The whole raw foods trend doesn't interest me much. Given that I'm the type to spend six hours cooking a bolognese ragú and a long-simmered puree of carrot and celery root soup, I'm not the target audience.
But I love veggies and I'm willing to try just about anything. Plus I like some versions of healthy hippie foods, if we're talking like, M Cafe de Chaya. So I'm surprised to say Euphoria Loves RAWvolution -- name aside -- is pretty good. It's nice to know there's a place for people who can't stand heat but don't want to get out of the kitchen.
Kale salad, seaweed, and runny "egg" salad does not a daily meal make. Yet as an occasional lunch it's filling and obviously healthy. I'd return to the exotic land of Main Street Santa Monica, which feels a world away from Hollywood, for the pungent and freshly blended soy chai. Silky coconut pudding is also quite tasty. Stylistically (brightly colored walls, Indian fabric cushions, white folks with dreadlocks), the space and vibe help preview our visit to Ithaca in May.
Earlier in the day I'd gone buck wild at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market. The bounty is just so ... overwhelming. I managed to drop a lot of cash (literally -- I think I lost a Andy Jackson along the way) on more greens than I'll ever have time to prepare, and a can of walnut oil.
And in keeping with the theme of lunch, I snacked on some raw walnuts and shelled peas as the afternoon wore on. But when dinner time came along, those peas were blanched and mixed with a slab of butter, and the tender baby spring onions spent a lot of time in hot olive oil and were joined by Flora Bella Farms rapini. After about 45 minutes, the slow-cooked onion-rapini duo met its good friend, boiled spaghetti. I still like heat in my kitchen.
It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.
Posted by: MBT Online | July 15, 2011 at 03:08 AM