Rollin’ Oats: Your Doorway to Health

Those who aren’t familiar with organic, gluten-free and vegan foods typically share the notion that these alternative options are nothing more than a bland take on “real food”; but they also haven’t had the pleasure of stepping into the health-food haven known better as Rollin’ Oats Market & Cafe.

To the untrained eye, this local market would appear to be nothing more than your neighborhood grocery… it’s far from it. Yes, the shelves of Rollin’ Oats are filled with groceries like those you’d find at your corner Publix, but there is a prerequisite to getting a spot on those shelves, you’ve got to be a natural food.

Tucked away in the back corner, we were ready to eat at The Rollin’ Oats Cafe. After trying a handful of samples, ushering 3 waiting patrons ahead of us, and endless paces in front of the counter, we finally made our decisions:  broccoli salad, butternut squash, Aegean couscous, apple-walnut curry chicken salad, and eggplant lasagna. Before you pass judgment, keep in mind each of the aforementioned items came in a sample size, perfect for splitting! So we taste-tested and here are the results:

Not huge curry fans, we were hesitant to try the chicken salad but to our surprise it became an early front-runner! The color was that of curry but the apple and walnut accents made for a much sweeter taste. Following this came somewhat of an international dish, the Aegean couscous. A Greek mixture of red peppers, scallions, carrots, and pecans, it had as much flavor as it did color. The next item begging a try was the squash… well that squash could’ve fooled me. Sweet and savory, I’d  swear it was a sweet potato in a former life. We alternated bites between each portion, but our forks eventually settled upon our favorite; as expected, it was the eggplant lasagna. Aptly titled “Chef’s Choice” one piece was more than enough to share! Layers of eggplant, cheese, and thinly sliced pasta made for a healthier version of an Italian classic.

We were at that perfect point, satisfied without being stuffed, with just enough room for a “sweetie” as our new buddy behind the counter liked to call it. A chocolate-looking cupcake was our obvious choice, topped with chocolate frosting and white sprinkles… the natural twist, it was made from beet paste! I’ve never felt better about eating dessert!

Whether your partaking in their Meatless Monday, Wheatless Wednesday, or just running in to grab a quick meal, there’s something for everyone at Rollin’ Oats. Located in both Tampa and St. Petersburg, they take the uncertainty out of organic, the confusion out of gluten-free, and provide healthy options to make into your own.