You Gotta Try This: Organic vegan chili at Ripe Life Juice Co. in Rockford

June 8, 2022|By Mary Sisk|In You gotta try this/restaurants, Rockford, Trending, Restaurants, Eat & Drink
Ripe Life Juice Co., 308 W. State St., Suite No. 135, started offering vegetarian chili in December as a cold-weather seasonal option. But customers asked for it back even after the weather warmed up. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Mary Sisk
Rock River Current
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You Gotta Try This is the Rock River Current’s dining feature focused on signature dishes at your favorite local restaurants. Want to see one of your favorites here? Email news@rockrivercurrent.com to suggest a local staple. 

Where: Ripe Life Juice Co.

Address: 308 W. State St. Suite No. 135, Rockford

Owner: Jamar Luster

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday; closed on Sunday

You have to try: Organic vegan chili

What’s in it: Chickpeas, lentils, carrots, celery, mushrooms, green onions, spices, and in-house-made sour cream made from cashews and rice vinegar

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Ripe Life Juice Co.’s vegan chili is made with chickpeas, lentils, carrots, celery, mushrooms, green onions, spices, and in-house-made sour cream made from cashews and rice vinegar. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Why you should try it: Chili was added to Ripe Life Juice Co.’s menu as a seasonal option for cold Midwest winters, but it was so popular that owner Jamar Luster decided to bring it back year-round.

“We took it off the menu and we told people it was just seasonal, but they came in every day,” Luster said. “Every single day. ‘Got chili?'”

He introduced his vegan chili in December 2021, and it stayed on the menu until March when the weather warmed up. Now he’s brought it back in conjunction with his all-natural juices, smoothies and salads.

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Supporting local vegan options in Rockford also encourages expanding plant-based alternatives, which is what Luster plans to do with his store and menu. He has plans to create more dishes, such as a quinoa bowl, and aims to one day have a full sit-down restaurant.

This dish was also created in honor of vegan chef and Luster’s childhood friend, Matthew Johnson.

“He is actually the inspiration for the chili,” Luster said. “I’m proud of it for that very reason, we were able to come back together years later and do something positive and impactful.”

Pro tip: If you like chili to be spicy, add the freshly cut jalapeños.

Jamar Luster is the owner of Ripe Life Juice Co. at 308 W. State St., Suite No. 135, in downtown Rockford. He’s pictured with a bowl of his vegan chili on Monday, June 6, 2022. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

This article is by Mary Sisk. Email her at msisk@rockrivercurrent.com or follow her on Instagram at @maryrrcurrent