If cameraman Korey (@KoreyDavisPhotography) doesn’t shoot it, I won’t eat it.
Eating healthy has been a challenge for me most of my adult life. I love food so freaking much that most times I simply eat whatever satisfies my taste. However, entering my early 30’s I’m trying to eat healthier so I won’t be f@#$%& up when I’m older, walking crazy and grunting just to get out of my car and all that jazz, but it is difficult.
The main challenge is finding healthy options that are both filling and tasty, so imagine how excited I was to discover Raw Republic Micro Juicery in my own backyard in the City of North Miami Beach. Cousins and business partners Zack Stein, Jordan Gimelstein and Jesse Gimelstein opened Raw Republic in Aventura and now it’s second location is more than just a business, but an opportunity to leave a legacy of health and education.
“We want our footprint to be a company that doesn’t spend tons of money on marketing, but to have our customers be educated on juicing and eating raw vegan foods that helps improve their well being,” said Zach Stein, co-owner as we walked through his immaculate kitchen with chefs chopping fresh vegetables and fruits to create a dish I would eat later in this review.
To my surprise, my simple food review morphed into a behind-the-scenes experience that allowed me to meet their Xanax level happy employees, who gave me an incentive to try this juicing vegan thing, given their consistent joy.
I started with the P.B. & A Bowl that contained banana, almond milk, and peanut butter topped with granola, cacao nibs, banana and acai – a berry from Brazil similar to a blueberry, just with a lot more antioxidants. The acai is whipped into a yogurt or smoothie like consistency and all the other ingredients are included for an amazing natural consistency and flavor. The key here is natural. It’s not super sweet like a smoothie from Smoothie King or a yogurt dessert.
I felt as if all disease and potential disease was being destroyed from the health power of this bowl. The flavors were light and natural all culminating to one last crunch from the natural granola for a smooth and refreshing taste. The bowl left me feeling quite energized and full, so much so I had to take a Olympic style speed walk up and down the sidewalk before going to my next dish. Seriously.
After my brisk walk in my church shoes and no socks, I needed something a little light so we sampled the cold pressed juices. Cold press juice is a natural process where heat is never applied in any form. In a conventional juicer, there is heat applied by powering the machine which takes away a TON of good stuff like vitamins, antioxidants, enzymes and other s$% you need to be healthy.
The juices should be used as a cleanse, but I was drinking these bad boys because they taste great! My favorite was the super refreshing and citrusy SUNSHINE that included red apple, pineapple, orange and lemon that tastes like Sunny D on steroids. My second favorite was the 8 WONDERS made with green apple, cucumber, kale, spinach, chard, lemon, ginger and parsley.
Super tasty despite all the veggies, the guys did their research because each juice is well balanced and consistent when it comes to taste with respect to the amazing healthy benefits. Zach told us their team did extensive research with the Cleveland Clinic in developing most of the juice flavors. I thought that was a lot going on for some damn juice, but hey, I was educated on how amazing juice can make you feel. As I child, my mother would spank me for drinking too much juice, only if she knew…..Most of the juices sell for ($7), with a couple specialties going for around ($11). They’re also adaptable because I took the SUNSHINE home and put some Hendricks Gin with it and watched my Miami Dolphins (The Browns sorry as hell) win on Sunday, and it was phenomenal!
Next up, the smoothies. I ordered the M.I.A TEA PARTY which includes green tea, spinach, cucumber, green apple, pineapple, chia seeds, and raw honey. Again, not overly sweet because there are no added sugars are processed sweeteners of any kind—just Baloo and Mowgli gathering fruits, nuts, and berries for amazing smoothies.
Hot lunch at a raw food spot sounds like an oxymoron, but you’re in luck. I had the most amazing surprisingly tasty raw food quesadilla (the SOM Quesadilla) made with nothing but veggies and heated with a creation they coined “cashew cheese.” Make sure you get it heated and dip it in the accompanying tangy cilantro sauce. Off the f#$%@!# chain!
The Chickpea Tuna Sandwich tastes very similar to a tuna sandwich and should be eaten heated or toasted. I prefer it in a wrap instead of the Ezekiel bread that is used for it, unless you’re a fan of Ezekiel bread. Again, get it TOASTED. Without being toasted the bread is a little thick. Not like Serena Williams thick, more like Rosanne thick.
Craving dessert? Make sure you get the really good natural peanut butter cups. (I’m going back for more today!) The natural pressed peanut butter and pure coco used for the chocolate is amazing; a great treat for fat kids that you want to ease off sweets or skinny kids who have cavities from eating too many Snickers bars and such. (I wish they were around in the 90’s when I was a fat kid, maybe I would have made the football team.)
The Quinoa Burger was the best item on the menu in my opinion. Made with onions, mushrooms, carrots, and some other natural s$%@ I can’t remember, but it doesn’t matter because everything in this damn store comes from the EARTH, so you honestly don’t have to worry about anything unless you have an allergy to nature or nuts, in that case, ask before you order it. I dipped my heated burger wrap in the peanut sauce and it gave me life. Jesus knows I have been searching for something healthy and filling without sacrificing taste.
I was so proud that I was eating raw vegan food and enjoying it. Everything I sampled tasted great and was good for you – evidence this place is very special and we will see many more locations open.
If you’re not used to eating healthy food, you might consider the prices a little high, but it’s worth the investment. You will not get two Frostys for a $1.00 like you do at Wendy’s, or even for $5.00 like at Smoothie King, but what you will get for your money is health, great taste, energy, and a smaller waist line.
I was full the whole day with a crazy amount of energy to work out with my friend at the gym and complete a stairs workout afterward (even though a demonic looking squirrel that wouldn’t budge made me fall down several steps.)
I appreciate that it’s close to a very diverse community with both black and white locales converging to eat healthy and celebrate the blessing from our planet. No animals whatsoever are used in making a damn thing in this spot. (I need to take my carnivorous ass here more often.)
I give this place 10 out of 10. Great service, great people, great food! I definitely will be back. The owners were supper cool and I came when they offered a discount so I was in luck. Shout out to Zach Stein who turned let us turn their lights down so Korey can get his amazing photos to show you guys what to expect when visiting restaurants we review. Look out for our next review of Buena Vista French Bistro in Miami! Remember to subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at The Hungry Black Man.
Grand Opening Raw Republic specials include:
- Monday, Sept. 26: #MotivationalMondays — 25 percent off a juice cleanse or purchase a juice cleanse and receive a complimentary 30-minute consult with Raw Republic’s nutritionist
- Tuesday, Sept. 27: Two for Tuesday! Purchase one cold-pressed juice and receive the second one free!
- Wednesday, Sept. 28: “Bowl Me Over” —25 percent off all açaí bowls
- Thursday, Sept. 29: Thirsty Thursday — 25 percent off all juices and smoothies
- Friday, Sept. 30: Fitness Fridays – Come in your workout clothes and get 25 percent off your purchase or show your Class Pass, FlyWheel or gym i.d. for 25 percent off
Raw Republic has two locations: 20804 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura and 14871 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami. Hours at both locations are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
For more information, visit www.drinkrawrepublic.com, call 305-705-4226 or email info@drinkrawrepublic.com. Follow Raw Republic on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
smart thoughtful guy!!
supar…………………….supar