Maximizing the Health Benefits of Fresh Local Produce

When an internationally renowned chef, a certified nutritionist and a highprofile event planner get together to brainstorm about their shared passion for tasty healthy food, it is inevitable that they will come up with something special. In the case of Peter and Ivana Lister and their friend Cheryl Besner, that something special evolved into a quest to spotlight and make good use of Barbados’ remarkable supply of highly nutritious superfoods and island flavours.

Their collective concept was to launch a business that would source fresh, locallygrown produce and skilfully combine them to create delicious, health-boosting gourmet salads. The basic idea being to help improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing simply by giving them a fabulous meal to eat, while also educating them about the nutritional value of the various ingredients. At the same time, the preferential use of local produce would support the island’s farming community and thereby help reduce the island’s high food import bills. Another integral element of the team’s vison was to be an online fully-vertical delivery company, delivering island-wide to homes, offices and even the beach, as well as catering to private events and groups of various sizes. www.citrinesalads.com

The happy outcome of their inspiration is Citrine, a delivery, pick-up, or outdoor dining establishment serving a variety of gourmet salads, soups and drinks, chosen from a menu that describes the health benefits of each delicious recipe. Not long after opening their first location at Bagatelle Great House, Citrine opened a second outlet at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown.

With Ivana being a certified Pilates instructor/personal trainer, and Cheryl a certified life coach, future plans include hosting healthy choice lifestyle workshops and classes in Bagatelle’s beautiful grounds.