Second Helpings: Smoothies
A panoply of smoothie connections in this week's "Second Helpings."
Fri., March 1, 2002
Juice Joint
1525 Barton Springs Rd., 494-1767Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm; Saturday, 11am-5:30pm; Sunday, 12-5:30pm
Amidst the gastronomic gauntlet of neon-lit eateries lining the entrance to Zilker Park stands this inauspicious but far from overlooked South Austin fave. True to its humble character, the Juice Joint sticks to smoothie basics and produces excellent elixirs, great for any post-Zilker workout. Choose two fruits from a list of 11, including acia, a little-known, high-protein berry from Brazil. Add a juice and sip or scoop your way through 16 ounces of blendered fun.
Smoothie King
504-A W. 24th, 474-2929Monday-Friday, 8am-10pm;
Saturday, 9am-9pm;
Sunday, 10am-9pm
10900 Research Ste. 150C, 231-1414
Monday-Saturday, 9am-9pm;
Sunday, 10am-6pm
6406 N. I-35 #1575, 452-3558
Monday-Saturday, 9am-9pm;
Sunday, 10am-6pm
150 Sundance Pkwy. #200, Round Rock, 600-5464
Monday-Thursday, 10am-8pm; Friday,
10am-9pm; Saturday, 10:30am-9pm;
Sunday, 10:30am-6pm
New Orleans-based Smoothie King offers a panoply of smoothie concoctions designed to do everything from boosting your protein to lowering your fat intake. And it tastes good, too. From lowfat to high-calorie to specialty drinks, the original smoothie people offer something for everyone. Cold and flu fighters should check out the Immune Builder, a mix of bananas, strawberries, and an herbal nutrient blend. Smoothie King also carries an extensive selection of nutritional supplements.
Jamba Juice
600 Congress, 478-8696Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm;
Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
9607 Research #300 (located inside Whole Foods Market), 345-5003
Daily, 8am-10pm
From a single location in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in 1990, Jamba Juice has now extended its reach from Boston to Honolulu. "Intense" is the best word to describe the Jamba's fruit sensation experience. Brimming with just-picked flavor, these creations are packed with tastebud-bursting depth, like the ripe-off-the-tree Mango a Go-Go and the Strawberries Wild. Complementing these healthy tall boys is an equally healthy selection of vegetarian soups and Jambolas -- high nutrition mini-bread loaves.
Central Market
4001 N. Lamar, 206-1000Daily, 9am-9pm
4477 S. Lamar, 899-4300
Daily, 9am-9pm
No surprise that Austin's emporium of everything food would have smoothies waiting to greet shoppers as they walk in the front entrance. With its legendary produce section only steps away, it's a given that its field-fresh reputation carries over to the smoothie bar. The mixed fruit drink is particularly delicious. With a blend of grapes, peaches, cantaloupe, and melon, the combination works very well creating a mélange that leaves your insides feeling happy and healthy.
TCBY
3710 Crawford@38th, 451-8229Daily, 11am-10pm
3201 Bee Caves Rd., 327-9513
Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm;
Sunday, noon-10pm
303 MLK Blvd., 320-8229
Monday-Saturday, 10am-11pm;
Sunday, noon-11pm
9520 Hwy. 290 W., 288-8849
Daily, 6am-10pm
The home of frozen yogurt adds a dollop of its namesake to each smoothie it whips up. And whipped it is -- rich and dense. Add any combo of fresh fruit to your favorite yogurt flavor. The blackberry smoothie comes speckled with tiny chunks of pulpy fruit folded into the yogurt-thick creaminess.
Wheatsville Co-op
3101 Guadalupe, 478-2667Daily, 9am-11pm
(smoothie/deli bar open till 9pm)
Remember creamsicles? Love 'em? If so, you will love Wheatsville's double banana smoothie. Twice the fun of a regular banana smoothie with a kiss of orange folded in, Wheatsville's creamy creation is not only chiffon smooth, but it may just transport you back, if only momentarily, to those lazy, long-ago summers of youth. A far-and-away best buy at $2.80. Pair it up with one of Wheatsville deli's great sandwiches for a fast, filling meal.
Zoombaz
8100 Burnet Rd. (in the parking lot in front of Chuck E. Cheese), 459-9896Monday-Friday, 6am-9pm;
Saturday, 7am-9pm;
Sunday, 8am-7pm
This handy double drive-through operation, the first of its kind in Texas, serves an impressive array of smoothies, gourmet coffee, and pastries. In addition to standard blends like Strawbanana, Peachbanana and Rasbanana, Zoombaz also serves the Wowie Maui, a tantalizing blend of mango and pineapple sherbet. The most expensive smoothie on the menu is $3.75, making Zoombaz's mix of economy and convenience hard to resist.
