Nature’s Apothecary

Awesome little place at Horsefeathers with fresh smoothies and some raw vegan /​vegetarian prepared foods (including desserts!)
Plus it’s a great excuse to visit Horsefeathers Market!
I tried the Tropikale smoothie a few weeks ago and it was really good: kale, pineapple and jalapeño along with some other things. This weekend I had the Superfood Mylkshake with peanut butter, cacao, banana and dates. Fabulous.

What a sweet little find for us on our vegan mother daughter date! The girl who runs the café is as nice as can be, and the «cereal milk» ($ 8)is delicious. As a bonus, the Horsefeathers indoor market is a great place to spend part of your Saturday! We brought home a Mexican brownie ($ 4) and shared it with my husband, and all 3 of us enjoyed the treat. The price of the items offered isn’t cheap, but we recognize that quality whole foods aren’t inexpensive and we appreciate and understand the work involved in making these vegan menu items! We will definitely be visiting again and again…

Have to say I never thought I would like «fake meat» as much as I do, but when Elena makes it I really love it. The taco filling made of walnuts was to die for all summer! The tuna from sunflower seeds was also quite good. She also converted me to eating chia seeds, something I never thought I would! I have to say I love her stuff and the fact that she sources locally from small farms run by good people. Keep up the great work.

Tucked inside the Horsefeathers Market building, Nature’s Apothecary is truly a hidden gem in the West Side. The owner is super friendly and willing to talk with you about the health benefits of each fresh ingredient she uses. I’ve been in 3 times, trying the smoothies twice and the juice once… and everything is so delicious! Most recently I got the «Thai Me Up» smoothie, which was strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk, and Thai basil. The basil mellowed the pure sweetness of the berries in a perfectly palatable way.
The prices may not seem «normal» to most, but the owner uses the best, local, fresh ingredients out there. She makes everything herself, and truly takes pride in making sure she’s putting out high quality items. I am all for paying a little extra to support the local businesses.
There’s a few small tables inside the place… and some really pretty glass bottles adorning the window space between the shop and the adjoining Martin Cooks restaurant. I hope as she grows and gets more business, she will find a larger space… perhaps in the West Side, to accommodate the growing population of us who want healthy options!

Is the time upon us yet that when us omnivores are deciding where to go to dinner we can discuss among ourselves, «What do you feel like eating tonight?», «Oh, I don’t know… Chinese… Italian… Mexican… VEGAN?»
God, I hope so. I’m tired of being a closet vegan fan. I want to stand up to the world and announce that I flat-​out like eating vegan food without being embarrassed by someone pulling my pants down and laughing at me. The good news, Nature’s Apothecary in the Horsefeathers Building is giving me the strength to do so.
Try a No. 4 «Spicy B» shake, which isn’t spicy in the normal sense at all. With Banana, almond butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and dates, they should have called it a «Delicious B». A little expensive at $ 7, but good natural food comes at a price. I didn’t take advantage of the «ALT»: avocado, lettuce & tomato on dehydrated whole-​grain bread. I’ll have to drop by soon for another visit.
So, go ahead and PANTS ME, you carnivorous gawkers! You can take my dignity today, but with my healthy eating habits and regular bowel movements I will be the one who laughs last at your adult-​onset diabetes!
ON A SIDE NOTE: Please be advised that there’s nothing funny about diabetes… except when Wilford Brimley pronounces it «die-​a-​beet-​us».

I tend to be more of a McFlurry/​Shamrock Shake type of guy when it comes to smoothies, but living right near this shop, I couldn’t help but stop over and try one of these (much more healthy) alternatives. The first drink was so good, I stopped back the next day to try a different one (the name escapes me, but there was coffee/​mocha involved). The second drink was just as good, if not better.
The owner was also super friendly and engaging, and answered all of the questions I had, like,” how did you put kale in this and still make it taste good?“
The menu is great, too, because it not only lists everything that goes into each drink, but also lists all of the beneficial properties each one has. It’s nice to know that something is healthy, but it’s even better to know WHY it’s healthy.
This is definitely a welcome addition to the west side, and I’ll definitely be making another trip over there soon enough.

Another new food option in the Horsefeathers Building. In the space across from Michelle’s is a vegan «smoothie and more» place. Usually not open on Thur, she was when I stopped in to visit Jolie for some dumplings. Currently open Fri-​Sun.
Lots of smoothie options including the requisite kale options. She includes the benefits of each type of drink, so if you are not feeling well you may find a good option here.
There are some food options including a Kale Caesar salad, a nut wrap, noodles and more.
Street parking, can be a mess in this area but you can get lucky as well.
She’s in a «soft open» now. May expand hours as time goes on.