"I'm taking you to cafe gratitude," my mom recently announced.
Tempted as i was to try amazing raw vegan food, i had always avoided the place because of the, for lack of a better word, hippy-ness, of it.
"Fine," I said, "but I'm not ordering my dish out loud. I'll just point to the menu."
"Stop being so judgmental," she replied, "they're very nice people."
So we went and when it came time to order, I found myself telling the rather perky waitress, "I am graceful". The thing about cafe gratitude is that all of their dishes are positive affirmations. So you order an "I am graceful" (bowl with quinoa, veggies, and cashews, and delicious enough to put up with the ridiculous atmosphere) then the waitress comes to your table, sets down your plate and says, "You are graceful" (which i'm not at all, btw. but apparently cafe gratitude is too positive to name a dish "I am exceedingly awkward and clumsy").
The most delicious thing of the lunch was dessert, a chocolate and date smoothie ("I am luscious").
Rita and I loved it so much, we decided to try and replicate it at home.
chocolate, date, and almond milk smoothie
serves 1
adapted from recipes included in the ultimate liquor-free drink guide and the complete book of raw food.
*3/4 cup almond milk (we made our own from this recipe. if you buy sweetened almond milk, you might not need as many dates and as much vanilla in your smoothie.)
*1 banana, frozen
*2 dates, soaked for 1/2 hour to an hour and pitted
*1 tablespoon hot chocolate powder (or carob if you want it vegan)
*1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1. blend all ingredients until smooth.
variation: I don't like bananas that much, and this shake had a definite banana flavor. I made another the next day with 1/2 a frozen banana and 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt. I liked the flavor of that better, but it wasn't as thick. But for those of you who like bananas (which is most people. i'm weird, i guess), the first recipe is perfect.
Also, our recipe is more breakfast food than dessert.
edit: cafe gratitude's original recipe, which i have not seen, is available in their cookbook, "I Am Grateful".
8 comments:
sounds like a fun place - but weird!! do they have a dish called "I am Juicy" that would rock.
"(which i'm not at all, btw. but apparently cafe gratitude is too positive to name a dish "I am exceedingly awkward and clumsy")."
Loved this - only in SF, I guess.
The shake looks wonderful, though. Like you, I'd prefer the version with more yogurt.
I love shakes like this. It looks really delicious!Figtreeapps
These look SO delicious!
Lovely shake. Looks really delicious.
This is one terrific combination of flavors! I would love to try it!
Thanks for the cupcake compliments! :0)
It's so funny reading this post. It reminds me of myself haha. I'm always a little weirded out at my local earthfare because of all the hippies in sandals lol.
The smoothie looks delish, by the way :)
I've only been a fan of smoothies for three years after being fed up (pun intended) with shakes. Your concoction reminds me of another drink -- the used-to-be famous Magnolia Chocolait choco drink which is not a smoothie though. Magnolia used to serve it in bottles in Manila when I was a kid, much like the bottled milk of the American '50s.
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