Story photos by Christopher Harris
of what the festival scene had to offer , so I reached out to my friend Sunshine who ran the smoothie bar in the festival scene for a decade — Sunshine was the Smoothie Queen of the festival scene ,” said Ellis . “ I asked her if she would be interested in coming ( here ) to consult and teach me how to make the highest quality , most nutrient-rich smoothies and juices that I can .”
That ’ s what happened , and now the Blissed Be smoothie station is a key part of A Bazaar Universe ’ s daily traffic . Order drinks with whimsical names like the Majestic Moment ( with mango , pineapple , ginger and apple juice ) or Nutrient Nebula ( with strawberries , mango , spinach and almond milk ).
One can also get more “ decadent ” options , like adding Ghirardelli chocolate , or upgrade any smoothie base to alternative milks from oats , macadamia nuts , or cashews . Add-ons include options like bee pollen , collagen , turmeric and protein powder , and freshpressed juices are also available .
And then there ’ s the daily parfaits , made with fruits , peanut butter , yogurt , avocados , and all sorts of other goodies that offer a quick , on-the-go lunch that you can feel good about .
( And yes , even here , Ellis goes local when she can — such as using Woodstock Lavender Co . syrups and jams in the parfaits sometimes , and working with local farmers to bring in their produce .)
“ It ’ s been received beautifully ,” said Ellis of the public reaction to Blissed Be . “ The most important thing is that we use real fruit in our smoothies . It ’ s very important to me to use real ingredients with real nutrients , because I really love real food . ... My smoothies are the highest quality that I ’ m capable of making .
“ The parfaits are really good for you ,” she added . “ They ’ re packed with protein , the yogurt and the granola , and then they ’ ve got the vitamins and healthy things from the fruits .”
Ellis has created a small business with a big reach , still traveling to festivals and reaching people all over the country while making a nest for itself here in Ellis ’ home community . In that nest , Ellis is bringing in goods from other small businesses like it to be a hub for all things wonderful in Pulaski County , while helping contribute to the ongoing downtown revitalization efforts .
“ It ’ s a gift ,” said Ellis . “ I ’ m very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of all the things that I ’ m a part of . I ’ m a part of so many amazing communities here .
“ We ’ re all on this planet , we ’ re all humans , and finding that common ground — we ’ ve all got to eat , and we might as well be eating healthy things ,” she added . “ Being able to provide that in a quick and easy way that ’ s made with lots of love is really important to me .”
June 2023 SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky • 43