Healthy Eats in Historic Downtown Chelan
This month’s Third Thursdays will take place on July 21st with the theme of Health & Nature! We are super excited and will be celebrating all month long by highlighting several of the great businesses we have downtown that fit the theme.
First up, HEALTHY EATS! Whether you’re a bona fide foodie or just looking for a little extra post-hike nourishment, our historic core has all sorts of tasty treats with a healthy spin:
The gorgeous, all-natural hue of a Goldie’s açaí bowl is enough to set your mouth watering. Goldie’s is my go-to when I’m on the hunt for that ‘glowing from the inside-out’ feeling. Bonus points for its stylish interior space.
Healthy Highlights: Goldie’s uses all organic ingredients and are 100% vegan and gluten-free. On top of smoothies and açaí bowls, they offer quinoa bowls, baked treats, coco whip, and mushroom coffee.
Fun Feature: The Goldie’s back patio makes for a perfect summer hang-out spot and can be rented for special events. It’s also the ideal hosting station for Always BeARTiful and Chelan Shindigs painting class & balloon arch mash-up which will take place during Third Thursdays, July 21st from 5-7 PM (free while supplies last).
My favorites: Rainbow Bowl, Chagaccino with one shot of espresso and oat milk, snickerdoodle cookie.
The Riverwalk Café may be known for its colossal, one-of-a-kind cinnamon rolls, but did you know they have some incredible breakfast and lunch options emphasizing local, high-quality ingredients?
Healthy Highlights: The Riverwalk Café s expansive menu features everything from cage-free egg scrambles to vegan hollandaise sauce, plus many paleo and keto-friendly baked goods. They also have highly nutritious juice options for that friend needing a little pick-me-up post winetasting.
Fun Feature: Their prime location next to the Riverwalk Park makes for an excellent post-brunch stroll. Stay overnight at the Riverwalk Inn (attached) for a discount off your meal!
My favorites: Besto Bagel, Veggie Wrap, Green Goodness.
You might not think of pizza and health food as natural partners, but Local Myth transcends standard pizza tropes with their amazing ingredients and pizza-making ideology.
Healthy Highlights: Local Myth prides themselves on providing options tailored to all different food allergies. Their vegetables are sliced fresh daily, they make a gluten-free crust in house every morning, and they feature a special dough that is a whole wheat and white flour blend. They are super happy to customize your pizza for you!
Fun Features: Pizza is a true passion project for the Local Myth gang! They regularly attend conferences to perfect their craft and stay on the cutting edge of pizza making, with four conferences planned for 2023 alone.
My favorites: Margherita Myth, Greek Salad, Stix with Marinara Dipping Sauce.
I dare you to walk into Bear Foods for one ingredient without taking a full lap around the store. Established in 1973, Bear Foods is a downtown Chelan institution with mesmerizing displays around every corner.
Healthy Highlights: They have everything from organic produce to natural medicinal options to imported goods from around the globe. And don’t sleep on the Bear Foods Café Crêperie, which is attached to the grocery area and offers fantastic sweet and savory crêpes featuring allergy-free batter (no eggs, dairy, or wheat!)
Fun Features: Nestled amongst the entrance displays is a diamond in the rough; a popcorn machine! She cranks out popcorn on the daily, making for a great snack on the run.
My favorites: Albacore Tuna & Cheddar Crêpe, Superfood Hot Chocolate (available autumn & winter)
Much more than a coffee shop! The Vogue has in-house made sandwiches, pastries, smoothies, and green salads, plus a newly opened bar area.
Healthy Highlights: Using fresh and local ingredients as often as possible, The Vogue also incorporates veggies from the owners’ very own organic farm. Right now that means garden-fresh kale in their smoothies, spinach in their salads, and rhubarb in their pastries.
Fun Feature: They’ve recently applied for a grant to build two large, high tunnel greenhouses that will be used to produce even more fresh veg for their menu.
My favorites: Tropikale Smoothie, Veggie Breakfast Sandwich, Vanilla Cold Brew with Vanilla Cold Foam.
Thursday Evening Farmers Market
For a one-stop shop of Chelan Valley-grown produce there is no better place than the Thursday Chelan Farmers Market. The market takes place every Thursday from 2-6 PM at the Riverwalk Park and features vendors from all across the valley. It’s been especially exciting to see it grow with each passing year, and this year they’ve incorporated a rotating list of live music and food trucks.
My favorites: Impossible to choose between all of the wonderful local vendors! Pop by and decide for yourself.
With so many fantastic restaurant and food options downtown right now, this is only a small snapshot of what our historic core has to offer. Pick up the Lake Chelan Chamber’s newly released ‘Eat’ guide for a more comprehensive list of downtown food options.
And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the next Third Thursdays on July 21st! View our detailed schedule here.