Posted on

Citizens of

Looking for the latest Aussie plant-based Glowcation in New York with vegan options? Citizens is an Australian Café which first opened in Chelsea, New York back in 2016 but are growing fast.

They recently opened a second location in Gramercy quickly followed by a third on Bleecker Street in the West Village.

They serve Australian based cuisine, so expect fresh, healthy eats and drinks. And they also serve up some of the best coffee in town.

Three reasons to go there:

Australian based food based in the main areas of Manhattan.

Their avocado toast.

They welcome all kinds of dietary restrictions swith wide open arms and mention this on the menu.

The location

Citizins of… has three locations – Chelsea, Gramercy and Bleecker St. We went to the location on Bleecker street in the heart of West Village. It’s also home to By Chloe and you can read our review here of that Glowcation here. To get there you can get the subway to stop W. 4ST or Broadway/Lafayette and then walk for a couple of minutes.

It’s a buzzy, fun area to visit if you are in town for work or travel.

The space

The Restaurant is painted dark grey, almost black. It has some huge windows so the restaurant is flooded with light inside. It’s a busy street so expect plenty of New York hustle and bustle rather than a quiet chill out place. The ceiling is very high so it feels fairly imposing at first. In the back there are multiple tables with some round brown couches. In the middle of the restaurant there is one big long communal table. There are long bars on either side where you can sit on some bar chairs next to each others and people watch.

We sat down at the end of the long middle table bathed in natural day light.

You can sit down there and work on your computer. It’s a nice ambience and a great spot to get a good coffee.

The crowd

There’s a very diverse crowd reflecting the West Village, There are a plenty of tourists around, but also students working there on their laptop. It can get crowded, but it was a nice buzz when we visited.

What we ate

Citizens of… is an Australian restaurant with vegetarian, vegan and Gluten/Dairy free options but they also serve meat and fish dishes. On the menu card you can find the dishes with added letters after them, so you know what dishes are plant-based. We ordered the Smashing avocado toast, Belgian Waffle and the Curry braised Lentils.

The Smashing avocado normally comes blended with feta cheese in on top a thick slice of Multigrain bread.

We missed it being toasted and all the garnishes, but we got a big portion of sliced avocado, beetroot hummus and pumpkin seeds instead as we asked for no feta. It normally comes with citrus cilantro, candy cane beets and pickled onions.

We also switched around our Belgian waffle to make it dairy free. The staff were super helpful at making this possible. The Waffle is gluten-free and comes usually with banana, granola, peanut butter, fall fruits and sage-brown butter maple syrup. So we switched the butter to the Caramel, which they add on the banana bread. The waffle was perfect crispy and light. It could have done with a bit more of the caramel since the drizzle was tiny, but still very delicious.

And trying the curry braised lentils was definitely a very good decision. The green lentils came in a coconut curry sauce with some grated coconut.

They topped it off with some avocado, watercress and red sorrel. The avocado was a perfect topping, because it made the curry super creamy and portion wise it was exactly the right amount.

They make their own daily juices every day by themselves.

The bill

Smashing Avocado 14$
Belgian waffle 13$
Curry braised lentils 14$

The little things that make the difference

Citizen o…f is working on their take away home delivery menu and they also offer events.

We also like the wait list service they offer online making it easy to get a table.

Posted on

Meet the Glowgetter – Anna Brightman, turning coffee into skincare at UpCircle Beauty

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up the company?

It all started about three years ago now. My brother and co-founder William used to make his own coffee each morning using a cafetière.

Living in central London he didn’t have a garden and so didn’t have enough plants he could use the coffee grounds on, so instead he was simply throwing them away.

He asked his local coffee shop what they did with their waste coffee and was shocked to hear that they were producing so much that they had to pay the council to have it removed and disposed of on landfill sites.

He decided it was a great starting point for a business idea, but wasn’t sure what that idea was. That’s where I came in. Throughout my teenage years I wanted to be a makeup artist so always had a keen interest in beauty and skincare. I knew that coffee had loads of great skincare benefits, so… lightbulb moment! Why not repurpose the coffee into sustainable circular skincare products?

What was your journey to this moment?

Setting up a company usually falls into one of two categories either do something nobody else is doing or do something that is already being done, but do it better. We fall into the first category. We are genuinely doing something different. Waste-free circular economy vegan natural sustainable skincare – who else is doing that? Nobody. It is genuinely innovative and exciting and bringing something totally unique to the market. We wouldn’t have taken the giant leap into starting our own business unless it was a truly differentiated concept.

My brother and I spent many months still in our previous jobs whilst we got the ball rolling on our new idea.

We made simple products which we took to the London Coffee Festival as a way of testing whether people liked what we were doing. We made hundreds and hundreds of scrubs for the five day show, thinking it would see us through, but we sold out before the end of the first day. This was enough to persuade us that people liked the products and were open-minded to the recycled element of the idea.

We both quit our jobs the next day. We’ve never looked back!

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

It is a quote from Richard Branson and it never ceases to inspire me, especially when things are tough and you wonder why you decided to do something so unique and walk an untrodden path. ‘The brands that will thrive in the coming years are those that have a motivation beyond profit’.

Consumers care, we care. The market is changing. We went to leave the world a better place than it was before.

Why sustainable? Why vegan?

Sustainability is so important. We are at a critical time and we need to be conscious of how our actions are impacting the planet and future generations. It is cliché – but there really is no Planet B. Vegan products are important because animal ingredients are not vital to skincare for efficacy nor is it the least harmful route. We want to tread lightly on our earth. Consumers are demanding more from businesses and rightly so. This is what our consumers want.

What are the highs and lows of running a clean beauty business?

Every day has highs and lows. It is a genuine rollercoaster of emotions. The important thing is to occasionally stop and take stock of what you have achieved. Owning your own business you are constantly looking forwards and trying to grow the business and solve issues as they arise. There is rarely time to look back. But it’s important to practice gratitude and acknowledge what’s been achieved.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

Clean beauty means containing nothing that will do harm to you or to the planet. Zero toxicity. I like to say that our products are edible because technically they are. That is when you know beauty is ‘clean’. When you recognise all the ingredients and would happily put it in your mouth! Clean is the new norm. You need to take it one step further – be sustainable, be zero waste, be plastic free. We all need to up our game – toxic products just won’t cut it anymore.

Where are your 3 favourite organic places to eat?

Wild Food Cafe is a gem – they have just opened up a new location in Islington which is amazing. Their raw deserts and cocktails are crazy good.

For delicious farm to table cuisine that really focuses on seasonality and local produce I love Nutbourne in Battersea.

To splurge it would have to be The River Cafe. They do fresh seasonal Italian cooking like nobody else!

How would you explain how you upcycle ingredients?

We intercept ingredients before the point of them being thrown away and avoid this by giving them new life as UpCircle products. For example, we upcycle by-products from another industry – like brewed coffee grounds and chai tea spices from the food and drink industry.

We’re all about taking ingredients with more to give and prolonging their life timeline by transforming them into skincare products. It’s a very imaginative and collaborative process.

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?

Our soaps for everyday cleansing. My fave is the Fennel + Cardamom bar, it’s ace for preventing breakouts and smells super fresh. Plus it’s lightweight (can use on face and body) and solid – perfect for travelling!

Our serum for moisture. The serum’s versatility makes it the perfect travel companion. It can be used morning and night and doubles up as a hair oil too! Can’t go wrong.

Our new face cream – I can’t give too much away on this one, but it’s jumped straight to the number one spot for my go-to product. Just you wait, it’s unreal. It’s set to launch in 6 weeks.

For everything else a giant tub of coconut oil! Simple, effective, inexpensive.

What are your top 5 things that make you glow?

Fresh water – swimming in freshwater lakes or the ocean! The magnesium and minerals from the sea make me feel so alive and grounded.

Time spent with friends. Stress can cause breakouts and for me, there’s nothing better for relieving stress than having a great time with your pals. They can diminish any problem!

Poetry by Rupi Kaur – Her work is so beautiful it almost brings me to tears.

Going for a run – get a good playlist going and sweat out any toxins!

Deep breathing nothing gets you glowing like oxygen. Don’t waste your money on an oxygen facial sit outside in nature and do some deep breathing!

Posted on

Pura Vida, South Beach, Miami

Pura Vida was created by a husband and wife team as a place for friends and family to meet and eat delicious food. They’ve created an enticing all day menu and we visited this peaceful South Beach spot at lunch time.

The setting

This South Beach café is set in the quiet South of 5th neighbourhood on Washington. It’s a few blocks from South Pointe Beach and Park.

The space

Tables for two, with sun umbrellas, line the quiet, tree-lined pavement.

There’s also a covered area with more tables in the shade of the building – all screened off with lush greenery.

What else?

Pura Vida have several branches in Miami in South Beach, Coral Gables and Edgewater. You can order online. Plus, there a small shop inside where you can buy Pura Vida accessories including tote bags, T shirts and re-usable cups.

The fresh juice test

There’s a choice of eight superfood smoothies (including the Welcome to Miami of passion fruit, mango, banana and honey), four freshly made juices, four wellness shots, two house made lemonades and various kombuchas.

We decided to review the flu shot which was a bracing mix of ginger, honey, lemon and cayenne pepper.

As it was a humid day on our visit, we also chose the signature house made lemonade, their refreshingly zingy Lala Lemonade and a blood orange, carrot and ginger Heath Ade kombucha. Both hit the spot perfectly.

What we ate

Pura Vida has an all day breakfast selection of açai bowls, smashed avo and fruit salads.

The menu is vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian.

We chose a Kale Caesar which was a generous mix of multi-grain croutons, local kale and parmesan. The dressing was rich and creamy and the texture was excellent. We added feta to the Green Market Salad, which was an equally generous portion. It was packed with rocket, mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomato, carrot, pickled cabbage, radish, sprouts, scallions, chick peas, micro-coriander and sunflower seeds and all topped off with a delicious green tahini and honey lemon dressing. The salad was fresh and filling, but sadly the dressing came in a separate plastic pot which seemed unnecessary.

What we’d go back for…

The açai bowls and smashed avo looked very tempting.

The bill

Lala lemonade  $4.95
Flu shot  $5
Kombucha  $6
Kale Caesar salad  $10.95
Green market salad  $12.95
+feta  $1.50

Posted on

Lele’s, Hackney, London

“We believe in good food, and kindness” is Lele’s motto Valentina, the founder, grew up in an Italian culture and wanted to bring this simple, honest approach to food to London.

The setting

Lele’s café is on Hackney’s busy Lower Clapton Rd, only 10 minutes walk from Hackney Central Overground station. There’s also a Lele’s in Dalston which also offers a dinner menu.

The space

Lele’s has a modest exterior and the interior has a welcoming, calming aura. House plants are everywhere – filling the shelves and countertops and mini cacti dot the windowsill-table. Mosaic floor tiles complement the mis-matched, up-cycled tables and stools.  Overall, the ground-floor is bright and airy thanks to large glass windows and a spiral grey staircase leads to a downstairs area with more seating.

What else?

Lele’s has been fully vegan since December 2017.

They also cater at big events and markets like Vegan Nights.. The café is dog-friendly with a jar of free doggy biscuits and water too.

The fresh juice test

Lele’s have a nutritious juice and superfood drinks menu and make all their juices to order. Their green juice was refreshing and light with a great balance between sweet and vegetable-savoury. It was a cooling blend of apple, spinach, lemon and celery.  The Root juice was equally as refreshing, if not a little fiery thanks to the fresh ginger. It was blended with apple, carrot and beetroot and packed with zest and zing.

What we ate

The menu at Lele’s is fully plant-based with options for gluten-free eaters.

As well as the seasonal menu, there’s a selection of fresh patisserie and cakes, sandwiches, bagels and vegan “sausage” rolls and a salad station. We decided to review the giant couscous stuffed roasted red pepper with a side of creamy raw slaw – a blend of walnuts and roasted root vegetables and potatoes.

The set menu offers the best value for sweet and savoury breakfast, brunch and lunch options. From sweet French toast and coconut, banana and chocolate drenched pancakes to porridge bowls, nourish bowls and Lele’s vegan full English. We chose the Marmite Avocado Toast. It was made with thick and chewy sourdough and topped with lashings of Marmite and creamy smashed avocado. It was generously drizzled with tahini, toasted pumpkin seeds, smoked paprika and a side of rocket. It was packed with flavour and texture and was a delight to eat.

With the sweet selection, we were spoilt for choice. Eventually, we chose their peanut butter cookie and a peanut butter cookie sandwich. A crumbly, chewy oaty cookie studded with big chocolate chips with a more-ish peanut butter flavour and texture. They were huge. The cookie sandwich used the same rich peanut butter bake smeared with thick Biscoff cookie spread for an indulgent treat.

We also tried their Oreo brownie on a staff recommendation. It was deliciously light and moist, quite spongey and topped with crunchy Oreo cookies. Finally, we couldn’t resist the signature chocolate croissant. It was a flaky, “buttery” rich pastry filled with a chocolate spread that melted in the mouth.

It was perhaps the best vegan croissant I’ve tasted – you couldn’t even tell the difference between it and a non-vegan pastry.

 

What we’d go back for…

All the food, cakes and drinks at Lele’s were  so impressive, I would go back in a heartbeat. They also offer monthly afternoon tea events which showcase their beautiful patisserie delights as well as savoury sandwiches with scones, jam and vegan cream.

The bill

Green juice  £4.20
Root juice  £4.20
Salad  £6.50
Marmite avocado toast  £7.50
Peanut butter cookie  £2.00
Peanut butter cookie sandwich  £4.00
Oreo brownie £3.50
Chocolate croissant  £2.00

Posted on

Fresh On Front, Toronto

Fresh is a pioneer in vegan eating in Toronto with 20 years of plant-based expertise. Fresh on Front opened in 2018 and offers a signature line of raw, organic cold pressed juices and in-house made vegan dishes.

The setting

Fresh on Front is on Front St East in Old Toronto. It’s a short walk from Union Station and is close to St. Lawrence Market, the stunning Sony Centre for Performing Arts and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The space

The café has a window filled Victorian facade and inside the space is large, elegant and upmarket.

It’s a must visit when you are in Toronto.

You can eat at the long white counter in the black and white tiled entrance hall, or in the large, plush back room with pale central tables and green velvet banquettes lining the wall.  The staff are super helpful and the vibe is smart casual.

What else?

You can take out or order in via Uber eats, Foodora and Doordash. Fresh has four more branches across the city on Bloor, Crawford, Eglington, and Spadina.

The fresh juice test

There’s a choice of 16 colourful, super-blended juices.

The juices come in a large recycled glass bottle and contain a mega 10 servings of fresh produce!

We decided to review the pretty pink Rosy Glow. It claims to be “fruity and filling, nourishing and hydrating” . It was a blend of rose water, silica, coconut, strawberry and apple. It tasted exotically Moroccan and was quite simply one of our all time favourite juices.

If you fancy a more substantial drink, Fresh also have six power shakes and five smoothies on offer.

What we ate

There’s a large menu and a gluten-free menu. You can chose from toasts, salads, tacos, burgers, wraps and bowls. All have an extensive choice of add ons, dips and sauces. Plus, the portions, like the juices, are all large.

We had the creamy hummus and toast for starters. It was “Jerusalem style” and rich in tahini with a grilled seeded flatbread . Next, the charred greens and feta flatbread.

It was packed with baby pak choy, swiss chard, kale, vegan feta, lemon garlic oil, agrodolce and sea salt with glazed seeds and almond topping.

The dish was crispy and delicately spiced and the vegan feta was excellent.

 

The Cobb salad was a combo of tempeh bacon, crispy chick’n, avocado, marinated farro, vegan feta, tomato, red onion and mixed lettuce. It was large and filling. Finally, with the smashed avo toast, we chose the option to swap the toast for grilled sweet potato.

The smoky potato was a delicious touch of genius perfectly complementing the avocado, vegan feta, seeds, baby arugula, lemon garlic oil and tomato.

What we’d go back for

The juices and the avo toast. Pretty much everything really…

The bill

Rosy glow juice  $12
Hummus $13
Charred greens and feta flatbread  $14
Smashed avo $13.50
Cobb salad  $17

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

By CHLOE., Oxford Circus, Marylebone

By CHLOE., NYC’s vegan fast food sensation, is making serious in roads into the London plant-based scene with their third location in London, just steps from Oxford Circus. By CHLOE. are now truly spreading the love in the UK with their plant-based burgers, pastries and delicious air fried fries (with beetroot ketchup!). As I am a huge fan of By CHLOE. NY,  I was keen to review the central London branch.

The setting

By CHLOE.  Oxford Circus is based next to busy Oxford Street, so certainly super central! A few streets away in Fitzrovia, you can find Glow Bar and Kin.

The space

Outside they have the signature monochrome look of the By CHLOE.s  in the US.

The inside has a canteen kind of vibe, the space is large, black and white striped, with stripped brick walls.

There are lots of chairs and tables of different sizes, plus striped couches and tiny tables where it’s easy to sit on your own.

It’s not the best space to work on your laptop, being much more of a space to get lunch or dinner to go or to quickly eat in – especially with the many office workers nearby. You order your food at the counter and they give you a buzzer, so, when your food is ready, it buzzes to let you know.

I’m going to be very honest here, since I have visited multiple locations in New York and now in London, maybe it’s the ultra busy location, but this branch has more of a fast food vibe (and less of a relaxed vibe) than others. In New York, By CHLOE.  is very much a relaxed brunch spot too.

The crowd

Being so central, expect a different crowd to their other branches.: shopping teenagers, and lots of business men and women from nearby offices.

What we ate

In the UK By CHLOE. has created some “British specials” like toffee pudding and fish and chips, but sadly, due to the busy location, they had run out of those and other options on the menu, so we couldn’t try them out.

I usually have the Caesar salad, which is super tasty! So decided to mix it up with the Thai salad. When the salad came it was sprinkled with crispy wontons, a few pieces of apricot-siracha glazed tempeh and a very few edamame beans. I suspect they were running out of ingredients here too. However,  peanut dressing was super tasty and gave a really lovely Asian twist to the dish.

Next, we had the breakfast platter of scrambled tofu, spinach, a maple sausage, market greens, walnuts and 7 grain toast. Sadly, the tofu was wet and the sausage was burned. However, the toast was well toasted and crunchy with slightly brown edges, just how I like it.

So, after the negativity, good news: the legendary By CHLOE. desserts!

Their sweets are all amazing and you literally will have no idea you’re eating a vegan pastry!

I’ve had their muffins before, and do really recommend them, but the banana bread is definitely my favourite of all. It’s a super thick slice fully loaded with pieces of chocolate and walnuts. The crust has a little crunch and is perfectly baked and not too moist. Also, I had my first pecan cookie and that was a real winner. The cookie was moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside and contained chocolate chips and pecan pieces.

I’m still a big fan of By CHLOE. and I really hope they will get their kitchen better organised at this busy branch, because Tower Bridge and Covent Garden are doing really well.  The guy at the counter was super sweet and really tried to compensate for the lack of menu items and make everyone happy who was eating in.

The bill

Sweet potato fries  £4
Spicy thai salad  £9,95
Early bird platter  £9
Banana bread  £3.60
Cookie, classic pecan  £2.40

Posted on

Raw Juce, Miami

Need a Miami juice bar? Raw Juce has established itself as the go to take away juice spot in Miami with a choice of twenty delicious organic juices,. The local juicer from Boca Raton, up the coast, offers cold-pressed fruit and vegetables juices, smoothies, organic snacks and raw vegan desserts.

The setting

Raw Juce has branches in Aventura, Brickell, Coral Gables and Weston. The Brickell branch is in the shopping mall at Mary Brickell Village., There’s also a branch of Dirt nearby.

The space

It’s more of a grab and go with a few seats and tables. The vibe is metal industrial chairs with super friendly staff.

The fresh juice test

We were quite overwhelmed with the choice of 20 innovative and tempting flavours of juices. not to mention the 11 Smooth-e-lixirs with names such as Dragon Bomb and Hercules.

We decided to review the Turmeric Soul and the Square Root juices.

The first was a blend of orange, turmeric, ginger and reishi and delicious. Refreshing with a zingy twist. The Square Root took a common blend of beet, Gala apple and ginger to a new level with the addition of aloe water and lemon.

What we ate

It’s not all about the juice. Raw Juce also do organic grab n go snacks like raw oatmeal parfaits, kale and quinoa based salads, açaí bowls, and a selection of raw desserts such as the yummy cashew butter cups (like Reese’s but guilt free). We went for açai and chose the Power Bowl. It was a generous mix of banana, mango, açai, almond mylk, protein and almond butter. The topping was equally generous. It was loaded with blueberries and bananas, flax seed, granola, hemp seeds and almonds and drizzled with honey. We loved it.

Next we had the Blue Majik Cheesecake. Magic hit the nail on the head .

It was a creamy, dreamy mix of almond, coconut, agave, cacao, cashew, lemon sea salt, spirulina, blueberry, pistachios and raspberries. It tasted as good as it looked.

The bill

Turmeric Soul $11.50
Square Root $11
Power bowl $13.50
Blue majik cheesecake $7

Posted on

Drake Devonshire, Wellington

The popularity of foodie destination Prince Edward County is often put down to one factor – the opening of the Drake Devonshire Hotel. The country outpost of Toronto’s iconic Drake put laid back Wellington firmly on the map. Today, the picturesque town is packed with cool eateries and shops and the hotel’s café still offers one of the best weekend brunches in town.

The setting

The Drake Devonshire is tucked away down a quiet side street and set directly on the shore of Lake Ontario. It’s handy for the beach and shops.  Nearby local hotspots include the Enid Grace Bakery and La Condesa for authentic Mexican food with lots of plant based options.

The space

The café is set at the back of the hotel with a large outdoor terrace directly overlooking the lake and hotel beach.

The view is stunning and there’s also a large inside dining area. The café gets pretty busy and when we went the service was quite slow due to this.

What else?

The hotel serves non-guests for breakfast, brunch (at the weekends), lunch and dinner. Kids are welcome and there’s free WiFi.

The fresh juice test

The Drake offers two juice blends: a red and a green. We decided to review the red which was a zingy mix of beet, apple and ginger. The green is a combo of cucumber, rocket, spinach apple, ginger and wheat grass.

They also do simple fresh juices like orange, grapefruit and apple.

What we ate

There’s a large choice for vegans and vegetarians. We went for two salads and a side of hummus.

We chose the Tomato and Strawberry salad with pickled beets and rocket drizzled with a delicate lavender and pistachio vinaigrette

(no doubt inspired by the local lavender fields). Next, we had the Baby Gem Caesar. This was a crispy, fresh salad with pickled corn, avocado, croutons and radish, but it didn’t really taste like a caesar salad to us. The hummus was house made and had a lovely taste and texture and the sour dough was perfectly toasted.

What we’d go back for…

The location and the view

The bill

Orange juice  $7
Red juice  $8
Tomato and strawberry salad  $16
Baby gem Caesar  $17
Drake + bake sourdough  $4
+  hummus  $6

 

 

 

Posted on

Hibiscus Café, Toronto

Hibiscus Café is a family-run vegetarian café where the buckwheat crêpes are fresh and delicious, the soups and salads are rich and filling and everything is organic and gluten-free.

Bang in the heart of hip Kensington Market, it also serves some of the best vegan ice cream in town.

The setting

Hibiscus Café is on Augusta Ave, one of the main streets in hipster Kensington Market. The area is packed with casual street food cafés, thrift shops and quirky boutiques. Chinatown and the trendy shopping drag of Queen St West are a few blocks away.

The space

There’s a small wooden fenced-in and umbrella covered patio outside. Inside is relatively compact, but home to several wooden tables with Bentwood chairs.

One wall is dark shelving displaying foodie ornaments, the back wall is cool green and the final wall has pretty lit alcoves housing natural objects and prints.

The staff are friendly and very helpful.

What else?

There’s another branch of Hibiscus Café in the Assembly Chef’s Hall opposite the iconic Nathan Phillip’s Square. The portions are large, especially the ice-cream ones and the staff let you try flavours before you buy. The café is committed to sustainable packaging.

The fresh juice test

Hibiscus doesn’t sell juice, but there’s a range of smoothies and kombuchas which come served with a metal straw.

We had the blend of banana, blueberry, canteloupe, kiwi, mango, pear, raspberry and strawberry which was delicious.

What we ate?

The Hibiscus Café sells an array of sweet and savoury buckwheat crepes. You can pair with a soup or salad, but do save room for their innovative dairy-free ice cream.

There’s also a good choice of sweet crêpes, including: home-made chocolate-hazelnut and spread with banana; cinnamon and lemon icing; apple and cinnamon; banana and walnut and home-made vegan dulce de leche and kiwi. Hibisicus also have a selection of mouth-watering gluten-free, vegan cookies, squares and brownies. However, much as we were tempted, we went for the vegan ice-cream, as we couldn’t resist the flavours on offer.

The vegan ice-cream is made in small batches and comes in a cup or GF cone. The ices are made with either coconut, almond or home-made mung bean milk.

We had a double scoop of sea buckthorn and a strawberry and basil. Both were stunningly creamy and delicately favoured.

The bill

Kombucha $5.20
Smoothie $8.00
Savoury Crepe $16.50
Ice cream, double scoop $8.00

Posted on

Dirt, Miami

Dirt’s Chef Nicole Votano says “At a lot of healthy places the health comes first and the taste comes after, we’re the opposite.”

The setting

Dirt is in South Beach’s waterfront enclave of Sunset Harbour. The casual café is surrounded by gourmet restaurants, chic shops, high-rise condos and fitness centres.  It’s also just a few blocks from the retail therapy mecca of Lincoln Mall.

The space

The modern grey tiled exterior is pretty much unmissable.

Inside, is a large, light space with a warehouse vibe- polished concrete, industrial touches and metal stools. There’s a selection of shared counters and tables, plus sofa banquettes with cushions lining the walls and windows. Dirt has free WiFi and lots of laptops were out during our visit.

 

What else?

Dirt are keen on inclusivity and do include meat on the menu. You can order a steak sandwich, but it will be grass fed.  Dirt also has branches in Brickell and Arlington.

The fresh juice test

We were totally spoilt for choice.

There’s the local Counter Culture kombucha on tap, the local brand of Radiate Kombucha in cans, Rebirth Elixirs and house-made lemonades including a matcha lavender.

If that’s not enough, they offer tempting vegan ice-cream mylkshakes, honey cardamon lattes and a large selection of Dirt’s own juices and shots.

Despite the various temptations,  we decided to review the Dirt Root juice. It was a cold-pressed blend of beet, apple, carrot ginger and lemon. It was refreshing with a subtle kick. We also had a delicious Radiate Flower Power kombucha favoured with hibiscus flower, lemongrass and lemon juice.

What we ate

Theres quite an extensive menu and an all day breakfast featuring bowls, pancakes and toasts. Plus, soups, sandwiches, tostadas, salads and seasonal plates.

We couldn’t resist the intriguing Grilled Watermelon and Balsamic Toast.

It was a surprisingly delicious combination of watermelon, lemon-zested Greek yogurt (there are vegan alternatives), blueberries, balsamic reduction, honey, toasted sunflower seeds, Maldon sea salt, Harpke Family Farm Farm sprouts and Zak the Baker bread.

Next we had the So-Cal Burrito. This was a filling portion of  scrambled cage-free eggs, pepper jack cheese, sautéed onions, organic quinoa and “Dirty” de gallo all rolled in a spinach tortilla wrap and served with pickled onions and house-made salsa verde (there’s also a chipotle option). Although the portion was large, it was quite bland, so maybe we should have ordered the chipotle sauce with it.  Finally, we had the Vegan Creamed Spinach. The spinach was cooked with house-made garlic cashew cream, almond “Parmesan” and grape tomatoes. The cashew cream was delicious.

The little things

Dirt has four menus: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and Paleo.

Plus, they break down the nutritional components of each dish on their menu  into calories, protein, fat and carbs.

What we’d go back for…

The vegan ice-cream mylkshakes…

The bill

Root juice  $8
Kombucha [canned]  $6
Grilled watermelon + balsamic toast  $12
So-cal burrito  $12.5
Vegan creamed spinach  $6

Posted on

The Vic Café, Picton, Ontario

Prince Edward County is fast becoming the must visit weekend destination for Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.  This small island on Lake Ontario is packed with fresh farm stalls, wineries and antique shops.

The main town of Picton is a foodie destination and home to The Vic Café – a modern diner that prides itself on catering for all diets in a fun atmosphere with individual vegetarian, vegan and GF menus.

The setting

The Vic Café is on Main St, Picton surrounded by antique shops, vintage clothes stores, book shops and retro record stores.

The space

The café, with its neon sprayed walls, is unmissable from the historic street. Outside, there’s a large wooden, covered terrace with a lot of tables and pot plants.

Inside is white, shiny and modern with neon lighting and pastel retro stools, banquettes and cushions.

It’s child friendly and exudes fun.

What else?

The café caters for meat eaters and kids and doesn’t do take-away. Make sure you check out the pink kitsch toilets!

The fresh juice test

You can order straight OJ, kombucha, matcha and turmeric latte or go for one of their signature smoothies.

We decided to review the Queen of Green,  a blend of kale, pineapple, banana, OJ and mint. Despite the banana, it wasn’t overly heavy or sweet and the mint added a refreshing kick.

What we ate

There’s lots of vegan and veggie options. In the end we ordered an avocado toast. It came with a side of fruit and consisted of a slice of sourdough, two poached eggs, avo mash, with pumpkin seeds, pesto vinaigrette and pickled onion.

Next, we had the Sunrise Skillet, a version of shakshuka with two poached eggs, a slow burn tomato and pepper sauce and onions on sourdough.

All garnished with a leafy salad. It was beautifully presented in a skillet with a home knitted handle protector.

The bill

Smoothie  $8.50
Avo on toast  $16.25
Sunrise skillet  $15.00

Posted on

Calii Love, Toronto

Every city needs a dose of Californian Summer from time to time, right? Well, Toronto has struck lucky with Calii Love bringing super smoothies and Summer sunshine across the city no matter the weather.

The cafés aim to spread good vibes inspired by Californian sun and Hawaiian breezes. They also make a mean smoothie bowl.

The setting

The branch we visited is on King St West near the TIFF Bell Lightbox and a short stroll from the CN Tower and the Harbour Front. There are other branches of Calii Love in Yorkville, Union Station and First Canada Place.

The space

The exterior is vivid turquoise with large welcoming windows. Inside is light and spacious.

Most of the café is on a large mezzanine level with long communal tables and a serving bar where you place your order.

There’s a more chilled area with softer seating as you enter, plus a few stools along the window side counter. The decor is modern, with cool wallpaper and slogans on the walls and stairs. The vibe is very relaxed.

The fresh juice test

Calii love has an extensive drinks menu. The lattes include Golden Milk, Collagen, Blue Majik, Beet and Activated Charcoal and there’s a choice of a five superfood smoothies. Each smoothie (and dish) is named after a feeling, we decided to review the Charming.

The smoothie was a vegan blend of strawberries, mango, banana, chia seeds, beet, rose water, coconut, medjool dates, Himalayan salt and house nut milk.

The addition of the rose water and salt gave it an exotic twist and we loved it.

What we ate

There’s a good selection of smoothie bowls, poké bowls and build your own bowls – where you choose variations of a base, proteins, toppings and sauces.

We decided to review a Signature Salad Bowl and chose the “Excited”.

The large bowl contained chopped kale, roasted beets, green apple, watermelon radish and vegan feta and was topped with apple beet vinaigrette, seaweed strips and espresso walnuts. The combination of flavours and textures was pretty much perfect.

For desert, we ordered the “Dreamy”. The aptly named smoothie bowl was also perfectly favoured and textured. It was a delicious blend of blue majik spirulina, mango, banana, coconut mylk and pineapple. All topped off with bee pollen, shredded (and beautifully crunchy) coconut, raspberries, kiwi and mango.

What else?

The recipes are all created by a nutritionist and Calii Love sources ingredients as sustainably as possibly. All their packaging is recyclable and their website includes a macro nutrient breakdown of each dish and an allergy grid. They also run wellness workshops including meditation and yoga.

What we’d go back for…

The servers list the names of your dishes when they take the order.

I was feeling “charming, excited and dreamy”.

I’m hoping to feel “grateful, limitless and legendary” next time, but I just might have to re-order the Dreamy…

The bill

Charming smoothie  $7.95
Excited salad  $10.95
Dreamy smoothie bowl  $10.95

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Enid Grace Café, Wellington, Ontario

Every morning at 7.30am a queue forms outside a bakery in the small town of Wellington, Prince Edward County. The reason for the daily ritual? The range of fresh baked breads and goodies prepared by local woman, Enid Grace.

The hotspot in question is the Enid Grace Café, whose founder began selling from a food truck and then progressed to this pretty café and bakery. Her baked goods are famous across the county and a sell out sensation…  and she also makes the best French toast we’ve ever tasted.

The setting

The Enid Grace Café is on the quiet Main St in Wellington, a short walk from Lake Ontario with its clear water and rocky beaches.

The area is surrounded by wineries, farm shops and lavender fields.

The space

There’s a small eating area inside – think pale woods, grey walls and vintage lamps. Outside, is a seasonal terrace set back from the quiet road with umbrellas and pot plants. You order at the bar and there’s free WiFi. Plus, there’s a small shop at the back of the café selling cookery items, local honey, coffee and Enid Grace aprons and tote bags.

What else?

Everything is based on the Italian café model of first come first served.

The food is intended to sell out daily eliminating food waste and ensuring freshness.

The impressive range of continental breads includes GF options. The café caters for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters and sells out most days.

The fresh juice test

The Enid Grace Café is best known for coffees, however they also offer a creamy turmeric latte and local bottled juices. We tried the apple cider (non-alcoholic) which was sweet with a hint of tartness.

What we ate

Given the iconic status of the bread, we by-passed the selection of fruit plates and granola and ordered two dishes both made with Pain De Mie. A French Toast and a Croque Madame which are both available in a GF form.

The French Toast was soaked in custard and came with a choice of lemon curd or maple syrup. It was topped off with a cascade of fresh berries with had a jug of maple syrup on the side. It was quite simply the fluffiest, tastiest French bread we’ve ever had.

The Croque Madame was equally impressive.

We ordered the vegetarian version without country ham.  It was soaked in bechamel sauce, coated in melted gruyere and then topped with two eggs. On the side came a leafy side salad with a lovely dressing. It was very filling, but not too heavy.

What we’d go back for…

Everything!

The bill

Apple juice $3.50
French toast  $11
Croque Madame  $12

 

 

Posted on

Love Life, Miami

Miami’s district of Wynwood has rapidly changed from industrial hub to must visit art’s district in just a few years. It’s now home to city’s best galleries, restaurants, cafés and the famous vegan hotspot Love Life.

Love Life’s delicious plant-based food has been known to satisfy even the most ardent carnivore. It was voted home to the “best veggie burger in America” at the Seed Food and Wine Festival’s epic burger battle.

The setting

Based in hip Wynwood, Love Life is a few blocks from the iconic Wynwood Walls, and surrounded by the hottest galleries and trendiest shops in the city.

The space

The space is light and open with warehouse vibes and vivid blue striped walls.

There’s long communal tables of recycled wood and a more relaxed sofa and small shop area as you enter. You order at the bar and the staff bring your food to the table. There’s free WiFi and a relaxed atmosphere.

What else?

Partners Veronica Menin and Diego Tosoni are co-owners the café and have both qualified in nutrition and health.

 

The fresh juice test

Love Life has a very tempting menu of six smoothies. We decided to review the Sunshine Spice.

It was loaded with all the goods: orange juice, pineapple, cold pressed turmeric, cold pressed ginger, lemon juice and Bee Free Honee.

The turmeric and ginger were quite dominating, so it wasn’t too sweet, which we liked. We also had a refreshing Counter Culture Kombucha that came in a pretty recycled jar.

What we ate

There’s a large menu of soups, salads, bowls, burgers, arepas, pizza, burritos and tacos. Despite being tempted by the award winning burger, as it was mid afternoon, we concentrated on cooling snacks.

We ordered a Dragon Bowl, the vegan Vanilla Affogato (as we’ve never had a vegan version) and the highly recommended Guava Rose Cheesecake.  The Dragon bowl was a large ice-cold portion of blended pitaya topped with chia seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries and banana.

The affogato’s vanilla ice-cream was perfect -creamy and indistinguishable from a diary based ice, topped off with decaf coffee and nuts.

We nearly ordered a second one, but we had to leave room for the cheesecake. It was made of guava – subtly infused with rose water – and celestial chunk cookie crust, cashews, coconut milk, house-made vanilla syrup, lemon and pink salt. It was also quite filling.

What we’d go back for…

To try the famous veggie burger.

The bill

Sunshine spice smoothie  $10
Kombucha $7
Red dragon bowl  $12
Guava rose cheesecake  $8
Affogato $5

 

Posted on

Fresh on Spadina, Toronto

It’s easy to eat a plant-based diet in Canada’s capital of cool, Toronto, but the Fresh chain takes vegan eating to the next level.

Fresh has five innovative vegan cafés across the city, each offering a massive selection of plant-powered dishes: from mouth-watering burritos and burgers; to innovative salads and tacos.

Fresh began twenty years ago, with a mission to prove that a plant-powered diet could be undeniably satisfying, energising and delicious.

From our experience at the Spadina branch, it still takes its mission statement seriously.

The setting

Set on one of Toronto’s main arteries, Spadina, the café is close to the junction of Queen Street West with its cool shops. It’s across the street from instagram magnet Graffiti Alley and hip Kensington Market is a 10 minute walk away.

The space

Fresh has a fenced off outdoor seating terrace with plants which is good for people watching. Inside, there’s a large, light dining area with oversized lamps and hip wallpaper complementing the pale wooden tables and floor. You can also sit on stools at the long, black and white tiled bar. It has an elegant, relaxed vibe.

What else?

There are four more branches on Bloor, Eglington, Front and Crawford.

Fresh also do take-aways and have a regular and GF menu and free WiFi. The staff are amazingly helpful.

 

The fresh juice test

As you enter Fresh, you can’t miss the juice selection. The fridge is stacked with rainbow coloured options in large, recyclable glass bottles. Each one contains 3 lbs or 10 servings of fruit and veg. Plus there’s power shakes, smoothies and kombucha cocktails.

We decided to review the Vitamin C elixir – a beta carotene boost balanced by spicy sweet citrus carrot, orange, lemon, apple and cayenne.

It was one of the best juices we’ve ever had – fresh, not too sweet and with a welcome kick of spice. Next, we tried the Passionfruit Schizandra. It was a mix of cold pressed organic lemon, sparkling mineral water and craft ginger kombucha. It was refreshing and tasty. Schizandra is an adaptogenic berry which boasts anti-inflammatory properties.

What we ate

The menu at Fresh is extensive. We decided to review the salads and weren’t disappointed. We ordered the Farro and Feta. The salad was a combo of marinated farro (an ancient grain), baby arugula, seeds, vegan feta, chick peas, tomatoes, red onions, cucumber and red pepper with a bold lemon dressing. The texture was perfect and it was very filling.

Next, the Supergreen Caesar which was packed with greens, mixed lettuce, tempeh bacon, edamame, scallions, cucumber, sun-dried tomato and sunflower nori gomashio .

It was topped off with a tahini caesar dressing which was a stroke of genius taste-wise.

We added  some perfectly crispy tofu cubes from the large selection of add ons. The portions are large and the staff offer doggy bags if you can’t finish. For desert, we got a take-away Strawberry Swirl smoothie. It was a layered, icy  combo of strawberries, coconut milk and banana.

What we’ll be back for…

Fresh also has an enticing brunch menu of pancakes, platters and waffles. We need to try them all.

The bill

Vitamin C elixir  $11
Passionfruit schizandra  $9
Farro and feta  $17
Supergreen caesar $16
crispy tofu + $4
Strawberry swirl  $9

Posted on

The Avocado factory, Canggu

The Avocado Factory is famous Bali-wide for its innovative avocado-inspired menu: the 21st century’s trendiest way to get your 5-a-day.

This top vegan friendly café  offers some revolutionary dishes from green matcha pancakes to decadent chocolate-avo mousse. All made from fresh locally sourced produce.

Created by the distinguished international chef Emilio Bean, this unique café concept is the first of its kind in Asia.

The setting

The Avocado Factory is in the heart of Bali’s hip beach town Canggu, which has a relaxed Australian surfer vibe. The district brims with swimwear and surfboard stores as well as vegan cafés and smoothie bars.

The space

The outside is clad in foliage with the signature avocado-shaped sign. There are several tables to choose from. It offers fast and friendly service as well as a good WiFi connection. Grab a seat on the bar directly overlooking the rice paddies, or sit outside and soak up the Indonesian sunshine. Decor-wise, there are crates of pineapples and other tropical fruit on display and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs create and decorate each tantalising dish.
The crowd has a distinctly young demographic, which enhances the laid back ambiance, with many tourists from Australia, America and the UK.

The fresh juice test

To drink, we got the green juice – a refreshing blend of apple, kale, celery, cucumber, lemon and ginger.

Next, we had to review the thick chocolate smoothie made from cacao, banana, chia seeds, vegan protein, coconut water and, you guessed it, avocado!

They also offer health shots made from ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, turmeric and spirulina.

What we ate

The Avocado Factory serves meat and fish, but also caters for vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free diets.

We chose the avocado-hummus open sandwich, which included crunchy roasted chickpeas, green peas, radish and a beautifully crafted avocado rose, served on seeded sourdough toast.

We also ordered the spicy smashed avocado with chilli, grilled mushrooms and a runny poached egg on black rye sourdough.

What we’d go back for…

The restaurant is 98% plastic free and uses straws made out of cassava. Plus, all the food and drink packaging is eco-friendly.

The bill

Avo hummus  64,000 IDR
Spicy mash with egg 58,000 IDR
Soy capuccino  45,000 IDR
Detox juice 35,000 IDR
Cacao elixir  49,000 IDR
Still water 25,00 IDR

 

Posted on

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. 

Posted on

Cuppa Café de Salon, Paris

Visiting Paris and need a vegan café? They are not always easy to find so we’ve saved you time by tracking down a hidden gem- Cuppa Café de Salon tucked away on the Left Bank of the Seine. They are known across Paris for their coffee, but their vegan food is equally amazing.

The location

Cuppa Café de Salon is in the 7th arrondissement, behind the Musée d’Orsay. It’s near the Solférino metro stop or you can take bus 84 and 94 to Solférino. The iconic Café de Flore is near by, but there are no healthy hotspots in the area. So Cuppa Café is a clear winner if you need a healthy meal in Paris.

The space

Cuppa is very compact. Outside, there are two tables on either side of the door next to the windows. Inside, there are three tables, plus a couch.  All the furniture is made of stylish dark wood. The bar is dominated by their coffee machine and a delicious pastry display.

They make all the food behind the bar fresh. The service is very quick and the music is chilled. As there’s little space, it’s not the best place to take out your laptop.

The fresh juice test

The café sells teas and coffees, plus coconut water, single freshly squeezed juices and a juice of the day.

We decided to review the juice of the day, which was a blend of grapefruit, pomegranate, blueberries and strawberries.

I loved the bitterness of the grapefruit coming together with the sweetness of the strawberries.

What we ate

Cuppa Café de Salon is almost fully 100% plant based. All the food is vegan except the pain au chocolat – because why would a French person change that? Their signature dish is avocado on toast which comes with their homemade bread, and two different kinds of hummus.

We ordered the Tartine Fromage and, wow, the plant based cream cheese topping was totally delicious!

We also ordered a bowl of yoghurt and a bundt cake. The tartine came on delicious, home made, gluten-free bread.  It had a thick layer of their homemade cashew and almond cream cheese with a little agave. On top of the cheese were thinly sliced green apples, raspberries, blueberries, edible flowers and some chopped pecans, almonds and pistachios. The flavours were all there. It was a perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

The yoghurt was just as pretty. Like the bread, they made their yoghurt in-house. It’s mix of soy and coconut and the hint of coconut gave it a flavour explosion which perfectly combined with their homemade gluten-free pistachio cardamon granola. They told us they sourced the pistachios from Italy, because they have more flavour . On top of the granola was a beautiful selection of thinly sliced nectarines, strawberries, apples, blueberries, coconut chips, edible flowers and some yuzu zest. I travel a lot and have tasted many cuisines and healthy dishes all over the world, but their combination of flavours was absolutely amazing!

The Bundt cake was a mix of a normal cake with chocolate running through it.  On top was a drizzled chocolate glaze, edible flowers and chopped nuts. The cake was the perfect dessert for our lunch.

What we’d go back for…

Although they take so much care of the presentation of the food, It’s the flavours that make it a real winner.

The bill

Granola maison pistache 9,50EU
Tartine fromage 12,50EU
Bundt cake marbré 5EU
Jus du jour 7EU

 

Posted on

Maka Maka. Split

Heading to Split and looking for a plant-based café in Split? We discovered Maka Maka for a unique healthy brunch experience. There are two plant-based locations in Split. We visited their Old Town branch and also tried out their take away stall nearby.

The setting

The main café is on the corner of a pretty tree lined square in the Old Town, one street away from the Diolcletian’s Palace.

The UNESCO listed area is Instaworthy and peaceful.

Maka Maka is also near local falafel hotspot, Daddy Cool, with its iconic floral syrup drinks.

The space

So what can you expect when you arrive? A massive window opens onto the street. Outside, there are more tables in the tree shaded square and a few stool height tables for two against the wall. We loved the bright coloured cushions on the floor.

 

What else?

Maka Maka also has a take away stall on the Riva. It’s a  perfect plant-based pitstop for an evening stroll along the waterfront. It serves a range of plant-based smoothies, açai bowls, juices and kombuchas. The café also does take-aways and they are happy to pack any leftovers up for you.

The staff, especially at the stand on the Riva, are very helpful.

The fresh juice test

Need a kombucha when you are in Split? There’s a good range of smoothies and juices – seven of each, plus kombucha and shots.

We decided to review the Detox – a crisp and thirst quenching mix of cucumber, carrot, ginger apple and lemon.

What we ate

The café keep it simple and stick to doing two things very well- poké bowls and açai bowls. There’s a large choice of vegan and vegetarian bowls on offer.  We went for the for the açai.

We chose the Nalu – a blend of açai, banana, mango and coconut milk. The freezing cold mix was topped off with granola, cashews, blueberries, pineapple, coconut shavings and bee pollen.

It came in a pretty ceramic bowl.

Later in the day we visited the stand on the harbour front. We had the pink Dragon Bowl. Refreshingly cold, it contained pitaya, bananas and coconut milk. It was topped with granola, pineapple, bee pollen and berries and was perfect pre-dinner treat. We also tried a bottle of lime and ginger kombucha.

The bill

Detox juice  32HRK
Nala bowl  55HRK
Dragon bowl  55HRK
Kombucha  30HRK

For more Split inspiration click here. 

 

 

 

Posted on

East Village, Café Bristol

If you’re looking for a vegetarian café in Bristol, then why not head for beautiful Clifton? The stylish and airy East Village Café is 100% vegetarian with plenty of vegan and GF options. They also serve a mean pitaya latte.

The setting

East Village Café is in the heart of beautiful Clifton Village, surrounded by independent shops and cafés. It’s five minutes walk from Brunel’s iconic Suspension Bridge, the Observatory and the Zoo.

The space

The café is in a quiet courtyard under an arch. Outside there’s a large selection of pastel blue chairs and tables. Indoors is equally as light with high ceilings, wall sized windows and white walls. There are two large eating areas decorated with plants and pale wooden furniture and a serving bar featuring delicious cakes lines one wall.

It has feels relaxed and a retreat from the busy city centre.

 

What else?

The staff are helpful, you order at the bar and they serve at your table. They use paper straws and provide complimentary decanters of tap water.

The fresh juice test

East Village Café has fresh OJ, kombucha and a range of smoothies. We decided to review the Hula Hoop Shake – a light refreshing blend of pear, strawberry, ginger, hemp and apple juice. It was delicious. We also couldn’t resist one of their signature superfood lattes. The choice includes Blue Skies, Red Velvet, Matcha and Turmeric.

We went for the Pink Pitaya which was not too sweet and sprinkled with pretty rose petals.

What we ate

The plant-based menu is extensive. It features shakshouka, açai bowls, porridge and salads. We went for brunch and ordered the Maple and Coconut Pancakes with fresh berries and the Savoury Corn and Quinoa Waffle with extra eggs. . The pancakes were light and fluffy and packed with fruit. The waffles were crunchy and topped with perfectly cooked poached eggs.

The bill

Pink pitaya latte £4.00
Hula Hoop Shake  £4.95
Pancakes with extra fruit £8.50 + £2.50
Waffles with extra egg  £10 +£1.50

For more inspiration in Bristol click here. 

 

 

Posted on

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

Posted on

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

 

Posted on

Organic Market, Marbella

Organic Market is Marbella’s top destination for a plant-powered brunch. They promote plant-based, organic eating and a chemical free approach to food. You can pick from their colourful superfood smoothies, or pile your plate high with nutritious veg from the salad bar, or simply pop in for a vegan cacao brownie and a quinoa croissant.

 

The setting

Located off the main road in the heart of Marbella, Organic Market is near the hip Marbella Club Hotel. You will find stylish hotels and cafés. The area is fairly quiet for most of the year but turns into a buzzing hotspot for tourists during summer.

The space

At Organic Market we loved the interior.

Matching green plants are printed on the wallpaper, sofas and cushions. There are mirrors, fresh greenery and wooden tables everywhere.

We sat outside on the bamboo-style wicker chairs to make the most of the Spanish sunshine. There are shady umbrellas and plenty of indoor seating too. The table service is fast and friendly and the WiFi connection allows you to get your laptop out and tap away while sipping on a matcha latte and soaking up the tranquil atmosphere.

What else?

Loved by tourists, you’ll overhear at least a few different languages being spoken at Organic Market – lots of English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. In peak Summer season, it gets very busy, so you should make a reservation to be on the safe side. Although, the sizeable amount of seating means you’ll probably manage to get a table.

The fresh juice test

We decided to review also their signature green juice- the Victoria’s Secret. It  was made on-site from a refreshing blend of courgette, cucumber, apple, spinach, kale and lemon. You will love it!

What we ate

Organic Market has a range of organic plant-based, meaty, gluten-free and dairy-free options, catering for anyone and everyone.

We ordered the smashed avocado with edamame beans on seeded protein bread, as well as the Eggs Florentine – onions, potatoes and poached eggs served on a bed of spinach pancakes. Both dishes were delicious and beautifully presented on wooden boards. The Choco-nuts brownie was crammed with pecans and pistachios and was equally yummy.

The little things that make the difference

You can enjoy browsing the BioShop inside.You will find health food products from a variety of established and emerging brands.

Stock up on delicious raw chocolate, gluten-free cereals, olive oils, energy bars, kale chips, seeded crackers and so much more.

Plus, there’s a choice of healthy snacks such as raw chocolate, nut butters and gluten-free granola.

The bill

Victoria’s Secret  €8
Cappuccino  €3.50
Choco-nuts brownie  €6
Eggs florentine  €11
Avocado toast  €7

To book your trip to Marbella with our partners Expedia click here. 

Posted on

Wave, Hackney

WAVE stands for We Are Vegan Everything and is the brainchild of cupcake queens Cait and Soph. Their company ‘Cupcakes and Shhht’ is renowned for frosted cupcakes and cookie sandwiches. The duo created WAVE to offer good, honest and delicious food. The café is proudly fully vegan and on a mission to prove that vegan food is the future.

The setting

WAVE is a 5-minute walk from Hackney Central overground station. Set in a private courtyard with wide, bright glass doors and windows, the café has a large indoor and outdoor seating area.

The space

Outdoors the wooden tables are surrounded by small stools as well as a gorgeous ground seating area covered in patterned rugs, comfy cushions and cosy throws. Or you can relax in their numerous hanging egg chairs.  There are two outside and two hammock chairs inside too.

The light and airy nature of the café has a chilled-out Bali beach vibe.

There are cosy wooden sofas, plush pillows and lots of greenery – plants in vases, flowers on the tables and green foliage dotting the seating areas.

Inside you are welcomed with a well-stocked counter top of fresh sourdough cheese stuffed sandwiches, vegan cream and faux-salmon bagels as well as a selection of bakes, raw bakes and power snacks.

The fresh juice test

All the juices at WAVE are made in house. The Goodness Gracious Green is a vibrant  mix – a not too sweet blend of spinach, apple, spirulina, cucumber, lemon and ginger. It is a real refresher and feels packed with goodness.

We also had the Himalayan salted coffee which comes with oat milk as standard, as do all the hot drinks at WAVE. It tasted just like caramel. Served like a latte, rich and creamy, it tasted unique!

What we ate

The menu at WAVE is extensive with every dish sounding – and looking – delicious.

Decorated with edible flowers, fresh herbs and nuts and seeds, each dish is presented in beautiful stoneware crockery.

We chose the famous Brekky Bowl – a buddha bowl style breakfast feast. It’s filled with organic turmeric scrambled tofu with chives and black salt, basil toasted plum tomatoes, garlic and parsley fried mushrooms, smoky aubergine and avocado served with a fresh wedge of lemon, chilli flakes, mixed seeds, walnuts and rocket.  The dish is gluten-free and packed with flavour. The sticky glazed aubergine was the real highlight of the bowl.

We also had the Mac and Cheese – a creamy and light macaroni pasta in a vegan cheesy sauce topped with roasted tomatoes and broccoli, crispy kale, rich umami coconut bacon and fresh micro herbs.

We spotted slices of pink frosted strawberry and pistachio cake, thickly-stuffed cookie sandwiches, raw berry cheesecakes and peanut butter chocolate slices.

We chose the sticky and generously glazed cinnamon roll. It was subtly sweet and filled with so much cinnamon. Light and fluffy with a silky-smooth glaze, this bun is the perfect afternoon delight.

What we’d go back for

The staff are really friendly and informative, adding an inviting touch to the already incredible eatery.

The bill

Greens juice £5.00
Brekky bowl  £12.50
Mac and cheese £10.00
Salted coffee £3.50
Cinnamon roll £3.50

 

 

Posted on

Crussh, Kensington

Crussh is the capital’s original juice and healthy fast food grab and go café. It launched back in 1998.

We love them for moving healthy food hotspots into a hospital, a sports centre and a university. With 35 stores across London,  Crussh continues to innovate including becoming this month the first food outlet on the high street to offer CBD oil boosters in lattes and coffees. We paid a visit to one of the original locations on Kensington High Street.

The setting

Crussh Kensington is located at the Kensington Gardens end of Kensington High Street, a short stroll from the tube, Whole Foods and Hyde Park. It’s a handy location to pick up a healthy picnic for the park.

The space

Crussh is primarily a take-away, but in the back room there are four large tables and a handful of small tables if you want to eat in. The rest of the café is minimal with crisp white tiles and open fridges full of salads and sandwiches. Plus there is a smoothie bar where they blend smoothies in front of you as you wait. We visited mid-afternoon which was was quite busy, although there were a few empty seats.

We decided to grab and go, as Kensington Gardens, with its boating lake and stunning sunken garden, is just across the road.

 

The little things that make a difference

The packing is totally sustainable and recyclable straws are on sale at the till. Crussh  also uses strong paper straws rather than single use plastic.

The fresh juice test

Crussh has an impressive selection of fresh juices and boosters, but we picked a smoothie. We decided to review the The Crusshberry Blast. The mix of low fat yoghurt, apple juice, raspberries, blueberries and bananas hit the spot. It was admittedly pretty sweet, due to the apple juice, but the staff are happy to tailor make if you ask to leave out the apple juice.

Crussh has brought CBD oil to the High Street.  For an extra £1.50, you can now add a CBD booster to your coffee or latte.

We tried the turmeric latte version. You couldn’t taste the CBD oil.  It was a perfect partner to the bittersweet chocolate and peanut butter protein balls.

What we ate

There’s a good selection of vegan and plant-based food on the menu. From protein pots to super salad boxes and from a daily warm selection to their signature healthpots. We chose the Lentil and Herb Healthpot and the Butterbean Tomato and Parsley Healthpot. The former has always been a huge favourite of ours. This good sized, well priced, pot contains green lentils, cucumber, feta cheese, red peppers, mint and parsley.

It’s fresh and filling and the mint and parsley add a kick to the velvety lentils and cheese.

The second pot was a combo of cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes butter beans, shallots and parsley. It was creamy and filling. Finally, we tried a desert pot. The Crussh Key Lime Pie was a  lime and avocado mousse with a cacao nut base. It was pretty sweet with a massive kick of lime, but not as sweet as a traditional key lime pie. The crunchy cacao base evened out the sweetness and added texture.

What we’d go back for…

The convenience, the multiple locations, the filling smoothies and the amazing lentil health pot. The reasonable prices for healthy food in central London are also a hit with us.

The bill

(take away prices)

Crusshberry blast smoothie (S) £3.60
Lentil and herb healthpot   £2.80
Butterbean and and cherry tomato healthpot  £2.80
Key lime pie £2.75
Turmeric latte £2.50
+ CBD oil  £1.50

Posted on

Seed and Soil, Singapore

Seed and Soil is a must visit grab and go in Central Singapore. They make all their food and drinks fresh each day and avoid the use of dairy, gluten, chemical additives and preservatives. We couldn’t wait to review their signature smoothie bowls and test the large, cold-pressed juice selection.

The setting

Seed and Soil is in a tiny space in Tanjong Pagar Plaza near Chinatown. Take the green line to Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park.

The space

Seed and Soil is in a little open area set back from the traffic. You are welcomed with a large glass door featuring the Seed And Soil logo. Inside, there’s not a lot of space. There are two tables, four chairs and two wooden benches, as they’re essentially a take away. It wasn’t very busy when we sat down, although there was a stream of grab and go customers.

Seed and Soil blend the smoothie bowls fresh at the bar in the shop, which can be noisy.  There isn’t any wifi, but there is a public wifi signal to use.

The fresh juice test

What I liked about the large juice menu is that they divide the juices into four categories-rest and destress, protect and strengthen, care and preserve and detox and heal.

I got the 350ML Golden Palm juice which was a blend of Manuka honey, pineapple, orange, lemon, ginger and basil leaves from the rest and destress category.  The juice was a little spicy, because of the lemon and ginger, but the Manuka honey made it very smooth and soft on my throat.

What we ate

Seed and Soil serve 100% plant based smoothie bowls. Their best selling dish is the açai bowl. We ordered the large Morning Glory chia pudding and the large Green Glow smoothie bowl.

The chia pudding was soaked in some unsweetened soy milk and came with some fresh fruits, seeds, coco chips and nuts. We added some extra peanut butter on top.

The chia pudding wasn’t sweet, which meant the flavours were very pure.

However, although we ordered a large bowl, it was still quite small in terms of the toppings, especially as we paid more for extra peanut butter.

 

 

We also ordered the Green Glow which is a blend of spinach, banana, pineapple and coconut water. The bowl came with the same toppings as the Morning Glory: fresh fruits, seeds and coconut chips. Both the bowls had some hidden ground flaxseed as a first layer, which added a nice texture. The bowl wasn’t too sweet, but it was also a small portion.

The little things that make the difference

Seed and Soil also do cleanse packages featuring the juice range.

The bill

Morning glory (large) 12SGD
Green glow (large) 12SGD
Toppings top up 1SGD
Golden palm 350ml  10SGD

 

 

Posted on

Feya, Marylebone

Feya is famous for its pastel décor, butterflies, white blossoms and glistening fairy lights. It’s such a must-visit for locals, bloggers and tourists alike that Amy and I decided to visit and do Glowcation’s first joint review.

It’s run by Zahra Khan, a chef and graduate of Gordon Ramsay’s Tante Marie Culinary Academy. The impressive brunch menu was designed by Virpi Mikkonen, a Finnish author and the blogger behind Vanelja.

The setting

Feya is on St. James Street in Marylebone, just a stone’s throw from St Christopher’s Place and Selfridges. It’s a peaceful escape from the busy crowds of Oxford Street.

The space

From the outside, you can’t miss the iconic cherry blossom trees and glass cake stands in the window.

The floral theme continues inside, with golden butterflies on the pastel pink walls.

Dusky pink chairs and velvet couches add to the elegant atmosphere. There are small marble-top tables and golden cutlery. The quick turnaround of tables means you’re likely to get a seat. But don’t expect to get your laptop out and spend the day there. In particularly busy times, you can choose grab and go. We love the aqua algae or emerald matcha with your choice of dairy or plant-based milk.

 

The fresh juice test

Feya has a selection of cold-pressed juices and smoothies. With so many options to choose from, we eventually decided to review the the layered Mermaid Smoothie. It features dragon fruit, zucchini and blue spirulina and it was delicious. We also had to try one of their six speciality lattes – the pretty Pearl Rose latte with oat milk.

What we ate

The brunch menu has the most choice.

We ordered the Be Gentle – pink oats, caramel chia pudding, mashed rose raspberries, banana flowers and rose petals.

In addition, we tried the Pastel Rainbow Smoothie – a two-tone smoothie bowl with pineapple, banana, spirulina, pitaya and coconut milk, topped with crunchy granola, edible flowers and fresh fruit.

 

While there are several vegan and gluten-free options to choose from, the menu also caters to non-vegans, with dishes such as chicken cobb salad, pesto pasta and a goat’s cheese quiche. The signature dish is avocado toast where the avocado is carved into roses on a bed of hot pink hummus dyed with beetroot. However, the bread which it comes on does contain dairy. The food at Feya is relatively pricey, but is very good quality and stunningly presented.

The little things that make the difference

The decoration is undoubtedly the most outstanding factor of Feya and is what draws people in from near and far.

The bill

Be Gentle  £8.50
Pastel Rainbow Smoothie  £10.70
Mermaid Smoothie  £8.50
Pearl Rose Latte  £5.50

Posted on

Zest, Ubud

Zest has amazing views, an uber cool space and they are 100% plant-based. They use “locally grown tasty fruits, shoots and roots” to create their innovative dishes. The restaurant sources produce from local organic farmers, artisans and even their own staff.

The setting

Zest is a little uphill walk from the centre of Ubud, near the stunning Campuhan Ridge walk .

The space

Although Zest is on a busy road, as soon as you enter you instantly feel a sense of calm.  You pass a Buddha and it looks like you’re entering a temple, not a restaurant.

The space is built around a tree. There are relaxing sofas, and tables with an amazing view of Campuhan Ridge and modern art on the interior walls .

They have a very strong WiFi and you can work. However, if it’s busy they politely ask you to move to quieter area of the restaurant.

You can reserve tables (and it does get busy at lunch and dinner time), sit in or get a take away. When I came to review it was around 9 am and pretty peaceful. The food comes fast and the service is super friendly.

The little things that make a difference

This menu is interesting. It promotes native superfoods such as moringa, soursop, starfruit,  jackfruit, cassava, and turmeric. Plus, we were impressed by their commitment to being an eco-conscious establishment. They aim for zero waste by using cloth drink coasters, cloth napkins and glass and metal straws.

The fresh juice test

They have a great drinks menu including warm infusions, elixirs, shots, shakes, smoothies and freshly squeezed juices.

I had a carrot, beetroot, jicama and ginger juice. It had a very earthy taste because of the vegetables and the ginger gave it a strong spice kick.

The juice was freshly made and came with a metal straw. Next, I had fresh moringa shot with pineapple, as I wanted to sample a local superfood.  Most of the Balinese people kick start their day with a moringa shot. The beautiful green shot tasted of the pineapple, but I felt great afterwards.

What we ate

Zest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a lot of vegan options on the menu from Indonesian food, to tapas to raw pizzas. I had the Zest pancakes and the smoothie bowl, which are two of the famous breakfast dishes at Zest.

The smoothie bowl was a blend of banana, moringa and katuk leafs and was topped with dragon fruit, papaya, granola, shaved coconut, cashews, granola and mint leaves.

It looked beautiful and was very tasty. The pancake was stacked with mango, coconut, caramelised banana and topped with a rich chocolate sauce and dragon fruit.

What we’d come back for…

The view over Ubud is amazing. Incredible plant-based food and that view of nature- what’s not to love!

The bill

Zest pancakes  70K RPH
Green smoothie bowl  78K RPH
Fresh moringa and pineapple shot  25K RPH
Carrot, beetroot, ginger, jicama juice  50K RPH

 

Posted on

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¥

 

 

Posted on

Our favourite Glowcations, Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of our favourite cities. It’s packed with canals, art galleries, flower markets and museums. However, what attracts us most is the cool vibe and the huge choice of plant-based food. The selection of vegetarian and vegan cafés can be quite daunting. Luckily, two of our Glowstars, Fabienne Dobbe and Fleur Maat are local and Dutch, so we can really narrow down your hit list. Here’s our top three must visit vegan and vegetarian cafés in Amsterdam.

Lavinia Good Food, Centrum

Lavinia Good Food is a hidden gem in the historic centre of Amsterdam. Sat on the pretty Kerkstraat, between two canals, it is charming, laid back and serves a mean gluten-free pizza. The food is mostly vegetarian and vegan, but they also have some salmon dishes if you eat fish.

Lavinia has an all day brunch and lunch menu with lattes, juices, cocktails, beers and organic wines.

We suggest  ordering The Lavinia bowl with whole grain cous cous, roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, pickled red cabbage and home made hummus. Model Fabienne thinks the vegan vanilla pie is “a must! ”

To read more about Lavinia Good Food click here.

Juice Brothers, several locations

Our favourite spot for a vitamin packed juice is Juice Brothers. Founded in 2015 by four friends on a canal holiday, it’s now a huge success and has  several branches in Amsterdam, plus two in New York. We love their Haarlemmerbuurt branch with its view of the iconic ”Willemsbrug”. The café and grab and go is modern and minimal. You order at the bar and the eating area is upstairs.

Juice Brothers have a mega choice when it comes to drinks: ten juices, three tonics, three mylks, six shots and ten smoothies! We suggest the Unicorn’s Blood – a fresh and spicy mix of watermelon, pineapple, ginger and lemon.

And there’s the smoothie bowls… all the smoothie and açai bowls are made with made with non dairy organic products. We love their signature bowl the Almond açai.

Finally, they sell Van Leeuwen the vegan ice-cream brand. Fabienne and Fleur suggest grabbing one to go. Plant-based heaven.

To read more about Juice Brothers click here. 

The Meets, De Pijp

The Meets is in the Pijp, one of Amsterdam’s coolest neighbourhoods, packed with cafés and home to  the Albert Cuypmarkt street market.
This brick walled café focuses on locally sourced produce, using organic ingredients as much as possible and staying away from refined sugars . The menu is international.  It includes açai bowls and kimchi toast for breakfast, fresh spring rolls, beetroot balls for lunch (a healthier vegan alternative for the famous Dutch ‘bitterbal’ which is a deep fried ball of minced meat)  and Sicilian eggplant stew or Pad Thai for dinner.

On the drinks front, student Fleur loves their fresh coconuts with lime juice,

“I have tasted many fresh coconuts in my life (in Vietnam, Malaysia and Bali), but I must say this was one of the best coconuts I ever had!”.

Also, don’t miss their blue smoothie. The ‘Samui Blue’ consists of banana, mango, coconut water, whey protein, spirulina and bee pollen.

To find out more about The Meets click here.

 

Posted on

Beriwell, Singapore

The trend for açai is running high in Singapore. So much so, it’s now home to a dedicated açai café. Based in the beachside East Coast Park, Beriwell joins two other açai hotspots in the area (An Açai Affair and Project Açai), but takes the Amazonian berry to the next level. Not only is Beriwell soft-serve, it’s all natural, dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan friendly.

The setting

Beriwell is near the East Coast Park, the mainland beach area in Singapore. Get your açai fix straight off the beach or take buses 10, 10e, 12, 14, 14e, 32, 40 and 47 to stop App Roxy Sq. If you are coming from downtown take the east west metro line to Eunos.

 

The space

Like many cafés in Singapore, Beriwell has a large outdoor counter where you order your food and drinks. It connects to the inside area of the café and there’s also an undercover outdoor eating space with benches and  tables with painted palm tree murals on the pillars adding topical vibes.

Inside, a sea blue banquette lines one wall with cushioned wooden chairs on the other.  You could easily get your laptop out and work, as the WiFi is really strong.

The little things that make a difference…

Beriwell is run by two women who are passionate about their café. They are passionate founders and helped me with my order and made sure I was OK.

The fresh juice test

Beriwell serves vegan mylkshakes and smoothies.

I had a small Vitamin Sea Smoothie which was a blend of mango, pineapple, orange and passionfruit with a dash of turmeric and a squeeze of lime.

I added an extra black pepper boost for my immune system. The smoothie was very sweet, but it contained all my favourite fruits, so I found it delicious.

What we ate

Since Beriwell is known for their açaï soft serve, obviously I had to review one. I had the “Twist” which was a blend of Açaï and Coco Majik soft serves. The açai element is a blend of Amazonian berries and the Coco Majik is soft serve made of Thai coconuts and spirulina. They come in three sizes, small, large and super size. I had the large, which was a perfect for me. I topped it off with mango, pineapple, goji berries, vegan granola and almond butter. Delicious.

What we’d go back for…

Beriwell organises many events  and it’s a perfect place for a post dinner treat as they are open until 11pm.

The bill

Twist large  9.90 SGD
Almond butter  +0.80 SGD
Vitamin sea small  6. 50 SGD

To book your trip to Singapore with our partner Expedia click here.

Posted on

Wild Beets, Ibiza

,

Away from the clubs, beaches and hippy markets, Ibiza is undergoing a lifestyle shift towards healthy food. At the forefront of this is Cliff Grubin -the man behind the island’s first juice bar on Benirras Beach and the iPurify juice brand.  He also runs Wild Beets, a gem of a plant-based café in Santa Gertrudis. The food is fresh, organic and seasonal and the eatery is dedicated to innovative vegan cooking.

The setting

Wild Beets is in pretty Santa Gertrudis, one of Ibiza’s loveliest villages in the centre of the island. The village is known for gourmet food and upmarket shops.

The space

Wild Beets is a stylish white cube of a building set back from the road. It’s fronted by a mini-jungle of bamboos and palms in planters that surround a sunny terrace. Inside is equally white and light with warm woods and pot plants. It’s busy when we arrive on an April day.

The fresh juice test

Wild Beets is home to the iPurify juice brand.

The range of 15 juices promise to energise the body by providing an instant and intense shot of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. So, there’s a pretty impressive choice.

We decided to review the green Vitality. It was packed with spinach, chard, romaine, carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley, lemon, dandelion greens and ginger. It was refreshing and super tasty. There are also fruit and superfood smoothies and elixirs on offer. We chose a Mango Tango fruit smoothie. It was a zingy mix of mango, banana and orange.

What we ate

Wild Beets has quite an extensive vegan menu.

We eventually went for the tacos – a raw combination of cabbage slaw, guacamole, pico de gallo and cacao mole in two vegetable tortillas.

Plus a Veggie Burger – a veggie pattie with buckwheat millet bread, guacamole, caramelised onions, roast potato, sweet potato, miso gravy and homemade ketchup. It’s worth noting that the kitchen is dedicated to creating as nutrient rich food as it can – all based on scientific evidence and the extensive research of the founder Grubin.

What else?

The iPurify range of cold-pressed juices can be also be packaged as systemised cleanses for home delivery or collection. You can also get in touch to discuss tailor-made programmes. If you visit Benirras beach, make sure you visit the sister establishment Sejuiced for juices and smoothies.

What we’d go back for…

The setting, the food and the juices.

Next time we want to leave room for the extensive and picture perfect dessert menu…

The bill

Juice  €11.50
Medium fruit smoothie  €6
Tacos  €15.50
Veggie Burger  €17.50

 

Posted on

Vegan Bowls, Barcelona

Vegan Bowls is plant-based, plastic free and popular throughout Barcelona. It may be tiny, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to serving up plant-based food.

The setting

Vegan Bowls is centrally placed near Plaça Catalunya and the shopping district. You can take the L2 metro to Universidat or the bus D50 to Ronda Universitat.

The space

The baby pink payment desk is stacked with their delicious plant-based doughnuts and famous cookies. Inside, they only have two tables with four chairs in total. They are mainly take away.

The white painted walls are made of wood with their colourful logo on either side. They have a good working wifi. However, I would definitely not recommend lingering with your laptop. There’s basically no space for it!  It’s very popular with all ages, so you may have to queue for a while.

The fresh juice test

I loved the green detox juice.

They made it fresh in front of me.  It had pineapple, organic apple juice, mint ginger and kale in it.  It was sweet, but you could taste the hint of veg in it, a very good mix!

What we ate

Vegan bowls has a surprisingly large menu for such a small take away spot. They specialise in bowls like smoothie bowls, toasts and savoury bowls but they also have a huge selection of plant based treats, healthy (and unhealthy).

Their food is super colourful!

I decided to review the Red curry, one of their muffins and their famous vegan chocolate chip cookie.

The curry was warm and filling and made of coconut milk, chickpeas, sweet potato and tofu. It comes with brown rice and beautifully topped with kale, sliced almonds, edible flowers and sprouts! The curry had a very thick coconut flavour and was packed with chickpeas.

The waitresses suggested I try the cookie.  It’s not very healthy, but it’s definitely worth a go. You won’t believe that it is plant-based, because it’s so incredible. The outside is super crunchy, but when you break it open the inside is still soft and moist.

Finally the muffins. They have four kinds of muffins: with nuts, banana, blueberry and apple. All the muffins are sugar and gluten free. The outside is crispy and well baked, the inside is a softer texture.

The little things that make the difference

They offer a delivery service via Deliveroo and Glovo.

The bill

Curry  €9,40
Muffin  €2,80
Cookie  €2,70
Green detox juice  €5,00

 

Posted on

The Fields Beneath, Camden Town

The Fields Beneath pride themselves making tasty plant-based food.  The original site opened in 2012 in Kentish Town and they’ve recently expanded to Camden Town. Despite the bright yellow “vegan” sign outside, you’ll discover that the food is bang up to date and offers much more than lentils.

The setting

The Fields Beneath is close to the bustle of Camden market.  It’s quite small inside with just a bench and a table. On a sunny day, the main window table is a sun trap and a few bright yellow trunks serve as benches out the front.

It is the perfect midday spot to enjoy lunch or an afternoon coffee and cake.

The fresh juice test

The Fields Beneath don’t do juices. They pride themselves on their coffee and they also have a great range of vibrant kombuchas in flavours like Triple Ginger and Strawberry Tulsi. Plus, they have a range of teas and homemade golden milk and chai lattes – so there’s something for everyone.

What we ate

The menu changes daily as The Fields Beneath pride themselves on using locally produced foods and eating with the seasons. They champion Hertfordshire grown lentils and British grown fava beans and use  a UK-based oat milk. On the day we went, there were two lunch wraps to choose from – we decided to review the kebab wrap which was served toasted and a side salad. It was filled with oyster mushrooms, tomatoes and a creamy tzatziki.

In addition, we also had the lentil-filled “sausage” roll with mustard. It had thin and flaky pastry outside and a tasty filling. However, the star of the savoury show had to be the large slice of roasted vegetable farinata served warm.

It was packed with flavour and the fava bean flour added a great texture to the soft vegetables.

You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to dessert. They all look delicious and they’re all freshly made in house. We chose the warm apple crumble slice, on the manager’s recommendation, and it was amazing. Spiced with cinnamon, with tender apple pieces and a sweet “buttery” crumble top, it came served with cream and was the perfect dessert.

We also had the chocolate brownie which was rich with cacao and had a really gooey consistency thanks to the prunes and banana chunks. It was also filled with coconut for added texture. It was the best brownie I’ve had in a long time.

What we’d go back for

The apple crumble slice and the promise of the brand new tahini brownies.

The bill

Farinata  £5.90
Lentil roll  £3.60
Kebab wrap  £7.20
Chocolate brownie  £3.00
Apple crumble slice  £2.80

Posted on

Beter & Leuk, Amsterdam

 

Beter & Leuk translates as ‘better and fun’. It’s known for its organic, local, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu throughout Amsterdam. Their delicious menu is 100% vegetarian and their USP is their vegan pastries.  You can eat in, but Beter & Leuk also has a flourishing take-away counter and an on site shop selling sustainable lifestyle items, clothing, jewelry and more. We love it.

The setting

Beter & Leuk is in a lively area in Eastern Amsterdam, near the river Amstel. This cute homestyle café is on an urban street, with a calm and relaxed feel to it. This area of town is less touristy than others. It’s quieter and more residential, but filled with cafés and shops.

The space

Beter & Leuk feels like a living room. It’s compact and cosy. With the little shop-area in the back of the café, it also has the feeling of a concept store. You can buy cookery books, jewellery, beauty products and more. Most products come from local suppliers and everything is sustainable. The emphasis on sustainability continues not only in the menu and shop, but also in the decor of the café. It’s a stylish mix of non-matching, vintage and upcycled furniture. The walls are hung with changing artworks (also for sale) showcasing new Dutch artists. In the Summer, there are a few outside-seats, but no large terrace. Inside, are small tables and a large sharing table plus window bar seating. Beter & Leuk has table service.

The crowd

Beter & Leuk is run by Ilse and Maja, two ladies that are are passionate about spreading the healthy lifestyle message.

The mostly female crowd is a fun mix of young girls and trendy mums as well as older ladies- proving that healthy eating is for any age.

 

The fresh juice test

We began  our brunch review with some freshly prepared juices- an apple, carrot and ginger juice for my sister and an apple, celery and lemon one for me. Their juices are not too sweet and pretty generous in size.

What we ate

The food menu at Beter & Leuk includes sweet items such as berry smoothie bowls and banana-buckwheat pancakes. And you can find savoury items including a selection of salads (a seasonal one and a bibimbap), soup and sandwiches.

We ordered the baked tempeh sandwich with wasabi mayonnaise, cucumber, pickles and a small, fresh side salad.

I also ordered the spinach-buckwheat pancake with pea hummus and grilled vegetables. It came with a small quinoa side salad and the portion size was really good.

 

You can’t resist the sweet items on the menu. You can choose from  scones made of oats served with coconut yogurt and berries, chocolate brownies made from sweet potato and sweetened with date syrup and much more. In the end, we decided to end our brunch with the berry banana bread (sweetened with rice syrup) served with date creme and the vegan carrot cake with coconut frosting.

The carrot cake  was especially good!

We also had an almond matcha latte and a spiced iced almond turmeric latte on the side, a perfect end to a good brunch.

What else?

Beter & Leuk is active in hosting workshops on healthy eating and living. On some days you can even take a yoga class followed up by a healthy breakfast.

The bill

Juices 2x  €4.95
Matcha latte  €3.95
Turmeric latte  €3.75
Tempeh sandwich  €8.95
Masala Dosa  €10.50
Banana bread  €3.95
Carrot cake  €4.50

\

Posted on

Flex Bowls, Barcelona

Flex Bowls was the first healthy bowl café in Barcelona. It has a wide range of plant-based, flexitarian food on the menu. It’s a must visit for you if you’re plant-based and in Barcelona.

The setting

Flex Bowls is in Eixample. To get there, take the 47 bus to Pau Claris Arago station. It’s near other gastro-hotspots Eatmytrip Brunch & Bakery, El Nacional and Citizin café.

The space

Flex Bowls has a large, glass front with their signature white plate sign hanging above it. Outside, there are wooden apple boxes filled with their juice, lunch and brunch menu, plus there’s a tiny terrace on the other side of the pedestrian walkway.

Once inside, there’s a huge bar where you order food to take away or eat in. Behind the bar are shelves stacked with wines, plants, coffee cups and preserving jars. There are three high tables with bar chairs where you can sit at the bar. And there’s more!  Down the stairs there’s another huge space where you can settle in to work or chat. They have strong wifi.

The fresh juice test

I had the slim fit juice which was a smart choice.

It was perfectly balanced between the sweet of the fruit and the savoury of the veg.

The juice came in a house Flex Bowls bottle and was a combination of watermelon, spinach, cucumber, celery, coconut water, lemon, chia and ginger. All the flavours were there, but none of them were overpowering. Delicious.

What we ate

Flex Bowls has a lot of plant-based variety on their menu – from smoothie bowls and chia pots to pancakes.

Lactose Free, Gluten Free and vegan dishes are all marked up. I decided to review the Pumpkin Pecan Smoothie Bowl, as I was curious about the pumpkin (!), and the Vegan Brownie.

The bowl had a base of almond milk, pumpkin, banana, almonds, dates, vanilla and cinnamon. It was topped off with granola, chia seeds, nuts, banana, strawberry, coconut and cinnamon. The base was pleasantly surprising. The pumpkin added a nice twist and the hint of cinnamon added a perfect finishing touch. The granola was very sweet and sugary but rather confusingly didn’t appear to include pecans!

The brownie made up for it though. It was super moist and chewy from the inside. The top layer had a huge crunchy layer of nuts on top. You won’t regret ordering one.

The little things that make the difference

The big smiles of the waiters!

The bill

Pumpkin pecan smoothie bowl  €8,95
Slim fit juice €5,45
Vegan brownie €4,50

 

 

Posted on

Winter, Melbourne

Julien Moussi is a pioneering restauranteur breaking all the boundaries of healthy eating cafés. He has an established and highly impressive track record for going above and beyond when it comes to creating cool cafés. His new Melbourne opening, Winter is no exception. It’s currently the most talked about café in Melbourne. Here’s why…

The space

With white decor, light wood tables and chairs, clean interiors and bright natural light, you can’t fault it the decor at Winter. There’s a large seating area inside and a small terrace outside on the pavement.

The little things that make a difference

The food presentation has to be seen to be believed. Winter’s food styling and plating is an absolute work of art.

It’s almost cruel to eat it when it looks that good!

 

The fresh juice test

They may not have a green juice on offer, but they do have a green matcha latte which is just as good. They use the Matcha Maiden latte blend and it’s absolutely delicious. Mixed with almond milk, it’s a match made in heaven. I also got to try their mango smoothie which was like having sunshine in a cup. The mango and coconut milk reminded me of an Indian mango Lassi, only much thicker and more delicious

What we ate

For my review, I started off with their new super greens salad.

I love a hearty greens bowl so this ticked all the boxes for me.

It included broccolini, kale, grilled asparagus, sugar snap peas, beetroot hummus, a poached egg and a side of avocado. All topped with herbs and spices to give it a boost in flavour.

I had to try their Nutella crumpets. Crumpets  are an old school favourite of mine and they did not disappoint. With caramelised banana, fresh berries, crushed roasted hazelnuts, raspberry puree and honeycomb… need I say more? Although they may have been cold by the time I had taken my photos and taken my first bite, they were still divine.

What we’d go back for…

The food obviously, plus the staff were so attentive, warm and friendly.

The bill

Nutella crumpets  $18
Super greens salad  $19
Mango smoothie  $10.5
Matcha latte  $6

 

 

 

Posted on

Lavinia Good Food, Amsterdam

Lavinia Good Food is a hidden gem in the historic centre of Amsterdam. Sat on the pretty Kerkstraat, between two canals, it is charming, laid back and serves a mean gluten-free pizza. If you’re visiting Amsterdam or a local who loves healthy food, then it’s a must visit.

The setting

Lavinia Goodfood is based on the Kerkstraat. It’s close to the flower market and near other healthy hotspots like Delicious Deshima, Stach and SLA. Take tram 2, 11 or 12 to the Prinsengracht of Keizersgracht and from there it’s a five minute walk. There are also plenty of art galleries and vintage shops in the area.

The space

The space is charming and cosy. Outside there’s kitsch yellow furniture in front of the windows,  so you can sit outside and relax in the sun. Inside is brick walled with wooden furniture and lots of wood tables – mostly for two,  but they also have a huge sharing table.

The decor is very kitsch- cute plates and miss matched items stylishly combined.

Around lunch time it can get very packed. There’s great wifi and you can definitely take your laptop out and work, but not at lunch or brunch times since it is too busy. There’s another branch in Amstelveenseweg in Oud Zuid.

The crowd

What’s funny is the waiters are English – they’re not Dutch! Lavinia is really popular with a younger crowd, especially students.

What else?

You can eat in or take away and Lavinia also sells items like juicers, superfoods and even some gardening supplies.

The fresh juice test

Lavinia has a choice of fresh juices and lemonades. We had the green juice.  It was a mix of spinach, celery and apple. The juice wasn’t too sweet, despite the apple, and it contained lots of veg.

What we ate

Lavinia Goodfood serves a bit of everything. The menu is mostly vegetarian and vegan, but they also have some dishes with salmon. Lavinia has an all day brunch and lunch menu with lattes,  juices, cocktails, beers and organic wines. They also have some gluten-free options.

For my review, I had the Açaï bowl, Lavinia’s vegan bowl and a vanilla pie to finish off lunch. The portions were satisfyingly large and colourful. The acaï bowl came with cheese which we switched for coconut yoghurt. It didn’t really taste like acaï, more like a smoothie bowl, but this wasn’t a bad thing.

The bowl came with a very delicious and crispy granola which was gluten-free with coconut chips, fresh fruits and a drizzle of agave on top.

The Lavinia bowl was our savoury choice. It was whole grain cous cous, roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, pickled red cabbage, home made hummus and we also added some vegan “bacon” made out of mushrooms. All the ingredients were perfectly balanced. There was something creamy, something warm, something crunchy and something refreshing due to the pickled cabbage.

The vanilla pie was a must! They had a choice of vegan, gluten free pastries, but also traditional choices like dutch apple pie.

The vegan vanilla pie was a two layered cake with jam in the middle and and white icing on top. Topped off with some roasted almonds, blueberries and an extra drizzle of maple syrup. The cake was not dry at all, it had so much flavour and a really spongy texture.

The little things that make the difference

You can rent out Lavinia Good Food on the Kerkstraat for events.

The bill

Açai bowl  €9,50
+ coconut yoghurt  €2
Lavinia’s bowl  €11,50
+veggie bacon  €2,50
Green juice  €6,50
Vanilla cake  €4,50

 

Posted on

Böl, Barcelona

Böl translated as Bowls Bar is one of Barcelona’s go to cafés, especially if you like your dose of fresh, organic, produce served up in a bowl.

From the morning bowls featuring açai, spirulina and protein through to the signature Buddha bowls there’s a huge choice. You can even have Avocado Toast Bowls.

Böl’s aim is to empower you to “Eat Good & Feel Good” to feed your body and spirit.

The location

Böl is in L’Antiga Esquerra de l’Eixample, on the west side of Carrer de Balmes. You can take the H10 bus to Mallorca-Balmes station. There’s a selection of other healthy cafés around and hotspots like Brunch and Cake, Bon and Green and Berry are near by.

The space

Böl has a small outside terrace with tables under beach umbrellas and  wooden stools in front of the window. You order at the bar and you can sit in or take away. Inside the decor is very modern, warm wood work and clean lines. It’s fresh and white with industrial iron lamps.

You can sit outside in the sun, on the pretty baby blue chairs.

The little things that make the difference

The smoothie bowls come in coconut bowls and a matching spoon, we love!

What we ate

Böl serves smoothie bowls, quinoa bowls, toast and plant-based pancakes. It offers something for everyone, meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan. There’s special notes on their menu for dishes which contain sesame, eggs, soy, gluten and lactose and it also indicates which are vegetarian, spicy and vegan. It’s great for those of us with allergies, like my lactose intolerance.

I ordered the coco mermaid böl and the Buddha böl with a beet latte with almond mylk.

The coco mermaid böl had a base made of coconut flesh, coconut mylk, spirulina and cantaloupe. It was topped with homemade granola, apple, blueberry, cacao nibs and grated coconut. The smoothie base was cold, really cold, but the taste was tropical. It had a very fresh flavour mixed with the cantaloupe.  It didn’t have a lot of topping, but the toppings it did have were nice, with a lot of crunch.

The Buddha bowl came on a turmeric quinoa base and was topped with sweet potatoes, broccoli, red cabbage, marinated chickpeas, grapefruit, crunchy seeds, alfalfa sprouts and a miso tahini sauce. The bowl was a mix of vegetables, protein, crunch, bitter and sweet. It was perfectly balanced!

The beet latte was a very cute pink. It wasn’t sweet, you can always add sugar later if you want, which I prefer.

The bill

Coco mermaid böl  €8,50
Buddha böl  €9,95
Beet latte  €2,10
+almond milk  €0,20

Posted on

My Mother’s Daughters, Lisbon review

Created by three daughters and their mother, My Mother’s Daughters is a gem of a café. You can find it in the oh so pretty Largo de São Sebastião where the local area is  buzzing with style, colour and a sense of community.

When one of the daughter’s turned to a plant-based diet, her mother learnt to cook new recipes which led to a very special eatery. The sisters are passionate about using locally sourced, sustainable produce. They don’t use any animal products and everything is prepared with family love.

The setting

It’s a fairly small venue set back up some steep steps. Our tip is to bring a book and be prepared for a wait. They’ve kindly put some cushions outside for you to sit on. If you are lucky you might be able to get one of the tables outside in the Lisbon sunshine.

The space

The café is immaculately designed.

It’s light and bright with shiny white tiles, locally sourced glass lighting, pale blue and white cushions and delicately engraved oak tables and chairs.

The staff are super friendly and relaxed.

The little things that make a difference

The family aim for zero waste. They use fruit peel in their pretty water carafes and the napkins are recycled. It’s a family business and you can see all the sisters hard at work front of house and in the kitchen.

 

The fresh juice test

We tried the signature Mada’s Greenie Smoothie a delicious mix of apple, pineapple, spinach, cucumber, ginger and spirulina. Next we had a refreshing carrot orange, ginger and basil juice. Both were delicious!

What we ate

We decided to review the beetroot smoothie bowl with black rice and tofu which tasted as good as it looked. Then we tried the Mexicano Taco. It was two home made tacos filled with black beans spread, sweet potato, corn, avocado, red cabbage and red onion pickle and a “queso” sauce topping.

For desert, there was a stunning display of raw options and amazing tarts.

What we’d go back for…

We loved the design, the food and the family story behind the Glowcation.

The bill

Mada’s greenie smoothie  €4
Carrot juice  €4
Beetroot Smoothies Bowl €12
Mexicano taco €12

 

Posted on

Ain Soph, Tokyo

Owner Yuki Shirai’s message is to fill yourself with love by filling yourself with beautiful plant-based food. So all the plates they serve at Ain Soph are full of caring and loving thoughts. We couldn’t wait to visit.

The setting

Ain Soph has multiple locations in the city. They’re all different with their own menus. I decided to review their café in Ginza, an expensive shopping district in Tokyo. It’s a minute’s walk away from the Higashi-ginza metro stop and near  healthy hotspots  like Aloha Table and T’s Tan Tan.

The space

Ain Soph is modern, with traditional Japanese touches.

As you enter, you can buy home-made sweets and cold pressed juices. If you want to eat in, they lead you to the first floor to the small dining area. There’s polished concrete walls and varnished wooden furniture. There’s seven tables for two that can be joined together and a wooden bench with cushions.

Although it’s very busy and usually full, it’s very quiet inside. So much so that my friend and I felt uncomfortable talking. Ain Soph have wifi which works really well. However, I wouldn’t recommend working there for long, as it was packed around lunchtime.

The little things that make the difference

The room is quite cold (in the winter),  so they supply blankets for everyone.

What we ate

Ain Soph serves plant based food with a Japanese twist. For lunch they have a tiny set menu which is also very Japanese. You can pick curry, bento or pancakes.

We chose the curry and the pancakes. All the set menus come with a side salad and a cup of Japanese tea, black tea or coffee. The salad came first. It was a simple salad with a choice of raw vegetables and a delicious miso dressing.

This salad certainly proved that simple can be delicious.

The curry was a warming mix of several kinds of mushrooms and came with brown rice. Again simple, but really delicious. The mushrooms added a meaty texture to the curry.

Finally, the pancakes. Fluffy pancakes are very Japanese, you’ll see them everywhere on the streets, but Ain Soph’s are totally plant based which made us super curious.  At first sight, they looked a bit dry, but when we sliced into them they were deliciously soft and airy on the inside. The toppings were beautifully sliced fresh fruit and a home made blueberry jam. Plus, in three separate bowls we got extra toppings of agave syrup, soy whipped cream with chopped nuts and sesame and finally vanilla ice cream.

The bill

Pancake with side salad and Japanese green tea  2678¥
Curry with side salad and Japanese green tea  1814¥

Posted on

Afternoon Tea, London’s top five

Looking for an afternoon treat to make you glow? Why not indulge in a plant-based Afternoon Tea?

Here’s our pick of London’s best options.

Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair

Elegant Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair offers a Tea Tox afternoon tea in their refined English Tea Room. It costs £55 per person or £65.00 with champagne. You can choose from tomato tofu and mint and crispy tortilla with avocado & pickled radish and there is potato & apple salad, horseradish and gluten -ree white bread.

You can follow it with salted date caramel sauce and toasted oats, passionfruit and coconut rice fonde and rose lychee and raspberry chia seed pudding. And you can try their chocolate and banana cake, matcha raspberry cheesecake and a choice of teas.

Do call and make a reservation as they get very busy.

Farmacy, Notting Hill

Farmacy offer a cool and decadent 100% plant-based afternoon tea in their Westbourne Grove restaurant. Their plant-based ‘High’ Tea is free from dairy, refined sugars, additives and chemicals. You can treat your mum to a CBD infused cocktail, homemade CBD infused chocolates, a selection of delicious tea-time sweet and savoury treats and a pot of hemp leaf tea.

A selection of warm scones is also served, with a side of coconut clotted ‘cream’ and pineapple and apricot jam.

Many items are also gluten-free or can be made as a gluten-free option on request.

Farmacy’s ‘High’ Tea is served weekly between 3:30 – 5pm from Friday through to Sunday by reservation only. The tea is for a minimum of two guests and costs £42 per person.

 

Hemsley and Hemsley, Selfridges

Hemsley and Hemsley in Selfridges offers you two delicious options for an all natural afternoon tea. Both are made with wholefood ingredients and are free from grains, gluten and refined sugar.

‘The Cream Tea’ (£12.95) is a selection of freshly baked quinoa scones with raspberry chia jam, lashings of clotted cream and a pot of tea from the London-based Rare Tea Company.

‘The Afternoon Tea’ (£29.95) is features mini sandwiches including smashed egg and truffle butter on flaxseed rolls and avocado, lime and smoked salmon on carrot and quinoa crisp-bread. Also included is their signature cinnamon banana bread and bestseller chocbeet fudge cake, as well as lemon and raspberry almond-pastry tarts and coconut and mango whip. All this, plus their quinoa scones and a pot of tea. Both options can be upgraded with a glass of zero-dosage Ayala champagne.

Afternoon tea is served from 3pm and they do not take reservations.

Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly

If you like tradition, it doesn’t come better than the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum’s where you can find a vegan afternoon tea.

Their vegan menu features finger sandwiches of grilled courgette with artichoke pesto, pulled jackfruit and cos lettuce and crushed avocado and chilli.

As well as scones you can pick raspberry and avocado mousse,  crispy rice grapefruit and coconut yogurt with citrus meringue, banana and chocolate teacake and vanilla cheesecake with rhubarb jelly.

There’s also a gluten-free version and both feature Fortnum’s Famous Teas and cost £55.00 per person, or if you choose a Rare Tea, it’s  £58.00 per person.

 

Wulf and Lamb, Chelsea

Finally, for a less formal afternoon tea  you can visit Wulf and Lamb

There’s no specific tea menu, but it’s easy to tailor make.

We are huge fans of their mango and passionfruit cheesecake at £7.95. There’s also an extensive selection of cakes, brownies and doughnuts to sample alongside an organic selection of teas (including English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Organic Jade Green Tea, Matcha Green Tea, Peppermint & Silver needle Jasmine White Tea).

Posted on

Elle cafe, Tokyo

ELLE magazine was first published in 1945 in France just after the second World War. The founder, Elaine Lazarev, wanted to inspire readers to open their appetites and “just live as happy as you want to be!”. Now ELLE have opened their first ever café, in Tokyo. And it’s a must visit!

The setting

ELLE Café is based in Aoyama in the University of the United Nations campus. At the weekend there’s a farmers’ market in front of the café and Brown Rice by Neal’s Yard is around the corner. You can take the subway to Ometosando station.

The space

ELLE Café’s outside has a minimal, sleek upmarket look. It has high windows with grey and white walls and shutters. Outside there’s a heated terrace with smart black metal tables and chairs. Dogs are welcome in this  section.

Inside is a grab and go café and a seating area with marble topped counters and tables. Lots of plants and flowers are scattered around and the waiters speak very good English.

The little things that make the difference

Around noon the sun shines right through the window which adds an amazing feeling of light to the restaurant.

What we ate

ELLE Café has a diverse menu – they serve meat, fish and dairy, but also plant-based options. The menu is very Western for Japan. We chose the vegan cleanse salad and two of their side dishes- the beetroot hummus and fried sweet potatoes with rosemary. Then we had the strawberry bon bon to finish off lunch. The portions are all a perfect size to share.

The vegan cleanse salad was a mix of avocado, grilled aubergine and zucchini, grapefruits, pomelo, pomegranate seeds, tomatoes, sprouts, pine nuts and romaine salad. We chose the white miso dressing, to give it a Japanese twist, which was a good choice. The salad was light, but had a very fresh taste, because of the citrus fruits.

Next we had the beetroot hummus. It was super creamy and topped off with some roasted chickpeas which added a touch of crunch.

When in Japan, you can’t miss out on their sweet potato skills. The flavour of their sweet potatoes are so different than the ones we have in Europe. These  were perfect golden brown and had a crispy skin. They were still so fresh and sweet.

Last, but not least, we had the strawberry bon bon, which was the only plant based dessert option, so we had to try it.

The first layer was a mix of fresh blended strawberries with coconut milk, followed up with a soy milk whipped cream, a lot of fresh strawberries and another dollop of soy whipped cream – a real guilt free plant based pleasure.

The bill

Vegan cleanse salad  1178¥
Beetroot hummus  864¥
Fried sweet potato with rosemary  648¥
Strawberry bonbon  1944¥

 

 

Posted on

Juice Generation, NYC

I am always on the lookout for a cool juice pitstop when I am travelling. New York’s Juice Generation is a must. Famous for their signature juices, smoothies and now açai bowls, Juice Generation try to make eating enough fresh ingredients a day more accessible. I decided to check out their Lexington branch to see if it is really the best grab “n” go across NYC if you are craving a little freshness in your day.

The setting

The branch I reviewed is between 52nd and 53rd street on buzzing Lexington. It is a short walk from the famous 5th Avenue shops and Central Park. I recommend grabbing a juice and then going for a stroll in the park.

The space

Juice Generation has several different locations and they all vary in size. This one is compact, but I have also been to the one in the Financial District which is larger with a seating area. E53rd St just has a standing bar. But it’s not really a place where people sit and linger, the style is much more takeaway.

There are nice design touches like the wooden countertops, subway tiles, black and white drawing of fruit and veg and chalk boards.

The crowd

The crowd is very diverse : students rushing to class, mums wearing yoga pants, business workers, carers and children. Juices are good for everyone after all.

The fresh juice test

I chose the Hi-Fibe green smoothie which is large blend of spinach, kale, cucumber and green apple. This juice is rich in leafy greens and they told me it was rich in vitamin K, iron, vitamin C, folate and fibre. All of which are good for skin health and a natural glow. The smoothie itself is very fresh, but still has a nice thick texture.

 

What we ate

As this meal was my brunch, I decided to go all raw vegan and have a selection of what Juice Generation offers. As a fan of açai bowls, a taste I developed living in LA, I had to order one. I chose the Aloha Açai for its many fresh toppings including strawberries, banana slices, pineapple, mango, kiwi, coconut, hemp and granola. It was just as I like my açai, not too watery and lush.

In the spirit of going fully into a detox, I tried their Defender Shot which burns! I’m a fan, but it is definitely not for everyone. It is a strong concentrate of ginger, lemon, turmeric, cayenne and oil of oregano which is supposed to reduce inflammation and support recovery. I also got one of their Vital Shots to go which has a blend of ginger, lemon and cayenne.

The little things that make a difference…

I loved that they have large open fridges with a selection of juices to grab and go. They also serve fresh coconuts to drink from. The service is very fast, which is nice considering how hectic and people packed New York feels.

What we’d go back for…

All the utensils and cups are made from sustainable materials.

You can also get a discount by using a glass container. Juice Generation prioritises using locally sourced fresh ingredients and supporting farmers. They have a “grow it back” programme to help communities, as well and donate a portion of ever sale to charity like Harlem Grown and animal sanctuaries. Also, actress Salma Hayek has collaborated with Juice Generation to create a line of juices and a cleanse home-delivery programme.

The bill

Hi-Fibe Smoothie  $8.95
Aloha Açai Bowl  $10.95
Defender Shot   $3.95

 

Posted on

Kupfert & Kim, Toronto

After a seven-hour flight, I landed in Toronto and knew exactly where to head first. I took the Express train from the airport to the city centre and walked through the snow (without tripping which is miraculous) to Kupfert & Kim.

Kupfert & Kim is a plant-based restaurant that I discovered through friends from Toronto. It’s a gluten-free deli serving only minimally processed plant-based food and it’s all sourced locally to minimise their carbon footprint. Their delicious, nourishing food and warm matcha latte were exactly what I needed to combat my impending jet lag.

The setting

Kupfert & Kim has several locations in Toronto, but I decided to review the one on Spadina, one of Toronto’s main arteries. On the day I visited, it was snowing heavily and I was happy to find warmth and comfort inside this cosy deli. It’s a quick walk from the shops, especially the vintage boutiques and record stores on Queen St West.

Located on the corner of a main street, it is perfect for people-watching and watching the snow fall.

The space

The deli has a warm, light atmosphere, large windows, a lush plant wall and a large, open counter. Seating options range from bar-style stools to large and single tables. There is also a cute little corner decorated with plants which sells cookbooks, vegan supplements and their in-house coffee mix.

The crowd

This branch is not too far from the University of Toronto, so you will mostly find students taking a lunch break with a latte and their laptop. A lot of business people also come in to pick up their lunch order as it’s a grab ‘n’ go. The café has a buzzing environment, but it was calm enough to picture myself spending afternoons studying here.

What we ate

I usually know within a minute or two what I want to order, but given Kupfert & Kim’s large selection of plant-based food, it was hard to choose.

They offer thirteen different kind of nourishing bowls and serve breakfast all day.

After hesitating between the Oaxaca bowl, the chilli bowl and the Indian bowl, I chose the healthy and filling Cauliflower Tahini Bowl. It was served in a beautiful ceramic bowl with organic quinoa, a generous spoonful of hummus, roasted cauliflower, organic greens, za’atar salsa, carrots, cabbage, beets, mint, pomegranate, radish, sesame seeds, pickled onions, seed and oat crackers and a lemon tahini dressing on the side! I enjoyed the bowl with its different textures (creamy, roasted, crunchy).  It was warming and fresh at the same time if that makes sense!

For dessert, I ordered a colourful smoothie bowl. The Blue bowl with blueberries, avocado, cashew butter, lemon, dates and vanilla. It was topped with berries, apple slices, hemp, chia and their house made granola. The bowl had a nice thick consistency and was the perfect serving size.  I also ordered a nice foamy matcha latte on the side. All the portions were large and great value.

What we’d go back for…

The staff were super nice and helped me decide what to order. One thing that is very important to me is that Kupfert & Kim promote eating fresh, wholesome, healthy and organic food with fresh products and they pledge to prepare almost everything in-house.

They also reuse and compost. All of their takeout materials are made from compostable plastic and they even offer discounts if you bring your own reusable container.

The bill

Cauliflower and tahini bowl  $12.25
Blue smoothie bowl  $9.75
Matcha latte  $4.50

 

 

 

Posted on

Les Filles, Bayswater

Les Filles is the third restaurant in the LLS chain created by the inspirational plant-based restauranteurs, sisters Sonia and Hayet Zaame. Their other branches include LLS Hampstead and LLS Waterloo. Les Filles is an Australian inspired café and turns fresh, healthy ingredients into beautifully presented sumptuous dishes avoiding chemicals. The menu focuses on vegan-friendly food, but offers something for everyone, whether or not you’re vegetarian.

The setting

Les Filles is a short walk from Lancaster Gate station, between Bayswater and Paddington. It’s close to Hyde Park for an after walk latte.

The space

The street is quiet and the ambience is relaxing inside. Pick a wooden table with blue velvet stools to perch on, or curl up in the cosy cushioned spot by the window.

The wallpaper showcases artwork and quotes, reflecting the restaurant’s mission which is “everyone leaves feeling that little bit better”.

There’s an impressive selection of vegan and gluten-free desserts, such as carrot cake and banana bread on display. The table service was excellent too- fast, friendly and incredibly helpful when it came to allergies!

The crowd

The café is popular among customers of all ages and attracts many vegans for a vast selection of plant-based food, although it does also cater for meat-eaters too. When I visited for my review, it wasn’t too busy which made it easy to get a table. Dogs are also welcome!

The fresh juice test

We chose a freshly made Mean Green Juice – a nutrient-dense concoction of apple, cucumber, celery, kale and ginger.

In addition, we ordered a matcha latte with almond mylk and a beetroot latte with oat mylk, which came with a gorgeous sprinkle of dried rose petals.

What we ate

The menu places an emphasis on vegan and vegetarian food, yet they offer everything from poached eggs to chicken sandwiches. We shared two breakfasts. The porridge infused with earl grey tea was cooked in coconut mylk to creamy perfection and decorated with a variety of fresh fruit and an edible flower adding an elegant touch. We also had the stack of buckwheat pancakes served with mixed berries, sliced banana, a dollop of coconut cream and lashings of sweet date syrup.

The pancakes were flawlessly fluffy and the earl grey porridge had a truly unique flavour.

What we’d go back for…

The buckwheat pancakes and the colourful lattes plus the wonderful service!

The bill

Buckwheat pancakes  £8.95
Porridge  £6.50
Mean Green Juice  £4.50
Matcha latte  £4.00
Beetroot latte  £3.40

 

Posted on

Redemption, Covent Garden

Why should socialising always be at the expense of your health? That’s what two female entrepreneurs behind Redemption asked themselves as they created what they believe to be the world’s healthiest bar restaurant, serving up vegan, sugar-free and wheat free food with an alcohol-free bar. Their motto is ‘spoil yourself without spoiling yourself’.

The setting

Like the sister restaurants in Notting Hill and Shoreditch, Redemption Covent Garden is super cool. It’s decorated with white marble table tops, green plants, golden glowing overhead lights and their signature pink neon Redemption logo. It’s set just back from Seven Dials and backs onto Neal’s Yard. Customers include tourists and Londoners. You can also get take out.

The fresh green juice test

Redemption are known for their exotic and beautiful non-alcoholic cocktails, served in high glasses, with paper straws and garnished with fresh fruit and herbs.

I chose the “green” Apple Mockjito from their “fruities” menu, which was refreshing and sweet. It was made with muddled apple pressé, lots of fresh mint and lime wedges topped with sparkling mineral water. They also offer green avocado smoothies, but we tried the healing and heart-warming Bombay Love- a  blend of turmeric, ginger, lemon, coconut kefir, coconut milk and coconut yoghurt topped with coconut flakes. It  was revitalising and very healthy.

What we ate

You can choose from a comforting bowl of bolognese and brown rice penne pasta, their black bean chimichurri on homemade flaxseed and sunflower seed toast or a sweet stack of coconut oil buckwheat pancakes.

We enjoyed the buddha bowl, which is altered daily. When i visited it was a combo of fresh kale salad, grilled Mediterranean vegetables, mixed beans and  olives, beetroot hummus, turmeric roasted cauliflower and simple quinoa salads.

We also tried the Californication – a combo of roasted sweet potato and red onion hash with Tamari mushrooms, kale and spinach with rosemary and lemon. The sweet potato wedges were tender and the onion was sticky and sweet to contrast the salty umami greens and mixed mushrooms.

 

For dessert, we were tempted by their raw Banoffee and key lime pie cheesecakes, but chose the rich and fudge chocolate hazelnut brownie and the chocolate chip cookie. The brownie was light and spongey and the cookie was crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle. Both were served with creamy coconut yoghurt and edible flowers.

It’s hard to believe both are completely vegan and gluten-free.

What we’d go back for…

The buddha bowl and the chocolate hazelnut brownie!

The bill

Bombay love smoothie  £5.50
Apple Mockjito  £4.75
Buddha Bowl £8.95
Californication £9.25
Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie £3.75
Chocolate Chip Cookie £2.40

Posted on

Plant Hub, Hackney

It’s been a long journey for Plant Hub’s creator, David Bez, to find a fixed London home for his innovative, plant-based cooking. But finally and thankfully his journey has a happy ending with the creation of Plant Hub, Hackney.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting David’s previous ventures in Chatsworth Road (Pride Kitchen) and his pop up in Broadway Market’s Tiosk, but this new plant-based café is more ambitious. I was very excited to review it, as Bez has  joined forces with chef Lauren Lovatt and co-founder and head chef Antonio Alderuccio (AKA The Rainbow Chef) .  Their new venue not only boasts a widely vegan (and scrumptious) menu, but it also has a brand new plant based culinary academy right within its walls. Their aim is “to inspire a passion for plants, through building a community where we can all learn from the most inspiring chefs and foodies … to make and enjoy more plant based food.” And I think they’re absolutely on their way!

The setting

Plant Hub is on über trendy Mare St. It’s just round the corner from beautiful London Fields and a short walk from Hackney Central.

The space

Stepping off busy Mare Street, you are welcomed in by a display of fresh produce and homemade cakes and desserts.  It shouts ‘come in!’ Although narrow, the back of the café has about 8 tables and warm, stripped walls creating a really welcoming environment.  The lighting is industrial, there are metal chairs and wooden floors.

The seating area  overlooks the Plant Hub academy kitchen so you’re really in on the action.

The fresh juice test

The menu features an irresistible mix of elaborate mocktails, super lattes and smoothies. I had a fresh turmeric latte  which was the nicest I’ve ever had in London and a CBD & chamomile latte. I was so keen to try this and it was incredible.

What we ate

With very hungry tummies, we shared the Protein Bowl, which is a combo of a chickpea omelette, black peas, coriander butter beans, hummus, fermented oat cheez, kale, toasted seeds, dressed with a tahini and cheezy mustard sauce.

We also had the Melanzane Parmigiana (I genuinely wouldn’t have known it was vegan) and the filled Gluten Free Focaccia.

The Focaccia was stuffed with beetroot hummus, sun dried tomatoes and  rocket. We were tempted to try everything, so we followed this with the heavenly bread and butter pudding and a chocolate and pear tart with coconut cream and date syrup.

What else?

Plant Hub runs a wealth of workshops and cooking classes every week. You can learn skills from how to make decadent plant-based desserts, how to ferment foods and even how to batch cook. There are also plenty of guest chefs and cooks taking classes, so do keep your eyes peeled for something that takes your fancy.

And if the café and academy wasn’t enough, Plant Hub also sells local produce in in the Deli, so you can come and do your weekly shop.

Products include British quinoa, lentils and beans, flours, mylks and keep cups.

What we’d go back for…

The food was incredible and I will definitely be back in no time at all to enjoy more of the menu. But probably the thing that made me glow, most literally, were the lattes to end the meal.

They were the best lattes I’ve had in London and the CBD was an added treat.

There’s just something really special about this place. It feels as though now that there is finally a stable home for David and Lauren’s passions, ideas and genius minds, Plant Hub will continue to grow into something really wonderful; making plant-based food accessible, easy and even more delicious for us all!

The bill

Melanzane parmigiana  £8.00
Filled focaccia  £6.00
Protein bowl  £9.00
Super lattes  £4.00

Posted on

Treehouse Lounge, Melbourne

Treehouse Lounge was already a go-to spot for most locals in St Kilda. But, with a recent renovation, and new management, it’s looking better than ever. We’re talking new menu, new staff and updated decor. The Treehouse facelift is what everyone in Melbourne is talking about.

The setting

Treehouse Lounge is on Carlisle Street in St Kilda’s Balaclava, the heart of café culture in Melbourne. It’s also a great hub for cool shops.

The space

It’s like an indoor treehouse come to life- restored wood and hanging plants. My favourite part is the bright natural light that floods in through the huge window … obviously a bonus when it comes to food photography!

Treehouse Lounge uses natural, earthy, elements to create a relaxed vibe for meeting friends or sitting and working using the free WiFi.

The little things that make a difference

The team go above and beyond. Once you’re greeted with a big smile and a friendly chat, the staff and owner do whatever you can to make your experience a pleasant one. They support local small businesses and giving back to the community.

The fresh juice test

As they’ve recently re-opened, they’re still fine tuning their juice menu. Fresh juices will be on the cards, but for now it’s all about the matcha lattes by Matcha Maiden, turmeric lattes by Golden Grind and the Treehouse homemade smoothies to quench your thirst.

What I ate

There are so many delicious plant-based friendly options on the menu, you’ll be spoilt for choice. From pulled jackfruit tacos to a vegan chilli tofu scramble.

For my review, I went for three stunning dishes that delivered a serious taste sensation. The first was the ‘Not Just Avocado’, and they’re right.  It goes far beyond any avo smash I’ve ever had. Imagine thick smashed avocado on multi-grain sourdough bread, with rainbow beetroot slices, roasted heirloom carrots, fresh lime, toasted seeds, ricotta mousse and a poached egg.

I also tried their Roasted Cauliflower and Kale Salad which is now my new favourite dish. It’s packed with kale, roasted cauliflower, pumpkin hummus, toasted seeds, fresh pomegranate, two poached eggs and dukkah.

It’s the perfect combo of fresh, hearty and filling all in one.

Last, but not least, was the Heirloom Carrot Salad. This is served with barley, crunchy roasted chickpeas, caramelised roasted carrots, pomegranate seeds, kale, a poachie and a delicious tahini yoghurt dressing. Yum!

For dessert, they’re also the first and only cafe in Melbourne to have the Thai born smoothie bowl brand, NanaBowls on the menu. They’re exclusively serving the Peanut Butter Salted Caramel and the Strawberry Bliss flavours… all with extra toppings. I’m biased as we created the company, but they’re delicious!

What we’d go back for…

The challah french toast. Who wouldn’t glow when you’re served a soft thick piece of french toast with nut crumble, toasted hazelnuts, Nutella mousse, fresh berries and a roasted marshmallow?

The bill

Matcha latte  $5.50
Not Just Avocado  $18
Cauliflower and kale salad  $18.90
Heirloom carrot salad  $18
Peanut butter salted caramel Nana Bowl  $15
Challah french toast  $18.50

 

 

Posted on

Bravocados, Tofino, Vancouver Island

Tofino is a tiny town in Canada’s breath-taking Pacific Rim National Park so we were delighted to discover one of the best plant-based cafés we have ever visited – Bravocados. Don’t be put off by the setting in a car lot. The food has to be tried to be believed.

The setting

Despite being surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the world, there’s no sea view or any real view from this Glowcation.  But if it’s views you are after, then it’s right next door to the booking venue for the most spectacular boat and sea plane excursions to see wild brown bear, whales and stunning scenery. So be savvy and book a table for your return.

Once in, if you look up, you might be lucky and see soaring eagles perching on poles as you order.

The space

It’s modern with local art displayed on the dark grey walls. You can sit at the wooden tables or at the friendly bar. The customers are mostly travellers to the Pacific Rim National Park. The staff are super friendly and it’s often packed so be prepared for a wait.

The little things that made a difference

The fact Bravocados supports local suppliers and producers. Plus, there’s Trivial Pursuit cards on all the tables which is an inspired touch.

The fresh juice test

Bravocados doesn’t do fresh juices, but they more than make up for it with kombucha. We fell in love with the locally brewed Tofino Kombucha which is raw, organic and delicious.

There’s a choice of jasmine and hibiscus, ginger and lemon and apricot and rose. We couldn’t resist all three.

What we ate

The food is all vegetarian with lots of vegan and GF options. There’s  an extensive choice of tacos, tortillas, bowls, salads, fries, burgers and waffles. We tried two burgers : the Bravo  and the Pulled ‘Pork’. The Bravo was a tortilla crusted, black bean and corn pattie crammed in a multigrain bun with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickled jalapeno topped with a melted cheese blend. The Pulled Pork was made of kelp stout, BBQ braised jackfruit and topped with apple, carrot and cabbage slaw and vegan aioli. All in a ciabatta bun. We loved both.

 

We also went for the great Ground Beyond tacos with salsa fresca, shredded lettuce, sliced avocado and jalapeno queso. Determined to try as much as possible, we also had a side of guac and chips, additional fries and a fresh Caprese salad! Then we rounded it all off with a waffle and brownie.

The Nutella Banana had added coconut whipped cream and candied walnuts and the brownie was black bean baked and topped with coconut whip, chocolate drizzle and walnuts.

Despite being very full by this point, we finished them both!

What we’d go back for…

The food, the eagles and the kombucha

The bill

Pulled pork burger  $16
Bravo burger  $15
Fries  $3
Tacos  $12
Chips and guac  $7
Caprese salad  $14
Nutella banana waffle  $13
Brownie $8
Kombucha  $5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Caravan Bankside, Southwark

Need a London café close to the Tate Modern that ticks all the boxes? Caravan Bankside is a Southwark must visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just coffee and a home brewed kombucha. They cater for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters. Our verdict? It doesn’t just entice, it delights and delivers.

The location

Caravan Bankside is located in an old metal box factory in this achingly cool area of  Southwark, a stone’s throw from the Tate Modern. It’s also an easy walk to the Menier Chocolate Factory, The Globe Theatre and Borough Market.

The space

The spacious café has retained many original 19th century features and has a warm, industrial feel.

Imagine large windows, white columns, stripped wood and metal girders. You could easily spend the day here with your laptop or celebrate with a large group.

 

What else

Caravan Bankside is the third branch of Caravan. Their mixed menu is also on offer at Exmouth Market, King’s Cross, Fitzrovia and in the City. They also brew their own immune boosting kombucha and shrubs.

The fresh juice test

As well as fresh juices, shots and milk blends (hot and cold), Caravan Bankside brew their own immune boosting ferments and pro-biotic sodas.

The ginger and galangal soda and the pomegranate kombucha sounded particularly appealing. In the end, we decided to review two fresh juices. First, the cucumber, apple, parsley, spinach and sorrel which was a prefect balance of sweet and bitter. Next we tested the beetroot, cucumber, cayenne and lemon. We’d never had beetroot in a juice without apple before, but didn’t miss it, as there was enough sweetness and it was refreshingly light.

What we ate

Caravan serves up a little bit of everything from across the globe; from small plates and snacks to larger dishes.

We began with snacks and chose the the stilton and peanut wantons with ketjap dip.

They were crisp and exquisite. We followed with the charred hispi cabbage, sweet miso, blue cheese and thai basil. This dish was even more heavenly, with the sweet miso sauce taking it to a new level.  Finally, we had the split pea dahl, braised greens, carrot relish, ginger jam, coconut yoghurt and pickled red onion. This was also good but not a standout dish.

What we’d go back for

The cabbage… and we want to try their plant-based breakfasts next time – which include spiced yoghurts, steel cut oat porridge and smoothie bowls. Plus, their industrial themed unisex toilets are lovely, with stripped bricks, exposed copper piping and Aesop hand washes and creams.

The bill

Stilton and peanut wantons, ketjap manis £4.50
Charred hispi cabbage £7.50
Split pea dahl and braised greens £14.50
Juices £4.50

Posted on

Zazie, Rome

Rome has a fair amount of plant-based places including gelaterias, cafés, bakeries and restaurants, but Zazie was recommended to me so many times that I just had to try it. My Italian getaway lasted ten days, the last few days spent in beautiful and historical Rome. After eating pomodoro pasta or vegan pizza at every meal, I felt sluggish and in desperate need of fresh fruit and vegetables.  I loved it so much, I returned the day after my review!

The setting

Zazie has four different locations in Rome, but, as I had planned to visit Vatican City after lunch, I decided on Zazie Borgo Pio. After a stroll in the lush Villa Borghese gardens, you can explore Rione XXII Prati and Rione Borgo neighbourhoods, the latter being where Zazie is located. Both areas are very historical with beautiful churches and palazzos worth visiting. Plus, I would definitely recommend grabbing a juice on the go and walking to the Vatican after your meal.

The space

Zazie has a cool, industrial interior design with coloured metal furniture and lamps. However, the café feels warm due to details such as wooden ornaments dangling from the ceiling like mobiles. I really liked the large wooden counter and shelves with their display of fresh fruit and vegetables, glass jars full of freshly baked cookies and a counter dedicated to free add-ons to your meal such as various seeds, croutons, granola, nuts…

It is the first time that I’ve seen superfoods offered unlimited and free.

The crowd

I was very surprised by the crowd ! It was mostly working people in suits grabbing a soup and juice during lunch hours or older people sitting with a newspaper. Both times I went, I was the only tourist. The lovely staff translated all of the ingredients for me, explained to me which supplements I could choose from, let me replace ingredients in my order and asked upfront if I was a vegetarian or vegan.

The fresh juice test

I was craving a green juice so much so I ordered the greenest item I could find on the menu. It  was spirulina, kiwi, green apple and banana, but I asked to replace the banana with celery and add ginger. It was so hydrating and fresh ! They have a large selection of juices and you can also invent your own and there are three different sizes.

What we ate

Each day they offer a selection of warm salads, fresh salads and soups. I chose a salad bowl with red cabbage, white cabbage, arugula, spinach, chickpeas, radish and a tomato salsa. I also added barley, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed and their dressing of the day which was made from arugula, lemon juice, garlic, shallots and soy cream. It was super fresh, filling and creamy. The next day when I returned,  I ordered a pumpkin and carrot soup with couscous which was equally delicious and super warming.

There are so many bakeries, chocolate stores and biscuits in Italy, but, as a vegan, I have never been able to have any!

I was delighted to see that Zazie had vegan and gluten free versions of traditional Italian desserts.

I chose a chocolate tartlet with an incredible chocolate ganache (and I don’t like chocolate usually), a coconut biscuit, a walnut biscuit and a hazelnut and chocolate biscuit! All were very crumbly, as most Italian baked goods are and I really enjoyed discovering these culinary specialties.

The little things that make a difference

I could totally see Zazie as a place to work from while sipping on juice or tea with their fast wifi, power outlets and calm setting.

When I first saw that they do not have actual plates or glasses, I was worried about plastic over-use, but they actually use compostable bioplastic containers made from potato starch. Which was great. I also appreciated the little chalk boards everywhere with nutritional or environmental information. 

The bill

Green Juice + supplement  5.95€
Salad + cereal supplement 6.95€
Biscuits 6.65€

 

Posted on

Kalifornia Kitchen, London

‘Healthy is Sexy’ according to Kalifornia Kitchen. It’s the latest addition to London’s thriving plant-based café scene and one I couldn’t wait to review. It’s the perfect place to pick up a West Coast fix – from the hot pink colour scheme to the CBD lattes. You could easily be in Hollywood.

Kalifornia Kitchen was founded by vegan entrepreneur Loui Blake. It follows the success of his first restaurant, Erpingham House, in Norwich which is the UK’s largest plant-based eatery.

Not only is the entire menu vegan, the eatery is also free from single use plastic and places an emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The setting

Located on Percy Street in Fitzrovia, Kalifornia Kitchen is just a couple of minutes walk from the bustling Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus. You can’t miss the shocking pink awning especially on a grey London day. While there is a huge variety of international cuisine on the same street, such as Hawaiian poke, vegetarian Indian and modern Vietnamese restaurants, Kalifornia Kitchen stands out.  

The space

The pink colour scheme continues inside with a fuchsia spiral staircase and pastel pink chairs.

Inside a Neon sign reads “Healthy is sexy’ and  “Don’t kale my vibe’ is painted on the wall.

Green foliage lines the walls, and our window table allowed us to look out  and people watch. Alternatively, you can grab a table for one and order a matcha latte, get your laptop out and take advantage of the relaxed working vibe. The table service is quick and friendly. Food is also available as takeaway. 

The crowd

The crowd is generally young and includes vegans, those seeking a more plant-based diet and those who are simply after a delicious and nourishing meal. I spied plenty of bloggers with their cameras at the ready snapping away at the beautiful interior details and the stunningly presented dishes. As it’s in such a busy area, the restaurant can get very full at lunchtime, but don’t worry as the large number of tables means you can still normally find a seat.

The fresh juice test

To drink, Kalifornia Kitchen serves CBD lattes (infused with Cannabidiol) alongside turmeric and matcha lattes. They also have immune-boosting shots, superfood smoothies and freshly squeezed juices.

We went for the green juice. It was made from kale, apple, celery, cucumber and lime. It was delicious with a slight sweetness thanks to the apple. 

What we ate

The menu is made up of healthy breakfasts, such as buckwheat banana pancakes and lunch options like beetroot falafel wrap with kombucha slaw served with kale chips. There are also heartier dinner dishes such as aubergine katsu curry.

We went for the scrambled turmeric tofu on sourdough. And the pulled jackfruit and guac tacos with pickled red cabbage plus the Rainbow bowl.

The Rainbow bowl was a mix of kale, tomatoes, cauliflower couscous, butternut squash, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, lime coconut yoghurt and avocado.

The little things that make the difference

Kalifornia Kitchen encourages its guests to donate an optional 99p with each bill.  This is used to plant hundreds of trees each month in order to offset their carbon footprint.

The bill

Jackfruit guac taco  £12.00
Rainbow bowl  £10.50
Scrambled tofu on sourdough £8.50
“Kalefornia” green juice  £4.00
Oolong tea £3.50
Oat Cappuccino  £3.25