Health food is a $10 billion business, growing 20% annually, according to "Natural Foods Merchandiser." Two publicly traded corporate giants dominate the industry: Texas-based Whole Foods Market has 70-plus links in its nationwide chain; Colorado-based Wild Oats Markets has 52, with three in south Florida. Last March, Whole Foods bought the Bread of Life stores in Broward County and Dade County's Unicorn Village, which is now Whole Foods Market. They are among my favorites, appealing to flower children of all ages and eras, along with these inviting health-conscious enclaves:
Bread of Life Natural Foods Market and Restaurant
2388 N. Federal Hwy. (954)565-7423
Fort Lauderdale
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7720 Peters Road (954)236-0600
Plantation
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Gerber, his wife, Julie, and his partner, Jim Oppenheimer, continue to oversee operations. The two eateries are bigger and better than ever. Executive chef Steven Petusevsky runs the Plantation kitchen, where preparation is done and special events are planned. He started his career in the Catskills and was chef at the Unicorn Village. Attractions at the Plantation store include cooking classes for singles - with special recipes containing aphrodisiacs - and presentations on health-enhancing foods and lifestyle adjustments. Pick up whatever's low-cal, low-fat and no sodium at the deli counter. Lunch, dinner daily. Two can easily chomp for under $15.
NK Cafe
Transworld Center (813)287-1385
W. 4100 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa
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This Natural Kitchen has been happy-heart headquarters since January 1972 and home to French chef Sid Hattab since July 1994. With wife Rita handling the front room, he has taken NK to new heights. Lunch means turkey and veggie burgers, spinach salads, avocado Dagwoods tucked into pitas, turkey pastrami on rye and turkey Reubens. Lunch and dinner entrees include veggies paired with North African couscous, chicken and shrimp or lemon-poached Greenland turbot with cashews. My favorites are the banana salad, hummus and taboule, and a fresh fruit assemblage with raisin-sprinkled yogurt. Lunch and dinner, entrees $4 to $10, Monday to Friday.
Rollin' Oats Natural Cafe
2842 Ninth St. N. (813)821-6825
St. Petersburg
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John Rorer, Bert Swain and Larry Schwartz are the taste-full trio responsible for this 3-year-old, 50-seat cafe integrated into some 6,000 square feet of market. (They also operate seven organic markets on the west coast all the way down to Port Charlotte.) Eat in or take out the likes of tofeta-stuffed giant portobello mushroom caps, lentil-carrot-celery-onion-parsnip soup, 19 different sandwiches, including fresh ground peanut butter and banana, hummus-filled pita and vegetarian Reubens. Or try the eggplant pasta, sesame stir-fried rice and spiced Indian dal with steamed veggies and brown rice. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, entrees $3 to $7, Monday to Saturday.
Whole Foods Market
(formerly unicorn village)
3565 N.E. 207th St. (305)933-1543
North Miami Beach
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From 1989 to 1995, this spread, dominating a corner of the WaterWays Shops in the North Miami Beach Waterways, was the premier health food restaurant in the county, if not the country. Whole Foods Corp. took over the market and food prep is now under chef Rashne Desia. Check out the deli counter for her latest creations, layered into bold and beautiful breads or laid out on the freshest greenery, and take it to a table overlooking the fountain. Selections range from Oriental sea bass with sesame dressing to grain burgers. Prices for lunch and dinner, served daily, are less than $15.
Wild Oats Natural Foods Grocer
2200 W. Glades Road Bidg.8 (561)392-5100
Boca Raton
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7735 S. Dixie Hwy. (561)585-8800
West Palm Beach
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2501 E. Sunrise Blvd. (954)566-9333
Fort Lauderdale
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Wild Oats bought this pair of Wholly Harvest market-cafes last February and then picked up a closed location in Fort Lauderdale. The Boca space sports produce displays that rival any Korean greengrocer's in Manhattan. Shelves are stocked with vitamins and minerals and a terrific inventory of organic fruit juices and wines, organic cheeses, ice cream, pasta sauce, and, of course locally produced Boca Burgers.
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Restaurants
Around The State
Southeast
DELRAY BEACH
Coasters
777 E. Atlantic Ave.
561/272-6004
Casual, shaded sidewalk seating and a reliable kitchen making Key West crab cakes, beautiful soups and heavenly burgers. Lunch & dinner, entrees $10-$19.
Southwest/Tampa Bay
SARASOTA
Alley Cat Cafe
1558 Fourth St.
941/954-1228
Sit outside or indoors. Try the grilled portobello mushrooms or slow-roasted free-range chicken with winter vegetables. Lunch & dinner, entrees $17-$25.
Central
Orlando
Bacco
10065 University Blvd.
407/678-8833
A real Italian restaurant: honest sauces made with fresh ingredients; veal and seafood handled with grace, and a good wine list. Lunch & dinner, entrees $11-$30.
Northeast
POINT VERDE BEACH
Gio's Cafe
900 Sawgrass Village
904/273-0101
Art Deco delight, Continental Italian with California flair, such as, chicken breast stuffed with basil and wrapped in goat cheese. Dinner, entrees $18-$30.