Aug. 03--Smoothie season is here, and with it, the in-line deliberation over which of the many fruit, vegetable, milk, yogurt, juice and/or boost combinations to select. Fortunately, choosing the right shop -- like 24Karrots Juice Bar in Bucktown -- renders the decision-making process all but foolproof. 24Karrots' smoothie list incorporates several bold blends, such as the Strawberry Patch (collards, kiwi, strawberry, basil and mango) and the Rocket Berry (arugula, berries, romaine, banana and lime), but the smoothie that recalls the familiar salty-sweetness of a classic PB sandwich is one of the most inventive of all.
The CB+J ($5.00 for 12 ounces, $6.50 for 16 ounces) teams creamy, housemade cashew butter with mixed berries, banana, and almond milk sweetened with dates. 24Karrots owner Anthony Kamps said he was thinking about using the cashew butter in one of the shop's acai bowls when he came up with the idea for the drink, inspired by how well a standard PB pairs with a glass of milk.
"I used the cashew butter in place of peanut butter, mixed berries as the 'jelly' and replaced the milk with our homemade almond milk," he said. "And the results were great!" We agree: This smoothie is thick, salty, sweet perfection. 2004 W. Armitage Ave., 773-770-3865, www.24karrotsjuice.com.
Leah Pickett is a freelance writer.
