Paleo eating at its finest – that’s what Blooming Beets is all about. Founder and CEO, Iva Paleckova, and executive chef Brittany Kerr believe in providing healthy, wholesome, and local fare for their guests. They do so with passion, flare, and impeccable flavor.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Paleo lifestyle, the diet is based on that of Paleolithic humans. Their daily eating habits consisted of meats, vegetables, fruits, eggs, roots, and even fungi, but excluded things like legumes, dairy, refined salts and sugars, and processed oils. This way of eating has numerous benefits, including weight loss, lowered risk of heart disease, slowing of autoimmune diseases, and even an increase in libido (nice!).
A few of us stopped in recently during their soft opening, and we were pleased with our first experience. We started off with the beet-ginger-citrus bisque. The flavor was incredible, fiery and energizing. Orange, ginger, and lime came together, creating an invigorating zest, while the puréed beets and coconut created a soothing, refreshing aftertaste. I wouldn’t change anything about this soup; it was delicious.
Following the soup, we ordered the sweet potato bacon cakes, chicken marsala, and the bun-less burger. The “Aerie Nest” potato cakes, as they were called, were topped with two poached eggs and a paleo-friendly hollandaise sauce. I loved everything about this dish, and it was nice to have the option of enjoying breakfast items during lunch. The chicken marsala was accompanied by cauliflower and asparagus, which created a wonderful flavor. The only thing missing were some greens, which were happily brought out upon request. The “bunless” burger was tasty too, although could have been cooked slightly more to our liking.
Finally, we indulged in dessert. The no-flour chocolate lava cake and chia seed pudding that we shared were amazing and packed with flavor. While the chocolate lava cake fulfilled our cocoa cravings, it was quite rich – but that’s to be expected. The chia seed pudding was sweet, but a wonderful end to our appetizing lunch. Chia seeds provide nutrients along with healthy fats. It’s a guilt-free dessert packed with flavor.
Now, there are a few things that could be improved upon. For starters, the restaurant doesn’t have an ice machine, so the drinks are served up at room temperature, or slightly chilled. This wouldn’t be so bad if it were the dead of winter, but seeing as they’re opening at the start of summer, ice seems like a necessary addition to the restaurant, regardless of whether they are trying to conserve energy (which is a very noble cause). They should also have a hostess greeting people at the door. It creates less confusion for customers, and helps the overall flow of the restaurant.
Overall, this quaint, paleo-centered/gluten-free restaurant is going to be a great place to enjoy a meal this summer. It’s located in North Boulder, right next to Vic’s Espresso. The location has its perks – NoBo has far less traffic than downtown, and you’re likely to avoid crowds as well. Their patio is ideal, though it could use some umbrellas. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and are open Tuesday through Sunday.
For those of you looking for a new restaurant to test out, we highly recommend Blooming Beets. If you’ve never tried the paleo lifestyle, this would be a great introduction, and they also have a great variety of gluten-free beers for you to try. Prices are on the high side, but you won’t leave hungry and the food is VERY GOOD. Delicious flavor, welcoming staff, and a great location – what more could you want?