Featuring a completely gluten- and dairy-free menu, Vital Provisions is getting ready to open its doors at 15 Main St., in Peterborough. The new restaurant will be offering healthy meals, smoothies, juices, acai bowls, and allergy-friendly options that owners Kyle Murphy and Heather Vaillancourt are preparing to debut in March or April when the business officially opens.
Both owners love delicious food. But they are also passionate about health. For Murphy, who is a professional chef, there’s no need to compromise.
“We want to offer a space where we can accommodate allergies and food sensitivities,” Murphy explained. Vital Provisions aims to create “another option for the community.”
Vaillancourt has struggled with food sensitivities for years, and she said it was easy to “get lost in the monotony of ‘safe’ foods,” but Murphy helped her discover new ways of eating foods that kept her feeling good and were also exciting and flavorful.
Murphy has opened restaurants in the past, but after recently losing 100 pounds, centering this business around healthy food has been especially important for him. “After focusing on my health, this has been a priority from the beginning,” he said.
The space feels warm and alive. The walls are painted earthy greens and browns. They’re decorated with art, air plants, hanging plants, sculptures, a glowing salt lamp, a skateboard deck Vaillancourt painted, but one wall above a couple cafe tables on the left, was kept blank. This is where the business will showcase a local artist every two months. Vaillancourt said she’s excited to “curate the space” while collaborating with artists in the region. “We want this to be a success for us and everyone involved,” she said. Their first display will be Chad Creighton’s work. One of his paintings will encourage customers to take a selfie in front of it. If they post the photo they can get a gift certificate to the restaurant.
“Integrity is so important to us,” Vaillancourt said. She added, “We’re trying to source as much local and organic food as possible.” The couple wants to incorporate health and wellness into their space, and they know this includes both healthy ingredients and a healthy work/life balance. Murphy remembered many times in the past when he felt burnt out working long hours in the restaurant industry. At Vital Provisions the owners are making it a priority to support their staff financially and to create a positive working environment. They are in the final stages of interviewing their team of about 10, and once confirmed their new employees will be cross trained in food preparation and counter service duties, encouraging teamwork and versatility.
“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response,” Vaillancourt said, and the two can’t wait to bring their new team on board.
Vaillancourt is a licensed massage therapist and owns Monadnock Therapeutic Bodyworks just up the street. She will continue to run that business. “I love that work,” she said.
Both originally from this area, Vaillancourt and Murphy spent years living in other places around the country and the world. “I missed this place and this feels like home,” Murphy enthused, “there are amazing businesses and restaurants in the area; we want to be part of that.”
The couple will announce their opening date and will keep the community updated on Vital Provisions over social media and on their website vitalprovisionsnh.com.