CRAVINGS: The Mixx

by erin jones |  photographs by lauren frisch pusateri

I remember the first time I ate at The Mixx. It was several years ago; I went to lunch with a girlfriend who swore it would change my life. Or at least my lunch hour. I ordered the Garden of Eden, with a side of sweet potato fries to share. We each had a glass of wine with our salad, because when I discovered that I could have wine with my salad, it seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. From that day forward, The Mixx became a place that I frequently and truly crave. I’ve been eating the Garden of Eden regularly ever since.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the third and newest Mixx location in Hawthorne Plaza. The vibe is quite different from the Plaza and Downtown locations. For her third endeavor, Jo Marie Scaglia, owner and creator, brilliantly married her one-of-a-kind cuisine to a decor and atmosphere that embodies her mission and vision. The space is part restaurant, part juice and coffee bar with an enticing lounge designed specifically to promote casual conversation. It is bright, crisp and welcoming. There are wire baskets of gorgeous fresh produce on the wall begging to be made into a juice and an open kitchen so you can watch the cooks prepare your meal. There is an on-site bakery as well, which delivers fresh baked goods daily to the other locations.

Jo Marie believes in a lifestyle centered around health and wellness, and it’s what The Mixx is all about. When asked if she was tired of salad after a decade in the business, she just laughed. “I love salad!” she said. “I eat at least one salad every single day. Sometimes twice. I even eat salad for breakfast sometimes.”

Breakfast is yet another addition unique to the Hawthorne location, because not all of us are content to eat salad for every meal. The Mixx breakfast menu incorporates many of the same ingredients from the salad and sandwich menu, but in a glorious, sunshiny, start-your-day-off-right kind of way. Each item is created with current health trends in mind, and they’re all packed with the nutrients you need to power through the morning. Add a hand-crafted pressed juice to your entree and you might just be able to take over the world. The Supreme Green is my favorite, and moms, I’m willing to bet that even your kids will love this drink. However, I do recommend not telling them what’s in it until after the first taste.

Jo Marie grew up by her mother’s side in the kitchen, cultivating an innate ability to put flavors and textures together in perfect harmony. She is a self-described romantic cook, pouring her deep appreciation for fresh, high-quality elements into each and every recipe. If you’ve eaten at The Mixx, you know that it’s true; you can taste the passion. Being a habitué of farmers’ markets plus having been born into a restaurant family prepared her for a career that is obviously a labor of love.

Customization is encouraged at The Mixx, whether you are ordering a salad, sandwich, juice or protein plate. Jo Marie offers an exhaustive list of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The staff will patiently add as many Mixx-ins and Add-ons as you’d like, but if decision-making isn’t your thing and you simply cannot pick the right combination of ingredients, don’t fret.

The Mixx offers a set selection of specialty salads, signature sandwiches and wraps, soups and monthly features based on seasonal ingredients. For research purposes, I had to try something besides my old standby (it’s a tough job), so I set aside Eden and went for The Rocket salad with arugula, cabbage, avocado, dates, goat cheese, roasted corn, hickory-smoked almonds, scallions, all lightly tossed in champagne honey vinaigrette. It’s so good you can almost hear your body thanking you for treating it so well.

The Mixx specialty salads are hearty, complex and expertly constructed. Jo Marie makes an effort to incorporate different cultures and culinary traditions into her menu and to appeal to a wide range of customers. This is not just a ladies lunch place; it’s also for men and families and athletes and business people. It’s for those in a hurry, and for those who’d like to sit and stay a while. Whether you’re in yoga pants or suit pants, you will feel comfortable here.

It’s April, my friends. We are just more than three months into 2016 and our New Year’s resolve is starting to fade. The diets, if we’re still on them, are becoming a drag; am I right? We can’t stomach even one more baby carrot. But swimsuit season is drawing nigh, so it’s time to recommit. Stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner at The Mixx. You will be energized and inspired to press on in your pursuit of a healthier, balanced life. HLM

Visit The Mixx locations at Hawthorne Plaza, the Plaza Colonnade and the Power & Light District, and check out the vast array of menu options at 

mixxingitup.com.