A colorful chalk drawn menu board. Photo by Katherine Rountree.
Written by Amy Stoltenberg
Photos by Katherine Rountree
Brighter Day Natural Foods Market, the beloved organic grocery of local health gurus, is the oyster shell to a little deli that is tucked away in the back of the store. Although the deli opened with the original market in 1978, it was recently renovated to be nearly twice as big, and also includes a walk-through window so customers can order Kombucha to go.
“One of the of the things that the Brighter Day does is that we are really dedicated to organic, and if it can’t be organic then it’s gotta be GMO free,” said Marilyn Fishel, the manager of the deli.
Located at 1102 Bull St., Brighter Day sits across from Forsyth Park. Fishel and her team take full advantage of the farmers’ market every Saturday morning.
Many tasty creations waiting in the window display. Photo by Katherine Rountree.
“I go over there on Saturdays and get some produce to cook with during the week, because all of our produce is organic. We like to support the local farmers, and they’re doing a great thing. If it weren’t for little small farmers, we’d be in dire shape,” said Fishel.
This commitment to using fresh produce is one of the ways Brighter Day has attracted such a loyal crowd of customers. Peter and Janie Brodhead, the owners of Brighter Day, are committed to the non-GMO project and to only using certified organic ingredients in the deli.
“I really appreciate the fact that Brighter Day only uses organic ingredients. The whole GMO thing is kind of freaky, and its good to know that what I am eating is clean and doesn’t have any chemicals or anything,” said Faten Almukhtar, a first year advertising major from Manama, Bahrain.
Smoothies and juices are among the deli’s specialties, all packed with ingredients labeled “superfood” by the food industry (Fishel rolls her eyes slightly at the mention of “superfoods” because “there are so many superfoods!”). Their “Earth Day” juice, made with herbs from a vendor at the farmer’s market, is mix of cilantro, mint, ginger, carrot and apple—balanced out by some flax oil to provide healthy fats and bind the whole thing together.
“We’re doing these elixirs in the deli now from Ron Teeguarden, which is Peter’s main thing. They’re just Chinese herbs that we put in some teas—sort of like green teas—just a little shot,” said Fishel.
While the word “elixir” may sounds more “new age-y” then “neighborhood deli” to some, there are plenty of options for all lifestyles available at the deli.
Cake from Brighter Day Bakery. Photo by Katherine Rountree.
“We’re dedicated to all kinds of diets. We do vegan, we do vegetarian, we do meat in the case, too. We figure that people who eat meat want to eat healthy just as much as people who don’t. We do a lot of gluten free, too,” said Fishel.
Catering to every diet, the deli case is always stocked with meat, grain (think rice and quinoa) and vegetarian dishes, as well as vegetable sides. Pre-made sandwiches and wraps are available, as well, for those in need of a grab-and-go option. Almost everything is made in-house, from the enchilada sauces to salad dressings.
At Brighter Day, healthy eating doesn’t mean a ban on desserts. The deli offers an array of desserts, from a coconut chocolate bar to vegan cake. Their raw vegan brownies usually sell out within the day.
Said Fischel, “We’re very dedicated to using locally sourced ingredients. We are just making really good, clean, organic food for people because we realize that what you eat really does determine how you feel and what you think. Your whole outlook of life is really determined by what you eat.”
