Warming up the winter

Set in the year-round village of Santa Gertrudis, the stylish modern eatery is known for its nutritious and creative menu, fresh juices and smoothies (it’s also the home of the renowned iPurify juice cleanse program) and spacious set-up, which now includes the addition of a roaring fireplace. This new cosy atmosphere, combined with some winter warming menu additions, makes Wild Beets the kind of place you can pop in for breakfast… and then stay for lunch and afternoon tea!

From its inception in 2014, Wild Beets always intended to cater to island residents and holidaymakers 12 months a year – not only serving up healthy and nutritious dining options but also providing valuable year-round jobs to locals. Rather than shutting up shop when high tourist season is over, the restaurant simply switches into a more appropriate winter mode. Think less raw dishes (because let’s face it, when it’s chilly outside, you naturally want a steaming bowl of goodness under your nose!) and more hearty, healthy bowls and delicious warm drinks. Breakfast (served from 9am until 12pm) has been given a winter upgrade, with hot oatmeal, warm grain bowls and quinoa blends now appearing as specials alongside the classics. Lunch service begins at 12.30pm with new additions for winter 2017 including the Buddha Bowl, Dragon Bowl, Protein Bowl and Macro Bowl – vibrant, colourful and above all, nutrient-dense dishes designed to sate all appetites and dietary requirements. Whether you’re looking for an energy boost, a post-workout protein replenishment or a completely macrobiotic meal, these new warm bowls showcase a variety of different grains, quinoa and rice mixtures ideal for winter climes.

Hot drinks become the star of the show in winter with Matcha being one particular specialty of Wild Beets. Owner Cliff Grubin has scoured the globe for the very finest Matcha, and personally brings in the high quality, health-packed tea blend from small specialist producers in Japan. “It’s an amazing product,” he says emphatically. “No other Matcha anywhere else comes close to this. It’s out of this world.” Above and beyond the silky taste and texture – choose between tea or a latte, created with Wild Beets’ homemade almond or coconut milks – the health benefits are extraordinary, chock full of amino acids and boasting powerful cancer fighting properties. Another buzz-drink on the Wild Beets winter menu is Golden Milk Tea, another wonderfully warming drink ideal for winter, made with the natural anti-inflammatory and health boosting turmeric. Just because it’s cold outside however, doesn’t mean the Wild Beets juice bar slows down – in fact, Cliff says these past few weeks have seen the iPurify juice detoxes increasing in popularity – perfect for treating post NYE indulgence or those New Year’s resolutions kicking in! Juices can be snapped up as single doses, daily packages or more intensive weeklong programs – enquire within to find out more.

Open daily from 9am until 6pm (kitchen closes at 5pm), Wild Beets welcomes one and all to pull up a pew by the fire and make the space their own. With the international school nearby and a local school practically next door, it’s the perfect place for a post-school run catch-up, or to grab a healthy snack or meal between Pilates and yoga classes (with plenty of studios and teachers in the area). Large tables make it great for long lunches while quiet corners are perfect for more intimate dates and on a sunny day, you can even enjoy the open-air terrace – there really is something for everyone at Wild Beets. Also famed with the island’s digital nomads for its high-speed WiFi connection and ample table sizes, Wild Beets has also become a hotspot for meetings and popular mobile office that’s always nice and cosy, with a warm ambience making it easy to be productive… especially when you don’t have to get up and boil the kettle yourself every time you crave another warm drink! Photography by Maria Simon