Photography by Tony Lewis, Jr.
When she moved to Annapolis a few years ago, Allyson Jishi felt the community needed healthier dining options. “We were lacking in [healthy] culinary selections here,” Jishi suggests. “I would say it was a 10-to-one ratio.”
So, the 39-year-old decided to open her own place with her brother Chris Deli, a long-time chef, in May of last year in the Annapolis Town Center, Toastique.
Toastique, a national franchise, is a contemporary café that specializes in gourmet toasts, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, coffee, espresso, and other selections using fresh ingredients.
Today, customers crowd the café (open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends). As a result, the siblings plan to open a second location in the Annapolis area.
Allyson, why did you decide to open a café? I felt as though we needed more casual, healthy food options. Not a bunch of fried foods. [When I lived] in Baltimore, there was a casual place that I just loved. It was a healthy café, bakery-style. Not a bar, or a restaurant.
How did you pick the Town Center as your location? I knew that needed to be the location. For a couple of reasons. There is free parking. And other tenants are aligned with health and wellness. The more support the better, to bring like-minded people together.
What makes Toastique special or different from other cafes? We are committed to making sure things are fresh. We get our bread and produce delivered daily. We make our own peanut butter, berry jam, and prepare all the fruits and vegetables as they’re being served. You taste the difference in how fresh everything is.
Chris, how would you describe the menu? Unique. It’s hard to compare other restaurant menus to ours. Freshness is the key, which is good for nourishing not only the body, but your hunger, and soul. We have smoothies and they have health benefits. Our bowls are fun for kids and adults. Our toast is unique, it will fill you up and give you some warmth.
What is your No. 1 seller? Avocado Smash. It’s toast on multigrain bread with mashed avocados, chili seasoning, lime, and marinated heirloom tomatoes. We also use house seasonings with a little oil and vinegar. It tastes like a summer salad and is surprisingly filling.
Allyson, what has been the biggest challenge in opening a new cafe? Team member retention. We are a small business, and everybody needs to wear multiple hats. People need to believe in our product. It is important to find people that are passionate about health and wellness. And food that tastes good and looks good. So, it always needs to look beautiful. Presentation is important.
How will your cafe sustain success? Once people experience our cafe, they keep coming back. There are not that many healthy food options around. Kids love our bowls, smoothies, and PB crunch toasts. Moms want their kids to eat healthy food. That’s another big draw. I understand that. I am one of those moms.
Toastique | 214 Harker Place, Annapolis; 443-430-0085; toastique.com/annapolis
