New Blog! Nekter's Arrived on the Juicy LBC Scene

Editor's Note: We welcome our newest blogging team, a pair of Belmont Shore dynamos who can be found at almost any interesting youth project, be it Lowell, Rogers or Wilson, the local Robotics team, Boy Scouts, the list goes on. Plus, see the deal for Patch readers at blog's ending.

I consider myself well-informed and experienced in the land of raw food goodness and juicing.  True, it’s passionate searching that’s fueled my depth, but six years studying nutrition and the merits of organic fruits and vegetables is only four years shy of “expertise” according to the research Malcom Gladwell made so famous in Outliers.  Bottom-line, I am a mom of three seeking healthy food and living for my family and am eager to find new sources that satisfy.

Juicing has been one of my pet projects.  Blend avocado, protein powder, vanilla,
almond milk, ice and agave to taste, and you’ve created one of my personal faves.  My friends wrinkle their noses at my green lunch: blend spinach, 2T virgin coconut oil,  hemp protein powder, nut milk or water, and ice… Yum!  My VitaMix gets a daily workout.

However, as dedicated to healthy choices as I am, my frantic schedule beyond the kitchen can often overwhelm my nutritional intentions.  I need ready back up sources with similar commitment to fresh, local-grown produce and fast delivery. There are Belmont Shores standbys like Jamba Juice and Robeks, of course, but I’m ever watchful of the sugar content.  Now there’s a newcomer to the neighborhood calling itself Nekter Juice Bar, located in the Marketplace next to Trader Joe’s. Earlier this week, I made it a point to stop in, try the juice, and chat with the owner, Alexis Schulze. 

Alexis is bright-eyed and beautiful, and the main creator of the clever recipes Nekter offers. I recognized our mutual passion for juice, as she drinks a 32oz “Greenie” every day. She says her skin and hair thank her for it and I can vouch that they both looked great. 

I am a believer that when you treat your body to living produce that is still in the state nature provided, it offers vital enzymes, minerals, and antioxidants which aid digestive processes and increase energy.  Nekter’s menu seems to subscribe to this thinking as well.  Alexis’ inspiration came in part from raising her children and trying to “sneak” more fruits and veggies into their diet. Nekter focuses on fresh-pressed green juice blends, raw vegan smoothies, acai bowls and specialty concoctions. Tastiness is key.

The store was abuzz during my visit.  The crowd was young with a hip vibe attentive to the novelty of good health.  I sat down near Jesse, a local hair dresser and culinary student, with my Popeye’s Acai with hemp protein powder in hand.  I asked her why she came here. She was not short on words of praise, confiding that though she often lives paycheck-to-paycheck she would not miss her daily “fix”, a meal loaded with quality ingredients. The Popeye’s Acai happens to be her favorite. 

Another guest shared, “My daughter comes in here every day. Sometimes she even begs for a ride to get here she loves it so much. Her favorite is the 'Grenie Bowl' for $7.” The Grenie is a huge bowl filled with berries, bananas, spinach, kale, nut-milk and agave blended like a whipped frozen dessert, then topped with granola and more fruit.  I’m sure it could feed two, and after a taste, I understood why she begs for the ride to get here.

I found the meal-type bowls intriguing, and from there, drawn to “The Cleanse”, another Nekter phenomenon.  Choose from the 1, 2, 3, or 5-day detox which incorporates 15 pounds of local-grown, cold pressed fruits and vegetables into a nutrient-dense blend. It’s pre-made and packed into numbered bottles so you know when to drink them. Place orders online or in-store. I was sold and ready to start as soon as I finished my Popeye’s.

It’s really easy to give our newest juicy neighbor my “thumbs-up”.  Besides their fresh offerings, they’ve already supported Lowell’s spring auction, Roger’s music program and are excited to get to know the LBC community better.  When you get a chance to stop by, Alexis recommends starting the kids with the “Berry Banana Burst” because it keeps its pink when you ask to “sneak in” the kale and spinach in too.

Mention you read my story in “Patch” and receive 50% off a 16oz juice or smoothie.

--Stephanie Mendoza

Long Beach’s Nekter Juice Bar is located at 6467 Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, California, 90803.  Visit them on line at nekterjuicebar.com.  Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nekterjuicebar
 

On Twitter: twitter.com/#!/nekterjuicebar