As an integrative health counselor, Cervantes offers a host of products, including grab-and-go meals, herbal remedies for seasonal allergies, skin care and anti-inflammatory remedies at Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen.
Cervantes said the new space in front of Two Rivers Apartments serves at the business’ herb apothecary and a top allergen-free kitchen, meaning all remedies and food are made without gluten, dairy, egg, corn, soy, peanuts and shellfish. About 75%-80% of products are made in-house at the business, while others are sourced from other local vendors.
“We do that just to provide a safe space for those with food allergies to be able to come in and know that they don’t have to read through a laundry list of different ingredients on a food label,” Cervantes said.
Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen hosts a variety of weekly workshops, including a hands-on gluten-free baking class and a savory cooking class for kids as well as adult programming, the themes of which all vary with the seasons. This summer, Cervantes will teach four weeks of summer camp, including a camp where participants will create their own cooking show.
“We are always looking for creative ways to utilize the space and share our knowledge with the community,” Cervantes said.
Cervantes said she’s always had a passion for health and wellness. She spent 15 years as a professional dancer and worked as a personal trainer. When doctors struggled to pinpoint the cause of some of her health problems, she said she put herself through school to learn more about holistic nutrition.
“I went to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which studies over 100 different dietary theories and teaches you how to work with the individual ... really taking into account the person's heritage, and their physical abilities and their lifestyle,” she said.
The business’ menu changes weekly, always offering a vegan and an animal protein option as well as hummus, chia puddings, soups and broths, salads, and chicken salads. Additionally, she sells herbs, spices, teas and honey in bulk, offering discounts to customers who bring reusable containers to fill.
Cervantes said she and her staff of three part-time employees work to build relationships with their customers, asking about their health goals and suggesting products that might benefit them.
“The nice thing about this space here is that we have sort of a segue that lets people feel more comfortable around natural remedies,” she said. “Everyone has to eat, and everyone enjoys delicious food, and so we get quite a bit of customers for our different healthy foods that we provide, and it gives them a nice introduction into other things that are within the space.”
While Cervantes said her customer base includes a large group of regular customers who rely on the business for meals, her clientele has expanded as the city of Georgetown’s demographics have changed, even drawing in shoppers from outlying communities.
“We are one of a kind,” Cervantes said. “There’s not really safe spaces for people to eat if they have allergens. ... We get a lot of vegan customers as well because there’s not a lot of vegan options around town unless you just want to eat side dishes, so that’s really nice that we can offer more well-rounded food for them.”
Creating in the kitchen
Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen has a dedicated classroom where owner Robin Cervantes teaches a number of workshops and will offer gluten-free cooking summer camps. Costing $375 per week, camps are for kids ages 6-12 and are Mon.-Thu. from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
June 5-8: Cooking Around the World
This camp will explore culture foods from ramen to German pretzels.
June 19-22: Herbal Wonders
Food prepared during this week will include basil pesto pasta and chimichurri kabobs, incorporating fresh herbs and flowers into each meal. Kids will also build their own herbal medicine box with safe remedies.
June 17-20: Cooking Show Star
Participants will design their own recipes, film themselves preparing them and collaborate to produce their first cooking show.
July 24-27: Sizzling Summer
This Texas-inspired camp will include preparing summer foods, such as barbecue chicken, pasta salad, sorbet and fruit kabobs.
Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen
103 N. Austin Ave., Ste. 310, Georgetown
512-240-4752
www.sanctuaryholistickitchen.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Sun.-Mon. closed
