Fairfield favorite The Granola Bar recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. It's impressively grown from just two friends baking granola in their home kitchens after meeting at a child's birthday party - to what is now known as the TGB Hospitality Group juggernaut. With six locations (and counting!) open seven days a week for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, plus catering and a food truck, there have been many milestones to celebrate over the last decade.
Self-described as 'good food obsessed', owners and CT residents Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain believe food is good for you when it is prepared with high-quality ingredients and deeply flavorful. Whether running in before work to grab that perfect cup of coffee or stopping by with friends for one of their popular nutrient-dense bowls for lunch, the favorites are endless. Julie and Dana agree, "We like to say our menu is customer-driven, rather than chef-driven, and we believe that's really what has resonated." Although their own wellness philosophy includes the quintessential loads of veggies and hydration - they are quick to point out what is at their core, "Wellness for us isn't just about food and exercise – but it is about laughing, and we do a lot of it!" They also end most meals with a little dark chocolate. Customers can genuinely feel that joyful, laidback approach in the space and reflected on the menu. They've created an atmosphere best described as fresh, fun, and unexpected, where everything is made with the utmost care, making it one of Fairfield's go-tos for delicious healthy options.
This entrepreneur duo has significant plans to keep on going and growing. Those little kids at that long-ago birthday party that started it all are now teenagers, whom they credit as their inspiration. "They are amazing sounding boards and our most honest critics when it comes to R&D'ing new menu items." Julie and Dana will expand into NYC and beyond, first with the opening of their newest location on the Upper West Side. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements coming soon, with many more milestone celebrations to come!
This January, make The Granola Bar your first stop on your New Year's get healthier list. After indulging all holiday season, try this good-for-you fan favorite at home.
Dana Breakfast Wrap
Ingredients:
- 3 egg whites
- 3 oz mashed avocado
- 2 slices of premium Turkey bacon
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- Pinch of high-quality sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Begin by carefully separating 3 egg whites into a bowl.
- Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat and cook the egg whites for approximately 40 seconds until they form a cohesive, solid white scramble. Transfer the cooked eggs to a separate bowl.
- In the same pan, place 2 slices of superior-quality Turkey bacon. Cook over medium to high heat until the edges develop a delightful crust. Remove the turkey bacon from the pan.
- In the residual heat of the pan, add a generous handful of fresh spinach. Splash a bit of water to facilitate wilting, and once the spinach is tender, remove it from the heat.
Assembling:
- Place a whole wheat wrap on a clean cutting board.
- Spread 3 oz of meticulously mashed avocado in the center of the wrap.
- Arrange the cooked egg whites, premium Turkey bacon, and sautéed spinach over the avocado.
- Finish the assembly with a pinch of high-quality Maldon sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Carefully fold the wrap, ensuring a tidy and appealing presentation.
- Make a precise cut down the center, and enjoy!
The Granola Bar
1876 Black Rock Turnpike
Fairfield CT
@thegranolabar
