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Pick and Eat on West 177th and Broadway has made a name for itself with its healthy, nutrient-rich foods such as fresh salads and protein smoothies. Owner Jorge A. Peralta, a Washington Heights native, says the inspiration came, in part, from spending some time in the Dominican Republic and learning culinary arts. “I said, ‘Why not? Why can't we have nice, affordable, healthy options in the Heights?’”
Story and photos by Alexandra Rosario
While locations that offer healthy, organic fare are a dime a dozen downtown, uptown is just getting acclimated to bountiful selections of colorful, organic greens and tasty, nutrient-dense foods at the ready for a quick stop.
In this growing phenomenon of uptown health food spots, Pick and Eat leads the way.
If you want to grab a quick and healthy sandwich and a smoothie, the greenest spot on West 177th Street and Broadway is the place to go. Specializing in fast meals that are healthy as well as tasty, Pick and Eat is one of the first of its kind in Washington Heights.
The interior of the cozy restaurant is bathed in sunlight, courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Fun, energetic music plays in the background, while the bright pops of grassy greens, burnt siennas, and chocolate browns that comprise the café’s décor invite you to sit inside and relax. Fresh fruit is displayed proudly on the counter, and the small table wooden tables make it a perfect spot to grab lunch.
Jorge A. Peralta, known as Alex to his friends and co-workers, opened Pick and Eat last January. A Washington Heights native, Peralta began thinking of the project two years ago after spending some time in the Dominican Republic and learning culinary arts.
“Most of my friends asked me, ‘Why do this?’” he said. “And I said, ‘Why not? Why can't we have nice, affordable, healthy options in the Heights?’”
With options like gluten-free pizza, zero-hormone hamburgers, fresh salads, and pressed paninis, it's no wonder that customers rave about the place. All the food is made on-site and from scratch, even the salad dressings. Most of the customers running into Pick and Eat on a recent afternoon were grabbing a fresh fruit or protein smoothie for the unseasonably warm day in early October.
“We add something to our smoothies to set ourselves apart from everyone else,” Peralta said.
The restaurant’s décor is warm and inviting, and is also eco-friendly in that it uses reclaimed wood, LED lights, and owner Peralta also employs an independent waste service that recycles everything. “We're trying to be different. There's nothing like this in the Heights,” he said.
One customer was relaxing at a table in the sun with a protein smoothie after having just walked the length of the George Washington Bridge.
“It was outstanding; it really hit the spot,” Shelley said of the freshly whipped protein drink. A native of the Pelham Bay area of the Bronx, Shelley lives in New Jersey now. She was thoroughly impressed with Pick and Eat.
“This is such a great concept, some place to just walk in and get something healthy and yummy,” she said. “I don't live in the area, but I'm so happy I found this little place.”
Peralta's own personal favorite dish?
The pizza. “It's brick-oven pizza; I love it,” he said.
Besides the fresh salads and the oven-fired pizza, Peralta also made sure to stay true to his roots, and he offers a Caribbean twist on many of the items on the menu, such as the cilantro-lime dressing for your salad, or the Caribbean breakfast omelet with ham, onion, mozzarella, and sweet plantains. It's not just healthy, but relatable, bringing the local exotic flair of the surrounding Latino community into the food.
Moreover, the entire restaurant is eco-friendly and sustainable. Peralta explained that all of the wood used for the tables is reclaimed wood, all of the lights are LED, and he even pays extra for a waste service that recycles everything.
“We're trying to be different. You can find these places downtown, but there's nothing like this in the Heights,” he said.
Pick and Eat is working on a new fall and winter menu which will feature more soups and spicy foods for the colder weather. Next summer, there are plans to have outdoor seating on the sidewalk as well. “We're always changing. We don't want people to get bored,” Peralta said.
Pick and Eat is located at 4179 Broadway, at 177th Street. The phone number is 212.795.0054
Days and hours of operation are:
Monday – Thursday
8:30 am – 10:30 pm
Friday – Saturday
8:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday
9:30 am – 9:00 pm
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