Passion, Pesto and the American Dream

BY N.J. ACKERMANN

Healthy Garden Natural Food Café was always something different.

When rebels of the mid-20th century adopted vegetarianism and veganism, it sparked debates that turned a focus on the food industry. It caused a closer examination of supermarket meat, how it comes to us, and what it does to our bodies. This allowed for people, in turn, to realize that perhaps the food pyramid didn’t show the whole story. We began to understand that health con- ditions can be avoided, and even remedied, by ingesting the right foods to avoid allergens and chemicals. When we mapped our unique selves, we learned that individuals processed foods differently.

For some restaurants, it hasn’t been the easiest to adapt. Making menus healthier means higher costs, more labor, and experimentation. Hence, the continuation to offer meat and potatoes, butter-laden sauces, and fried foods.

Enter Len and Larissa Michnik. Hailing from Ukraine, the computer programmer and his wife recognized the absence of dining choices for this new way of eating.

“When they opened the restaurant, there were not a lot of healthy options,” says James Lees, manager at the Collingswood Café location. “It was hard in the 80s, when they came over here. This was the first [healthy] place, and it’s way different. Not just salads, but a little bit of everything.”

Mark Mamedov said his aunt and uncle, who used to babysit him, essentially “came from nothing.”

“They spent endless days in the restaurant,” he said. “I remember they would have no food in the fridge at home because they would spend 14 to 15 hours a day in the restaurant, and then go home and sleep and come back in the morning. So, for them it was definitely hard. They’ve come a long way.”

Living the American Dream? Yes, according to Lees.

Healthy Garden’s success lies in their variety, uniqueness, and customizable options. And, of course, their freshness.

“Everything is made to order,” says Lees.

In addition to soups, sandwiches, and pizza, their “delectable sweet and savory please see BITES, page 14

PHOTOS BY N.J. ACKERMANN

Fresh food, healthy food, fast food, great vibe — all in one place. Mix and match, create your own, customize it. With all of this, Healthy Garden has achieved its mission to “prepare great tasting food that will leave you feeling energized and healthy.”