An extra large straw with my order, please.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By Tyler Alford

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-With the early arrival of spring, Jackson residents can expect to soon be counting RVs headed for the park entrance whilst avoiding clogs on the main roads that tourists travel. There is one great excuse to brave the traffic, parking, and Griswald-nature that is accelerating towards us: smoothie season.

Tucked off of Broadway in an understated building with green and purple lettering is JH Organics. After slipping in right at closing for two days in a row, I have found a new home for liquid lunch, and pick-me-up potions. At first glance, the space seems like a beefed-up wellness store, and I had always viewed it as such. JH Organics does offer a wealth of supplements and vitamin products, but it also has an excellent lunch and elixir menu.

My most recent visit allowed me to sit in a small space off to the side of the counter area, a freshly painted and sun-drenched room with a couple of chairs and a sofa perfect for a quick bite. For this visit, I chose a Reuben sandwich, a personal favorite that requires the right balance of ingredients. The corned beef of the sandwich had been prepared in-house and was served over freshly toasted rye bread with mild swiss cheese and just the right amount of pickled cabbage; enough to add a tartness to the flavor. The Russian sauce was creamy and rich and I chose to let it drip out of the sandwich onto my salt-and-pepper chips as additional garnish.

In the main room there are also a few four-top tables and a long Woolworth’s-style counter with a view of the smoothie prep area. I can imagine on a warm summer afternoon that this area is bustling with tourists and locals seeking a quick snack.
I paired the sandwich with a ‘vitality juice’ smoothie made of bananas, maca (a plant native to the Peruvian Andes), bee pollen, almond butter, coconut butter, cacao beans, dates and agave. I usually opt for a more traditional smoothie with strawberries and orange juice, but I was feeling adventurous and was rewarded. For one, the smoothie was delicious.

The ingredients ran together into a thick and sweet nectar that was energizing and interesting at the same time. The bites of date were well incorporated without clogging the straw, something that I was skeptical of at first. A few hours after finishing lunch, my mood was better, my allergies were not bothering me (thanks to the bee pollen) and I was not tired from over-eating.

I felt like I could have chased down an elk with the amount of vitality I was feeling from the smoothie. Shannon Dolson, manager of JH Organics, explained that the “vitality juice” is her favorite smoothie and she often has one before a run. JH Organics supplement menu is also long enough to find a cure for any ailment or mood, from miracle reds to protein powder.

Shannon also encouraged me to come back to try JH Organics’ Chef Jaime Teigen’s new recipe for its pulled-pork sandwich.

Teigen has changed the barbecue sauce accompaniment and is now slow-roasting the meat for added effect. I plan to return and not only try the pulled-pork sandwich, but, eventually, all of the smoothie flavors as well. JH Organics has smoothie cards of their own, an incentive to return if the delicious flavors and friendly service weren’t enough. JHW

JH Organics is located at 365 W. Broadway. $5-$13.  733-0365.

photo by MARY GROSSMAN
Reuben’s require the right balance of ingredients, and JH Organics is level.

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An extra large straw with my order, please. | Planet JH News Article: Restaurants And Dining

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