Austinist Fresh (No, like FRESH) Foodie Alert: Sharon Mays

Sharon Mays dug in her heels a few years ago and turned a dumpy old Short Stop into the freshest fast food joint south of the Colorado. She's quick with the humor, sure, but her work is full of substance.

A few questions ... when did Baby Greens open? Are the suspicions that it was an old Short Stop restaurant true? Who did beautiful art on the walls?

Baby Greens opened on January 8, 2004. The building was originally a Short Stop, but had been a few incarnations between them and us. The mural (entitled Pepper Girls) was done by a local artist named Ismael Cavazos. I met him in the drive thru. I told him that I wanted to put a mural on the building that would be a physical rendering of the Green Goddess (our signature dressing). He came up with the concept and we collaborated on it to get the final piece (my part was providing the face of the Pepper Girls ). I think it came out exceptionally beautiful. I truly love it and I think it adds something unique and wonderful to the neighborhood ... just like Baby Greens.

We discovered Baby Greens when we lived off South First and Oltorf and lived on salad wraps during the summer of 2004. We ate something with Chile Lime dressing on it just about everyday. Do you find the rest of your local clientele is just as obsessed?

I never imagined people would have such a strong reaction to the dressings, but there seems to be an obsession amongst the masses. People have asked me if we put crack into the dressings. The answer is a resounding NO. As my friend Whitney Houston says, "Crack is Wack!" And I'm sure it's not at all cost-effective. Once I opened the back door to the restaurant and there was a guy there frantically trying to fish change out of his pocket so he could buy a Blue Cheese Vinaigrette. He actually tried to walk inside the restaurant. It was funny and little scary at the same time.

You recently won four awards in the Austin Chronicle Restaurant Poll: Best Salad and Dressing, Best Low Fat Dressing, Runner Up for Best Fast Food, and Honorable Mention for Restaurant Worth Mentioning. What award do you hope to win next?

That's a good question. I don't know actually. I remember when I picked up the Chronicle results issue, I was so nervous. In my mind I was thinking "Oh please please please just let us get a little mention." I wanted that Best Salad & Dressing award so badly. Especially from the readers. I still feel a little giddy about winning. I am honored by every award that we have been given; truly humbled. And I'm sure it sounds cheesy, but I'm just happy that people come to Baby Greens everyday. That's what's most important. Our customers are awesome and have supported Baby Greens from the beginning. Not to toot our own horn, but here are some other awards we have received that you may/may not already know:
BEST TRANSITION - from B.I.G. (Businesses In Growth) AUSTIN
BEST LEAN GREEN EATIN' MACHINE - Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Awards 2005
BEST HEALTHY OPTION - Austin Monthly Best of Austin 2005
BEST TAKE OUT - Austin Chronicle Restaurant Poll 2004

Your website says "Come on in, we'll toss your salad!" Have you always been so fresh? (Pun intended!)

Hehehe. I've always had a little extra sass. And Baby Greens is always So Fresh and So Clean. We get to the restaurant early every morning to wash and cut veggies so they are extra crispy and tasty. Hopefully people appreciate our commitment to freshness and sassitude.

Quick! What's your food philosophy?

I say try everything once. Otherwise you just never know! I appreciate all kinds of food - from corn dogs & onion rings to beef wellington. We are so fortunate in this country to have access to all kinds of foods, it's almost shameful to turn our backs on the unfamiliar.

What's next for Baby Greens?

So many things. Of course, our second location is a big priority. We are also working on our website, and a few other new things that I cannot discuss at present date. I mean a gal has got to have a little mystery in her life!

Images (c) Baby Greens