
For the first stop in my NYC Dining Out Vegan Series, we're get RAW!
When I reflect on the Raw Vegan Food I've enjoyed in NYC, three places come to mind: Pure Food and Wine, Organic Avenue and Caravan of Dreams.
The Raw Goods:
* The raw avo-coco soup, almond hummus and coco-mango pie at Caravan are 100% cravable.
* The to-go bevies like the blueberry spirulina smoothie, light bites like the raw falafel and diverse snacks at Organic Avenue are delicious.
* But without a doubt, the most iconic, inspirational, artistic and all around yummy raw vegan food in NYC can be found at Pure Food and Wine restaurant (and One Lucky Duck takeaway). Juices, smoothies, to-die-for desserts, entrees, salads, snacks and other assorted products are all a part of the PFW/OLD brand.
Dive into my raw vegan food faves at PFW, plus more photos...
Yes, please: Sitting out in the PFW garden enjoying a Master Cleanse-tini or fruity sangria and a bite of their signature raw lasagna is my idea of a perfect evening out. And yes, add on a mallomar or slice of raw cheesecake to finish things off.
Sarma. A great restaurant is only as great as its leader, and Sarma Melngailis is one of the most fascinating, driven and entertaining women I've come across in the NYC (and beyond) foodie world. Raw food interest or not, Sarma and her brand will leave your craving more.
Head Duck: Sarma. I'm a fan. Sarma is Founder & CEO of OneLuckyDuck.com, Co-Founder & Owner of Pure Food and Wine restaurant in NYC, author of Living Raw Food, co-author of Raw Food Real World. And all around super cool role mode/entrepreneur/raw foodie icon.
If you're not reading Sarma's hilariously candid, touching, fun, yummy and quirky tweets on facebook and twitter, @sarma - I suggest you start! You can also get to know Sarma by reading the Veggie Girl Power interview she did for my blog last year.
Pure Food and Wine/One Lucky Duck 101. Here's a quick brand 101 for the PFW newbies out there. First, there is Pure Food and Wine: the fine dining restaurant. Yet it's not "fine dining" in the classic sense. The PFW atmosphere is modern, relevant, posh, fun, cool, sophisticated and energized yet also quite chill. You can wear a fancy cocktail dress or some cool jeans. Brilliant. PFW serves cocktails, wine, a varied menu of raw food eats and even a tasting menu. Open for dinner and more recently - lunch! Bring your non-vegan friends and open their minds and widen their palates.
Now just around the corner from the PFW restaurant/bar/seasonal outdoor garden is One Lucky Duck Takeaway. In this cozy cove with very limited seating you can order a wide variety of salads, entrees, juices, smoothies, desserts and even raw living and OLD brand products like adorable duck tees and totes. Skincare products, ingredients and tons of bagged snacks. Peruse the shelves, and I'm sure you'll find something unique and intriguing that you simply need to try.


Frequenting takeaway is a luxurious habit of mine. Sometimes I pop in for a to-go juice and sometimes a salad for lunch. Obviously I haven't tried everything on the menu at Takeaway, but out of the goodies I've tried, these are my faves...
My OLD Takeaway Faves: Mallomar dessert, Swan Greens and Bunny Brew (with extra ginger) Juices, Coconut Shake, Raspberry Lemon Cheeecake, Chocolate Crispies, Falafel Salad and the Taco Salad. Details and my tasting notes...
Mallomar. A must try. Nothing like you've ever tasted before. The combo of luscious cashew cream and chocolate is genius. Read my review here. I love it so much, I even put it on my Vegan's 100 List.

Swan Greens:


Now onto the main entrees I love at takeaway...

My favorite. The Tabhouli is crazy-good. And to me it is actually less like tabhouli and more like the best creamy, light, fine cole slaw ever. The texture is amazing. I always want more of it!
Tabhouli:

Tahini Falafel:

Hot Sauced Falafel:

Falafel:

Chewy taco crumbles are savory sweet. Taco dressing is rich in lime flavors - super zesty and spiced. The Cashew Sour Cream is sweet and authentic. The Guac is fresh and light with little bits of sweet corn. Salsa has a light cilantro flavor - super fresh. Crunchy romaine is the perfect base for this taco salad. Crunch, munch, yum.

More Info on my Fave Raw NYC Picks:
Caravan of Dreams
www.caravanofdreams.net
Organic Avenue
www.organicavenue.com
Sarma and her PFW/OLD brand online:
Pure Food and Wine restaurant website.
One Lucky Duck: E-commerce store featuring One Lucky Duck packaged raw cookies and treats, both of Sarma's raw food books, and loads of other good stuff.
Sarma's Blog.
Sarma on Facebook
Sarma on Twitter
PFW on Twitter
Here's another Raw Food snacks post (Organic Avenue/OLD)
Now more eye candy of that takeaway falafel salad I adore so much...


Yum...



