The Cider Press Cafe To Introduce Authenticity in Raw Vegan Cuisine

    ST PETERSBURG, FL, October 07, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Cider Press Cafe, an award-winning, plant-based cafe, with a new location at 601 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, will celebrate its grand opening Thursday, October 22nd. The event will begin at 4pm with an honorary ribbon-cutting ceremony by St. Petersburg Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, followed by complimentary menu items for tasting, kombucha samples, drink specials, live music, raffles and more.

What: Grand Opening Celebration
Where: The Cider Press Cafe, 601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701
When: Thursday, October 22nd, 4pm - 9pm

In addition to tastings, raffle prizes include The Cider Press Cafe gift certificates, one month of free yoga from The Body Electric Yoga Company, a gift basket from Green Bench Brewing, a case of kombucha from Mother Kombucha, and a gift basket from Vega One Protein Powder. All proceeds from the raffle will directly benefit local animal shelter, PetPal. Live music from Gloria West & The Gents, old school stride-swing jazz with a sultry twist, will begin at 5pm.

"We make 'real' food with a gourmet feel," said Culinary Director and Part Owner Johan Everstijn. "Our menu is inspired by a variety of cultures, with accent on Caribbean, Creole, and the Gulf Coast. Our plates are also as beautiful as they are delicious. We can't wait to introduce these flavors to our guests at the Grand Opening."

Everstijn, former Chef de Cuisine at one of Forbes Magazine Top 10 Restaurants in America of 2011 and Shape Magazine's "7 Places To Eat Before You Die", creates the perfect balance between traditional ingredients and converts them into vegan-friendly alternatives. The accolades continue to roll in since opening the St. Petersburg location in August; Tampa Bay Times Food Critic Laura Reiley termed it "vibrant and exciting" and Creative Loafing has recently awarded them Best of the Bay for 'Best New Vegan Restaurant'.

The team at The Cider Press Cafe serves the freshest high-quality local organic produce, and uses the latest techniques in food preparation to create a unique, sophisticated, and healthful dining experience. The kitchen houses no fire, and no oven, therefore nothing is heated above 117ºF, and none of the menu's ingredients are derived from a can. Heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes, which prohibits enzymes from boosting digestion and fighting chronic disease. In short, when you cook it, you kill it. A raw food diet has been proven to promote a healthy, nutritious lifestyle.

The menu is comprised of raw, vegan and gluten-free ingredients in its entirety; breads made of dehydrated vegetables
and nuts, taco shells from non-GMO corn, and noodles from kelp and spiraled zucchini. Dishes are paired with organic,
sulfate-free wine, sake-based cocktails, kombucha, Kahwa coffee, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and local craft beer.

"One misconception is that the food is flavorless, uninspired, or that it lacks protein because it is raw and vegan," said
Everstijn. "We are excited to bust those myths, and to introduce St. Petersburg to new and adventurous flavors."

Future plans include a meal plan offering, and a retail space with juice cleanses, grab-and-go items. Some items include fresh salads, sushi, wraps, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, snacks like kale chips or eggplant coconut bacon, and sweets like truffles, and their signature infused lemonades. A second section of the retail space will feature cookbooks, a coffee bar, and The Cider Press Cafe-branded gifts.

An 1800s cider press in Part Owner Roland Strobel's family barn in Ohio inspired he and Everstijn. The press was used for generations, pressing apples, grapes, and a variety of juices. In the 1980s it was taken to Procter & Gamble for pilot apple juice experiments where it was refurbished and restored. The now-antique device stands as a focal point of their flagship Naples restaurant.

About Cider Press Cafe
Cider Press Cafe is an award-winning, plant-based cafe with raw, vegan ingredients with two locations in Naples and St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.ciderpresscafe.com.

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