Babycakes - (Los Angeles - Larchmont)

Babycakes

Babycakes, located in Larchmont, is the third location for this vegan bakery (the others are in New York and Orlando). Babycakes' mission is to offer all-natural, organic baked goods free from the common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. They choose agave nectar over white sugar. And they list the nutritional information of their bakery goods on their website.  That's either the good news or the bad news.

Craving a donut?  Go here.  They also have cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes (including wedding cakes), loaves, muffins and scones.

My favorite dishes:  thin mint cookie • salted caramel donut

Special features:  refined sugar free • gluten-free • soy-free • kosher • nutritional information listed on their website

One-of-a-kind menu item:  black and white cookies 

Type of place:  bakery • a few indoor and outdoor tables • take-out

Hours:  

Sunday 9am to 8pm
Monday through Thursday 9am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday 9am to 10pm

Location:  236 North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90004 • 855.GO.BABYCAKES

WEBSITE

Gracias Madre - (Los Angeles - West Hollywood)

Gracias Madre

Oh, Holy Mother.  I have found my favorite Los Angeles restaurant. Gracias Madre.  The food is fresh, layered in complexity, deeply satisfying, surprising, playful and smart -- all the qualities I look for.  It's like finding your one true love.  If I could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of my life, this would be it.  

The restaurant is beautiful, with tall ceilings, a white yet warm interior, and a gorgeous patio.  

The menu is modern, clean, and sharp. I found dishes I didn't expect to eat again as a vegan:  mole, pozole, quesadillas, casar salad, mexican wedding cookies, flan.  Yes, flan. And it is all unexpectedly beautiful -- just enough like traditional Mexican dishes to think "yay!" and just different enough to yell out "wow!"  

Along with wine and beer, Gracias Madre has an impressive menu of tequilas and mezcals that you can order straight or in drinks like this one:

LA SERPIENTE
Mezcal Spritz, Tequila Extra Anejo, White Port, Ancho Chili Liqueur, Turin Bitter, Homemade Mezcal Brandied Cherry 15

or my favorite:  

BOOZY SPRING POPSICLE  (it really is a popsicle)

Mezcal, pineapple, jalapeno 7

I can tell that Gracias Madre's chef, Chandra Gilbert, is someone who will never allow the menu to go flat;  she'll be switching it up on a regular basis. Gilbert has 33 years of experience working in the restaurant industry including stints at some of the very best: Alice Waters’ Café Fanny in Berkeley and Greens Restaurant in San Francisco.  She has been with the Café Gratitude family since 2004 when she began working as Director of Operations. It was during that time that the idea for Gracias Madre began entering into the conversation with Café Gratitude Founders Matthew and Terces Engelhart. Together, they co-designed the restaurant’s aesthetic and co-created the menu featuring produce from the Engelhart’s Be Love Farm in Vacaville, bringing Gilbert’s dream to fruition with Gracias Madre’s San Francisco opening in 2009. The restaurant, located in San Francisco’s Mission District, quickly garnered critical acclaim for its vibrant interpretation of Mexican cuisine. 

Gracias Madre in West Hollywood opened in January 2014.

My favorite dishes:  enchiladas con mole • tacos • boozy popcicle • mexican wedding cookies  (it's all good)

Special features:  organic •  locally-sourced • gluten-free options • Gracias Madre’s first seed saving initiative is to identify varieties of heritage corn to preserve and serve at the West Hollywood location. In the spring of 2014 they will plant two varieties at their own Be Love Farm in Vacaville, California which will be on the menu in the fall of 2014.

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

COCONUT CEVICHE TOSTADAS  18
Two tostadas, black beans, coconut ceviche, guacamole, lettuce, cashew creme, cilantro, side of black beans 

Type of place:  reservations recommended • mexican • organic • beautiful interior and outdoor patio • date-night

Meals:  11 am - 11 pm seven days

Location:  8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069 • 323-978-2170

WEBSITE

Peace Pies - (San Diego, CA)

Peace Pies

Peace Pies has two locations in San Diego: Encinitas and Ocean Beach.  I went to the Ocean Beach location - a tiny place with a wonderful hippie vibe. They enforce a a strict zero-waste policy including composting all food scraps and using earth-friendly packaging. Their food is fresh and raw and gluten-free - go here when you want to feel great after a meal.  I stopped in during lunch when I was in town for a conference.  I had a huge wrap filled with their walnut meat, veges and a wonderful sauce, and I took some of their raw chocolate truffles back to my table-mates at the conference.  They had no idea how healthy those treats were. Shhhh!

My favorite dishes:  any of their wraps • chocolate truffles

Special features:  raw • wraps • salads • juices, smoothies and shakes • a strict zero-waste policy 

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

Cheezy Kelp and Kale  10

marinated in a creamy cheez sauce with kelp noodles. Topped with sundried olives, red bell pepper and avocado

Type of place:  raw food • casual • tiny (just a couple tables) • take-out

Meals:  11 am - 8 pm seven days

Location:  

4230 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach/SanDiego, CA 92107 • 619 223-2880

133 Daphne Street (off N.Coast Hwy 101) • Encinitas, CA 92024• 760 479-0996

WEBSITE

Sun Cafe - (Los Angeles - Studio City)

Sun Cafe (Sweet Kale Shake)

Sun Cafe is in a non-descript row of businesses on Cahuenega Blvd. in Studio City with metered, one-hour parking outside.  You might miss it, but don't. Not only is this restaurant's food excellent and fresh, Sun Cafe has won some impressive awards:  best raw restaurant L.A. 2010 and #3 in the world by BestOfRaw;  top 10 Los Angeles restaurants for lunch by Open Table;  best smoothie by SeriousEats.com; and best vegan restaurant by World Vegan Day.  According to Details, Tom Cruise and Joaquin Phoenix have come over from the Universal lot across the street.

My favorite dishes:  Sweet Kale Shake • Mac & Cheese

Special features:  mostly raw • pizza, pasta, burgers • juices and shakes • many gluten-free options • cooking classes • cleanse program

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

Sweet Kale Shake – kale, banana, cashew, agave, raw 7 

Mac & Cheese – ANDEAN DREAM quinoa pasta, tomato, cashew cheese sauce, garlic pecan crumble, w/ lemon basil tossed baby greens 14 

Get it with bacon!

Type of place:  delicious mostly raw food • casual

Meals:  lunch and dinner seven days

Location: 711 Cahuenga Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601, USA

WEBSITE

Vinh Loi-Tofu (Los Angeles - Reseda)

Vinh-Loi Tofu

Vegan Vietnamese.  Fantastic!  Another reason to love Los Angeles.  Vinh Loi-Tofu is in a strip mall.  What it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in delicious food and all kinds of really good, mock tofu meat.  I wish it was just down the street from me.

My favorite dishes:  House Special Soup • Spring Rolls • Curry Chicken

Special features:  all tofu and tofu mock-meats made in house with non-GMO soy 

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

S.11. HOUSE SPECIAL SOUP $10.00

Flat rice noodles in a spicy peanut broth with a combination of vegan meats: fish shrimp and chicken. Serve with bean sprouts and lime.

Type of place:  vegan vietnamese take-out • inexpensive

Meals:  lunch and dinner seven days

Location: 18625 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335, USA

WEBSITE

Crossroads (Los Angeles, Melrose)

Crossroads

Looking for a high-end vegan restaurant for a Los Angeles date night or a special occasion?  Crossroads is the place.  Chef Tal Ronnen wrote the NY Times bestseller The Conscious Cook and he catered Ellen and Portia's wedding.  The place is beautiful, the food (mediterranean-themed small plates) is memorable and delicious, and the wine list is great. Go there.

My favorite dishes:  artichoke oysters • crabcakes • lentil flatbread with three seasonal spreads • strawberry shortcake

Special features:  small plates • gluten-free options • order lunch on-line • private dining • valet • bar (wine, beer, cocktails)

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

“CRAB CAKES”   / 12
hearts of palm / granny smith apples / heirloom beets / horseradish aioli -- (GF optional)

Type of place:  great for a fancy date or special occasion • valet • bar • celebs

Meals:  lunch M - F • dinner seven days • bar open to 1:00am Fri and Sat

Location: 8284 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046, USA

WEBSITE

Adama (Santa Barbara, CA)

Adama - Vegan Comfort Cuisine

When I head to the central coast from Los Angeles for a get-away weekend, I stop at Adama in Santa Barbara for a late breakfast or lunch and to pick up baked goods for later.  Adama serves comfort cuisine (french toast, burgers, tacos, eggplant parm, lasagna, nachos, fish sticks, quesadillas, enchiladas mole poblanos), and also some of the best baked goods and vegan ice cream around.  Plus wine and beer.

My favorite dishes: jackfruit tacos • sweet potato fries • all of the baked goods and the gelato

Special features:  gluten-free • order on-line take out menu • cashew-based gelato • gluten-free bread and baked goods • bar (vegan and gluten-free beers and wines) • catering • gluten-free, vegan wedding cakes

One-of-a-kind menu item:  

ENCHILADAS DE MOLE POBLANO 22 

shredded “chicken” or jackfruit in rice tortillas, cashew cream, avocado, 

beans, and choice of rice or quinoa

Type of place:  great for a casual date • outdoor patio that welcomes pets • bar (wine and beer)

Meals:  breakfast Sat/Sun • lunch every day except Mondays • dinner seven days

Location: 428 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

WEBSITE