Those seeking the familiar comfort of Doraku Sushi couldn’t help but be curious about its next-door neighbor, Blue Tree Cafe, also the creation of Doraku’s Kevin Aoki.
Where Doraku tends to the bar-hopping crowd, Blue Tree Cafe is crunchy granola, offering detox for the night before. Offerings range from premium coffee and espresso to local tea selections, organic juices, organic kombucha, smoothies, pastries and raw food items.
Aoki’s inspiration was his grandfather Yunosuke, who opened a coffee shop in New York in 1942, and he’s updated the coffee shop for contemporary health culture, aiming to offer tailored holistic nutrition to help individuals achieve their dietary and wellness goals. Just inquire at the counter if you want a consultation.
"Everyone’s worried about their health," said Aoki, a longtime advocate of juicing and drinking kombucha, fermented probiotic tea.
"Think of it like yogurt without the dairy," said Blue Tree health consultant Juliann Gigi. "It has so many wonderful properties. Drinking it before eating will help you detoxify and slim down. Drinking it after a meal will help you bulk up."
For those who dislike greens, drinking them may be easier with the cafe’s Very Verde ($5.95, $6.95) smoothie blend of kale, avocado, spinach, hemp and chia seeds and coconut water, sweetened with banana and apple.
On the menu are açai bowls, vegan salads and pastries including vegan scones ($4) and raw orange pistachio bars ($4.25), as well as grab-and-go salads and a delicious chicken salad sandwich on ciabatta ($5.95).
You’ll also walk away knowing that 5 percent of what you spend will be donated to a local charity.
Sunday marks the launch of an all-day brunch to include raw lasagna, zucchini pasta and egg frittatas.
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The Blue Tree Cafe is in the new Pacifica Honolulu building at 1009 Kapiolani Blvd. Open 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Call 591-2033.
