Archives for August 2016

Five From The Hive: Your Questions Answered

August 31, 2016 By Jen Chase

From time to time we’ll be running a recurring feature pulled straight from the wholehearted comments and questions you Bees submit to info@juicestandard.com (and if you didn’t know you can reach out and touch us there, now you know).

Called “Five From The Hive,” we’ll take your thoughts and pose them to Those In The Juice Standard Know—founders, managers, directors and the like—so we can give you the skinny on the issues that are important to you.

To kick us off, we’re starting with the No. 1 thing you juice-drinking Bees ask about besides #BeggarsGonnaBeg for recipes:

Shipping.

Whether you live in nearby Cali or a faraway Carolina, the most consistent Q we field is how to get our goods to your ‘hood. Beelieve us: We’re thankful for the juicy love! But most of the time we end up having to bee big fat disappointers as we get truthy about our policies. And to set the record straight, The Juice Standard’s Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson answered some hard and fast ones about TJS’ plans for quiet world juice domination…even if only in Las Vegas.

1) What’s the hardest thing about shipping cold-pressed juice?

There is nothing “hard” about shipping juice. It’s just that juice as fresh and unadulterated as The Juice Standard presses means our juice is incredibly bioavailable and is a powerful source of phytonutrients…but it’s not very shelf stable. Why? Its raw; we make it fresh every single day; there’s no pasteurization; no exposure to ultraviolet lights (UV); no use of high-pressure pasteurization (HPP).

Since we cannot monitor the temperature of the juice during the shipping process, we feel very concerned about what a customer on the receiving end would get: In the shipping process, juice could be subjected to dramatic temperature swings which could lead to someone getting sick. And that flies in the face of our mission, which is to serve juice that enables one to get or stay well.

2) Why does it seem like some companies ship and some don’t?

Some companies pasteurize, UV, or HPP their juice. We don’t. [Ed. note: Want to really get you geek on? Read this white paper that summarizes 92 studies about the effects of UV and HPP on cold-pressed juice.)

3) Is it possible to ship non-HPP juice across the country? What does it take and would it be totes cost-prohibitive for folks in, say, North Carolina, to buy TJS from Las Vegas?

Last we checked it cost over $90 just to ship the juice overnight. We recommend Bees in other states that don’t have access to organic, fresh-pressed juice to learn to make their own. We suggest Norman Walker’s juice press, the Norwalk. It’s the best.

4) If the No. 1 question to the TJS website, blog or Facebook page is whether we ship, the second most-asked question is whether Bees can bring a TJS franchise to their part of the country. What say you, Boss?

There are currently no franchising opportunities at this time.

5) We know you can’t totally spill the beans, but inquiring minds wanna know: Does TJS have any plans for shipping?

No.

Friends Who Juice: Mike Gasca

August 31, 2016 By Jen Chase

If TJS had a king bee, it would be Mike Gasca. Know why? Because having a manager care about your company’s success like he founded the place is bomb…and when he cares about the success of his colleagues like they’re family (probably more than his own but not less than his Pomeranian…more on a boy and his dog later), well it’s beeyond words.

Meet Mike Gasca, the oil in TJS’s wheels, the fist behind our might, the green in our juice…the guy who helps everyone around him do their job to their highest ability so we can continue to bring you Bees the best product in the Las Vegas valley.

ALL ABOUT MIKE

Hi! I’m…Mike Gasca.

I grew up in…Riverside, Cali., but spent the last few years in West Hollywood.

What brought me here to Las Vegas was…I moved here in April 2016 to join the Hive at The Juice Standard.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote we try to live by, it would be…”Make an IMPACT…not just an IMPRESSION!”

What motivates me out of bed in the morning is…knowing that each day I have the opportunity to impact the life of someone else.

If I had to pick a theme song, it would be…Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never because I will always reach for the stars.

Don’t get me started talking about…politics! I ran for local school board at the humble age of 18!

Every day I strive to… do things that make me better, my team better, and TJS better!

The best advice I’ve ever received (about work or life) was…“Flush the toilet!” It’s important to eliminate the waste in our lives, and constantly move forward!

The number one thing I’d tell my younger self is…stop wearing rhinestones! You will regret having a wardrobe that rivals Liberace’s!

Something that scares me is…working too much! I love my job and what I do, but I do not want to look back and think about all the memories I have missed.

If I could go anywhere TOMORROW, I’d be on a plane to…Walt Disney World in Florida! I absolutely love Disney, and have always wanted to go to Florida.

When I’m not working, these are some of the things you may find me doing: Always enjoying the company of my Pomeranian, Aurora! Scenic hikes are something I have gotten into since moving to Vegas…and, driving to Cali to go to Disneyland!

This is Mike’s adorable pup, Aurora, partying at our August Customer Appreciation Night!

The one food that’s not good for me that I wish I liked less is…French Fries! I need to learn to bake my potatoes, not saturate them in fat.

Chocolate or vanilla? Swirl! (Why compromise when you can have everything you want?)

MIKE THE MANAGER

My title at TJS is…“Coach!” I have the privilege of leading, developing and motivating a team of awesome managers.

When people ask about what I do at TJS, I tell them…I empower lives! I empower our guests by offering them wholesome, nutritious goodness in a bottle; our Bees, by enabling them to have a fulling job that they love; and our community, by being part of a company that values giving back.

In my past I’ve done this kind of work at other juice/wellness companies like…Beaming Wellness in California. And if I had to describe what makes working at TJS different, I’d have to say the uncompromising standards, amazing product and gifted people!

I was drawn to work in the wellness industry because…I had reached a point in my life where I was unhappy with my overall health. I didn’t value nutrition, and I had no awareness about the impact of what I put in my body. I realized the power of healthy eating, and wanted to enable others to do the same.

Something I’m proud to have implemented at TJS is…a focus on the development of our people. I want to teach every Bee to be so great at their job they can leave (yet treat them so well that they never want to!).

The thing I love most about managing companies and people is… that it lets me impart strong leadership and a sense of entrepreneurship with everyone I work with. For me, the thing I like most about working with people is watching them grow and prosper. Even if they leave the company, I value what I have been able to teach them.

To me, working in the juice industry is special/important/rewarding beecause…you are able to form real relationships that can produce tangible results. To meet someone at the start of their health and wellness journey and watch them grow is a rewarding experience.

My favorite advice to onpass to folks who want to get into the wellness industry is…“If you wouldn’t continue to do this even if you won the lottery…do something else!”

The number one thing I’d tell my younger professional self is…“Be humble!” Leadership is not defined by positions you hold, but rather, the actions you take to make the company a better place/

My top-three future goals are…to develop each Bee that wants to grow with TJS into the role they desire; to learn to better influence others through strong leadership; and to make TJS the “Starbucks of Juice.”

MIKE ON JUICE

True or false: I loved green juice even before I started working at TJS. True

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…when I was extremely thirsty, and on a whim I happened to try some from Pressed juicery.

Today, I drink it beecause…I value the benefits of juice, and I have learned how to make kale taste like candy!

This is how I incorporate juice into my life: At least a bottle a day!

What I think sets TJS apart from the rest is…our STANDARDS! We are organic, we don’t use HPP, and we’re innovative about our approach to making nutritious delicious one sip at a time!

When people ask, I tell them my fave TJS flave is…Bee Effective (if Im feeling green), Bee Grateful if I want some sweets!

When people see me drink green juice and give me a face, I want to tell them to…name their favorite beverage because I’d bet them I could make a juice to rival that taste!

When I drink juice, it makes me feel…in control of my life.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…“GREEN is our friend!”

Newable Chewables For You(able)

August 23, 2016 By Jen Chase

See Marcella? That’s her. She’s a bomb recipe-creating queen that can’t bee stopped.

Lucky You, when she goes on a tear it benefits your belly like nobody’s business. Case in point: In the last month The Juice Standard has added two new iced lattes (and come Vegas’s not-as-hot time you may want them hot, too), and coming up faster than you can say Norwalk juicer, our chewables menu is gonna blow up.

(BLOW up…with deliciousness, that is.)

So for a sneak peek of the almost-here chewables, and an intro to the here-and-now lattes, here’s how TJS is keeping Summer 2016 so freaking tasty.

SENSATIONAL NEW SIPPERS

The Honey Nātado: Named for one of our fantabulous Bees beehind our counters (our staff helps make TJS operate SO smoothly!), this iced brew is the perfect blend of our organic espresso, cashew cream and raw local honey. (Hint: Double the espresso for some added zing-a-zing-zing.)

The Matcha Latte: Green tea lovers, this is so for you. Matcha is a drink served hot or cold that’s made from grinding green tea leaves to a powder-fine consistency and mixing it with water. If green tea has lots of health benefits, matcha has about a kajillion more since you’re ingesting the entire leaf. Combine all that WHealth™ with cashew cream, vanilla, agave, and a little acai, and you have something that’s as nutritious as it is delicious.

ORGANIC SALADS + WRAPS

Kale Granola Salad: Our newest salad features kale leaves that have been gently massaged with a honey-lemon vinaigrette and topped with our raw, house-made granola, and dried cranberries. As with our Field Greens Salad, both can be made portable by throwing them in a wrap. Gently, of course.

TOASTS!

Avocado Chipotle Toast: Simplicity at its best: Avocado (with a lil’ chipotle kick!) is topped with microgreens and sliced radish.

Avocado Granola Toast: Avocado and our house-made granola come together in the same bite to satisfy the savory-sweet crunch you didn’t even know you could crave so much but you do and this is one awesome toast.

Mediterranean Toast: Marcella’s kickass tzatziki—a spread made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs—is slathered on bread and topped with microgreens and tomatoes.

Seeds Of Inspiration: A protein-rich toast slathered with our organic house-made cashew-walnut butter, and topped with hemp, pumpkin and flax seeds…all on organic seeded bread.

Bee Bread: This sublime, dessert-like toast features our organic, house-made cashew-walnut butter, spread on toothsome oat bread, and topped with banana, granola, and honey. Served warm and Good Lord it’s good.

WHEALTHY™ TREATS + SNACKS

Chia Seed Puddings: So, our chia seed puddin’ isn’t new—we still combine the same protein-rich ancient grain with our signature, house-made nut milks for a healthy grab-and-go snack or meal. But the names are way easier to remember. Now, simply say the name of your fave TJS nut milk (except Bee Excellent), add “chia” at the end and anyone beehind the counter will know what you’re talking about and serve you up right.

Happy Chia (Chocolate)
Legendary Chia (Chai-spiced)
Magnificent Chia (Vanilla)
Choco-Mint Chia (You got this.)

Vanilla Parfait: Admittedly, this isn’t different, either—still comes with your choice of Greek or dairy-free coconut yogurt, and it’s still a whole lotta creamy, dreamy protein at its best. But now you can get it topped with TJS’s house-made tropical granola or our homemade raw cacao granola.

Vegan Cheesecake: Our decadent noncheesecake comes in two flavors—blueberry and pineapple—and delivers authentic taste with a sweet, walnut-cashew crumb crust.

Lemon Coconut Cake Pop: This vegan cake pop made with creamy raw cashews, lemon zest and coconut flakes, comes on the tastiest stick ever: An edible pretzel!

Banana Chews: Known previously as our “banana leathers,” this is still the same delish recipe: We dehydrate raw, organic banana strips to the perfect chewy consistency, and serve it with our house-made creamy cashew walnut butter.

Seasonal Fruit Chews: Same as our banana chews only featuring our favorite seasonal organic fruit. It’s portable sweetness for health (and taste) on the go.

The Functions of Superfood Mix-Ins

August 23, 2016 By Jen Chase

Remember Dairy Queen, Bees? And those mix-ins? Good Lord, you could blitz up soft-serve ice cream with pretty much anything, turning it into an icy up of your very own whirly, swirly candy-filled fave.

Mmm, the good ol’ days.

Don’t go getting too nostalgic. Because what you were throwing into that little microbiome of yours sure as shootin’ wasn’t doing anything to raise your serotonin levels, or calm our nerves, or improve your digestion. Plenty of studies suggest that sugar’s basically the devil, no matter how good it tastes. But at The Juice Standard, you can relive a little of that mix-in nostalgia without shading yourself with guilt if you hit up any of the three TJS locations, order a smoothie, and then add some whole-food mix-ins to your meal…ones designed to up-level your health, one powder or potion at a time.

Here’s our cheat sheet of how to up the ante of your health (having a little fun in the process), sip after smoothie sip.

Avocado: A heart-healthy fat that adds a delicious creaminess to anything it’s mixed with. It’s also excellent for workout recovery by helping balance electrolytes; aid in muscle activity, nerve function and maintaining a healthy metabolism; and it’s excellent for taming inflammation.

Bee Pollen: A plant-based protein filled with vitamin Bs and essential amino acids that when taken regularly can help boost immunity to local allergens. Plus, all those Bs (vitamins, that is), help keep stress at bay.

Chia Seeds: This phytonutrient-filled, high-quality plant protein is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, iron, calcium, and zinc. It’s a great way to add extra protein to pretty much anything that hits it.

Coconut Oil: The answer to what seems to be everything (Wanna take off makeup? Coconut oil! Wanna whiten teeth? Coconut oil!), this darling of the health world really is all that. This anti-bacterial, thyroid-boosting, metabolism-enhancing healthy fat is high in lauric and medium-chain fatty acids, which means it’s easily digested and converted to energy.

Coconut Yogurt: A tasty, protein-rich alternative to diary yogurt so good you won’t miss the cow, goat or other version.

Flax Seeds: Rich in vitamin B1, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and manganese, flax seeds can also help lower cholesterol and regulate glucose levels. Add them ground up to your smoothie (…you won’t even taste it).

Ghee: Clarified butter with a slightly nutty flavor and a robust nose unlike butter, yet rich and delicious like butter. Along with grassfed butter or coconut oil, we offer ghee as an addition to our Bee Invincible (our version of buttered or “Bulletproof®” coffee).

Hemp Seeds: Yet another highly digestible plant protein. This one helps improve muscle performance, stamina and recovery, and it’s rich in omega-3s and 6s as well as GLA and vitamin E. Could this be your exercise routine’s BFF? Maybe.

L.O.V.E. Whole-food supplement*: This portion powder is a wholefood super meal made by a company called Purium. We recommend adding it to any smoothie since it’ll truly turn one into a meal.

Maca: Earlier in the year we ran a great piece about the beeauty of this beeautiful little adaptogen. Read about it here. (For a shortcut? It’s a libido- and energy-inducing powder that kinda tastes like malt, so it tastes great in pretty much anything that’s creamy. Nut milk, anyone?)

Matcha: The ground green tea leaf, the whole ground green tea leaf and nothing but the whole ground green tea leaf! Powerful, potent and highly antioxidant, matcha has a grassy, earthy flavor and is supreme at keeping up your energy without coffee’s typical jitters.

Nutritional Yeast: A delicious vegetarian source of vitamin B12 that’s high in protein, folic acid and fiber. Often added to salads and savory foods for the way it mimics parmesan cheese.

Powershake: A superfoods blend by Purium, the same company that provides us with the L.O.V.E. whole-food supplement.

Raw, Local Honey: Like its bee pollen cousin, raw local honey is anti-microbial, and can help boost immunity to local allergens.

Spirulina: A high-quality, plant-based protein loaded with energizing chlorophyll which helps oxygenate our blood.

Collagen: An amino acid that’s protein-rich and good for brain activity and beauty.

Note: All of our add-ins are $1.50 (with the exception of the collagen which is $3.50). The brand we use is from grass-fed bovine and it’s non-GMO…so as always, you can feel good about what you’re getting once you walk through our doors.

Juicing Across The Map

August 2, 2016 By Jen Chase

Vegas is often called the Entertainment Capital of the World, and though it’s got a vibe and vocab all its own (day clubbing, anyone?) something it has in common with other international city destinations is this: Smart locals know when to stick around, and they know when to go. And each summer, go-time is August.

It’s a common custom across large swaths of Europe. Italians leave their homes, jobs and shops to head for the water, and you’ll even find streets amid the City of Lights a little more dim thanks to locals seeking beyond-the-borders respite before school and university bring on the fall.

In Vegas, we leave for another reason.

It’s so damn hot.

It’s not like that’s news—summertime’s hot, right?—but like childbirth and getting dumped, the human spirit knows how to block pain. But for when we do remember the sear of Nevada’s sun on our skin, cooler climes are in order. So, we go. Maybe you go, too? If you do, and if you love juice like we do, working your healthy lifestyle into even your vacation time is primo. So here’s short list of places we love to hit when we get the hella outta Dodge. And if you have suggestions, start a convo at our Facebook page. We’d love to hear where your juice cravings take you.

Jamie Stephenson (TJS Co-Founder and CEO)

A Jamie fave: Glacier Ginger (Whitefish, Mont.)

Why?

“Glacier uses organic ingredients that are sourced locally, since there is quite a bit of agriculture in the area. Its ginger is nice and spicy, and super delicious in the “Mule Kick Shot”…a combo of fresh ginger and lemon juices, with a sprinkle of cayenne over the top (aka, a TJS Wellness Shot). Also, juice is made on the spot using the centrifugal juicing method, and Glacier also make many flavors of craft ginger brew including lime and cherry. This place is a definite go-to, after a Glacier Park hike or local Whitefish craft beer-night!”

Marcella Williams (TJS Co-Founder and COO)

A Marcella fave: Butcher’s Daughter (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Why?

“Butcher’s Daughter is where the farmhouse meets Venice Beach, and everything that’s right in the food world is caught in between. Like so many people probably will this month I recently had the privilege of escaping the Vegas desert heat for just a couple days. The struggle about traveling, for me, is that not only am I a health-conscious eater, but I am usually am traveling with my three niños who are far pickier than I am…and in a different way.

“We stumbled upon The Butcher’s Daughter after a relaxing afternoon on the beach. With sand still in my toes and salt water in my hair (which made it look fab, by the way!) we walked into this restaurant eyeing a table on the patio that looked out onto Abbot Kinney Boulevard…which just happens to be the street-of-all-streets to wander around on in Venice. The menu was vegan with some vegetarian options…and I loved the fact that this pro-life animal house had no fear of cracking an egg over any dish including my spaghetti squash carbonara.

“Classic carbonara calls for cream (heavier the better) egg, cheese, and of course, pancetta or some other form of Babe. If you asked me a month ago if this dish could be pulled off without bacon grease I would’ve laughed…but Butcher’s Daughter nailed it. I could taste the love in these dishes.

“We also had the stone oven pizza with arugula, pears, gorgonzola, and a touch of spice with red peppers. The flavors blended together very well, as most would imagine. We also ordered the smashed avocado crostini because of our love for functional fats. (I actually have a Pinterest board dedicated to avocados…but who doesn’t?)

“Aside from the fabulous food, Butcher’s Daughter’s juice menu is what really impressed me. It serves very unique concoctions, and with an Asian theme throughout, it uses ingredients like lemongrass, kefir lime leaves and even yuzu in a few juices. Jamie has wanted me to play around with yuzu before but sourcing some of these ‘off the beaten path’ ingredients gets tricky when we only source organic and, live in the desert. I left feeling nourished and inspired. I look forward to my next beach getaway and the wonderful flavors that follow in southern California.

Mallory Dawn (TJS Creative Director)

A Mallory fave? Mother’s (Barcelona, Spain)

Why?

“I was in Barcelona earlier this year. And on a rainy day, when I kept getting lost trying to find a famous magazine shop, I smelled cinnamon and honey…and wandered into Mother’s. Turns out they had just pulled their homemade granola out of the oven (which I purchased along with a veggie bowl and some juices). I sat in the shop, talking to the owner about the importance of educating consumers and the responsibility we each shared, being the first juice shops in our respective cities. Everything about Mothers’ brand and intention reminded me of TJS, and I was so happy to be led astray in my search.

“Later in my trip, during my travels back through Spain, I found Teresa’s Juicery. The outpost is located inside the popular shop, Flax & Kale. It has a wonderful selection of organic juices thanks to founder Teresa Carle’s more than 35 years of recipe-making experience. And it shows: You could literally satisfy any taste craving with her assorted menu. (The juice called “Party Recovery” with its purified water, beet, honey, strawberry, coconut water, and hemp seeds) is basically just an extension of any party!)”

Jen Chase (TJS Content Director)

A Jen fave? Cocobeet (Boston, Mass.)

Why?

“I grew up outside of Boston, along Massachusetts’ south shore. After a few years of enjoying a West coaster’s life, though I’m back in New England, a lot of my work remains Vegas based, with my most inspiring being writing and editing for and with The Juice Standard. I’m thankful for my dual-coast work, but with my natural (obsessive?) allegiance to Marcella’s and Jamie’s recipes, the culinary thing I miss most about Las Vegas is not having access to what I ~~totally unbiasedly~~ objectively and humbly beelieve is the best collective juice menu, ever. Thankfully, I discovered Cocobeet in downtown Boston, and its product, mission, dedication to organics, and overall mindset is the closest I can get to TJS’s when life is more Beantown than Sin City.

“The juice world is a lot smaller than you’d think, and the first time I hit Cocobeet, I met co-owner, Onur, and explained what I do for TJS. He knew a little about Vegas’ cold-pressed juice scene and the more we talked, the more names we both recognized. Then came my money moment: When I got home and dove into the stash I’d bought, I finally felt a little less winsome for my TJS faves—Bee Resilient, Bee Happy, Bee Chill—because I had new ones to love: Green Monkey, Chocolate Power Mylk and Watermelon Quench. Cocobeet does it right by pressing every day (like TJS); by committing to organics (like TJS); and by being completely transparent about why sometimes certain flavors can’t be pressed if an ingredient can’t be bought organic (that’s how we roll, too). Cocobeet is even morphing into more and more chewables (um, like who?), which makes every trip feel hella like home to me…even when my heart’s juicy home is 2,735 miles away. But who’s counting.”