Treelion Juice Bar & Natural Foods Review: Serving Jamaican Vegan Food in Hollywood
On the edge of Hollywood, in a nondescript building, is a humble Jamaican restaurant. Its modest decor and blower fans are reminiscent of the simpler times of the Caribbean mountain village where its owners grew up sharing meals and traditions with family.
The cousins
“I like the compliments. I like to feed people. It’s just a part of me. “
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Akono says what makes the food at this vegan restaurant so unique is its reliance on natural and healing ingredients.
“We call it food, but it’s medicine,” Akono says.
Indeed,
Treelion specializes in authentic Jamaican dishes such as dumplings, fried plantains, callaloo, baked tofu, vegetarian chicken, vegetarian fish, vegetarian pepper steak and even vegetarian arrowroot shrimp. . They offer a special soup of the day like the Ital stew with peas and
Treelion avoids white flour and white rice, opting instead for brown or red rice, quinoa,
“I love compliments,” Akono laughs. “I love when someone says this is the best porridge I have ever made. I like to feed people. It’s just a part of me. I think I probably got this from my grandma.
“There was always
Akono moved from Above Rocks in the parish of St. Catharine, Jamaica, to New York in 1980, where he graduated from high school and then joined the Air Force to satisfy his longing for travel.
“When I was young, I read Gulliver’s travels. Gulliver went to
After serving in the Philippines, Japan, Guam, and Korea, Akono was honorably discharged from the military and eventually moved to Miami where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Florida International University.
Now 62 years old, with seven children and four grandchildren, Akono devotes his time to making herbs and food.
“I think being vegan is a healthier form of life,” he says. “I think when you eat plant-based foods it changes your DNA and you become a different person.”
“Vegetarians and vegans are different people when you treat them,” Akono says. “They are calm, they are pleasant, they are nice, they are helpful. I think it’s the food they eat. They don’t get angry. They don’t want to take; they want to give, and that’s why I love being a vegan person.
Akono says his restaurant attracts all types of customers, including Jamaicans, Americans, Indians, and Chinese.
“My mother was born in Cuba,” he explains of his lineage and his sense of connection to the world around him. “My grandmother was born in Haiti. I am part of the whole
Treelion Juice Bar & Natural Foods is located at 5705 Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hollywood; the hours are Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. 954-589-1579; Facebook; catering available.
Wendy Rhodes is an award-winning freelance writer and author. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @WendyRhodesFL.