat sandwiches, the banana-berry or mango favorites should cleanse the palate.
Real Raw Live
5913 Franklin Ave. - Los Angeles323-461-4545
This raw-food/vegan store sells more varieties of healthful smoothies than you’d ever dream possible, made with ingredients such as almond milk, agave and dandelions. Most of the drinks serve a purpose: Forever Green is good for the immune system, while the Mental Bee Sting should up visual acuity with all the carrot juice in there. Even the dessert-like smoothies, like the Chocolate Alchemist, can be made with avocado if bananas mean a carbo OD. Also find bottles of the infamous Master Cleanse.
Smoothie King
1513 Vine St. - Los Angeles323-465-0097
It's all about healthful eating at this franchise. Sure, the smallest size packs in around 400 calories, but at least they’re fruity calories, right? The encyclopedic menu is categorized according to various health goals: Stay Healthy, Trim Down, Get Energy, Build Up and Snack Right. On the flip side, there's also a place to Indulge. Many of the smoothies are blended with optional turbinado sugar (or leave it out to reduce your calorie intake). How’s that for indulgent?
Tribal Cafe
1651 W. Temple St. - Los Angeles213-483-4458
Care for juice? Or perhaps...juice? With over 100 varieties of squeezed fruits and frappés and milks and teas, no one ever goes thirsty at Tribal Cafe. All liquid concoctions are chopped, squeezed and blended fresh to order, the better for your hale and hearty enjoyment. Smoothies and slushies come in whatever fruity combo you desire, and boba can be added to anything. But it's the simple blend of beet, carrot and orange that's most popular.
Katherine Spiers is a contributing editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
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The ever-growing guide to savoring the city
