Cafe Gratitude, Venice, CA

Oh Cafe Gratitude, amidst the controversy and closings of your restaurants, I still seek you out whenever I'm in California. I was recently made aware of the news that long-time vegetarian owners, Matthew and Terces Engelhart, founders of Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre, have decided not only to start eating meat, but also to start killing animals on the same farm they use to supply produce to their restaurants. I was not aware of this when I went to dine at Cafe Gratitude in LA though so this may affect my desire to eat there going forward.

Putting that aside for now, let's talk about my most recent experience. I sought out Cafe Gratitude in LA because all of their restaurants closed in northern California, so now I'll have to visit them in southern Cali instead. There are apparently a few different partners in the southern Cali venture so ownership is a little different than it was up north.

Upon arrival at the Venice location on this Saturday morning, it was pretty busy. I was immediately amazed by how beautiful this restaurant was. Unlike the former northern California locations, this restaurant was bright and modern with white wooden floors, high ceilings, exposed ductwork, and light wood tables. It was very inviting!

I started with a Complete pressed juice made with kale, apple, celery, cucumber, lemon, and ginger and I added cayenne. It was incredibly fresh, healthy, and great tasting.

For my meal, I ordered the "I am Nourished," which was delightful! The gluten-free French toast, was dense, but delicious! The tempeh chorizo was spectacular. And the sauteed kale added a delicious veggie to the meal that I slathered in their housemade hot sauce. Also, the coconut bacon and cashew cream was great on the French toast. It was all very filling. I definitely felt nourished!

My friend ordered the "I am Bonita," and I loved his meal as well. This consisted of sprouted probiotic brown rice and black beans with pico de gallo, avocado, cashew nacho cheese, spicy pepitas, and corn tortillas. So good.

As I was leaving, I decided to get lunch to go. I ordered the "I am Liberated," a kelp noodle dish made with cherry tomatoes, basil hempseed pesto, marinara, kalamata olives, arugula, cashew ricotta, and brazil nut parmesan. I ate this four hours later on the plane and it was as good as the server described. Because they used kelp noodles, it kept the dish light even with the heavy delicious pesto and parmesan. Such a perfect combination.

Don't leave without checking out their amazing dessert section, but be aware they use honey in some of the desserts. I also took an Almond Butter Cup to go. It was amazing!

I feel so conflicted. I had a great experience at this restaurant -- great food and service, but now I know about the owners and their quest to kill animals at their farm. I don't know what to say about that. We'll all have to decide on our own whether to keep supporting them or not. The fact is that their almost-vegan restaurants have great food and are staffed with great people. Their prices are high, but their ingredients are very high quality.

Cafe Gratitude
512 Rose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA90291
(424) 231-8000

Plant Food and Wine, Venice, CA #2

After an incredibly positive visit to Plant Food and Wine, one of Chef Matthew Kenney's fine restaurants, I decided to return on my next visit to LA! Step one: fly in to LAX. Step two: drive straight to Plant.

We arrived around 4 p.m. for linner (lunch-dinner) on a weekday and there were very few people in the restaurant. We chose to sit in the gorgeous courtyard with the birds and the vines.

My friend ordered a beer and I ordered a glass of Gewurtztraminer, a fantastic white wine. The glass was $14, which may have been a bit high, but it was very good.

To start, we ordered the cheese plate with Smoked Cheddar and White Truffle nut cheeses. The smoked cheddar was by far our favorite as it tasted not quite like aged sharp cheddar, but more smoky. The raw crackers were fantastic with it too. The white truffle was light and airy. Both were very good!

For my entree, I ordered the Roasted Vegetable Wrap as recommended by the server. Oh my goodness was it good! Inside a freshly toasted lavash wrap was roasted vegetables, quinoa, gnocchi, and mixed greens layered with pesto and salsa verde. It had strong flavors that balanced each other out in a delicious wrap.

My friend ordered the Wild Mushroom Sandwich made with wild mushrooms and caramelized onion slathered with truffle aioli and creme fraiche. It was very good too, but a bit too many mushrooms for me.

For dessert, I went with the Tiramisu, which had a dark chocolate brownie, hazelnut brittle crust, vanilla meyer lemon chantilly, and cashew cream. I loved everything inside especially the cream and cracker, but felt the brownie needed a little more flavor.

My friend got the Ice Cream Sandwich, which was a gluten free chocolate chip cookie with hemp vanilla ice cream. As simple as it seemed, its flavors just bursted!

Wow. Once again, I had an amazing experience at Plant Food and Wine. This is a must-visit for those of you in the Los Angeles - Venice area. Great, unique, upscale food with great service. The prices are not cheap though with my sandwich and dessert being $13 each, the cheese plate being $12, and each glass of wine $14. We spent a lot of money, but had an awesome experience. Highly recommended.

Previous review
February 25, 2016

Plant Food and Wine
1009 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 450-1009

Plant Food and Wine, Los Angeles

After having experienced Matthew Kenney's fantastic raw cuisine at the recently defunct M.A.K.E., I was so excited to try out his new restaurant -- Plant. Unlike M.A.K.E., Plant is not exclusively raw vegan, but instead features both raw and cooked cuisine.  Matthew Kenney is one of the top raw vegan chefs in the world, so I was quite surprised to see that the restaurant featured mostly cooked food.

The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful. Located on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, it surrounded by funky little shops and cafes. Inside, it is all black and white with splashes of color. From the marble-like tables to contemporary vases, this restaurant screams elegance. Outside, the courtyard is absolutely stunning with its large wooden tables and beautiful flowers and greenery.

My first visit was on a Sunday during brunch. I started with the Chili Beach drink made with chili infused sake, pineapple, cilantro, and Meyer lemon salt. I found it to be tasty, but not well balanced. I'd try something different next time.

For my meal, I ordered the Polenta Scramble. It featured seared polenta topped with broccolini, king oyster mushrooms, almond gremolata, and green harissa along with sweet potato hash. It was incredibly good -- all the flavors meshed together so well. I was really impressed. They also brought out a trio of sauces including an aioli, and two hot sauces. The habanero hot sauce was delicious, but I think I ate way too much of it as I had a stomachache later. :-(

I had such a good experience that I returned with a friend the next day for lunch. After some mineral water and mimosa, we were ready to place our orders.

We started with a two-cheese plate featuring nut cheeses.  The white truffle cheese made with cashews and macadamia nuts was definitely our favorite, but the peppercorn, also made with cashews and macadamia nuts, came in a tight second. Both were incredibly flavorful and had my non-vegan friend raving about vegan nut cheeses. They were served with pickled apples, mustard seeds, and some of the best raw crackers ever made with fennel and flax.

For my entree, I ordered the Roasted Tomato Sandwich. This thick artisan grilled bread had a luscious smoked cheddar nut cheese on it with roasted tomatoes and avocado. Although it was a bit too much bread, the flavors were incredible.

My friend ordered the Mushroom and Vegetable Burger, which was a rich, thick burger on thin spelt flatbread with pickles, lettuce, and carrot ketchup. We liked everything but the flatbread and both preferred the tomato sandwich to the burger.

The service at Plant was pretty good both times I went. There also weren't many people dining either time I went. As it is still new, perhaps they haven't yet built up a customer base. No matter because the fact is that the food is exquisite. The brunch item was $14 and the lunch items were $13-$14 each -- well worth it in my opinion. And the atmosphere is great. This is one of the best vegan restaurants I've been to in LA and I highly recommend you visit it as soon as you can.

Plant
1009 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 450-1009

Real Food Daily, Los Angeles #3

Real Food Daily is one of those restaurants that people return to over and over again because they consistently serve good food. This all-vegan mostly organic restaurant has three locations and I think this may have been my first visit to the Santa Monica location.

The Santa Monica restaurant features light wood and soft lighting for a relaxed feel. We started with a couple glasses of wine as we perused the menu. I am familiar with many of their dishes, but there are still many items that I have not tried. To keep it fresh, we ordered off the seasonal specials menu.

First up was the Three Amigos -- crunchy cauliflower fritters with romesco sauce and jalapeno aioli. The texture was delightful and the flavors perfect.

For our entree, we split the Caribbean Quesadillas. They were made with spinach, caramelized onions, coconut lentil puree, and pepperjack Daiya cheese in a whole wheat tortilla. The coconut lentil puree and coconut cilantro cashew cream really made the meal. On the side were some fantastic grilled plantains and a mango salsa.

After all that, we still wanted to try some dessert. The Brownie Bowl is to die for. The rich thick brownie is topped with chocolate sauce and coconut ice cream. It was incredibly decadent and my non-vegan friend remarked that it was as good if not better than any other brownie bowl he'd ever had.

Although the service was a bit spotty, all in all we had a great experience. The appetizer was $13 and the quesadillas were $17, but for mostly organic high-quality cuisine, I thought it was appropriately priced. Real Food Daily will continue to be one of my staples in the LA-area.

Real Food Daily
514 Santa Monica Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-7544

Elderberries Cafe, Los Angeles

Elderberries Cafe is a hidden gem in Hollywood! While searching for a place to have a nice vegan breakfast, we discovered this saucy, little cafe.  It looks like it is right out of the forties and frozen in time with its eclectic furnishings, old books, and colorful flare. We were delighted to have discovered this gluten-free, vegan cafe.

We sat at a table at the front as we perused the menu. All items are available all the time and we had a hankering for breakfast with nachos. Why? Because vacation...that's why. I ordered a Fatburner Lemonade with cayenne and my friend ordered an espresso. I loved my spicy lemonade.

The first dish we received was the Elderberries' Nachos. Organic corn chips were served with raw chili, queso, pico de gallo, and avocado. Delish!

We also had a gluten-free bagel with cashew cheese and jam. This was very interesting. I really liked the cashew cheese though it was nothing like what you'd expect. It was thick and had a different texture than I'm used to -- kind of gave the sweet jam a savory twist.

I also had the Emerson's Frittata, which was zucchini, tomato, quinoa, peas, spinach, Daiya cheese, sprouted tofu, and a touch of corn chowder baked to perfection. The rosemary potatoes on the side were delightful.

Other options include French Toast, salads, wraps, paninis, and desserts. I found this guy outside.

We left stuffed and pleased. The breakfast was a bit pricey with the nachos being $12 and the frittata at $10, but it was all so good and ORGANIC that we couldn't complain. The service was fine -- there were only two people there doing everything, so they did a good job. And the atmosphere was so relaxed and fun, it would be hard not to enjoy that place. And we got to read through the Farside book while enjoying breakfast. Good times.

Elderberries Cafe
7564 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-0700

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Los Angeles

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! So, there I was, just walking down Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Ventura when I see an ice cream truck and I think, 'I wonder if they have vegan ice cream.' Guess what?! They do!

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream has shops in LA and NYC and trucks in each city too. This one only had two vegan flavors this day: Coffee Bean and Sicilian Pistachio. I went with a pistachio ice cream sundae. The ice cream is made with cashew milk, coconut milk, coconut oil, and cocoa butter and it si delish!

Topped with their homemade chocolate sauce, cacao nibs, and pistachios, this sundae was to die for! The ice cream had a creamy texture and all the toppings served to complement the flavor really well. I was in heaven.

For about $10, it wasn't cheap. But, heck, I'm not complaining. I just got a gourmet vegan ice cream sundae from a truck. Could you please bring this to DC?!

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream
Food Truck - location varies

Real Food Daily, LAX #2

I was flying out of LAX early on a Monday morning when I found Real Food Daily in the terminal! How awesome is this?! Real Food Daily is a vegan restaurant with three locations around the Los Angeles area. But, I guess now this is the fourth. Founded on the principles of serving high-quality, organic, plant-based foods, this restaurant is known for its delicious and healthful cuisine.

So, I couldn't help but check out their menu in the airport. It's pretty simple. They serve a burrito, platter, and sandwich for breakfast and soups, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers for lunch. Luckily, the line was short and soon I realized why. Holy moly -- they are expensive!

I chose the RFD Burrito for $16.50! I kept it and brought it onto the plane and dug in around lunchtime. This whole wheat tortilla was filled with scrambled tofu, roasted potatoes, black beans, peppers, and cashew cheese. It was supposed to come with guacamole and pico de gallo. I only got the pico de gallo. The grilled burrito was filling and satisfying, but definitely not as good as a burrito costing $16.50 should be. And the fact that they forgot my guac made me grumpy.

I'd say it wasn't worth the money, but, quite frankly, I'd buy it again because it is fresh, organic, vegan food in the airport and there sure ain't a lot of competition in that market. And their drink selection is pretty good.

Previous Review
August 9, 2013

Real Food Daily
LAX

Veggie Grill, Los Angeles #2

I first visited the Veggie Grill back in 2013. As a very casual cafe, you really go here expecting a good, comforting, wholesome vegan meal. And on this trip, it was no different. I had just completed 15 skydives over the past three days and I wanted some real food. Luckily, my hotel was just 10 minutes away so the journey to Veggie Grill was a short one!

Veggie Grill has restaurants all over California as well as other states, but this particular one was located in plaza in El Segundo. I kept it simple and ordered the Harvest Bowl because veggies and Field Roast sausage sounded really good at that moment.

They brought it out to me in just a few minutes. Atop a bed of kale and quinoa was roasted zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and Field Roast sausage in a porcini mushroom and miso gravy with hemp seeds. And, I thought it was okay. It was hearty and filling and good, but nothing to really write home about. I appreciated it just the same. For $10.95, I did feel that I got my money's worth.

The All Hail Kale salad I got the last time I was here impressed me a bit more. They have an extensive menu of snacks, bowls, salads, and sandwiches and although you are always going to get fairly simple meals at Veggie Grill, some are definitely better than others. Pass the hot sauce, please!

Previous Review
February 28, 2013

Veggie Grill
720 Allied Way
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 535-0025