VIRGIN OLIVE MARKET

You ever have that special toy that you never wanted to share with your friends when they stopped by to play? Not even your BEST friend? What about the time you got a new gadget and you flipped out every time someone looked at it the wrong way?

That's how I feel about Virgin Olive Market! I've eaten at Virgin Olive Market  no less than 100 times! I'm not exagerrating! Ask ANY photographer at Channel 9. Read my Twitter feed. Ask Fiona. She's the clerk/counselor/cook, who has my order memorized. And on the off occasion that I think about ordering something different, she asks if it'll be one of two recipes taped to the cash register. Both are special order items, just for me.  There are two locations: Orange Avenue, next to Citrus and Central Avenue, between Hue and Cityfish, in Thornton Park. I LIVE at the Thornton Park location.

All of that being said, I can't figure out why it's taken me THIS long to write about my all time FAVORITE downtown eatery. Perhaps, I've been selfish. I didn't want to have to worry about them running out of chicken, long lines or sharing the cozy couches with others.  I had the same problem when I recommended Freesia Beauty Spa to a few friends. Now, I can barely get a nail appointment because she's always "booked."

I digress...

It was a Sunday after church. I slipped on a pair of capris, a wrinkled white polo and a pair of comfy flip flops. Laptop in hand, I walked a few blocks, and decided I'd write about why YOU too should experience Virgin Olive Market. I always feel like I'm on an episode of Cheers when I walk in. Now, Virgin Olive Market is a little more modern, and it's not exactly a bar. It's tucked inside a renovated space called "Urban ReThink." So more likely than not, you'll find people in offices, holding meetings. It was designed so that people who work from home, can rent office space if they need to have small meetings. It's also a good spot to find city leaders (tip for my reporter friends) at lunch time. On this particular day, a group of Rollins College  students occupied the downstairs meeting room, and two older businessmen were working on laptops in the main eating area.

I ALWAYS get the breakfast burrito on a whole wheat wrap with scrambled eggs, red peppers, swiss cheese, turkey sausage--oh it is DELICIOUS, and so moist! It's a slight variation from the breakfast burrito listed on the menu. I also LOVE the yogurt bowl, mixed with strawberries, blueberries and HOMEMADE granola...

On this Sunday, the owner, Tiffany Harris cooked french toast. It was topped with strawberries, blueberries and came with a side of scrambled eggs. It wasn't on the menu, but again, that's what I like about this place, they're flexible, and they always aim to please the customer.

Once you get hooked on the breakfast, it's all uphill (yes, uphill) from there because the lunch is even better! From the hummas wraps to the DIVA (my favorite) to the tuna. Everything is so healthy, and made with fresh ingredients, and just about everything on the menu includes some sort of fresh vegetable. And they kill the stereotype associated with healthy eating because--it's REASONABLY priced! Tell me where can you go and have a GOOD roasted turket breast/swiss/alfalfa sprouts/cucumber slices/tomato/onion/pesto on wheat bread for $5.95...

The owners, "Berto & TIffany Harris" have come a long way from the old cramped space on Clay Street, in Winter Park. This "NEIGHBORHOOD NOSHERY"(as they like to call it) really is ---a place where good friends and good food come together.

You'll notice, I haven't posted any pictures with this post. This time, you'll just have to trust me. Stop by, and try it for yourself :)

Price for 2: $15
Parking: It's downtown. You can walk from home if you live nearby, or try the garage on Eola Drive