Posted on June 17, 2010 in Reviews
I visited Santa Barbara over the weekend and went to a wonderful winery in Lompoc, where they were selling really delicious olive oil. The winery was called Foley Estates Vineyard, and me being a food person, the wine was very nice, but it was the olive oil that they were selling that really struck me! The oil is made by a company called Los Olivos and let me tell you, this oil is AMAZING! They had a bunch of different flavors, ranging from truffle oil to blood orange olive oil! I purchased garlic oil, since I am such a garlic fiend, but they have oil for everyone! The garlic oil is full of delicious pieces of roasted and minced garlic. It is fantastic on just about everything.
This oil is fairly difficult to find, so if you would like a bottle I highly recommend calling the winery. Everyone over there is very sweet and helpful, especially Vallarie. If you ask for her, I am sure she will help you find exactly what you are looking for!
Let me tell you this olive oil is worth every cent!
Give the winery a call! (805) 573-6222
Posted on June 7, 2010 in Reviews
The only thing wrong with these “ice cream” bars is that one is not enough. The coconut ice cream is so rich and delicious, and the chocolate surrounding the ice cream adds just the right amount of taste and crunch. They are sweetened with agave and include interesting ingredients such as beet sugar and chicory root. One bar has 10 grams of sugar, which, for an ice cream treat, is really very little. They are also dairy free, cholesterol free, vegan, organic, and a taste sensation.
I went home for a weekend and my dad literally tried to hide the bar that he was eating so that I would not know that something so delicious was in our home. But being the Health Food Stalker, it did not take me long to figure out. 
Posted on May 31, 2010 in Reviews
I took a train ride to San Diego for the long and lovely weekend, and I had my health food stalker mind blown twice in one night… that is right, twice.
As a lover of Indian food, both for its taste and the health benefits of a good curry, I always enjoy trying out new Indian restaurants. Bombay, a Northern Indian Restaurant in Hillcrest, provided the first mouth-watering experience of the evening. Not only was the atmosphere, service and taste of the food extraordinary, our waiter, Roberto, was also extremely receptive to my dietary restrictions. The restaurant provides the option of swapping out the dairy in any creamy dish with coconut milk or oil; you can also get steamed vegetables (but I say if you are going to eat boring vegetables then you might as well do that at home). The dishes we had were so flavorful and complex, the ingredients insanely fresh and the portions just right for sharing.
The spicy lentil soup was a gorgeous, bright orange color and brimming with beans and lentils, the vegetarian tikka masala with coconut milk was to die for, and the ginger masala with tofu was a taste sensation with its large chunks of ginger, green chilies, peppers, mushrooms and lemon juice. Mmmmm.
If you’re planning a visit to San Diego, or if you live in San Diego, you must check out this Hillcrest restaurant. You will not regret it! Make sure to ask for Roberto to be your server, he is the best.
http://www.bombayrestaurant.com/bombayrestaurant.html
On to mind blowing experience number two, Chocolat. This small cremerie is a real find for a number of reasons:
1) It is right down the block from Bombay, 2) The place looks adorable, 3) The dairy free alternative is not a water based sorbet but more of a non-dairy gelato made with soy, so it is rich and creamy and delicious, 4) They have gluten free alternatives for the pizzas and pastas on the menu, 5) They use local organic ingredients, 6) Do you really need any more reasons?
I had their mixed berry “sorbet”, which was full of hints that it was made with real fruit. It had wonderful chunks of raspberry and the seeds of various other berries. It was rich and creamy without being too sweet, and the size of the small cup was just perfect. They are also very generous with samples, so you can be sure that the flavor you end up paying for is really worth it, and trust me, it is.
http://www.chocolat-hillcrest.com/
Posted on April 26, 2010 in Reviews
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of enjoying my very first Ethiopian meal! I have been living in Los Angeles for over 5 years and have always promised myself that one day I would park my car and enjoy an Ethiopian meal on Fairfax, rather than sitting in traffic wondering what Little Ethiopia is like. I was worried that it would be hard to explain my dietary restrictions and to get a delicious meal without dairy or wheat. Boy, was I wrong!
I called Meals By Genet before visiting, just to make sure that they would be able to accommodate me. The woman who answered the phone was very empathetic and receptive. I gave her my name, and upon arrival the waiter, Sean, had already been informed of my allergies and he was ready to serve! Sean was one of the friendliest, most considerate and attentive waiters that I have ever had. He knew everything about the menu and explained the dishes in a way that made me want to order many of the dishes that they offer. I got the Tofu Tibs (prepared vegan) and the Vegetarian Combo (vegan/wheat free). The Vegetarian Combo had all sorts of interesting vegetable dishes, nicely presented. The plate had a wonderful variety of colors, textures and spice levels. Usually the dish is prepared on a injera, which is like a thin giant pancake or a crepe, but for me they served the dish with rice and brought the injera on the side.
The restaurant was very clean, warm, and welcoming. The food was great, the service was exceptional and the pricing was really reasonable.
I highly recommend checking out Meals By Genet!
Posted on April 5, 2010 in Reviews
If you live in the Santa Monica area, this is the small, unassuming, large windowed, white restaurant on Abbot Kinney (just before the intersection with Main Street) that you have driven by countless times and always wondered, “what on earth is that place?” Well, if you are this person, boy are you lucky, because you just happen to be living or working near one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles.
This restaurant fits in seamlessly with my mission statement as they use local, seasonal, organic ingredients to create fantastically fresh vegan, vegetarian, or meat-based dishes. They pay respect to their ingredients by letting them be the stars of the meal, no rich sauces needed to mask the blandness of old or mediocre produce. The wait staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. If the description of the dish did not sell itself on the menu, then the waiter sure will! Everyone that works at this restaurant believes in what they do. In fact, they are so true to their beliefs that the restaurant saves its scraps and returns them to the farms that they work with so that the waste can be used as fertilizer!
Some might find that the menu is fairly pricey; it would be hard to walk out without having spent at least $25. In that case I’d recommend not going out as many times this month and saving up for experiences that really count! You will not regret this decision, and neither will your belly.
When I feasted at Axe I had fantastic seared sake marinated filet of all pasture fed beef and the composed farmers market plate. The market plate is a wonderful way to taste the way the restaurant prepares all of their different fresh vegetables. I had roasted yams, heirloom carrots, pea tendrils and snap peas. The preparations were all very different yet harmonious and insanely beautiful on the plate with all of the different colors and textures. The menu is always changing so don’t be upset if you miss the pea tendrils, something equally delicious will be in its place!
http://www.axerestaurant.com/index.html
Posted on April 2, 2010 in Reviews
That is right, the Health Food Stalker took a little trip up north and spent a large amount of time walking, exploring, and of course, health food stalking! I was amazed by all of the wonderful restaurants with local, organic, sustainable and delicious food. The majority of the restaurants in San Francisco are much smaller than the average sized LA restaurant, so I would highly recommend making reservations in advance at any one of these restaurants.
Here are some of the Health Food Stalker’s favorites…
1. Chez Panisse
-It doesn’t really get much more sustainable and environmentally friendly than this. Alice Waters’ first priority is to serve fresh, local and organic food that is melt in your mouth amazing. The restaurant has a rotating seasonal menu to keep up with the freshest ingredients. There are few things in life more satisfying and freaking delicious than this restaurant. I ate in the cafe which is more casual and less costly than the main restaurant, but has the same exacting standards. You can reserve on line up to a month in advance, so if you don’t want to eat lunch at 11:30 or dinner at 5 make sure you make your plans as early as possible!
2. Dosa
-Dosa is a South Indian restaurant that features dosa, obviously. Dosa is essentially a crepe, but it is made out of lentils and rice, rather than wheat flour. It is a fabulous place to take wheat/gluten intolerant friends because they can enjoy all of the decadent dishes on the menu without having to worry about traces of wheat. Dosa uses many organic and sustainable vegetables and features free-range and natural meats in its curry dishes, etc. The flavor combinations at this restaurant are spectacular, and they are very accommodating to dietary restrictions.
3.Gelateria Naia
-This franchised gelateria specializes in fresh and natural gelato that is made in small batches, so that the ice cream is always at its peak. They have rotating seasonal flavors and they also have DAIRY FREE gelato and lots of sorbet flavors. I heard a rumor that they make gluten free cones, but the one that I went to did not, or perhaps the lady working there that day wasn’t clued in… either way the ice cream was delicious. I had blue bottle coffee, pistachio, and peanut butter chocolate chip soy gelato. It blew my mind.
4. Ryoko
-This small sushi restaurant doesn’t even have a website, but let me tell you, they really do sushi right. A friend of mine who lives in the city proclaimed that it was the best sushi that he had ever had, so clearly I had to check it out. He was right. This is not an organic restaurant by any means, but the fish was so fresh tasting that I could hardly believe it. I can’t vouch for their meats, and they do use white rice, but if you are a sushi fan I would most certainly hit this spot up.
Posted on March 8, 2010 in Reviews
Oh my freaking yummy! Now, this restaurant has a mix of healthy selections and more decadent ones, but even the Healthfood stalker understands that we all have to live a little! Rustic Canyon Wine Bar prides themselves on using local and sustainable meat and produce, and has a menu that rotates with the seasons. The atmosphere is very inviting and they have a very nice list of wines and cocktails. The idea for the restaurant blossomed from a series of dinners that took place in a tree house in the mountains of Santa Monica. I don’t know about you, but I have never heard a bad idea that came out of a tree house. This restaurant is no exception. The service is wonderful, the manager is lovely, the music exceptional and of course, the company was just perfect. The menu consists of a nice variety of small plates and a handful of appealing entrees. A great way to go is to order small plates and entrees for sharing so that you can experience as much of the menu as possible. Our table of four shared three small plates. The mussels were fantastic, even the bivalve hater in the group was a convert. The green salad was fresh and lively, and the roasted beets with goat cheese were earthy and delicious. We then shared a burger and roasted fish, with a side order of brussel sprouts. Ummmmmm, the fries with the burger were crisp and addictive. The waiter was very accommodating in putting all of the dairy on the side so that I could enjoy all of the dishes as well as everybody else. He also left the breadcrumbs off the brussel sprouts so that the gluten free among us could sample them.
This really is a great place and I believe so strongly in their mission statement. Please check them out!
http://www.rusticcanyonwinebar.com/about.htm
Posted on March 3, 2010 in Reviews
Before I decided to try Lemonade I took a look at the menu on the cafe’s website (as I so often do), and I must say I was perplexed by the marketplace section. The menu is comprised of delicious food pairings that seem to go on forever. I wondered “do they only have a few of these dishes daily?” “Is this a joke?” “Is this a list of all the things that I would want but can’t have?” The answer to all of these questions is NO! Lemonade really serves all (or almost all) of these glorious and fresh marketplace salads. They also have a really nice soup and stew selection, if you were to decide to go on a cold and rainy day.
The owner/chef was on the line being as helpful and cheerful as can be. He was excited about sharing his delicious food with his guests and he deserves a huge pat on the back for that!
A few of my favorite dishes were the cauliflower/golden raisins/almonds and curry, the snap peas/edamame and sesame vinaigrette, and the braised cabbage/apple and goat cheese, but everything that I tasted was delicious. They also, as they are very aptly named, have a variety of interesting and not too sweet lemonades.
I highly recommend checking this restaurant out. There are 4 locations to choose from, so if you live in Los Angeles you have no excuse for not trying one of their wonderful locations!!!
Mmm, I can’t wait to go back again. Perhaps I will see you there!
http://www.lemonadela.com/index.php
Posted on January 12, 2010 in Reviews
This sensational Mexican food restaurant is smack in the middle of all the fun and magic of Santa Monica. It’s charm oozes onto the street, beginning with its attractive street signage, continuing all the way through the meal to the bill, where you will receive tons of information about local happenings and a guide to purchasing and eating safe and sustainable fish. The service is always wonderful and the food never disappoints. They make their tortillas fresh and they are dead set on serving only the highest quality ingredients to their customers. Although many of their dishes are not vegan, they can prepare just about anything without butter and take very kindly and seriously to allergies. Their Amarillo Ceviche, Mexican Chopped Salad, Cochinita Pibil, and Border Vegetables are my favorite items on the menu, not to mention the delicious and complimentary chips that come with three wonderfully unique salsas. One tip… ASK FOR JONAS TO BE YOUR SERVER. Jonas is one of the best waiters, if not the best, that I have ever had. He is sensitive to requests, timely, personable and most importantly knowledgeable. I highly recommend that you try to make a reservation when he is serving!
AND GET A MARGARITA… or a pitcher.
Posted on December 10, 2009 in Reviews
Positives
1. Oooey gooey tastes like pizza, pizza
2. Thick and rich tempeh bacon
3. Friendly staff
4. Great prices
5. Cool location
Negatives
1. I had to pee and the bathroom was broken
…That’s all.
This is the best vegan restaurant I have found in the city thus far. Everyone should try it. Two of us walked out of the restaurant spending $33 for diner which included a huge bowl of soup, a pot of tea, a burrito (with a large side salad), and a pizza!!! C’mon, that’s huge news in Vegan Land.
I really recommend that you try the tomato basil pizza.
http://www.florevegan.com/
What other vegan places do you love?