After experiencing the transformative power of food in their own lives, husband and wife team Carol Roizen and Jonathan Goldwasser wanted to share their experience with others. The couple’s devotion to healthy eating was sparked when their daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease as an infant.

The couple moved their family from Mexico City to the United States to pursue treatment and began exploring nutrition changes through a plant-based, organic diet and juicing. In 2017,  Roizen and Goldwasser opened the first Parakeet Café location in La Jolla. Today, Parakeet Café expands across Southern California, and their daughter is a healthy teenager.

In 2023 Parakeet Cafe opened its doors in Beverly Hills, and this year (2024) the brand opened another location in Brentwood. The restaurant collection serves delicious healthy offerings made from organic, whole-foods and ethically sourced ingredients.

I’m always looking for healthy dining options in Los Angeles, so I had to check out the Beverly Hills Parakeet Café location for lunch. The adorable cafe is in a prime location on Beverly Drive that’s perfect for a lunch meeting, brunch with friends, or coffee date. I tried the restaurant’s signature Parakeet bowl, adding grilled salmon for protein, and it was flavorful and satisfying.

It’s made with brown rice, roasted mushrooms, sesame collard greens, pickled cucumbers, and almond butter miso mayo. I could go for one right now! I also can’t resist a matcha latte, so I had to try the iced lavender matcha latte. For dessert I enjoyed the raspberry shortbread which was amazing. I love how beautiful it is with a touch of gold leaf, and it tastes just as wonderful as it looks!

I had the opportunity to chat with Parakeet Cafe Co-Founder Carol Roizen to learn more about her journey to launching the restaurant collection.

What led you to open a cafe focused on healthy options? 

Parakeet Cafe sprouted from one of the greatest challenges in our lives. It emerged from a deep-rooted desire to heal and grow, both as individuals and as a community.

Our journey began with our daughter Michelle, who was born with a rare disease that required chemotherapy when she was just four months old. Faced with this immense challenge, we couldn't simply sit still and wait for her healing; we had to take action. 

Our quest for solutions led us to a remarkable discovery: food as medicine. Food became the cornerstone of Michelle's healing journey, mending her on a small scale and infusing us with resilience. It offered us a semblance of control amidst the uncertainty, and with the unwavering support of our close-knit circle of friends and family, we found the strength to persevere. 

Through years of firsthand experience, we unearthed the transformative power of food, both for healing and personal growth. Our journey eventually culminated in a profound purpose: sharing the lessons we'd learned with others. It was our way of giving back to the community that had supported us on our path. 

How many locations do you have and is there a story behind the name? 

We have 8 locations: one in OC, two in LA and five in San Diego. We chose the name because we wanted something happy and fun. Beautiful and colorful. Everyone smiles if they think of a Parakeet. They are cute, smart, they travel the world, and eat food they find in nature. Something we want to promote— joy and healthy eating. 

What’s your philosophy when it comes to food? 

I think there is not one size fits all when it comes to food, but the common denominator that will help everyone regardless of where they are in their wellness journey is to eat food that is real, that is fresh, and is made with love. Use only the highest quality ingredients you can get and never any seed oils or processed ingredients.

That is our mission. We strive to prepare food, drinks, and baked goods that are creative, colorful, and packed with vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients that can satisfy any palate. We make health foods for foodies. 

Anything you want people to know about the ingredients you use? 

We use the highest quality ingredients we can get. We use locally sourced organic ingredients and we never use any seed oils or processed ingredients. 

What are some of your favorite healthy, seasonal ingredients heading into spring and summer? Anything people should know about their benefits?

For spring I love incorporating fermented foods because spring is for cleansing, and fermented foods are fabulous for gut health as they aid in digestion and are full of probiotics. They also help regulate glucoses cravings. 

If someone is visiting Parakeet Cafe for the first time, what are some of the must-try items they should order? 

Most popular items are the breakfast burrito, avocado toast, green scramble eggs, farro salad, Parakeet bowl, and the best burger ever. Our baked goods are also fabulous. We have amazing viennoiseries, and an abundance of vegan, gluten free pastries that are free of refined sugars. The oatmeal cookie is a must. 

What are the newest locations and do they have any special menu items?

The newest locations are Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Carlsbad. All locations have the same menu. 

Any personal favorites? 

My all time favorites are the all I avo wanted, grains and greens bowl, the acai bowl, and the golden goddess salad. I also love the banana oat loaf because it’s vegan, GF, and free from refined sugars, but also dipped in chocolate! 

Parakeet Cafe’s Detox Matcha Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp of matcha

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ¼ tsp peppermint extract

• ¼ tsp moringa

• ¼ tsp nettles

• ¼ tsp chlorella

• ¼ tsp horsetail

• 8 oz of milk of your choice

Steps:

• Strain 1 tsp of matcha. (You can use more if you prefer.)

• Add 2oz of warm water and whisk till foamy.

• Add ½ tsp vanilla extract. 

• Add ¼ tsp peppermint extract, and mix well.

• In a separate container add 2oz of warm water and add ¼ tsp moringa, ¼ tsp nettles, ¼ tsp chlorella, and ¼ tsp horsetail. Mix well, and then add into the matcha base.

• Add 8 oz of milk of your choice.

• Serve hot or over ice.

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16