By Kimberly Cooper Photo by Tony Lewis, Jr.
HILL’S SODA FOUNTAIN
30 E. Dover Street, Easton
410-822-9751
There aren’t many old fashioned “fountain” shops left these days. Hill’s Soda Fountain is just that, a nostalgic soda fountain in the back of a drug store. It doesn’t get more old-fashioned in theme, but Hill’s has put a spin on things. They offer the traditional fare of burgers and shakes. But a recent menu item—“Jen’s Magic Elixer” (or “JMX” for short) juice—has made a serious splash. Owner Jennifer McCrea shares her recipe for the green JMX drink, along with her reasons for juicing.
Tell us a little bit about Hill's.
The soda fountain has been in Hill’s Drug store since it opened in 1928. We do “soda fountain fare”—burgers, shakes, and fries—but we also have lots of fresh menu items. Lots of salads and specialty sandwiches. Almost everything is made from scratch.
What is your favorite item on the Hill's menu? Your favorite milkshake flavor?
Our biggest seller is probably the tarragon chicken salad with grapes and almonds. I love a black and white milkshake but I don’t think I've had one in about a year!
What is the most important tool in your kitchen?
Organization is our most important tool in the kitchen.
What is the little something special that keeps diners returning to Hill's?
I think our regular customers like that we pretty much know what they are going to order. Sometimes, we have it on the table before they are even settled in. Our staff is very friendly and we have a great group of “regulars” that make it fun.
If there was only time left on Earth for one meal, what would you have?
Only one meal? Sushi! Plus it takes a long time to eat so it would prolong the time.
How did this JMX juice drink originate?
We started out with the green, which is a blend of 11 ingredients. I started juicing in January to try and be healthier. I made more than I could drink so we started offering it to some regular customers. I started seeing some healthy results and so did our customers. It’s kind of taken off from there. We now offer a red version and are working on one or two more. It is ironic that our big movers are shakes and JMX. There are so many benefits of juicing. It is time consuming, messy, and somewhat expensive to juice but the health benefits are amazing. Weight loss, lower cholesterol, increased energy level, just for starters.
GREEN JMX
3 handfuls of spinach
1/2 bunch of parsley
1/2 bunch of mint
1 carrot
3 ribs of celery
1 cucumber
1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
2 apples
1/2 pineapple
Wash all ingredients and juice in a juicer. Serve.
