Taking a negative term and giving it a positive spin, the Trap Haus café coming to 1300 Government St. in Baton Rouge aims to positively impact its surrounding neighborhood. Owner Terrez Collins channels her background as a nurse and practicing vegan into Trap Haus, which offers fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and plant-based foods at its current location on the Southern University campus. The new location with feature a Chipotle-style quick service smoothie bar where guests can select items for their smoothie or smoothie bowl.
While offering healthy alternatives is a driving force behind Trap Haus, Collins told What Now New Orleans that she’s also motivated to come up with new culinary creations that people feel good about eating.
“I like the creative part, getting into the kitchen or the juice lab,” she said. “I also enjoy seeing customers being very responsive and taking a liking to a healthy alternative.”
While the majority of the Trap Haus menu is designed to be healthy, there are also comfort food options. Past menus have included plant-based cheeseburger eggrolls, mushroom-based seafood boils, and king cake bites.
“You have to meet people where they are at,” Collins said about offering comfort foods. “Like, I can’t eat a salad every day. I can’t take the taste of meat out of the equation!”
The new Baton Rouge location will be in what is considered a food desert. As such, it will have an attached store with fresh produce. The store will accept SNAP benefits to increase access to fresh food in the neighborhood. The new Trap Haus location is set to open in May, and Collins said she’s looking forward to providing healthy alternatives to the Mid-City neighborhood in Baton Rouge.
“It doesn’t matter where we plant our seeds, we are going to make it happen, right wherever we are!” she added.
