H.W. Harris does not want her daughter to grow up addicted to sodas. She wants her to start off eating healthy because what we put into our body really matters.
She knows this firsthand, after seeing an alternative doctor for health issues and learning about the effects of food on our bodies and brains.
These are the reasons she opened Eleven TLC, a new restaurant at Ponce City Market that offers a different kind of drink.
It's called Eleven because the number is important to her. Her daughter was born on the 11th. It's also a number of balance and luck (1 + 1).
Ms. Harris says it's important that the drinks taste good first, and are healthy second. I would add that they look good, too, which is what drew me to them.
In particular the Blue Butterfly latte, a gorgeous blue and green hombre. It is made of butterfly pea tea (a blue tea from the butterfly pea flower, common in southeast Asia and known to be good for stress and weight loss), cinnamon (anti-inflammatory and regulates blood sugar), maca (boosts energy) and blueberry (antioxidant and brain booster). I get it with macadamia milk, which I've never tried before.
Ms. Harris convinces me to top the tea with matcha for energy. She says it's a good replacement for coffee. And since kicking my coffee habit isn't going so well, I'm open to substitutes.
The latte has a subtle taste, with cinnamon being strongest (but not too strong). I think I taste the blueberry. It is delicious, not too sweet. And best of all, I know it's good for me.
She also convinces me to try the Calm effervescent (sparkling) tea, which contains ashwagandha, a suddenly popular ancient medicinal herb believed to ease anxiety and stress. It is mixed with lavender and honey.
On the first sip, I feel a rush that brings me back to France, walking down the Ile Saint-Louis in Paris and tasting lavender ice cream for the first time. To the South of France, where native lavender perfumes the outdoor markets and is easily obtained. This is the best soda I've ever had. But it's not a soda. It's a drink that soothes my soul and feeds my body.
Ms. Harris confides that some people use it as a cocktail mixer. I can already taste a really good gin swirling through it. But that's a different drink for a different time.
Another tea on the menu, the Gamechanger, was created for athletes, and supports stress, anxiety and optimal performance. An athletic trainer told Ms. Harris it makes him feel good all day long.
Of course this restaurant is named Eleven. Because it's not enough to score them a 10.
An Atlanta native, Nicole Gustin is the Founder & CEO of BiteLines, which offers walking food tours on the Atlanta BeltLine. She considers the BeltLine her backyard, and is excited to see how Atlanta is reinventing itself. The BiteLines blog features art, restaurants, happenings and weirdness on the Atlanta BeltLine. Share story ideas and pics at: contact@bitelines.com. Or follow on Instagram @bitelinesatl.
Note: We have paused our tours during the pandemic, but will ramp up again as soon as it’s safe.