This week, Zagat editor Billy Lyons visits Springbone Kitchen, a fast casual restaurant in Greenwich Village that is shining the spotlight on bone broth. He filed this report.
Bone broth is a variation of the liquid stock commonly found in soups. It's typically simmered for around 24 hours in a large pot with meats and vegetables to provide a unique flavor and help produce protein rich gelatin as well as release minerals from the bones. This makes it a popular option with the health conscious crowd.
"It's full of protein, really minimal fat. No sugar at all. The amino acids in it have been shown to be really good for muscle recovery, for joint repair, skin health, hair health" explained Jordan Feldman, a co-owner of Springbone Kitchen.
We are using only grass-fed meats, organic vegetables. There is no added sugar, no gluten on the whole menu, there's minimal dairy
Springbone Kitchen offers six signature broths in addition to allowing guests to customize their order. Patrons can choose from chicken, pork, beef, or a vegetable base before adding in over 15 different ingredients like grass fed meatballs. So why drink your meal? We asked a few customers to find out.
"I try to make healthy decisions in New York. I don't have a lot of health options in my neighborhood and I'm never down here, so I thought I'd try something new," noted a patron who was intrigued by the idea of bone broth's health benefits. "It's a quick shot of protein that doesn't fill you up. It's ideal for someone that might even be going to another training class or maybe an athlete who might be training throughout the day," noted a man carrying a yoga mat.
For those who might believe the rise of bone broth might be a fad, Springbone Kitchen sees the subject much differently. "I think it's been kind of a long time coming with the movement toward knowing your food, eating whole foods. It's really such a slow, kind of nourishing type beverage we felt it was the perfect symbol of being connected with your food," noted Feldman.