At the vanguard of health food marketing and vegetarianism, Bart Potenza has written and lectured on the virtues of healthy eating since the mid-1970s. He has become a major spokesperson for the health food industry.

After studying at the City College of New York Business School, Bart developed many unique and profitable businesses before making a change-of-career in his forties, when he became manager of Health Nuts, a neighborhood health food and vitamin store on the Upper East Side. Under his leadership, the store's popularity and profits took a healthy upward climb.

In 1984, Bart purchased a Vitamin Store and Juice Bar at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 71st Street. After two years, the store's success gave rise to a Cafe called The Healthy Candle, which offered both take-out and eat-in service. In 1988, Bart began his collaboration with Joy Pierson when she began referring her clients to The Healthy Candle for foods tailored to meet their nutritional needs.

In 1994, customer demand prompted further expansion. Bart joined forces with Joy Pierson to create The Candle Cafe, a full scale restaurant with a casual, contemporary style that reflects not only the ecological consciousness of its owners, but also Bart's strong connection and dedication to the natural foods movement.

Along with a hands-on managerial style Bart, now in his early sixties, provides a wealth of inspiration and information through his daily presence and energy.

Bart's work for major corporations includes lectures (especially on the subject of food allergies), and a consulting assignment with Cadbury Beverages. Bart's outstanding reputation among major holistic healthcare practitioners in the Metropolitan New York Area, has resulted in many doctors' referrals to The Candle Cafe, to ensure that their patientsí dietary needs will be met.

The success of The Candle Cafe proves Bart's original assertion that super healthy, gourmet vegetarian food is the wave of the future, and the future is now.