By Marianne Belardi, Guest Blogger, Foodies Like Us

I love a blind date. Dressing up, stepping into the thrill of the unknown…and usually being home in bed with a good book by 10 pm. So I anticipated this recent set-up with no romantic illusions. Yet the moment we met, every cliché came to life. Kindred spirits. Perfect Timing. Putty in her hands.

Yes, I shamelessly confess I fell in love at first sight with Luci’s Healthy Marketplace, the café-coffee bar-bakery-market at the Northwest corner of 16th St. & Bethany Home. I can’t wait for our next rendezvous.

Sparks would have flown between us under normal circumstances, but LHM swept me off my feet. I had no idea she’d be so perfect for me! You see, just a few weeks earlier I learned I have major food allergies. Gluten. Dairy. Beef. Tomatoes. TOMATOES. How does an Italian girl live without tomatoes? But I’m counting the allergies as a blessing, a wake-up call to better health. In eight weeks I’ve lost 15 pounds. I feel better than I have in years and with Luci’s help, this will continue.

Check out what's cookin' at Luci's Healthy Marketplace!

Stepping into LHM, I was charmed by the welcoming layout featuring retro-style graphics in colors of aqua, tangerine and chocolate. A mural size black & white photo of a vintage grocery store inspired déjà vu of my grandpa and his Brooklyn produce store. I was drawn to the coffee bar and a display of breads and baked goods where creations by Slade (he of Wicked Bakery fame, now the LHM in-house baker), share space with items from local bakeries Simply Bread and Gluten-Free Creations. Two magical words: gluten, free. I didn’t care what it was or what flavor, it was going to be in my mouth very soon.

Another cool "kitchy" sign

Within minutes, Giovanni the barista and I were pals, discovering we’re both from “Lawn Guyland” and our ancestors from the province of Messina in Sicily. Upon learning it was my first visit to Luci’s, he capitalized on the afternoon lull to share everything he knew about LHM. He didn’t want to just take my order,he was evangelizing! After he tortured me by waxing poetic about the lunch sandwiches (Name That Tuna has my name all over it) and the weekend omelet bar (sized/priced as Eeny, Meeny, Miney or Moe) we went for a stroll.

He showed me grab & go cases filled with salads, sandwiches, fruit, yogurt and beverages – perfect for those in a hurry. Soup kettles offered a hearty Chicken Vegetable and rustic Harira, a Moroccan concoction traditionally made with lamb, lentils, chick peas, tomatoes and spiced with cinnamon, cayenne, ginger and turmeric. This version had beef — and those traitorous tomatoes. However, the chicken soup not only smelled like my Grandma Sadie’s, it was blissfully noodle-free – kismet!

Wide variety of products for all health nuts!

What to go with my soup? I perused the dinner menu with a widening smile; nearly every dish had a gluten-free variation; a few had vegetarian options as well. My heart began to pound. I felt short of breath. Clearly I needed to step away from the counter and collect myself, so I commenced to browse the market.

With the wide, glass garage door up, the late afternoon winter chill mingled with bursts of heat, making it comfortable but not stuffy. The cold case was my first stop — an antipasto lover’s dream, with packaged cheeses, meats, spreads, olives and more. I moved through the store slowly, finding Kosher wines, fresh-roasted coffee, sugar-free goods, earth-friendly cleaning products, organic soup stocks in the freezer case, natural skin care and so much more. I was pleased to see quite a few locally produced items and ecstatic to tuck a bag of gluten-free baking flour under my arm. Yes Virginia, there would be Christmas cookies after all.

Feeling like a (hungry) kid in a (healthy) candy store, I headed to place my order at the front counter, where I was surprised to run into a former co-worker. Now LHM’s chef, Nate walked me through the menu wanting to help me choose within my allergy constraints and then escorted me toward the back of the store to the display kitchen where hot foods (think meatloaf, pot pie, burgers, pastas – only one dish over $9.99) are prepared and cooking classes and wine tastings will soon be staged.

More bakery goodness

There, I spotted another familiar face, longtime Scottsdale Culinary Institute instructor Larry. Wow, it was starting to feel like old home week. Since I was there with a purpose beyond my rumbling tummy, I was careful to observe how other customers were being treated. After 30 years in service-oriented businesses, I’m always eavesdropping and observing service situations anyway. The answer; like GOLD. Every LHM employee was smiling, friendly, engaging and helpful to every person in the store! Wait a minute, were they putting on a show for me? Did they somehow know I was taking mental notes so I could write about them? No. Their enthusiasm and concern for every customer’s experience was genuine. I tell you, it made me positively giddy.

Back at the counter, I was paying for my grocery haul and about to sit down with a bowl of the chicken soup instead of taking it to go. Then, a familiar face from the past approached me. Who could it be NOW? It was Ken, who I knew 1,000 years ago when I managed Ed Debevic’s and he was a sales rep for his family’s business, Custom Food Service. Turns out, he owns the joint.

Master barista Giovanni & Owner Luci pose for me!

“Luci’s Lackey” is the title on Ken’s business card these days. We chatted while I enjoyed my soup, full of shredded chicken and big chunks of carrots and celery. The rich broth had just enough tell-tale fat globules floating across the top to make a Jewish grandma beam with pride. It was heartwarming to hear Ken explain how LHM is a dream brought to life in the wake of both his wife and his sister-in-law being diagnosed with breast cancer just four months apart. Only a few months after opening, a fire next door forced LHM to close for several months of repairs. Hearing this bittersweet news, I admired LHM’s inspired beginning, surmounting a potentially devastating obstacle, and continuing dedication to causes through community service and events.

Delicious fresh baked muffins

Meanwhile, Ken was fretting about me not eating enough. Nosh chat inevitably turns to my allergies, which then revealed I had just missed running into my naturopath, Dr Ber; he and his wife had been at LHM for a late lunch! All these coincidences were making me ravenous, when suddenly a raven-haired beauty appeared and Ken proudly introduced me to Lucia, his wife. Apparently, Lucia is a synonym for “Latin bombshell with mega-watt smile and warm, gracious manner.” Clearly, she is the heart and soul of the operation and the light of Ken’s life. Cancer-free for four years, she watches her diet carefully to help ensure she stays that way.

In the end, my allergy diet was placated with a grilled portabello sandwich — it wasn’t on the menu but Orlando in the kitchen hooked me up – and with smiles! The juicy, earthy mushroom collided with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and spinach leaves on a gluten-free bun. Said bun had a biscuit-like appearance that got me ALL excited. The texture was a somewhat biscuit-y too, which made it a bit messy to eat, even after I cut it in half. I would probably knife-and-fork-it next time. I also enjoyed some skin-on roasted potato wedges, which I dipped into mayonnaise. No, I didn’t learn that from Pulp Fiction, I learned it by eating vlamses frites in Amsterdam.

Having eaten relatively little that day, I was also able to cram in one of the above-mentioned gluten-free treats, a blonde brownie with cranberries and white chocolate (shhh…don’t tell the doc), along with a decaf almond milk latte. Oh. My. Giovanni. My laptop and I will be back for many more of the latter with a side of LHM’s free wi-fi. This coffee drink was so good I didn’t dare mar it with any artificial sweetner, and sugar is mostly a no-no for me now. Ken suggested I try Xylitol, an all-natural sweetner made from birch trees. It looks like sugar crystals, added just the perfect touch of sweetness and had no aftertaste. Waaagh. My neighborhood needs a Luci’s!

Horray! A latte I can drink!

A colorful inviting ambience; sincere, caring service; healthy food that’s also hearty and delicious; kitschy retro signage… so many things to like about Luci’s. I had to tear myself away; I felt like I was saying goodbye to Mayberry. And then, as if wasn’t already convinced Luci’s Healthy Marketplace is a local treasure, get this. When I arrived home and glanced at my receipt, I saw I’d received a $5.00 discount for spending $25.00 or more. Who DOES that kind of stuff? *sigh* I love Luci’s and she loves me.