Marta’s Veggie Fusion, Split

If you’re looking for a vegan café in Split, you could well walk straight past Marta’s Veggie Fusion and not give it a second glance. Bang in the heart of the Diocletian’s Palace,  it competes with the many sights of the old city. But we highly recommend their delicious raw cakes and some of the best falafel we’ve tasted outside the Middle-East.

The setting

The location couldn’t be more picturesque.

You don’t get to sip on a protein smoothie in the heart of a UNESCO listed palace everyday.

Marta’s Veggie Fusion is adjacent to the colannaded Roman courtyard, the Peristil, which forms a perfect location for a take-away. Plus, it’s next to the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. For Game Of Throne’s fans, Daenerys kept her dragons in the basement beneath the street.

The space

Marta’s is compact.  High stool tables line one wall and there’s counter seating at the bar where you can overlook the chefs cooking dishes fresh to order.  Industrial lights and fans hang from the ceiling and a large display of raw cakes features in a cabinet overlooking the street.

What else?

The staff are really helpful and hardworking. Marta’s does take away too, and if it’s not too hot, there are plenty of amazing locations to picnic nearby from the Riva to the Peristil to Park Josipa Jurja Strossmayera.

The fresh juice test

Marta’s Veggie Fusion has a choice of smoothies, juices, ginger and cinnamon shots and home made iced tea and lemonades.

 

 

 

We chose the Fresh Re-Fresh juice, a zingy mix of apple, lemon and mint, and a home made iced-tea.

What we ate

Marta’s has an international range of dishes on the menu from burritos and burgers to curries and stir fries. We decided to review the Falafel Bowl and the Hummus Plate. The falafel were perfect, slightly spiced, moist centered and crispy. They came with tahini drizzle and quinoa, slaw, hummus and rocket. The Hummus Plate came with deliciously nutty, seeded bread, olives, sweetcorn and the home made slaw.

We finished off with a raw lime and coconut cake to take away. It was creamy and light and the tart lime perfectly cut through the sweetness of the coconut.

What we’d go back for…

The location, the falafel and to try the raw chocolate cake.

The bill

Falafel Plate  63 HRK
Hummus Plate  49 HRK
Juice  35 HRK
Iced-tea  19 HRK

For more Split inspiration click here. 

Stem and Glory, Barbican

Looking for a plant-based meal in the Barbican? “Delicious enough to turn anyone vegan” is how Stem and Glory describe themselves. Voted best vegan restaurant in the capital by Design My Night, Stem and Glory is a must visit vegan café.

The setting

A short walk from either Barbican or St Paul’s tube station, Stem and Glory is tucked away in Barts Square. Mid-week it is popular with city workers.  At the weekend, it’s a great spot for a quiet and relaxed brunch or lunch with friends.

The space

Take a seat at one of the tables for two along the roadside or relax indoors.

You will find light grey washed tables, minimalist furnishings and lots of greenery decorating the ceiling and bar area.

The interior is modern, light and airy and the floral pattern on the windows accentuates the plants. There’s a large choice of tables and you can also unwind near the bar where they serve fine vegan cocktails, mocktails, craft beer and wines.

What else?

Stem and Glory also have an award winning restaurant in Cambridge.

The fresh juice test

We decided to review the Classic Detox Juice – one of four juices and smoothies on the menu.

It’s a bright and vibrant blend of cucumber, ginger, lime and apple.

Not too sweet and not too tangy,  it’s served with a paper straw and an edible flower. We also tried the more indulgent Chocolate Mocha – a clever cross between a smoothie and an iced coffee. The blend of banana, espresso, cacao and almond milk creates a really smooth and creamy drink finished with coffee beans.

What we ate

Everything at Stem and Glory is made fresh on the premises by a talented team of chefs. They change the dishes regularly to make the best of seasonal ingredients. We visited on a Saturday and the weekend brunch menu has some extra dishes that you won’t find mid-week. We tried their Vegan English Breakfast on the waitress’s recommendations. It was full of comforting vegan breakfast essentials- sticky sweet and smoky tempeh bacon, soft scrambled tofu, house-made baked beans, guacamole and crispy mushrooms served with toasted sourdough bread.

We also chose the RainBowl. It was packed with a rainbow of colours: green spiralised cucumber, smashed avocado, orange and purple carrot sticks, roasted beetroot slices, black and salty nori tapenade, baked butternut squash pieces and a watercress salad drizzled with a chipotle mayonnaise.

The star of the bowl was the crispy and thin seedy crackers packed with chia seeds, linseeds and pumpkin seeds.

What we’d go back for…

The service at Stem and Glory was great, with very attentive and knowledgeable staff. Next time, I will try one of the four desserts on offer which inclulde Chocolate Almond Cake, Triple-Layered Raspberry Cheesecake, Mango Cheesecake with Rich Cashew base and Ice Cream with Fruit Coulis.

The bill

Vegan English Breakfast  £12.50
RainBowl  £10.50
Classic Detox Juice  £5.00
Chocolate Mocha  £6.00

Paradise Plantbased

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

 

Rainbow Rawfood, Tokyo

Rainbow Rawfood’s owner, Keiichi Kato had his healthy lightbulb moment when he dropped out of high school at 16 and left Japan for the US. There he began a new health regime of fruit for breakfast and fasting with enzyme juice. Next, he enrolled in cookery school to learn how to make raw vegan food. In 2010, he returned to Japan to open Rainbow Rawfood in Hamamatsucho. Now he’s relocated to Ebisu. I couldn’t wait to review this rare raw food gem.

The setting

Rainbow Rawfood is in Ebisu, a five minute walk from the metro station.  It’s on the eighth floor of the building and in the evening, after 5 pm, it becomes the Hemp Café and the menu changes. At this height, there’s a really  cool view of the area. Healthy hotspots KO-SO cafe and Marugo Deli Ebisu are nearby.

The space

Rainbow Rawfoods has menu boards outside, but you need to take the stairs or the elevator to its eighth floor location. The café has a Hawaiian theme and plays Hawaiian music. The chairs and tables are wooden with black padding and the wall is decorated with Hawaiian ornaments and a surfboard!  They also have a little balcony where you can sit.

The service is very quick and you could definitely get your laptop out to work, as I did. They have strong wifi.

The fresh juice test

The juice of the day was green and so thick- it was more like a smoothie. It changes daily depending on local market produce. Mine was made of pineapple, apple, spinach and fruit from Okinawa. I loved the taste, because I’d never tried the famous Okinawa fruit before.

What we ate

For lunch they offer set menus. The mains are raw sushi rolls or wraps with a juice of the day and a side dish.

Their whole menu is raw and vegan which is rare in Tokyo, especially with sushi  rolls.

I picked the raw sushi set, curry as a side dish and a raw pie as dessert. The raw sushi was mock monkfish liver, carrots, lettuce, avocado and cucumber. On the side was a raw pad thai salad of cabbage, a sour sauce and some toasted chopped walnuts. The curry was mini, but perfectly sized. It came with brown rice and was nice and warm.

I was full, but not bloated after my meal which I really liked, as I still had some room left for dessert. They have a selection of three raw pies, ice cream, pancakes and also a lava cake. I chose the hempseed cheese cake, with a strawberry and beets sauce. The flavour was very light and simple and the pastel pink sauce added a special vibe

The little things that make the difference

I loved the interior and the music, it gave all the Hawaiian vibes you need! It’s important to know they only accept cash.

The bill

Lunch menu 1350¥
Dessert 980¥

 

 

Wild Food Café, Islington, North London

Wild Food Café in Islington is a far cry from the cosy, rustic feel of their Neal’s Yard location, but it’s just as inviting and a short walk from Highbury and Islington tube on Upper Street.

Wild Food Café strive to find the most nourishing and inspiring ingredients available. Their sources include wild crafted and foraged foods from pristine eco systems, small organic farmers and ethical and local suppliers.  Everything is raw, plant based and, I think, delicious.

The space

The interiors feel sleek and millennial. There is also much greenery, with marble tabletops and pink detailing to round off the beautiful, open space.

Founders Aiste and Joel have created the most aesthetic, innovative feel to their second location, which is reflected in the food served.

The little things that make a difference

From the plants to the open kitchen, the stylistic details are what make the open space so magnificent. I’m a sucker for an open kitchen, complete with pizza oven and breakfast bar, as it allows for an element of transparency. There is no fear in presenting the labour behind the food, the ingredients and process behind every dish.

Whilst there are plugs and yes, there is WiFi, Wild Food Café will always first and foremost be a restaurant. You could sit for the odd hour or so with your laptop, especially as the environment feels ever so calming, but I wouldn’t stay more than that. There are so many other options on Upper Street to set up camp for the afternoon, save Wild Food for a magic elixir with friends, or a blowout brunch date.

The fresh juice test

I’ve had many a green juice at the Neal’s Yard branch. The Vibrant Green I decided to review contains celeriac, sea beet, watercress, nettle, sea purslane, mint and apple. However, it is the smoothies and hot elixirs that I urge you to try. From a rose hot chocolate to the cacao ecstasy I guzzled, they are every so dreamy.

What we ate

Each plate can only be described, as a masterpiece in its own right. Every dish as different in structure, flavour and finish as a row of art works in a gallery.  In my opinion, there is nowhere in London quite like it. It’s the main reason I keep coming back. The menu combines both the healing nature of food with the taste and presentation of a Michelin star restaurant.

The menu changes with the seasons introducing new ingredients, medicinal plants, adaptogens and herbs.

 

We had the Italian pizza  made with marinara sauce, cashew cheese sauce, cherry tomatoes, wild leaf pesto, sun-blushed artichokes, pink olives, rocket, basil and nori and the Fawaffle.

It was a falafel waffle served with cashew and mint cream, sweet chilli sauce, red cabbage slaw, pepper and tomato salsa and sprouted lentil hummus.

They were both part of the weekend lunch menu. The menu during the week varies. Then we shared the limited edition Easter egg, part of the Easter weekend specials. This dessert was the star of the show. The white chocolate cream was gloriously fluffy and decadent and formed a lovely sweet bed for the double-layered chocolate egg to sit on, filled with hazelnut praline. This was seasonal, but it’s worth saying that there’s always an amazing selection of raw desserts year round.

What we’d go back for…

Dessert. I won’t stop until I’ve tried every sweet dish on the menu.  Plus, the staff themselves who greet you so warmly as you walk through the door and serve each plate with love are another reason to return.

The bill

Vibrant green juice  £8
Italian pizza  £15.50
Fawaffle  £12.50
Desserts from  £7.50

 

Pure Green, NYC, NoHo

Pure Green want to inspire us to develop healthy habits, feel good and enjoy colourful food. They promote this healthy lifestyle with their cold pressed juices, fresh smoothies and snacks across their seven NYC branches. I always head to their NoHo branch for an açai bowl and smoothie to power up before walking back to Brooklyn.

The location

The Pure Green I reviewed is in one of my favourite areas of New York. You can find it close to the trendy Washington Park in NoHo and it’s the perfect stop before exploring Greenwich Village or the East Village. This cool neighbourhood is packed with good shopping addresses and cute cafés to stop by.

The space

Pure Green locations all adopt the same interior design- large fridges packed with fresh colourful juices, a marble bar counter with an open kitchen and a modern, minimalist décor.

The crowd

As this location is right next to NYU, it’s buzzing with students who either sit and study at the bar or grab their order to go. It’s not really a space designed to sit for a long time, but the bar stools are comfortable.

The fresh juice test

I ordered the Purple Haze smoothie with blueberries, strawberries, banana, spirulina, plant-based protein, agave and coconut water.

It left me shivering on the icy cold and snowy day of my visit, but it tasted good! You have the option of adding a “booster” to your smoothie like protein or green powder mix.

What we ate

Pure Green specialises in açai bowls, juices and smoothies. They offer five different kinds of açai bowl and one pitaya bowl. I picked the Coconut and Chia bowl which is an açai base blended with mango, pineapple, banana and coconut water and then topped with apple, blueberries, coconut and their hemp granola. I asked to switch the apple for strawberries on top and I think it tasted even better. The consistency of their bowls is good and thick and the portion size very fair.

I wanted to order their Avocado Smash toast with fresh lemon juice, Himalayan salt, scallions, cucumber and radish, but unfortunately they were out of avocado and waiting on a delivery. So I chose a shot called the Cherry Bomb with cherry, probiotics, Himalayan salt and filtered water for a concentrate of nutrients instead. You have to be used to the sharp taste of shots and concentrated ingredients, but I liked it.

The little things that make a difference…

The open counter and large open fridges make the space super colourful and bright. One of their specialties is cold pressed juice which means that they press the fruit or veg without heat to retain all of their nutrients.

Pure Green supports local organic farms and only use non-GMO organic and in-season produce.

What we’d go back for…

One thing I appreciated is that they try to make grabbing a fresh juice as convenient as possible. You can order online to have juice delivered direct to your door and there’s an online subscription program.

The bill

Coconut Chia Açai Bowl  $9.25
Purple Haze Smoothie  $9.00
Cherry Bomb  $3.75

 

Kin Café review

Kin was created by father and son, Peter and Charlie Meadows. It’s tucked away behind Oxford Street. This vegetarian café takes pride in prime ingredients which are environmentally and socially sustainable. They also support other small start-ups and suppliers.

The space

The interior is simple and minimalist. It’s light grey and cream throughout. There are two wooden tables outside, so dog-owners or sun-seekers can indulge. Inside is a choice of several table sizes. Overall, this is a prime location to grab a juice and set up camp with your laptop. They also do take-away.

The fresh juice test

 

Kin offers organic and cold-pressed juices with a choice of Green Machine, Immune Booster and Unbeetable.

The Green Machine combo of spinach, lime, cucumber and pineapple was what I went for and it was a good choice. It didn’t taste too green, as the sweetness of the pineapple balanced out the spinach. They also offer freshly brewed Kombucha and booster ginger and turmeric shots to keep away the winter colds.

What we ate

The menu at Kin Café changes daily. The breakfast includes superfood porridge, layered chia puddings, Mexican style eggs or tofu and fresh sourdough toast. As an avocado addict, I had to go for their avocado on toast. Two thickly sliced pieces of sourdough piled high with creamy smashed avocado, chilli flakes and whole hemp seeds. It was simple but delicious. We also tried the pesto tofu toasted sandwich which was packed full of flavour.

Next we sampled the peanut butter chocolate chip blondie -vegan and gluten free studded with chocolate chips and with a light vanilla flavour.

The chocolate ganache raw brownie was decorated with pink rose petals and drizzled in dark chocolate.

It’s hard to believe this brownie was raw, as it was so fudgy and gooey. It wasn’t too sweet, either, offering a healthy indulgent chocolate treat. Finally, the protein millionaire slice – raw and gluten free again. The biscuit base was topped with crunchy peanut caramel and finished with a layer of chocolate.
They’re serious about their coffee at Kin, so to round the meal off, I had a delicious oat mylk flat white (they do charge extra for non-dairy milk). We also enjoyed their lemon and mint infused water and their retail Love Raw Cacao and Cardamom mylk.

What we’d go back for…

The fresh, vibrant and colourful ingredients! Plus, I was seriously impressed by the amount of avocado piled onto the toast!

The bill

Avocado Toast  £6.50
Tofu pesto toastie  £5.00
Green Machine juice  £4.00
Oat mylk flat white  £3.40
Protein Millionaire slice  £4.00
Chocolate Ganache raw brownie  £4.00
Love Raw Mylk  £3.00

 

Power House Living Foods, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is an exquisitely beautiful island set off the west coast of Canada. It’s popular with surfers and nature lovers who come to spot the wild black bears, Orcas and eagles. It can be reached by plane or by ferry which dock in Nanaimo on the east coast of the island. Power House Living Foods Co is the perfect place to grab a plant-based meal and then collect your Pomme Natural organic groceries at the store attached for your adventures on the island. And all just a short drive from the ferry terminal.

 

We visited the North Nanaimo branch – there’s also one in Downtown.

The space

You need a car to visit as Power House is in a car park off a highway. It’s fairly easy to find if you are coming from the ferry. Inside is a counter and several tables with shoppers passing through to the organic grocery store behind and locals coming in to order juices and smoothies.  Menus are up on the wall and blenders buzz away as you walk in. The food on offer is as raw as the landscape that awaits you when you drive through the island.

The little things that make a difference

The environment is taken very seriously on the Island and Power House uses biodegradable packaging. And they compost, recycle and re-use.

Power House also support the 100 mile diet, wildcrafting and their local farming community, plus they ensure their carbon footprint remains low.

The fresh juice test

Power House has a large selection of juices, mylkshakes and smoothies on offer.

It was very difficult to choose, so we ordered several!

We chose a Monkey Business smoothie – a mix of mango, pineapple, banana, coconut water and agave which was deliciously tropical; a Quantum Leap – a zesty mix of orange, mango, almond mylk, vanilla and agave; a Euphoria – a combo of banana, hemp mylk, cacao, maca, mint, agave and vanilla; and, finally, a Vanilla B Glow – a creamy concoction of banana, hemp mylk, cacao, maca, mint, agave and vanilla.

What we ate

We ordered a wide selection of dishes. We couldn’t resist the Hawaiian BBQ Pizza with mixed greens, marinated mushrooms, onions, peppers, & fresh garlic, topped with their signature BBQ sauce and caramelised onions, and served with fresh pineapple. Be warned that it is raw and so is served cold. Next, the Spicy Kelp Noodle Salad with kelp noodles, spinach, bell pepper, courgette, cabbage, carrot and green onion, all served with sesame dressing on leafy greens. The portions are large so you might want to ask for a takeout for what you can’t finish.

The Powerhouse Salad with organic leafy greens, sprouted lentils and beans, beets, red cabbage, apple, blueberry, raspberry, cranberries, candied pecans and the house balsamic vinaigrette is a great post-ferry option.

All were fresh and delicious!

We also couldn’t resist the Kale chips and dessert. We chose the Tiramisu made of fresh almond mylk, raw cacao, agave, extra virgin coconut oil, cashews, almonds and cold-pressed espresso.

Then we tried their version of the legendary Nanaimo Bar.

It was made with whipped organic cashews, agave, extra virgin coconut oil, topped with a raw chocolate ganache and set upon a macadamia, coconut, and organic cacao base.

What we’d go back for…

This is the perfect plant-powered pit stop after a ferry journey.  You can eat raw and fresh and then pack the car with organic groceries in the store attached, And we will never forget the kombucha tap in the store where you can fill a bottle to take on the next step of your travels.

The bill

24oz Mylkshakes  $12.50
16oz Smoothie  $10.00
Hawaiian BBQ Pizza  $15.50
Powerhouse Salad  $14.50
Spicy Kelp Noodle Salad  $14.50
Kale chips  $12.25
Tiramisu  $12.50
Nanaimo Bar  $4.50


The Cold Pressed Juicery, Amsterdam

‘What was missing for us?  A “McHealthy””, says Nathalie Alica Streng, founder of The Cold Pressed Juicery. So, she decided to fill the gap and developed the first cold pressed juicery and raw food grab n’ go bar in The Netherlands.

The Cold Pressed Juicery now has four branches in Amsterdam all famous for their organic, raw  juices, delicious smoothies and their superfood lattes. And we also love those tiled green walls!

The location

We went to the original location on the Willemsparkweg, which is right next to the Museumplein and Vondelpark. The closest tram stop is “van Baerlestraat”-just take the 2, 3,5 or 12 . The café is located near the the expensive shopping street, PC Hoofdstraat – where you can find shops like Armani, Gucci and Dior.

The space

The café has huge windows. In front of the restaurant, there are two benches under the windows to sit out on if it’s warm.

Since it’s on the corner of a side street, there’s more of a neighbourhood feel.

Inside, there are a few pillows on the wide window ledge. Or one level up, there’s a little bar area with a few designer wooden chairs, which are -to be honest- not the most comfortable chairs. All the walls are covered with beautiful, vivid green tiles where they display menu options.
It’s mostly a grab and go type of café and you can also order online at Uber eats. We arrived at around 1pm, and a lot of people were popping in for a quick  juice, but there weren’t  long queues.

The crowd

Expect yoga pants, or workout clothes with a mix of tourists.

The fresh juice test

Where to start? There’s 13 juices and 7 superfood smoothies.

Glowcation fans should go for The Glow (pineapple, strawberry, beetroot and ginger).

But it’s hard to ignore The MOAJ or The Mother Of All Juices ( a mega mix of spinach, kale, fennel, cucumber, green bell pepper, aloe vera, nettle, romaine, parsley, watercress, lime and jalapeño).

Since it was a cold day,  I went for one of their special lattes. I chose the Blue Majik and Ginger latte which you can have either hot or cold. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and had a herbal flavour. It tasted pretty special and boasts great benefits for energy and health, as it contains a lot of minerals and vitamins.

What we ate

The Cold Pressed Juicery makes 99% organic, pure and local food, without chemicals, added sugar, preservatives, pasteurisation, HPP, animal products, gluten and dairy. It is primarily juice bar, but they do have a lot of different menu options like wraps, smoothie bowls, salad jars and raw snacks.  All the portions are medium sized, so you may need a snack or a starter as well. Wraps are freshly made in the kitchen, but most dishes are pre-made in the fridge.

We chose the dragon bowl, a raw wholesome pesto wrap and a banoffee parfait.

The dragon bowl was a really beautiful pink smoothie bowl made of pitaya, raspberries, mango, pineapple, fresh coconut, almond milk, lucuma and raw cacao.

It had a lovely tropical flavour mixture. As toppings, we had raw sprouted buckwheat granola, chia seeds, raspberries, grated coconut and  passionfruit. The granola was super crunchy, definitely a must try!

The Pesto wrap was very thin and super crunchy and was filled with spinach, carrots, courgette, alfalfa and home made pesto (made of basil, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, almonds, maple syrup, Himalayan salt, nutritional yeast, Tamarini and black pepper). The wrap was very well filled and contained a lot of pesto. My only comment would be that the pesto was mostly on one side which made the other side a bit dry.

For dessert, we chose the Banoffee parfait which was a triple layered pot. The bottom layer was like cookie dough made of almonds, maple syrup, cacao, cinnamon, dates and vanilla. The second layer was a little darker, made of banana, cashew and cinnamon and the last layer was made of banana, coconut and cashews.

It was all topped off with a little almond and some cinnamon The flavours all matched each other perfectly. It was heavenly!

The little things that make the difference

The green tiles are stunning and create a lovely, plant based, organic feel.

The bill

Raw wholesome pesto wrap  10.50EU
Dragon bowl  9.90EU
Banoffee parfait 5.50EU
Hot blue latte  4.75EU
Juices  4.75-5.25EU

Alchemy, Bali

Alchemy was the original raw vegan restaurant in Bali. Based in serene Ubud, it is still going strong serving salad, fresh juices and smoothie bowls daily from 7am till 9pm.

Alchemy is famous for their signature create your own salad and smoothie bar with a vast array of toppings and bases … and we had heard that their raw chocolate deserts are pretty addictive too, so we had to visit!

The location

Alchemy is on the edge of Ubud. It’s conveniently close to the Campuhan Ridge walk so it makes a great post hike pitstop.

The space

Alchemy is on a busy, main road. The roof is made of multiple layers of palm tree thatch and wood so you can’t miss it. In front of the entrance there’s a row of large potted palm trees screening off the road plus a parking lot for the scooters.  There’s no outside terrace at the front, but they do have a garden at the back where you can sit. Inside is minimal and white. You can grab and go, or eat in. Once inside, you forget you’re on a main road.

The tables, chairs and benches are all warm, distressed wood and complemented by pea green cushions. They have large tables for up to 8 people, but also tables for just two. We choose a wooden bench next to the window.

The crowd

The customers are mixed and mostly tourists including parents with buggies, backpackers or people like us -healthy food lovers!

The little things that make a difference

You can create your own smoothie or salad bowl at the bar so there is no waiting around.

Also, cakes come quickly so you only have to wait for your juices which are all made fresh.

The WiFi is really good and it’s a perfect place to work, because of the relaxed vibe. The music is easy going pop  – not played too loudly.

The fresh juice test

There’s a huge menu of smoothies and juices.  We had two juices -the Classic Green with apple and lime which was a mix of cucumber and leafy greens (parsley, spinach, kale, celery, bok choy) and the Pina Colada made of pineapple (of course), coconut, vanilla and palm nectar.

The green juice tasted very healthy, I loved the mixture of leafy greens. But the Pina Colada was definitely our favourite, it really did taste like a Pina Colada!

The juices are freshly made made in the kitchen, but you can also buy them bottled to take away. We loved the use of bamboo straws.

What we ate

Everything at Alchemy is raw, vegan and mostly home made. We chose two make your own smoothie bowls. You choose the base smoothie or cashew mylk, then three fruits and finally 2 toppings – although you can pay more for extra. The bowls are finished off with mint and lime and the topping sizes are generous. We had a bowl with a spirulina and banana base and another with a  mango base. We made up the green bowl (spirulina and banana base) with dragon fruit, papaya, mango, toasted coco buckwheat granola, coconut whipped cream and extra homemade caramel. With our yellow mango bowl, we added papaya, dragon fruit, cantaloupe, coco cashews and muesli.

Next, we had the raw bananoffee pie, which was incredible!

The bottom layer had a really deep rich flavour. The banana layer added more fruity flavour. Finally, the top layer of coconut whipped cream added a really intense flavour twist. Everything fitted together perfectly. Our other cake (well chocolate bar) was a chunk of raw, vegan chewy chocolate with almonds and a hard chocolate layer on top. As chocolate lovers, we adored it!

What we’d go back for…

Alchemy has their own raw vegan cooking classes where you can sign yourself up. Also, they have their own cook book “The Raw Alchemist”.

The bill

Banoffee pie 45.000IDR
Clean Green  48.000IDR
Chewy bar 27.000IDR
Pina Colada 45.000IDR
Smoothie bowl 55.000IDR

Moksa, Bali

Moksa has a mission: to create, and serve, healthy food in the most extraordinary and inspiring way.

Their ingredients are sourced directly from their own permaculture garden and this Glowcation is a fun farm to fork experience from start to finish.

Apart from their inspirational mission, Moksa’s USP is serving raw, vegan food which will quite simply explode your taste buds. Their standout dishes from the massive menu are the raw vegan lasagne and pizza.

The location

Moksa is quite remote, so you need to follow the instructions on their website to get there from central Ubud. We went by scooter, as it’s a long walk from the town centre. Moksa is surrounded by rice fields and on arrival you instantly feel like you’re miles away from the super busy and increasingly touristy Ubud.

The space

When you arrive at Moksa, you relax and can appreciate the sound of birds and the jungle. It’s the perfect get away from the city.

There’s two big, wooden, open terraces under a roof. You can relax and look at their beautiful permaculture garden from the chairs and tables made of dark Indonesian wood. When we arrived around 4pm it wasn’t busy at all. It filled up later but it never felt crowded or noisy. The music was  Ed Sheeran and acoustic covers of numbers, but not too loud. Working with your laptop in a culinary restaurant like this won’t be appreciated, but they do have good WiFi.

There’s a little shop next to the restaurant where they sell their own cakes and pies. You can also get take away there.

The crowd

Is quite international.  Moksa restaurant was founded by Chef Made Runatha and Made Janur Yasa. Chef Made Runatha became the world’s first Indonesian certified plant-based cuisine chef.

The fresh juice test

We had a fresh young coconut and the Body Cleanser which contained carrot, kale, celery, wheatgrass, ginger, apple and lime juice.

The apple made the juice a bit sweeter, but not too sweet. It came in a long glass with a bamboo straw.

What we ate

Moksa is 100% plant based and serves raw and cooked food. They use seasonal produce direct from their permaculture garden and the choices on the menu range from Asian, to Italian to Mexican!

We started off with the Moksa Mezze which came on a platter with quinoa, tabouleh, grilled aubergine, cucumber stick, olives, red radishes, tomato, vegan pesto cheese, living bread and crackers, accompanied with zucchini hummus, vegan tzatziki and red beet muhamara.

As our main dish, we had the Moksa Sampler, tempeh ribs and a portion of purple sweet potato fries with house made “ketchup”. The Moksa Sampler was a chef`s selection of mini lasagne, Asian spring pasta, mini pizza, gado-gado, organic spring mix, and accompanied with a soup of choice. We chose the soup of the day which was a very creamy and rich flavoured pumpkin soup.

Our favourite was definitely the mini lasagne, as the flavours were so intense and delicious.

We really loved the Sampler, because the menu is so large and everything sounds amazing, having the sampler allowed us to taste half of the selection.

The Tempeh ribs were two pieces grilled soy tempeh marinated with homemade bbq sauce, served with mashed sweet potatoes, mixed greens and grilled tomato. The flavour and texture of the ribs really were like a piece of meat. Plus, the extra portion of bbq sauce next to the ribs was perfect. So we ate it with the sweet potato as well.

Last, but not least, we ordered the Sweet Symphony as dessert. This was the chef`s selection of three raw vegan cakes and pies with vegan ice cream. We had a passionfruit pie with a nut and date layer and a very creamy light yellow passionfruit and lime layer with raspberries and topped with a gelatin like layer with passionfruit seeds. Plus, a slice of lime pie and another slice of raw chocolate pie with “whipped cream” and a strawberry next to a scoop of raspberry ice-cream.

The desserts were amazing.

Our tip, since the dessert menu is also pretty large, you can have 4 desserts in one if you go for the platter.

The little things that make the difference

The service is perfect and so professional. When we arrived, they asked us if we had been to Moksa before, and explained the philosophy of the restaurant. When your food arrives they also go through everything on your plate.

Almost all their food is grown in their own permaculture garden and they have a farmers market every Tuesday and Saturday from 10AM till 2PM. Also, the ceramic sets on sale (made by Hillary Kane from Gaya Ceramic Art Centre) and the cutlery are really unique.

The bill

Moksa mezze 70.000IDR
Moksa sampler 80.000IDR
Sweet potato fries 25.000IDR
Sweet symphony 70.000IDR
Tempeh ribs 70.000IDR
Body cleanser  55.000IDR
Young coconut  25.000IDR

For more Bali inspiration click here.

Mantra Raw Vegan, Milan

Mantra Raw Vegan is the very first raw, vegan food bar in Milan. It’s curated by chef Alberto Minio Paluello, who trained at the Matthew Kenney Academy in Santa Monica.

Paluello brings his Italian passion for food and expertise in raw “cooking” to this trailblazing, innovative kitchen. It’s  an Instagram delight and a favourite of the King of Fashion, Karl Lagerfeld.


The setting

The café is based in the more contemporary east side of Milan. I went with a friend and as we entered there’s a market space where you can buy take away options like raw desserts, juices and snacks.

There’s also a half open kitchen where you can see the chef creating his artworks.

At the back of the restaurant is the dining room. The setting is minimal and modern with a stripped back palette, aluminium lighting and coloured vinyl chairs. A few little cactuses add warmth to the room. I loved the cosy the grey blankets.

The little things

They have a shop and a selection of containers where you can scoop your own portion of one of their treats. There are kale chips, chocolate walnuts and raw crackers.

The green juice test

Our green juices came in a wine glass. All the green juices were sold out so I went for the Purple Zen and my friend chose the Yellow Aim.

The Purple Zen was a mix of beets, apple and ginger and tasted more like a green juice – it wasn’t sweet at all (despite the apple).

The Yellow Aim was really special, because it was made of melon, lime and rosewater! The rosewater and the melon combined together to make the juice really delicate, but the lime gave it zing.

What we ate

We both had the two choice menu – a starter and a selection dish of the day which was pumpkin ravioli and walnut with mushroom balls. We ordered 2 different dishes and starters and shared everything between us.

The starter was a homemade carrot bread topped with a very thick layer of avocado smash, cherry tomato, lettuce, pretty edible flowers, e.v.o oil(extra virgin oil) and lemon marinated fennel on top, which gave the dish a very fresh flavour. The mushroom and walnut balls came with marinara sauce and some lettuce garnish.

The “no meatballs” were very crispy which was pretty impressive for raw food!

Our other plate was carrot bread with “feta cheese” and mushrooms. The feta cheese was stunning, it was really thick like real feta, but was made of soaked almonds and nutritional yeast! The pumpkin ravioli were filled with pine nuts and spinach fondue and came with some cilantro/pumpkin seed pesto and sweet and sour apple.

For dessert we had the tirawmisu (as we are in Italy)!

The base of the tirawmisu was made from hazelnuts soaked in caffeine-free coffee, and it did really taste like the traditional soaked lady finger cookies. The cream was made of coconut with beetroot juice (for the pink colour).

We also had a raw pie with a base of dried mango and a topping made from from soaked cashews with lime. Delicious!


The bill

Two Choices menu x 2   24EU
Purple Zen   5,90EU
Yellow Aim  5,90EU
Tiramisu  7EU
Raw pie  7EU


 


What else?

Mantra Raw Vegan is the first raw and vegan food bar in Italy so massive applause to them!

What made us glow?

It’s a real feast on your plate, all the food looks so pretty that you almost don’t want to eat it! Plus, the variety of ingredients they combine make the dishes very special …and it’s all raw, so packed with nutrition!

 

Chelsea: Tanya’s Café

We love the mantra of Tanya’s Café: raw, organic, handmade and plant-based.

Tanya Maher, an expert in detox and holistic living, has created an eat in/out oasis in Chelsea.

The deli shelves are stacked with salad bowls, signature cold pressed juices and raw cakes.

The café provides a perfect health kick before exploring South Kensington’s museums, Knightsbridge and the King’s Road.

The setting

Tanya’s Café is tucked away in the foyer of the My Chelsea hotel in Ixworth Place. It combines a Grab N’Go with a Grab N’Dine In. The layout lets you take away your goodies or eat them in the hotel’s calming Lobby space, AKA The Living Room.

Here the bar also serves more standard fare and cappuccinos alongside Tanya’s special lattes (Macha, Golden Turmeric, Medicinal Mushroom, Chai and Cocoa). The light filled space has spacious sofa seating in a palm filled atrium. And a pretty, outdoor courtyard dotted with ferns and geraniums.

Pale woods, natural fabrics and greenery add to the atmosphere.

The background music is soothing and power points are plentiful.

The Living Room space was quiet at 10 am on a Monday, with just a few hotel guests working on their laptops.

It slowly filled up with locals during the morning. The staff were friendly and helpful.

The little things

We loved the environmental use of a stripy, retro red and white straw rather than single use plastic. The complimentary taster latte shot (Medicinal Mushroom) was a find and a great way of trying out new flavours.

The fresh juice test

Tanya’s Sugar Free Fix ticks the raw cold pressed box. Refreshing with a hint of bitterness.

It contains parsley, cucumber, lemon, spinach, mint, ginger and avocado.

It’s unpasteurised, organic and felt positively medicinal.

What we ate

The deli/take away section fridges are packed with a choice of raw salads. We had the signature adventure salad bowl at £11.55. A colourful mix of raw beetroot, red cabbage, carrot, quinoa, kale, guacamole and coconut.

No dressing, but a serious palate cleanser and packaged in a take away box.

We couldn’t resist the lime and avocado cheezecake from the large raw cake section. A fab combo with a citrus hit of lime and the smooth, creamy texture of avocado. All sprinkled with dried rose petals.

The bill

Adventure Salad £11.55
Sugar Free Fix juice £6.95
Cheezecake £6.20


My taster Medicinal Mushroom Latte (with coconut milk) tasted like a rich hot chocolate with a hint of mushroom.

It was delicious, but a full cup may have been too much.

The staff are happy to put the eat in food on plates if you ask.

What else?

Tanya’s Café is on Deliveroo and Quiqup which is good news.

What made us glow?

The spacious, calming, green surroundings.

It would be very easy to lose half a day relaxing in a Tanya’s Café sofa…and we did!

For more West London inspiration click here.