Pictured: Jie Chen, owner of Siesta Poke, is excited to share her passion for healthy and delicious food. Provided photo.

“I’ve always had a passion for healthy food,” says Jie Chen. “I go to the gym quite often—I’ve been training myself for nine years—and I always eat clean food.”

Chen owns a house in Siesta Key that was damaged in last year’s back-to-back hurricanes, and she had a hard time finding the kind of food she likes to eat while she was overseeing the rebuilding of her home. A restaurant called Siesta Poke had opened not long before the hurricanes and was also shuttered as a result of the storms. When the eatery was finally ready to reopen last November, Chen purchased it and now spends her days preparing and sharing the clean, healthy food she values so much.

At Siesta Poke, diners can customize poke bowls entirely to their tastes. For a base, you can start with white rice, brown rice, quinoa or field greens. Protein options include ahi tuna, salmon, shrimp, chicken, red beans and tofu. Then you can choose from a wide variety of toppings, including cucumber, mango, edamame, corn, pickled ginger and much more. Add a crunchy topping like crispy onions or sesame seeds, and then select a housemade sauce to tie it altogether. These versatile dishes are endlessly customizable—you can eat them every day and still have tons of variety.

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you can also try a cool and refreshing acai bowl. Like the poke bowls, these frozen treats can be built according to your preferences and are packed with fresh, colorful ingredients. Since buying Siesta Poke, Chen has also added boba tea to the menu with boba made from scratch. With all the variety on the menu, it’s safe to say Chen doesn’t have a hard time finding fresh, tasty food anymore.

“I’m working here every day almost seven days a week,” Chen says. “I eat here every day. The quality of the food has to be very premium because I want very high-end quality for myself and my customers.”

Siesta Poké, 5206 Ocean Boulevard, Sarasota, 941-217-6359, www.siestapoke.com.

Pictured: Jie Chen, owner of Siesta Poke, is excited to share her passion for healthy and delicious food. Provided photo.