Our Roots

At BLUEROOT, we're serving up delightful, delicious, and nutrient-dense food for those on the move -- because we don't think anyone should have to sacrifice quality or nutrition for convenience.

Our seasonal, produce-forward menu -- crafted with love by our James Beard award-winning chef -- is a highlight reel of the very best our local farmers have to offer. And with a wide variety of delights to choose from, everyone (even those with special eating styles or food restrictions) will find something bright and beautiful to suit his or her fancy.

HOW IT BEGAN

Owner Jennifer Ryan just wanted to be able to eat food that was good, good for her, and easy to get. It turns out that was a real challenge in Alabama in 2019.

She was born and raised in southern California, where eating pure, clean, and whole foods wasn't a novelty - it was the norm. Growing up with that mentality informed the way she ate and lived even after she left California -- playing sports in college, and then living and working in New York City for over a decade after that. It wasn't always easy to eat clean, but what the two coasts had in common was ACCESS to healthy food.

When Jennifer and her husband Mike moved to Birmingham a few years ago, they were charmed by the city and impressed by the fine dining scene, but they lamented the lack of quick, nutritious options. Instead of accepting the healthy food gap that existed for the every day Birminghamian, Jennifer decided to fill it. And she did so by following the formula that initially put this great city on the national food map: pairing incredible culinary talent with locally sourced foods.

Jennifer convinced two-times James Beard award-winning chef (and Birmingham native) Robin Bashinsky to help her dream up a clean and locally sourced menu, and with the support of Alabama farmers, the business community, local nonprofits, and city government, BLUEROOT was born. The brand debuted at Pepper Place Market in the spring of 2019, where the team served up a small menu of clean delights next to the very farmers from whom they sourced local produce and proteins. In the summer of 2020, BLUEROOT opened its first brick and mortar location, a Los Angeles-inspired (and pandemic-friendly) walk-up window in Mountain Brook Village that is affectionally referred to as the Outpost. And in the spring of 2021, BLUEROOT will come full circle and open its flagship location in Pepper Place, where the community will find an expanded menu, customizable options, and indoor and outdoor seating.

A NOTE OF THANKS:

As BLUEROOT continues to serve our community during these uncertain times, we're convinced more than ever that our role is not just to feed you, but to FUEL YOU. And we hope we have the opportunity to do that -- through our clean food, our collaborations with women and POC-owned local businesses, and our commitment to contribute to the economic growth of this Magic City. Thank you for your support.💙