Peace, Love and Really Good Food
The old Lulu’s space on Southwest Boulevard is back – this time as a vegetarian oasis otherwise known as Cafe Gratitude. The California eatery’s third location (and first out of state) is a positive, refreshing space with organic food that will entertain the palate, even make the most meat-hungry carnivore forget the meat is missing.
Some might find it too hippie with menu selections titled “I am Beautiful”, or my favorite, a kid’s dish called “I am a Winner” (delicious by the way- a blend of cashew mozzarella and quinoa that my daughter and I took down together). But after you get past the slight cheesiness of affirmation-named food, its a relaxing, rejuvenating experience that won’t have you popping tums as you leave.
I asked our server for the best thing on the menu. I got “I am Transformed”, soft corn tortilla tacos with pistachio nacho cheese, brown rice, guacamole, black beans, salsa fresca and a side salad of spicy greens. I’ve thought about it every day since – the perfect, light combination of ingredients in portions that left me satisfied yet still mobile. While I ate, my daughter was entertained by the abundance of pillows lining our pew seating. She also loved the hazelnut milk.
Because this gem sits just blocks from our loft and serves breakfast/lunch/dinner, we’ve been ordering from there often. My favorite concoction since the tacos was a slice of German chocolate cake, which was perfectly balanced, even for someone who doesn’t like coconut.
We definitely recommend this brand new restaurant. Follow them on Twitter or on Facebook for weekly updates including their produce shipments from local farms, which will get your mouth watering before you even read the menu.
Who is writing…
I am a journalist, television host, wife, mom, traveler, foodie and wino obsessed with optimizing both the food experience and the resulting health and longevity impacts of the food experience. My husband is a doctor and ultra-marathoner, and together, we are looking to subvert the negative health effects of the modern American diet by eating less processed food, meat and sugar. That doesn't mean we don't indulge now and then, it just means we're in pursuit of balance and overall health for our family.
