Braddon's first grocer has opened its doors, complete with its own bar. But instead of draught beer and cocktails, think kombucha on tap and cricket protein.
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Bitten Goodfoods is now open on the ground floor of the new Palko building on Lonsdale Street, selling basic groceries, organic fruit and vegetables, meats and treats, seven days a week.
Bitten's 'bites bar' out the front serves up a lengthy menu of smoothies, plus coffees, other drinks and snacks. Coffee is from Two Before Ten, and kombucha is available on tap in rotating flavours from Sydney's Wild Kombucha. There is also a grab and go section of fresh daily salads, plus frozen pre-made meals to heat and eat.
Co-owners Alex Howes and John Bruyn have been working on the concept for 18 months after an extended period travelling the globe. They moved back to Canberra, where Howes is from originally, just over two years ago.
Bitten has a predominantly 'healthy' tilt - including plenty on offer which is vegan, vegetarian, or gluten, dairy, and soy free - but Howes said they, "aren't preachy" and cater to a wide customer base, whether you need basic pantry items or to replenish the Vegemite.
"We're not super strict about our diet - we eat what we want when we go out. We just eat pretty well most of the time," said Howes.
"I think through travel we've been exposed to a lot of different cuisines and we've been introduced to a lot of different ingredients and ways of cooking things. And then also through my own health and John's mum being sick we researched a lot more about food and how it can be used as a preventative a lot of the time and if you invest more in what you eat you probably have to invest less in doctors."
Bitten is also the exclusive Canberra retailer for cakes from Pana Chocolate. The raw cakes and slices, which are free from dairy, refined sugar, gluten and soy, are handmade in Melbourne and sent to Canberra regularly.
Bitten Goodfoods, G17, 27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. bittengoodfoods.com.