A Riveting Meal From Cafe Rivva

On a Wednesday afternoon, I decided to take advantage of a one day deal that I received from Seamless.com. As I browsed on the list of participating restaurants on Seamless' website, I settled on a lovely Vegetarian cafe just blocks away from my house called Cafe Rivva. I had only tried the smoothies and ice cream and was excited to try their actual food. I was also anxious to find out how much the discount in the email was for, since it was a mystery that was revealed during checkout.

I settled on the Gluten-Free Vegan wrap ($10) and headed over to Cafe Rivva to pick up my meal. The discount ended up being 20% off, which gave me a good $2 off. I was also happy to discover that the meal came with a bottle of iced tea.

The wrap was delicious. The tortilla was a little too chewy, being that it was gluten-free, but had a nice taste. The quinoa burger inside was very savory and hearty. The special sauce coated the fresh, crispy vegetables well and was so scrumptious. It had a tangy flavor and was very creamy. The accompanying quinoa salad was also very good and had a wonderful citrusy vinaigrette.

I drank the iced tea to wash down the meal

It was very refreshing and had a lovely flavor. There was a subtle minty taste and it was cooling.

Overall, the meal was fantastic. I love that it was so healthy, yet the food was very flavorful. My only complaint was that the gluten-free tortilla was a little odd and I would have preferred the option to replace it with a regular tortilla. Nevertheless, the wrap was still very satisfying and I would definitely order it again. I cannot wait to return to Cafe Rivva again soon.

A Veggie-rific meal from The Vegan Joint

A couple of weeks ago, I got some takeout from one of my favorite vegan Thai places, the Vegan Joint.  Apparently I'm not the only one who loves this restaurant, since the family owned establishment recently opened its third location in Hollywood. I ventured to the original location in West LA to pick up my delicious food. I used a $5 off coupon through Seamless.com that I received from referring a friend.

I first had the Pineapple Curry ($8) for dinner that night.

The curry was fantastic. It had a lovely coconut taste and was so rich and creamy with a mild spiciness. The pineapple pieces were sweet and luscious and the bell peppers provided a nice crunchiness.  The tofu was soft and crumbly, yet savory. The rice was well-cooked and absorbed the flavors of very well. 

The next day, I had the Garlic Chicken Wrap ($8) for lunch.

I wasn't a huge fan of the tortilla bread that was used, as the flavor was a little odd and the bread didn't hold together very well. However, the interior of the wrap was fantastic. The faux chicken was very juicy and meaty and coated in a creamy, garlic sauce. The vegetables were well-cooked and delicately seasoned. The avocado and tomatoes were very prominent, adding their own rich buttery and sweet flavors that contrasted the faux chicken.

Overall, the food was very good. I was able to make the food last for two meals, since each dish was quite filling. The ingredients tasted very fresh and seemed somewhat healthy with the strong presence of vegetables. The food came out to about $12 with the discount. I will definitely order from The Vegan Joint again soon.

A Spectacular Meal At Sage Bistro

I recently ventured to Sage Bistro in Echo Park to dine with some friends during lunchtime. The hipster cafe was packed when we got there and there was a great energy on the cold, winter afternoon. I was excited to eat the amazing food. The special that day sounded very enticing and the waiters raved about it. I decided to give it a try and am so happy I did.

The tacos were fantastic. They were loaded with chewy kale, luscious sweet potatoes, succulent corn, and bitter broccolini. The well-cooked vegetable concoction was coated in a scrumptious chipotle cream sauce, which had a wonderfully smoky and nutty taste. The tortillas were nice and soft and absorbed the flavors of the tacos perfectly. The beans and rice that accompanied were well-seasoned and mildly spiced. They complimented the tacos beautifully. 

Overall, the meal was magnificent. The tacos were surprisingly very filling, so I opted not to order ice cream for dessert. With my Green Menu membership, I received a 10% off discount, which slightly reduced the price of the meal. The food at Sage is fairly reasonably priced, so it's great that they offer an extra discount that can be used anytime. I will definitely return again soon. 

A Lovely Meal At Leaf Organics

I recently dined at one of my favorite raw fusion restaurants, Leaf Organics in Culver City with a close friend. While I've had mixed experiences at this cafe, the establishment has done a complete one eighty through revamping both the decor and menu. The once stuffy and claustrophobic cafe is now sophisticated and vibrant, yet still retains a sense of coziness with the casual booth seating. The menu which previously consisted of boring uninspired dishes is now full of an eclectic mix of delicious ingredients.

I began the meal with the Mudslide Slim smoothie ($7).

This smoothie was fantastic. It was so creamy and decadent and had a wonderful banana flavor with a hint of dates. It was frothy and reminded me a lot of a milk shake. The drink was very refreshing and washed the meal down well.

My friend ordered a juice, which she really enjoyed and said complimented the food.

Next, I had the Vegan Lasagna ($11).

The lasagna was wonderful. There were layers of cooked vegetables coated in Italian seasonings. The tofu ricotta was very rich and had a wonderful nutty taste. The marinara was sweet with a subtle tangy flavor. There was a lovely topping of gooey Daiya cheese, which took the dish over the top.

Lastly, I had the Sloppy Jose in a baked sweet potato ($11).

This dish was amazing and the highlight of the meal. The perfectly cooked, succulent sweet potato was loaded with toppings. There was a magnificent cream sauce with had a slightly sour taste and chunks of buttery guacamole. The chili was very savory and meaty. The onions added a lovely bitterness that contrasted the sweet, juicy tomatoes.

Overall, the meal was phenomenal. Everything was so flavorful and the tastes lingered in my mouth hours later. The food was also very light and my body felt fantastic all night. We used a $25 restaurant.com gift certificate, so the meal only cost about $10 a person (with tax and tip). I will definitely return to Leaf again soon!

A Not So Vibrant Meal At Veggie Grill

I recently dined at Veggie Grill with a complimentary entree card that I received from volunteering. From the moment I walked in, I could tell that something was not right that evening and the employees seemed to have no idea what they were doing. The girl who took my order still made me pay for part of the meal, despite that the card clearly stated the meal should have been free. I tried to argue with her, but realized my efforts were futile and I got nowhere. I then waited for quite a while for the food, which seemed odd, since the restaurant was nearly empty. After about twenty five minutes, an employee brought me the incorrect meal. I immediately corrected her and told her I ordered a salad, not a burger and it turned out my food had been sitting there getting cold. I was upset at the disregard of the employees for making this error and not even bothering to apologize for their mistake.

I started to eat the Baja Fiesta salad with Blackened Tempeh immediately, as I was so overcome by hunger.

I have had this salad many times before, but found this to be almost inedible. There was barely any dressing on it and the small amount they put was very lumpy. The vegetables did not taste very fresh and the avocado had a funky flavor. The tempeh also had an odd consistency and did not seem to be cooked well. If I weren't so hungry, I doubt I would have finished the salad. I thought about complaining to a manager, but didn't feel like dealing with the staff.

When I got home, I retreated to my computer and contacted Veggie Grill about my experience. I rarely deal with customer service unless my experience is that horrible. The Veggie Grill customer service is remarkable and contacted me promptly to handle the issue. I'm not sure if the service at the location is any better, but I am glad that there are people there that seem to care about my patronage. They were also very kind in sending me incentives to return. I am willing to give Veggie Grill another shot in hopes they really are trying to improve.

A Pleasant Meal At Pine Garden

On my recent trip to South Florida, my grandma and I ventured to one of the few vegan friendly establishments, a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Boca Raton with a completely separate vegan menu. We dined there during lunch and took advantage of their spectacular lunch special.

First, we had the soup of the day, which was hot and sour soup.

This soup was fantastic. It had a lovely tangy, vinegar taste and was very spicy. The tofu was soft and luscious. My only complaint was that the soup was overwhelmed by mushrooms (which I loathe).

Next, we had some egg rolls, which accompanied our entrees.

The egg roll was very good. It was deep fried and crunchy and lightly coated in oil. The inside was filled with a lovely blend of savory vegetables.

Next, I tried my entree: Orange "Beef".

The faux beef was too chewy and rubbery, but the sauce was wonderful. It had a superb citrus flavor and a fantastic spice. There was a subtle sweetness.

Next, I tried my grandma's entree: Cashew "Chicken".

This dish was also enjoyable, but the faux meat had a similar problem of being overly chewy and having an odd texture. Nevertheless, the sauce was very scrumptious and had a beany flavor. The vegetables were sauteed to perfection and were soft and delectable. The cashews added a nice crunchiness.

Overall, the meal was very good. The dishes were flavorful and not too oily. The food also did not have any MSG in it, which is a great benefit. The lunch special was a great deal, since each meal only cost $8 and included a generous portion of food. My grandma and I were stuffed, but not to the point of feeling sick. I will definitely visit Pine Garden again on my next trip to South Florida.

A Huge Meal At Tara's Himalayan Cuisine

On lovely fall evening, I decided to be adventurous and try some Nepalese food. Since I had a $20 voucher to Tara's Himalayan Cuisine that I purchased for $10 through LA Voice Deals, I drove to Culver City to try the place out. I was a little nervous at first, since I had no idea what it would be like, but I'm so happy I dined there.

While I looked over the lengthy menu, the waiter brought over some complimentary pappadum.

The pappadum was a wonderful way to begin the meal. It was very light and crispy and had a lovely lentil flavor.

Next, I had the Vegetable Steamed Momos ($6).

These were magnificent. The outside was soft and doughy and the inside was filled with a savory vegetable mixture. The tomato dip had a mild spice and added a subtle sweetness to the momos. The accompanying salad was fantastic and coated in a tangy vinaigrette.

Next, I had a bowl of the Tomato Spinach Soup ($4).

This soup was lovely. The spinach and tomato provided great contrasts to one another. The spinach was slightly chewy and bitter, while the tomato was soft and succulent. There was a moderate spiciness to the soup and it was very flavorful.

Lastly, I had the Aloo Chili ($7).

This dish was fantastic. The potatoes were soft and juicy and had a meaty taste. The bell peppers and onions were sauteed well and coated in a scrumptious sauce. This vegetables were perfectly seasoned with a moderate spiciness. The accompanying rice was very light and absorbed the flavors of the dish very well.

The wash down the meal, I had a Himalayan Iced Tea ($3).

The iced tea was very refreshing and had a lovely minty flavor. My only complaint is that it wasn't very sweet, so I had to add some sugar.

Overall, the food was fabulous. I was happy to learn that most of the Vegetarian options are in fact Vegan (except for the ones with cream sauce and paneer). The food was very similar to Indian food, although the spices were a little more intense. With the discount, my meal cost about $14 with tax and tip. The food is very reasonably priced and the portions are pretty generous. I will definitely return again and hoping they will have another deal soon!

A Vegged Out Week With Vegin' Out

A few weeks ago, I delightfully ordered a week's worth of food from Vegin' Out. Thankfully, I had a Living Social Voucher that only cost me $58. I redeemed it during a fairly easy week and the convenient and tasty food made my week even more enjoyable.

I started with the Harvest Soup.

The soup was delicious. It had a lovely tomato broth and had soft, chunky delectable vegetables. It was very hearty and filling.

Next, I had the Creamy Butternut Linguini.

This dish was so fantastic. The doughy linguine was coated in a scrumptious sauce that was creamy, cheesy and had such a succulent taste. The broccoli and spinach added a crunchiness to the dish and absorbed the flavor perfectly.

Next, I had the Farro Salad.

This was very good. The bulgar was slightly chewy and coated in oil. The dried cherries added a lovely sweetness to contrast the bitterness of the green onions.

Next, I had the Yellow Split Pea Dal.

This was concoction was lovely. The dal had a wonderful mixture of authentic Indian spices and was very fragrant. It had a moderate heat, balanced out by the quinoa.

Next, I had the Italian Chickpea Salad.

This salad was one of my favorites. The chickpeas were very hearty and mixed with a lovely assortment of vegetables. The sauce had a subtle sweetness and mild spiciness.

Next, I had the Acapulco Black Bean Tamale Pie.

This pie was wonderful. The black beans gave it a savory taste and the corn added a sweetness. There were layers of vegan cheese, which greatly enhanced the saltiness of the dish.

Next, I had the Kale With Golden Beets.

The kale was fresh, well-massaged, and easy to chew. The beets added a lovely sweetness and balanced out the bitterness of the kale. The pumpkin seeds added a nice crunchiness. The dressing took the salad over the top and was creamy with a slightly tart flavor.

Next, I had the Carrots with Maple Caramelized Onions.

This dish was my least favorite and needed more flavoring. The carrots were a little too crunchy for my taste and the caramelized onions became wilted in my fridge.

Lastly, I had the Maple Pecan cookies for dessert.

Normally, the cookies are the highlight of the food, but these cookies tasted a little off to me. They had an odd bitter taste and became too hard too quickly.

Overall, the food was spectacular. Each dish was very flavorful and kept me satisfied throughout the day. I really enjoy that the food is fairly healthy and allows me to get all the nutrients I need very easily. The week's worth of food ended up lasting me about 9 days, so it cost about $7 a day. Vegin' Out is already pretty reasonably priced at $117 for a week's worth of food, but to get an even better deal, customers can double up their order or pay ahead of time. They also have a great referral program to help you save money on your orders. I cannot wait to order from them again!

A Shabby Meal At Souplantation

I used to be a huge fan of Souplantation. As a buffet lover, I enjoyed going through the line of food several times and sat there eating food until my stomach was about to burst. While there are plenty of options for vegetarians, the options for vegans are slim. Nevertheless, I headed over there about a week ago to try it out again, since I received a coupon in the mail for a free meal. I reasoned that even if it was a bust, at least it wouldn't cost me anything.

I created my own salad from the salad bar. The vegetables were fresh and tasty and I particularly enjoyed the sugary beets and savory beans. The balsamic vinaigrette was tangy and brought out the flavors of the vegetables. The only vegan soup option was minestrone, which was pretty good, although a little too watery for my taste. The tomato broth had a nice flavor, but lacked spices. I added some scallions to enhance it. There was also a lovely sweet potato concoction that was sweet and luscious, made even better by the succulent dried cranberries and walnut chunks. For dessert, I had some oreo bits and fruit that were in the ice cream sundae area.

Overall, the meal was decent, but I don't think I would return again, unless they added more vegan options. I would love if they added vegan baked goods and dairy-free ice cream. Still, Souplantation offers many coupons if you sign up for their e-club, including a buy one get one free meal. Ironically, it's called Club Veg, which should indicate that they may be open to adding more veg options.

Some Fresh Food From Farm Fresh To You

Everyone who knows me knows I'm no chef. My definition of cooking is throwing food in the microwave and hoping it doesn't burn. Nevertheless, I tried to be adventurous and order a CSA box filled with fruits and veggies from Farm Fresh To You. I noticed them on Google Offers a few months ago and after conducting some simple research on the company, I was sold. The box only cost $15 dollars with the deal and came loaded with a lovely mixture of fragrant fruits and veggies delivered right to my door in the middle of the night. The website allowed me to customize my order in a sense, by selecting which fruits and veggies I did not want to receive. I also chose the Mostly Fruits box, which was primarily composed of fruits with a few vegetables.

The fruit was so succulent and delicious. My favorites were the apples, pears, and kiwi, but I was pleasantly surprised to find pomegranate, which was exciting and enjoyable to eat.

The intriguing mixture encouraged me to be adventurous. I made a variety of smoothies and soups using a variety of combinations. It was fun to see how the fruits would work to balance the vegetables out and inspired me to experiment with a variety of seasonings. One of my favorite concoctions was an apple pear kiwi lettuce smoothie with a hint of lemon and celery stalk.

Surprisingly, everything I made was delicious and I had no idea how well vegetables and fruits worked together to create tasty meals. My meals throughout the week were energizing and allowed me to eat healthily for way cheaper.

I highly recommend Farm Fresh To You, but I do have to caution that it is a subscription program that you must cancel or your credit card will be charged (which is such a hassle). Nevertheless, even at the regular price, the service seems worth the price and I feel great supporting local farmers. The company even has some great promotions, especially their referral program, which allows customers to save money on their boxes for each customer they refer.

A Review Of The Favorites At Rahel Ethiopian

One of my favorite restaurants is Rahel Ethiopian. I know I have a lot of favorite places, but Rahel is truly special and an experience unlike any other. Ethiopian food is a cuisine I recently discovered not long after going vegan and I find myself craving the salty concoctions. The ambiance at Rahel is a mixture of fun, cozy, and relaxing, from the upside down umbrellas hanging from the ceiling to the low to the ground funky seating arrangements. On my previous visit there with a few friends, we ordered our beloved dishes and reminisced about our past dining experiences there.

We began with the sambussas.

These are pretty much the same as samosas but with a milder flavor. The outside is very crisp and flaky and the interior is filled with savory lentils. The appetizer is very hearty, but not too filling.

Next, we had the Millennium Special for four, which combines all of the dishes on one plate.

This dish is fantastic and is highly recommended. There are a variety of fantastic curries made from fresh vegetables. Many of the tastes are similar and include tangy and slightly sweet flavors. I love that the textures are so different, from mushy to crunchy.

Lastly, we had baklava, which came with the Millennium Special.

The baklava was a little too dry, but the phyllo dough was perfectly crispy. It also had a lovely sweetness and tasted very heavenly.

Overall, the meal was fantastic. We used the $25 restaurant.com gift certificate, which greatly reduced the cost of the meal. Rahel is also currently running a deal on Groupon for $15 for $30 worth of food or drink. I cannot wait to return again soon.

A Spotless Meal At The Spot

The Spot is a wonderful cafe just steps away from the gorgeous beach in Hermosa. The air was crisp, with a salty scent as my friend and I entered the quaint establishment. We opted to sit on the patio, which has a fun, Mexican fiesta theme. I had been to The Spot twice before, thus on this visit, I opted to try something new. My friend, who lives nearby, also hadn't been to the restaurant in quite a while and was excited to eat the food again.

The first entree we had was the Chili Burger ($9) veganized.

The burger was delicious. The chili was so savory and hearty. There was a lovely mixture of beans and soy meat. There was also a thin layer of Follow Your Heart Cheese, which was a little awkward on the burger, as it wasn't very melty. The tomato, lettuce and onion were very fresh and crisp and took on the flavors of the chili very well. The accompanying almond rice was also very good and perfectly salted.

The next entree we had was the Savory Garden Burrito ($11).

This burrito was fantastic. The beans and rice had a wonderful smoky flavor and were soft and delectable. The savory sauce was so scrumptious and very creamy. It had a subtle garlicky taste and was perfectly spiced. I seriously wanted to order the sauce to go, it was just that good.

Overall, the meal was very good. Everything was very flavorful and while the dishes were very simple, they were also unique. The savory sauce is a must and I have found myself craving it constantly. We used a $10 for $20 Yelp deal, thus the meal cost about $8 per person (with tax and tip). I will definitely return if I find myself in the area again.

A Beyond Fantastic Beyond Meat Launch Party

Last Thursday, an amazing new faux meat company launched their realistic tasting "chicken" at a launch party at the Whole Foods in El Segundo. Since I showed up early, I scored a free glass of wine to accompany the delicious concoctions I was about to try. Luckily, for those who were not one of the first fifty to attend, there was a lovely happy hour at the bar, and beer and wine were only $1.50! This made it easy for refills after the complimentary glass of wine was gone (which was very quickly).

The complimentary food was fantastic. Unfortunately, not all of it was vegan (since real cheese was used), but there were a decent amount of vegan options.

The buffet included a variety of salads, including a sesame "chicken" salad and "chicken" curry salad, the latter being my favorite, as it was so creamy and luscious. There was also a lovely pizza, using a vegan pesto sauce, beyond meat chicken, and Daiya cheese. I was sure to help myself to numerous helpings, until I was stuffed.

There was also a hot bar, featuring the beyond chicken with various Mexican sauces.

Similarly to the faux meat on the salads and pizza, the "chicken" was tough and chewy, perfectly mimicking its non-vegan counterpart. I also like that it didn't have the artificial aftertaste that Gardein has. The sauces on these hot dishes were very spicy and left my mouth with an intense heat.

I cannot wait until Beyond Meat is available everywhere. Currently, it is in the Whole Foods prepared sections and in smaller health food stores. My hope is that the company will continue to develop more products in the future as they have so much potential to take vegan food to a whole new level.

Green Spotlight: Desert Rose

I have decided to do a "Green Spotlight" series to focus on some of my favorite deals. I am kicking it off with Desert Rose. Desert Rose is one of my favorite places and if it weren't located all the way in Los Feliz, I would probably frequent the restaurant at least once a week. Their food is spectacular and the ambiance is like no other. I always feel transported to a quaint Mediterranean village whenever I dine on their tranquil patio. Their garlic Daiya cheese fries are an absolute must, along with their varied pizza selection.

Today and tomorrow, Desert Rose is offering a lovely deal for either $10 for $20 or $20 for $40 worth of food and drink. If you don't want to commit, Desert Rose offers plenty of other deals. They have Happy Hour daily, as well as a Facebook night on Thursday night with 25% off your dinner.  In addition, they offer a 30% off discount if you make a reservation through Savoured.com. I will definitely be dining there soon with one of their amazing discounts!

A Bizarre Night At Bawarchi

After an exhilarating complimentary hip hop class, I headed over to Bawarchi in Culver City. I had never dined there before but had heard about the restaurant from others and believed it to be similar to the Samosa House. Unfortunately, the establishment, which had previously been completely Vegetarian, recently added meat to their menu and cut way back on their vegan options. Since I was already there, I decided to dine there regardless and try their limited menu items.

The customer service was horrible and enough to make me want to run out the door and leave. I tried paying for my meal using Level Up, which would have given me a discount, but the cashier refused to accept this as payment. I found this to be very disturbing, as there were signs throughout the restaurant, as well as on the door, advertising how they accepted this type of payment. I then took out my Green Menu card to receive a 10% off discount, which was also advertised on the door. The cashier shook his head again, stating that they would not accept the card. I was pretty furious at this point, since the restaurant was so misleading with its claims of accepting discounts. I realized arguing with him was getting me nowhere and I was about to leave the restaurant, before he told me he would give me the 10% off discount.

I ordered the combination plate ($10) and received a $1 off with the discount. Since the plate was made vegan, I was short-changed some food, since the plate normally comes with yogurt and they didn't bother to replace this with a vegan item. Nevertheless, I received plenty of food.

The entrees I chose were jackfruit, soy fish and a potato curry. The jackfruit was very savory and lightly coated in a tomato sauce. It was a little too salty, but had lovely seasonings. The soy fish was my favorite and had a slightly fishy taste and was very chewy. It was very buttery with a subtle garlicky flavor. I also found the potato dish to be quite good, although the potatoes were a little too dry and overly cooked. I like that it had a sweet flavor, balanced out by spiciness. The rice was decent, although the accompanying vegetables were fairly mushy and did not seem fresh. The salad was also very bland and I would have preferred that it was dressed.

Next, some roti and pappadum came out.

The bread was very chewy and a little dry. I would have appreciated a little more oil to give it moisture. I really enjoyed the pappadum, as they were very crisp and had a wonderful lentil flavor.

Overall, the food was decent. I am still annoyed at the limited options and poor customer service and doubt I will return. It also seems that they have raised their prices in the past few months, thus it is not as good of a deal as it used to be. For quick service Indian food, I much prefer the Samosa House, or if you have a little more time, Streets of India.

The End Of Green At Starbucks

A few weeks ago, Starbucks broke the news to their devoted customers that they were no longer going to offer soy milk on the house. Instead, they were changing their rewards card features to benefit dairy drinkers. Sadly, today is the last day that customers can enjoy complimentary soy milk (normally 60 cents) with their beverages. I made sure to take advantage by ordering a delicious grande Soy Vanilla Latte ($1.10 off with the reward card benefits). This drink is not only vegan, but has the perfect amount of sweetness and is very creamy.

I know many people are upset by this change. It makes absolutely no sense, especially with the rising cost of dairy milk. My hope is that Starbucks will come to their senses and revert back to the old rewards program.  Be sure to send them a message through their Facebook page or http://www.starbucks.com/customer-service/contact/company-information-form. It would also be great if we could get them to add more non-dairy milks and better eco-friendly packaging, too!

A Marvelous Meal At M Cafe

My night started at marvelously when I ventured to M Cafe in West Hollywood. I was excited to try their "Macrotize Me" winner, vegetable lasagna. I love ordering dishes at restaurants that are a limited-time only, since these dishes are typically more innovative and use unique ingredients. I also try to take advantage of these specials, since I don't know if they will ever return to the menu and I hate the feeling of missing out! It also helped that I had a Google offers voucher for $15 for $30 worth of food.

The Vegetable Lasagna ($15) came out pretty quickly and looked lovely.

The lasagna was so scrumptious. There were layers of delectable, well-seasoned vegetables and luscious tofu ricotta crumbles. The tomato sauce added a wonderful sweetness to the dish and the cheesy topping took the dish over the top. The accompanying salad was also very good, as the vegetables were very crisp and fresh and the balsamic dressing was light and tangy.

For dessert, I had the Chocolate Cake ($6.25), which is one of my favorite cakes.

The cake was so moist and perfectly sweet. There were layers of rich mousse that was so decadent and heavenly. There was a hint of peanut butter flavor that enhanced the chocolate. The chocolate ganache topping was mere perfection.

I also took the 2 Salad Combo ($9) to go. I opted for the Kale with Spicy Peanut Dressing and the seasonal salad, Roasted Beet and Walnut Salad.

The salads were not packaged very well and leaked through the box and spilled out. I was able to salvage most of it, although it was not as tasty as I'm sure it would have been. Nevertheless, the kale was well-massaged and easy to chew and coated in a scrumptious dressing that had a lovely mixture of saltiness and spiciness. The beets were so sweet and tender and a great contrast to the crunchy walnuts.

Overall, the meal was great, despite the poor packaging and having car issues that night. The food at M Cafe is a bit overpriced and I could not believe that the lasagna was $15. I was happy that my Google Offers voucher reduced the price to be more reasonable. I ended up spending about $17 for a good amount of food that lasted me more than 2 meals. I would definitely return again, though, especially with another discount.

A Daring Night At Dhaba Restaurant

After attending Exhale Spa's Namaste event, in which free yoga and food were provided, we were given coupons to use at Dhaba Restaurant, which had donated delicious food for the evening. I was excited to try a new restaurant, especially one nearby which looked vegan-friendly. The menu items were enticing and a little different from the typical fare I'm used to. My friend and I ventured to Dhaba last week to try it out. We were welcomed by a friendly staff and taken to the elegant patio, which was quite daring on the chilly night, yet so worth it.

We began the meal with a complimentary appetizer brought out by our waiter: Pappads (normally cost $2).

The pappads were light and airy and very crispy. They had a lovely lentil flavor. The accompanying dip was sweet with a subtle spiciness.

Next, we had the Pakoras ($5).

The pakoras were delicious and so much smaller that the ones that I'm used to. They were assorted vegetables deep-fried in a scrumptious, spicy batter. They were crispy and crunchy and were very flavorful, especially with the addition of the sauces.

Next, we had the Coconut Vegetables ($10).

This dish was delicious. The sauce was moderately spicy and rich and creamy. It had a lovely coconut flavor, with a subtle taste of tomato. The cauliflower, carrots and green beans were well cooked and were soft and delectable.

Next, we had the Thali Vegetarian Dinner ($13).

The dinner came with daal, Baingan Bhurta, kachumber salad, a mushroom dish, and rice. The daal was my favorite part of the combination plate, as it was very hearty and had a lovely mixture of spices. Not being a fan of mushrooms, I tried a small amount of the dish, which was still quite tasty, despite the dominance of fungal pieces. The kachumber salad was light and refreshing and the Baingan Bhurta had a lovely sauce composed of tomatoes and ginger on juicy pieces of eggplant.

We also added some Roti to the Thali ($1).

The roti was excellent. The bread was nice and chewy and coated in a thin layer of oil. It had a very light seasoning and absorbed the flavors of the food very well.

Overall, the meal was fantastic. The dishes were all very flavorful and tasted authentic. With the $10 off coupon we used (which required a minimum of $20 spending), the meal only cost $26 (with tax and tip). It was a very good deal and we were beyond stuffed, with some wonderful leftovers for the next day. I cannot wait to eat at this gem of a place again.

A Generic Week of Food From Gobble Green

I have had mixed experiences with Gobble Green. Some of their food can be pretty tasty, while some can be very bland and odd-tasting. The customer service on their website is also very bad and it took more than a week for someone to respond to me. I discovered that their Facebook page is the easiest way to reach someone, as they reply promptly on there and are helpful. I purchased a week's worth of food for $99 on Gather Green. Since I only eat 2 meals a day and the service provided 3 meals a day, I was able to make the food last longer than a week.

The first breakfast meal I had was Maple Applesauce.

I really enjoyed the apple sauce. It had a lovely sweet flavor and had a great texture. It was also very filling.

The next breakfast meal I had was the Blueberry Muffin.

I didn't really like the muffin. It had an odd, plasticky consistency and wasn't very flavorful. I would have preferred it to have been a little more sugary.

The next breakfast meal I had was the Strawberry Oatmeal.

I really liked this and it reminded me of the instant oatmeal I ate as a kid. It was a little watery from being in the fridge, but the oatmeal was very tasty and the strawberry flavor was quite luscious.

The next breakfast meal I had was the Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal.

This was very similar to the strawberry oatmeal, but was a little chunkier. The lemon and blueberry flavors played nicely off one another as it was sweet, with a subtle sour flavor.

The next breakfast meal I had was the Mushroom Scramble.

I'm not a fan of mushrooms, but I still enjoyed this. I added some Daiya cheese to add some extra cheesiness.

The next breakfast meal I had was the Chickpea Scramble.

I really liked this a lot. It had a wonderful "eggy" consistency and was very flavor. It had a mild spice and was pretty flavorful.

The last breakfast meal I had was the Vegetable Hash Brown.

This was also quite tasty. It was very hearty and had a savory flavor.

The first lunch I had was the Paella With "Chicken".

This was pretty good, although it needed more spices. I really enjoyed the soy chicken, though, which had a great texture.

The next lunch I had was the Asian Vegetable Salad.

This tasted very odd to me. It had a gross aftertaste and was very soggy. I had to force myself to eat this.

The next lunch I had was the Southwestern Salad.

This was also very bland and really needed more seasonings and spices. The texture was also a little off.

The next lunch I had was the Vegetable Soup.

This was pretty good, although definitely needed more flavor. The broth was very bland and the vegetables were a little overcooked.

The next lunch I had was the Green Beans with Tofu and Roasted Almonds.

This was very good. The green beans were soft and delectable and coated in a light soy sauce. The tofu was well-cooked and juicy.

The next lunch I had was the Ocean Medley Stew.

This was very hearty and the tomatoes provided a lovely sweetness. It had a savory, meaty taste from the faux meat.

The next lunch I had was the Thai Salad.

The salad was ok, but was a little too soggy. The flavors were a little overpowering.

The first dinner I had was the Fettuccine Alfredo with Peas and Broccoli.

I added some Daiya cheese to give it an extra cheesiness. The sauce was rich and creamy, although the noodles were a little soggy from being in the fridge. I didn't see any broccoli in there, but the peas were very juicy.

The next dinner I had was the Sesame Tofu and Vegetables.

This was pretty good. The sauce was a little watery, but still flavorful. I really liked the tofu, which had a meaty texture and taste. The vegetables could have been cooked a little better.

Next, I had the Cashew Pesto Pasta.

This was one of my favorites. The noodles were very slurpy and coated in a rich, garlicky sauce. The peppers added a wonderful sweetness to the dish.

Next, I had the Chili Beans with Chicken.

This was very good. The spices added a wonderful flavor and the beans were very hearty and savory. The juicy "chicken" pieces added a lovely meaty taste.

This was very good. The chickpeas were soft and juicy and the yams were so succulent. The sauce was a mixture of sweet and spicy flavors.

The next dinner I had was an Indian curry.

I really enjoyed the curry. It was very creamy and flavorful. The chickpeas and green beans were cooked perfectly. I would have preferred if it was a little spicier, though.

The first dessert I had was the Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Gobble Green's desserts are fantastic, especially their cookies. The cookie was so soft and melted in my mouth after being warmed in the microwave. It had a lovely chocolatey flavor and was the perfect amount of sweet.

The next dessert I had was the Banana Bread Cookie.

This was also very good, although it was a little more chewy than I prefer. It also could have been a little sweeter.

The last dessert I had should not have been considered a dessert as it was not enjoyable at all. It was the Sweet Carrot and Coconut Scramble.

This was sickeningly sweet and had an odd texture. The carrot and coconut combination did not work at all.

Overall, the meal service was decent. I would recommend Gobble Green for people who are lazy and prefer microwaved meals. If you can cook, I recommend staying away, since home cooked meals taste way better. With the deal, it was fairly reasonably priced, although $99 seems how much it should normally cost without a discout. I would order it again for an extremely busy week or for a quick weight loss.