M Cafe – West Hollywood, CA

What’s left when there’s no refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry? As bizarre as this probably sounds to most diners, there’s still a long list of other ingredients and intensely flavorful dishes to eat without these overused 5. I really think that we are so used to automatically reaching for these items without thinking about it and forget all the other great things to eat that are better and more delicious. Break the rut, open your eyes and expand your taste buds to a more interesting and diverse world of eating. The easiest and very motivating way to start is by heading over to M Cafe, the contemporary macrobiotic cuisine cafe with a global menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and more. Their kitchen uses wholesome, ecological ingredients like heirloom-varietal whole grains, organically grown beans, fresh fish and locally-grown fruits and vegetables. See below for menu items and [...]

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Real Food Daily’s Organic Cuisine Menu Update for Jan.18-31

Here’s an update to Real Food Daily’s weekly specials for the 2nd half of January. I’m ready to find out what the forbidden black rice is all about in the Madame Wong’s Stir-fry Palace. My favorites include the Country Vegetable Miso Soup, perfect for this rainy week,Faux-stess Cupcake with gooey white filling, chocolate cake, and fudgy icing, and Peanut Butter Cookies! Monthly Special Jan 4 – Jan 31 Hippie Love Loaf Lentils, millet, butternut squash, carrots, onions, herbs, gravy and roasted parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts WEEKLY SPECIALS Jan 18 – 31 Madame Wong’s Stir-fry Palace Spicy, stir fried Chinese long beans, miso glazed tempeh, eggplant, onion, carrots, forbidden black rice, peanuts Fajita Chop Black beans, seitan fajitas, vegetables, corn, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, romaine, chipotle ranch dressing, spicy tortilla strips Week Jan 25 – 31 On the Mexican Riviera Pecan-cornmeal crusted tempeh, coconut yams, sautéed chipotle greens, spicy [...]

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Recipe Review: Farro Beets Green and Feta Salad

I’ve eaten countless cookies between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve. I wouldn’t ever say I’m giving up desserts, but I do feel the need to tilt my diet towards the healthier side for a bit. Just a bit. Something like a salad but more comforting. That made me think of my favorite farro salads with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, and feta. Farro is a hard wheat grain sometimes known as spelt and has a texture closer to a thick pasta al dente. It is as hearty and healthier than pasta and makes a very satisfying main dish ingredient. Here’s Martha’s recipe for Farro Beets Green and Feta Salad. The addition of beets gives a little bit of sweetness to the mix of nutty and salty combination. I like adding diced cucumbers and sliced green onions to the mix with some squeezed lemon juice instead of the garlic and [...]

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Recipe Review: Risotto with Winter Squash and Collard Greens

I’m starting to feel the onset of winter and the need for cozy evening comfort food. The Haagen Dazs froyo is going on hold and I’m pulling out the hot cocoa and anything else hot to spoon. Check out this risotto recipe from Martha Rose Shulman. It’s a classic Martha recipe that’s easily one of the simplest seasonal yummy dishes packed with Vitamin A to help beat the flu season. I’d recommend using chicken stock for a heartier flavor, definitely include the saffron and maybe even add in some left-over pulled turkey meat! Recipe: by Martha Rose Shulman Yield: 6 Servings Time: Total 1 hour 45 minutes Ingredients: 1-1/2 lbs. winter squash (butternut, banana or hubbard) peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2 inch dice (about 2 cups diced squash) 2 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 bunch collard greens, about 1 pound, stemmed [...]

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Recipe: Chevre, Rosemary Tomato, Hummus, and Sweet Bell Pepper Pita Pocket

Almost everytime I get home from work, I get a mad rush of hunger and am ready to grab anything within arm’s reach that’s quick to eat. Usually, that’s not something healthy and ever since the beach weather started, I’m feeling more aware about what I’m eating. When I’m really hungry, I’m struggling against my total lack of patience to eat something that’s good for me and instead lunge for the most decadent and gratifying fast bite. The last thing I want to do is cook and clean-up. Here’s something I was able to whip up just in time to keep me away from diving into my cookies. At least now I can dive a little slower into my cookies. I love eating with my hands, it just seems so much more indulgent, like you’re savoring every bite. Usually that would be a sandwich if it’s a main dish. Here’s [...]

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