London, Kensal RiseParadise Plantbased, vegan hideaway in the heart of Kensal Rise

By Amy Lanza @nourishing.amy
17 June '19

Paradise Plantbased began as a raw food stall in 2014, before setting down roots in Kensal Rise in 2018. Lithuanian-born Egle owns and runs the café. She avoids using refined flours, sugars, oils and salts as well as offering an extensive range of raw and gluten-free options. Her motto is “Freshness and soul are at the heart of all that we do.”

The setting

You can find it just a short walk from either Kensal Rise or Kensal Green station and close to one of our favourite flower shops, Scarlet and Violet which is well worth a visit on the way. The pretty pastel exterior of Paradise Plantbased stands out so you won’t miss it.

The space

Walking into Paradise Plantbased is like stepping into a tropical haven . Palm trees are splashed across the walls, green plants hang from the ceiling and vast plant pots dot the café. The furniture, wall hangings and cutlery trays are all upcycled and painted by hand.

You’re greeted with a gorgeous display of raw and baked cakes, a salad buddha bowl station and a snack shelf for the chocoholics.

You’ll also find a well-stocked fridge full of gut-healthy fermented foods, drinks and waters as well as a pantry wall, packed with gluten free flours, nut butters, chocolate spreads and cereals for sale.

 

The fresh juice test

The smoothie menu at Paradise Plantbased is extensive.  We had two. The Ziggy Smoothie was packed with mango, papaya, ginger, turmeric and coconut water – a vibrant and smooth drink. Then the Green ‘N’ Mean Smoothie which was surprisingly light and refreshing. It was made with kale, spinach, pear, avocado, celery, lime, mint and coconut water but didn’t taste very “green” despite the abundance of raw vegetables and fruit.

What we ate

From açai bowls to burgers, raw pizzas to posh mac ‘no’ cheese and with any combination of smoothies and hot drinks, you’re spoilt for choice.

We had the Apple Pancakes with chocolate sauce which were delightfully light and fluffy thanks to the Khorasan flour. We had to review their signature Paradise Breakfast plate, which features with home-made sunseed sausages, a baked bean filled avocado rose, mushrooms, sourdough toast and umami rich silky scrambled ackee. The ackee was definitely a highlight.

We also tried their Bagel and Beans – a wholemeal bagel loaded with home-made smoky beans, crunchy spicy coconut chip clusters, fresh tomatoes and slices of avocado.

The creamy cashew cheese sauce on top was a real winner here. We also sampled a small buddha bowl of sweet potato wedges, crunchy chickpeas and garlicky green beans which was great.

The dessert fridge was fully stocked with raw cheesecakes, baked cookies and protein balls and truffles. We tried the Chocoholic Raw Cheesecake which was a quadruple layered cheesecake of nutty hazelnut base and a creamy rich chocolate cashew-based cheesecake layer. We also tried their baked Chocolate Brownie Cake complete with edible flowers – delicious!

What we’d go back for

We would definitely go back for the original and homemade touch to each dish, the striking interior and the amazing array of handmade vegan bakes and raw cakes.

The bill

Apple pancakes  £8.50
Paradise breakfast  £11.00
Bagel and beans  £9.00
Small buddha bowl  £4.00
Ziggy smoothie  £6.00
Green ‘N’ Mean smoothie  £6.00
Chocolate brownie  £4.50
Chocoholic raw cheesecake  £4.60

 

Paradise Plantbased

59 Chamberlayne Road
Kensal Rise
London

020 8968 8321
visit website
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