Zesto Market & Juicery in Newtown: Vegan, Organic, Locally Sourced & Delicious

We’ve all walked into rooms that hum with energy. That special kind of vibrancy you can feel in the air, or in the spirit that pours from the people in your midst. In my recent travels, this inspiring energy was felt within the space that is Zesto Market & Juicery in Newtown.

Zesto Market & Juicery is, with its colorful logo and window art, a small establishment that one could easily pass in their daily rounds as it sits on a fairly busy street. I, myself, whizzed by it on my first trip there. However, one should take note of this establishment because it is dishing out huge helpings of good vibes in the form of healthful food and wellness knowledge. Great vibes, actually. These folks are buzzing with enthusiasm about eating clean, nourishing food and they are excited to share it with the community.

Tammy Metz is Zesto’s founder and owner and the sparkly heartbeat of this operation which sprang to being in 2022. A physical therapist with a certification in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, her focus is supporting people on their health journeys; the creation of a space for the community that was based in mindful practices was the answer. Coincidentally, prior to Zesto’s genesis, Tammy was diagnosed with cancer and underwent the full battery of treatments. Four years cancer-free now, she credits eating clean food and using food as medicine as the reason she feels better than before she was diagnosed. It’s been full-tilt boogie ever since on the healthy eating and education bandwagon. For those wondering about Zesto’s jazzy name, it stemmed from a brainstorming session with her original partner in the business that swirled around lemons, brightness, and a ZEST for life. Hello, Zesto.

Their menu is formulated by the sunny chef Amanda Hernandez—a farm to table community chef. She explained that her native and culturally rooted dishes inspire her, as well as the familial women with whom she learned from and cooked beside. Chef Amanda loves to embrace and tinker with aromas, flavors, and medicinal properties of ingredients from the seasonal offerings of local farms. Lest we forget an important component of her cooking: love. She believes that creating food with a loving intention and then sharing that food with another soul is a gift. Zesto as a whole is all about this. In her words, Zesto “offers the community mindful, delicious food with clean ingredients that will awaken your senses and remind you that not only can plants taste good, but that you can do so much with them, and feel good after eating them.”

On a daily basis, Zesto carries a full roster of made-to-order smoothies, fresh juices and juice shots, breakfast items including bagels and muffins, fresh salads and hearty soups, along with vegan cheeses and desserts. While there are a few window seats for sitting and watching the world go by, this is primarily a grab-and-go eatery. They work with local farms in the area-Sport Hill Farm (Easton), Fort Hill Farm (New Milford) and Shortt’s Farm (Newtown)—which results in an ever-changing menu of seasonal dishes made from the freshest ingredients.

Zesto is proud to be 100% gluten and dairy free, egg, soy, vinegar, corn and citric acid free, GMO and preservative free, organic, and for the most part, vegan (they do however sell and sometimes use honey). They are proudly 100% transparent about their ingredients, never use refined sugars or industrial oils, sticking only to avocado, olive, sesame and coconut. What about cheese? you ask. Their yucca mozzarella (melts beautifully) and cashew cream cheese (delightful on a bagel) will be happy surprises if you haven’t tried them before. They have also collaborated with Urugula for both a “young cheese” and a yucca mozz called Jeune cashew cheese with rosemary and garlic. It’s creaminess and delicate flavor will be a lovely addition to your next charcuterie platter. Talk about a good conversation starter!

An interesting note about this healthy eatery-it also adheres to the food-as-medicine protocols as outlined by New York Times best-selling author, Anthony William, Medical Medium; the originator of the celery shot health movement and a chronic illness expert who intuits healing modalities for his many clients. A variety of Williams’ books stock their shelves in case you are further intrigued once you taste their food.

On my visit, the Zesto team was wildly hospitable and gracious, eager to show off their healthful foods which support and work to create better health. Right off the bat, Tammy doled out celery shots to us (my college-aged daughter came along for this organic, vegan ride) which were refreshing and left you feeling somehow…brighter. Two things to note-you have to really like celery going in and two, celery shots can have a laxative effect, so consider yourself forewarned.

Some menu items we sampled:

Heavy Metal Detox Smoothie: Banana, wild blueberries, orange, cilantro, barley grass juice powder, spirulina, Atlantic dulse. I almost passed on this one because of the dulce, which is an edible seaweed and I wasn’t sure how it would jive with a banana and blueberries. Well, color me shocked-it was delicious.

Golden Green Juice: Kale, ginger, lime, apple, cucumber, celery. You can taste each ingredient and they are masterfully blended so that one doesn’t overpower the other.

Veggie frittata: Egg-free and dotted with red peppers, broccoli, and onion. Made with chickpea flour and topped with micro greens. Very pleasing texture. Great for those who don’t like/eat eggs (ie. my daughter. She gave it a thumbs up!).

Bagel with a schmear of Cashew Cream Cheese: the bagel had crunch and chew and I’m totally sold on this cream cheese. I admit that I was a bit hesitant, but the creamy texture, body, and delicate flavor won my favor.

Samosa hand pies: Cauliflower, peas and chunks of potato nestled into a gluten-free empanada-like pocket served with a lick-the-plate-clean cilantro chutney.

Mac & cheese: A beautifully presented mound comprised of Jovial brown rice noodles, slathered in puree of carrots, potatoes, onions and cashew cream, dusted with paprika. A great stand-in when you want your comfort food healthed up.

Quesadilla: A millet and cassava tortilla stuffed with a flavorful mix of onions, green peppers, kale, and gooey (yes, gooey) yucca mozzarella. Served with a generous dollop of chipotle lime crema, that was velvety with just the perfect kiss of citrus.

Zesto brownies: Made with sweet potato, raw cacao, and vegan chocolate chips. It was fudgy and toothsome…not too cakey, not too dense. Just right, Goldilocks.

When I asked (owner) Tammy what one word she would use to describe Zesto, she answered “Nourishing.”

I heartily agree.

150 S Main Street, Newtown

203.304.9510, zestomarket.com