Massachusetts: Live Alive Organic Café Will Soon Have 11 Locations
One of the most unique local restaurant brands in the state has big plans for its 20th year in business. Live Alive Organic Café, which started in Boston back in 2004, has plans to open its 11th restaurant this year.
Boston.com reported that the newest Live Alive Organic Café will be in Jamaica Plain. In addition, it will be taking over a previous bar location that has a lot of history. The new location will be moving into the corner spot at South Huntington Avenue and Moraine Street. So, this standalone building will also be making a healthier life choice, going from beer to smoothies and Açaí Bowls.
Yes, it all starts with the food, but Live Alive also inspires positivity in many other ways. In fact, even the décor exudes a refreshing energy. “We love using color because the food’s colorful, and the natural world is colorful,” Live Alive CEO Bryan Timko told Boston.com, regarding their vibrant design.
The Live Alive Organic Café Experience
If you are unfamiliar, one of the first things you will notice on Live Alive’s website is the engaging topics listed in their top navigation bar. For example, next to menu you will find “The Power of Positive” and “Food Promise.” The aim of this is to educate guests on the power of “Unlocking the powerful connection between what we eat and how we feel.” Their well-being blog essentially sets expectations as to what impact these healthy foods have on your overall state of mind. Furthermore, Live Alive details how they prepare their food and that they aim to “encourage both personal and planetary wellness.”
In case you can’t wait for the new Jamaica Plan location to open, here are the other 10 Live Alive Organic Café locations.
- Back Bay, Boston
- Boston University, Brookline
- Central Square, Cambridge
- Davis Square, Somerville
- Harvard Square, Cambridge
- Kendall Square, Cambridge
- Legacy Place, Dedham
- Lowell
- Salem
- South End, Boston
Foods You Should Probably Skip Air Frying
Large Bone-In Meat
We’re not talking about chicken wings here, we’re talking about large whole chickens. You’re better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you’re wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn’t guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it’s raw meat.
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Wet Batters
An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you’re looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There’s a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn’t know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn’t wash their air fryer basket after each use. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today,” they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of “solidified juices” and “fat/ grease” from steak and chicken.
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Cheesy Foods
It’s possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn’t because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.
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Leafy or Chard Greens
Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven’t tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don’t put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don’t want to forget the seasonings.
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Popcorn
Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn’t. Most air fryer models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.
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Pasta, Quinoa, Rice, Grains
Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn’t do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that’s already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.
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