Add Food offers healthy food option on-the-go

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

You can think of it as an alternative to typical convenience stores.

Add Food, serving meals in bowls or pitas, opened a couple of months ago at 1628 W. Granada Blvd., just west of Interstate 95, next to Dunkin’ Donuts.

“It’s first and foremost a culinary adventure wrapped in a convenient package,” said Sara Afshari.

She calls it real food, made from scratch without preservatives and additives, and happily explains the offerings to anyone who stops by. The menu is driven by two chefs who have worked around the world, she said, creating globally inspired dishes.

Diners can choose a chef special or create their own bowl buy choosing a base, such as rice or potatoes; a protein, such as beef or pork; and a finish, such as tomato or cucumber salad.

Local craft beers are among the wide variety of drink offerings. They also have a drink that was available at Lucky’s Market, now closing on East Granada Boulevard: Kombucha, a sweetened, effervescent tea, fermented but only with a trace of alcohol.

There’s also a snack section.

“Many snacks are organic or natural,” she said. “For example, we make ‘energy bites.’”

REPURPOSING AND RECYCLING

Located in a BP gas station, the location did not happen by accident. Afshari and co-owner Jordon Mecier were seeking a site during the controversy over the clearing of the Wawa site on West Granada Boulevard and decided to repurpose an existing building.

They noticed closed gas stations along the boulevard, such as the BP station. Now, they occupy the inside and gas can be purchased at the pumps.

Repurposing the buildings fits in with the owners’ attitude toward recycling. The bowls are served in compostable plates.

“Throw it in the trash and it’s gone in 30 days,” she said. “We want to promote this. There’s no reason a restaurant should still be using Styrofoam.”

In the cooler, the customer will find boxed water as well as water in plastic bottles.

LOCATION, LOCATION

Afshari has found it interesting that her two biggest customers groups are doctors and construction workers.

The doctors, on their way to AdventHealth, seek healthy choices, and the construction workers say they don’t feel bloated after eating. She said a foreman told her it’s hard sometimes to get the guys back to work after a fast-food meal.

“I drive across the bridge and I see people walking and running,” she said. “We want to give them the option of real food.”

The owners like the location near the neighborhoods west of the freeway and around the corner from the hospital and growing housing developments.

The idea for the business came when Afshari stopped at a gas station/convenience store and bought celery sticks for her children. They noticed that there was a chemical smell because of the preservatives, so thought it would be a good idea to have other choices conveniently available.

They plan catering and delivery in the future. Follow them on Facebook or visit www.addfood.com.