Martine Mandat, owner of the new Mom & Daughter Juice Bar, loves the concept of fresh, healthy food and tasty smoothies to make someone feel good as they go about their day.
Located next to Winn Dixie at Tavernier Towne Plaza, Mandat prepares some of the more unusual juices and smoothies behind the counter with her husband, Serge, and friend, Fracial. Mandat also prides herself on the love she puts into her healthy fare, which includes wraps, sandwiches, salads and burgers.
Mandat opened her new Juice Bar to the public on Aug 23. A working mom with three boys, Mandat always dreamed of opening a restaurant, and that came true when she opened her first Mom & Daughter Juice Bar in Kendall in 2018. With her second location in the Keys, she can’t help but acknowledge the love the community has given her new restaurant.
“The people here are so embracive. They love us and we love them back,” she said. “We always say that we don’t want to go home. We feel good here because everyone in the community is giving us love. Some will come in here and post to Facebook.”
Mandat said a lot of work went into the restaurant in the lead-up to the opening, everything from inspections and bringing in equipment to constructing a bar and preparing the menu.
“I say thank god because of the knowledge I have with my past history in management for 18 years. That’s really helped me to get things done.”
Mandat said she offers tasty smoothies that can replace breakfast, lunch or dinner. For instance, the “Maroon 5” is full of strawberries, bananas, oats and peanut butter. There’s also the “Bon Jovi Butter,” which contains chocolate, peanut butter, oats and BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids). One of Mandat’s favorite concoctions is the “Jennifer Care Lopez” containing chocolate, cafe and oats.
“If you try that, you’re going to die for it,” Mandat said.
Famous food items on the menu include a chicken caesar wrap and a chicken avocado sandwich. Mandat also said they make exceptional potato salad. Empanadas are also offered.
“You won’t find them anywhere else but here,” she said. “They’re not fried. They’re baked and handmade with love. Those empanadas, I used to sell 300 a day.”
A key component to Mom & Daughter Juice Bar is pride in the product and a passion to offer healthy choices that make a person feel reinvigorated. Mandat admits she won’t sell something that she wouldn’t eat or drink and doesn’t settle well in the stomach.
“Touching food and knowing the food you offer makes them feel good, that’s what drives me,” she said.
Mandat said she foresees continued success at her new location in Tavernier as more people come in to try smoothies and food.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would,” she said.
Mom & Daughter Juice Bar is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Healthy meal specials are offered Tuesdays through Saturdays and include everything from taco salad and turkey meatball subs to vegetable lasagna and chicken stew. Mandat said they provide catering for events and parties. More information is at momanddaughterfl.com.
