A gourmet cafe in Macon is keeping things fresh. What’s on the menu?

Editor’s Note: This story is part of Living Local, a regular series featuring a look inside local businesses — the things they make, services they provide and their impact on the community.

Fountain of Juice, affectionately known as FOJ, is all about keeping things fresh and natural.

The business opened in 2007 as a small juice and smoothie bar attached to a fitness facility.

Owner Natasha Phillips, daughter of fine dining matriarch Natalia del Basso-Orsini, had food and flavor running through her veins.

Basso-Orsini opened Natalia’s in Macon in 1984 and owned the popular restaurant until 2018.

Phillips’ husband Carl, an artist with a flair for food, assisted in growing the business to the beloved eatery it has become today.

FOJ now offers a variety of entree salads, sandwiches, burgers, great appetizers and soups, and even has a nice beer and wine list.

Phillips said she opened FOJ because she felt Macon lacked healthy eating options and wanted to offer all-natural menu items.

“We make 95 percent of our menu in-house, with all natural ingredients,” she said. “We use hormone free Springer Mountain Chicken, local Rocking Chair Ranch Beef, Patagonian Salmon, and preservative free Metro Deli Meats.”

“It costs a little more but I believe we should recognize what we put in our bodies and think about the long haul in it,” Phillips said.

House beef lasagna, turkey chili, bacon egg and guacamole grilled cheese, sea bass tacos, Greek chicken orzo salad, and hot honey tossed fried chicken wrap are just a few of the unique items on the menu.

Phillips said she takes pride in seeing repeat customers and bonding with the community over food.

“We see a lot of the same faces daily and I feel really good about that,” she said. “We have made lifelong friends in this community through our love of food.”

Phillips also loves giving back to the community that continues to frequent her business.

“We donate quite a bit, whether it’s pasta salad every year for The Nutcracker, salads for Teacher or Coach Appreciation Day, or gift card giveaways for Jay Hope, Breast Cancer Awareness, Alzheimer’s Association, teachers, nurses, and others,” she said.”We are always happy to assist our local community.”

“Also, we are a pretty big operation that employs a lot of folks - and taking care of my employees is part of taking care of my community,” Phillips added.

Phillips lives by the motto that “local feeds local.”

“Local feeds local - by supporting local businesses you help locals put food on their tables, sign their kids up for rec ball, put their kids in private schools, and more,” she said. “I am here for the long haul, so supporting us is supporting people in our community.”

FOJ is located at 4123 Forsyth Road and can be reached at 478-755-5000.

This story was originally published March 25, 2024 at 5:00 AM.