Who knew that Jenn Hee would end up cooking for a living? She sure didn’t.

It was only after a stint in the Peace Corps, where Hee was “forced to cook,” that she learned to use seasonal ingredients. Today, at Juicy Brew, she and her sister, Christina, are committed to cooking with a conscience. Jenn does the baking, Christina the sandwiches, and both deliver salads, noodles, curries and pastas. Operational manager Miho Saito also pitches in at the stove.

“Our philosophy is to use as many local ingredients as possible,” she said, “to support local agriculture and to create wholesome, plant-based food.”

About the business: The Hees cook at two Juicy Brew cafes for an orthopedic surgeon “who heard about us when we ran Kale’s (the now-closed Hawaii Kai natural food store). He wanted a cafe in his medical building, a grab-and-go,” Hee said. Thus, the first Juicy Brew opened in December 2014 in the lobby of Hale Pawaa.

Two months ago they opened a second location in Kaimuki, which draws folks seeking vegan and vegetarian options. Juicy Brew also offers catering.

What to order: The menu is filled with “standard” items, if your definition of standard is flexible enough to accommodate daily variations. The popular vegan breakfast burrito ($8), for instance, has “some kind of grain, some kind of local starch and whatever local vegetables are available.” A daily curry ($8) is vegan for sure, but the actual veggies in it depend on what is in the pantry — and that depends on what local farms have to offer.

“Everything changes according to what’s available,” Hee said.

Apply that concept to a daily pasta ($7), a fresh salad with homemade dressing, Asian noodle dishes and even a few meat sandwiches to accommodate carnivores. For dessert there are various tapiocas ($4.50) and baked goods, including a daily mochi that’s anything but run-of-the-mill.

A recent beet-squash mochi ($6), for instance, was delicious, the squash portion liberally spiced and the beet section crisp on top and lusciously chewy inside. Hee regularly bakes up ulu and poi versions, and has also made strawberry and lilikoi butter variations.

Wash it all down with cold-pressed juices ($9) or a beverage called Golden Milk ($5.50), coconut milk brewed and spiced with fresh turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom and black pepper, and sweetened with honey and maple syrup. Coffees and teas are available as well.

And if you’re seeking health-centric juice cleanses and cleansing menus, Juicy Brew offers those as well.

Prices: Items range from $6 to $15, but most things are $8, says Hee.

Parking: Hale Pawaa validates parking for one hour. Find street parking to visit the Waialae location.