Botanica Real Food

Overview

Situated in a string of shops on the corner of Enoggera Terrace and Waterworks Road is Brisbane's newest health food hotspot, Botanica. Serving wonderfully fresh and original salads for take away only, Botanica's focus is on fast food the healthy way. The glass display cabinet has enticing salads full of flavour and beautiful colours. For my visit I chose to have a small box ($10) filled with three salads. In one corner I had the shredded carrot, flame grapes, parsley, celery root salad with spiced peanut puree; in the middle was the red rice with pumpkin, sweet potato, and spinach; and finally crisp green beans with almond slivers, celery red onion and lime and chili dressing. Taunting me in the front window were plates full of amazing looking sweets. I was told that all of their sweets are gluten-free which is great news for coeliacs. Feeling piggish and deserving of a treat I bought a chocolate cupcake and an individual cinnamon bun cake (both $4). The service was delightful, with every dish being explained to me in detail.

Once I returned home I tucked into my salads. All were crunchy and fresh, full of flavour and beautifully dressed (in fine couture). And the best part was that I felt full, but not uncomfortably so, afterwards...with just enough space for a ridiculously awesome gluten free and vegan chocolate cupcake. Who knew that no eggs or wheat could taste so amazing!? The absolute winner of the day though (other than me), was the individual cinnamon bun cake which was indescribable perfection. For delicious, health-focused and convenient food, you must stop by Botanica.