de la Terre is the latest café to join Putnam’s long list of eateries.
A bright yellow awning welcomes anyone interested in healthy juices, foods, and drinks. And while the food is delicious, fresh, and made to order, it can likewise be organic, gluten-free, and vegan for those diners who want it or require it.
The café is the brainchild of two area women, Joan Rivers-Bardwell and Arlene Vaillancourt. For Rivers-Bardwell, the impetus for eating healthy began when her daughter, Jeana, developed difficulties as a child. It took the doctors years to discover her stomachaches and digestive issues were due to gluten allergies.
Rivers-Bardwell has actually operated seven businesses over the years and sees de la Terre as an opportunity to use her business acumen to serve people healthy food. It’s easy to juice at home, but it’s not the sort of thing that’s easy to brown bag, she said.
For Vaillancourt, the café is a result of 20 years of food service experience. She has actually degrees from Johnson and Wales and Becker College. She has actually seen the results of her hard work pay off for residents of acute healthcare facilities and rehabilitation centers.
“Food was a vital part of patient care,” she said.
Creating meals for patients along with celiac disease, mal-absorption issues, heart disease, cancers, and a host of other conditions meant she had to learn a lot. She began taking seminars and listening to doctors. She began experimenting along with fresh foods and recipes. She chose quality supplements and protein powders.
“I worked my budgets along with a fine tooth comb,” she said, “so when management asked me why I had spent $3,000 more on food than normal, I showed them I had saved $10,000 by cutting back on reduced quality supplements.”
The meals she served were more residence cooked than institutional. She even cooked meals to order at times.
“People started eating again,” she said.
de la Terre is the next step on the journey for Vaillancourt and Rivers-Bardwell. They have actually created a joyful menu of goodies that include a salad and a potato bar, sandwiches, soups, desserts, juices, and smoothies. Breakfast and baked goods are available, as is locally roasted coffee.
What you can see when you walk in is a quaint shop that seats approximately 20 people. There are baskets of fresh organic fruit on the counter by the Zumex and Vitamix blenders. There is a long salad bar along with a lineup of fresh mushrooms, peppers, red onions, olives, eggs, artichokes, berries, and five different kinds of greens. A rack displays the fresh breads that are available – some of which are gluten-free.
What you don’t see is the filtration system that provides water for the coffee, teas, fruited water, and ice used in the café. And separate grills, toasters, and cutting boards are used for making gluten-free creations.
The smoothies include a bounty of ingredients along with names like Fruit Power, Harmony, La Bon Vie, and Velours Rouge. Fresh squeezed orange and apple juice is available, as are six other creations. Heart Beet has actually red apple, celery, beet, and orange juice. Soothie has actually spinach, green apple, carrot, and ginger. You can even create your own juice or smoothie.
Most of the sandwiches are made along with gluten-free, nitrate-free meats. Vegetarian options include a Mediterranean, a grilled vegetable Panini, and an Eggplant Sarnie. Two homemade soups are offered daily. Desserts can be traditional or vegan. The avocado dark chocolate pudding is a favorite that’s both gluten-free and dairy-free. You can go traditional along with brownies or raw along with buckleberry truffles.
Vaillancourt is open to brand-new recipes and the staff at de la Terre can customize the creations.
“We’re still experimenting,” Vaillancourt said. “But this isn’t a fad. We want to be as accurate as we can be. We’re committed to making good products.”
The café has actually been open for weeks, but will celebrate its grand opening on July 1 at 5 p.m. during Very first Friday festivities. Hours are Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
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