It was 6:00 pm, just after work, so I was famished. Lucky for me, I had been invited to the unofficial opening of Grassroots Natural Market at 66 Morris Street, next to the Morristown train station. The 7,000-square-foot space, formerly the Health Shoppe, was packed with soon-to-be customers and curious media types who sampled food and drink and reveled in the evening’s healthy lifestyle vibe.
If the Grassroots name sounds familiar, it’s because its sister store, opened in 2005, is located in Denville. The market stocks many products that have origins in Morris County as well as other parts of New Jersey and the tri-state area. Now, back to the party…
So many samples, so little time. I happily sipped organic wine…my fave was the Purato pinot grigio from Sicily. Then I tried everything from kale chips to smoothies. The gluten-free granola made by Two Moms in the Raw was especially yummy, and chock-full of good things.
But I have to rave a little about Doon Wintz, owner of Wholly Wholesome in Chester. Not only was his quiche (baked in a gluten-free pie crust) as good as any I’ve had in a tony bistro, but his chocolate-chip cookies (free of preservatives, additives and other undesirables) were so light that they tasted homemade. As a self-proclaimed cookie afficionado, I want you to know that I take this sampling business very seriously. So I stuck a second cookie in my mouth, just to be sure.
Grassroots is a win for Morristown and a win for me (since I happen to work just down the block). I shall be a regular customer at their organic deli, juice bar and salad bar, and will definitely stock up on long-time favorites like Annie’s frozen pizzas and enchiladas. But, I sheepishly admit, it will be those chocolate-chips that ultimately push me out the front door of New Jersey Monthly, across the street, and into our brand new organic market. (By my rudimentary ciphering, the calories of one cookie should equate to one round-trip walk.)
The store is expected to open in a couple of weeks.