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View Full Version : My review of the Organic Garden Cafe in Mass



soulstar
04-23-2007, 04:12 PM
I went to the Organic Garden Cafe this weekend! Yummy!! This is a small. cute cafe in downtown Beverly, Ma. They serve organic vegan and raw food, and also some non-raw stuff, like bagels, bread and soups.


I loved the Taco DinnerEntree ( or Dos Tacos Appetizer) this included sun seed burgers as the "beans" and a cashew sour cream sauce, and a hot sauce with lots of tomatoes and lettuce! The burger filling came in a delectable corn-flax tortilla. Very crunchy-hard.Both of these dishes have tasty flavors, and were very satisfying! My only complaint is that the guacomole was bland. Other than that, these were yummy choices, especially for those who miss their Mexican food, like me.:p


My partner had the pad thai, which I also tried. It was covered in a mild sweet cashew sauce that we would have liked better if it had more spice or flavor. The menu said the sauce was zesty, but we didn't think so. It was good, but most of the dish was bean sprouts, and we thought it would have been tastier if the "pad thai" included more of a variety of veggies, and not relied so heavily on bean sprouts for the bulk of the dish.

Another day I had the almond/rosemary pate and wild rice salad. The pate was tasty, though I felt the salad needed some dressing, so I requested the house vinagrette, which made the dish perfect.



Next time I return I will try the rawvioli made from beets and cashew/carrot filling.

My partner had a bowl of the raw but warmed chili. It was good, but he would have liked a bit more variety in the flavors. It was on the sweet side, which may come from raisins in the tomato sauce.

My partner, who is not raw, enjoyed having the sunseed burger on sprouted bread with the raw bbq sauce and lettuce/tomato/onion.This was called a club sandwich on the menu.

We had a raw brownie one day that was awesome!
The next day we tried the black forest pie which is a frozen chocolate pie with strawberries, and cranberries. It sounded better than it tasted, and we both preferred the brownie to the pie. I could not taste the berries in the pie at all, and the chocolate part was runny and thin, in our experience.

Most of the waitresses were young and nice. My favorite waitress was a woman about my age (40's?) named Sandy. She is a real sweetheart.
I never saw Robert, the owner, though a couple of young men worked in the kitchen.

I bought some dehydrated onion salad topping to bring home, as well as their delectable raw tahini goddess dressing!

I look forward to stopping in there next time we go to Gloucester.

Soulstar

vwinters
04-23-2007, 05:44 PM
Great review Soulstar,
I used to love pad thai, but I can’t imagine a plate of bean sprouts would have tripped my trigger. Do you think you can figure out how to make their “raw tahini goddess dressing" at home?
VW
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SchoolOfRAWk
04-23-2007, 06:57 PM
I LOVE tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, braggs (sorry!), and acv with garlic cloves and whatever else herbs (if you even want to use them). Very goddessy!

SchoolOfRAWk
04-23-2007, 07:00 PM
Valerie,
I just checked your blog, I am SO impressed by what you are doing! I cannot wait to read more. GOOD FOR YOU. Can you email me your blog link at Schoolofrawk@yahoo.com? I want to include it in my next little update if you don't mind, to inspire others. It's up to you, though, and I won't be offended. Sounds like it's going great for you! :-)

Erica

soulstar
04-23-2007, 07:08 PM
Hi Val,

I prefer to eat a much simpler diet in the majority of my life, so I probably won't be trying to make a tahini dressing once the Organic Garden Dressing is gone. It is a little bit of a treat to remind me of my trip to a raw fod restaurant. It will probably be a long time before I get out there again.

I enjoyed a 24 day fast and then broke my fast with fruit, and then went on a long weekend to the North Shore of Massachusetts, and I although I really enjoyed some of the nuts/flax/seed concoctions found at the Organic Garden, I like keeping it simple, and sticking to lots of fruit and green smoothies, and simpler salads.

I am so happy that melon season is approaching, and am looking forward to an increase in availability of fresh fruit as the season unfolds.

All my best to you,

Soulstar

Beckla
04-24-2007, 09:30 AM
Soulstar -

Funny, I could have written that! I, too, have been and tried the pad thai, the dos tacos entree (took some home, it was so yummy), and others... the sampler... the pizza... forgetting what else now, but ... it was good. Oh! The ravioli is AMAZING. So so good. Definitely try it.

Rawbert, the owner, will be speaking at our May potluck in Waltham. Let me know (email me) if you'd like the details! =)

Oh - and be sure to check out Chianti!!! It's basically across the street and
Becca

Beckla
04-24-2007, 09:43 AM
... oops! Sorry... was interrupted and hit submit prematurely.

Anyway - Chianti is across from Organic Cafe. The chef is a friend of Alissa's and has been raw for two years. If you call ahead, he'll make you a raw entree - and he's a fantastic chef!!!

wyjoz
04-24-2007, 12:16 PM
http://www.recipezaar.com/95888

Tahini Goddess Dressing
2 tablespoons plain sesame oil or olive oil
1/4 cup toasted sesame oil (Not plain sesame oil)
1/2 cup tahini
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
5 green onions (white and green parts)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon shoyu (soy sauce)
plus 1 teaspoon shoyu (soy sauce)
3 fresh garlic cloves, in a jar or 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves, in a jar
2 teaspoons sesame seeds (toast them first if desired)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine everything in a blender, immersion blender, or food processor.

Taste, adjust flavors. Add more vinegar or soy for a stronger flavor.
A teaspoon more toasted sesame oil will add a "richer" flavor.
Store in the fridge in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

fckxkfc
04-24-2007, 10:02 PM
I love the Organic Garden! I have only been once before since it is a good 45 minutes drive from me but it is well worth the drive! I am going again next Saturday with my SAD family for my mom's birthday and I can't wait! From Beckla's comment I think I am going to have the ravioli this time. :p When I went the last time, the best thing I ate was the sprouted wild rice with the Japanese dressing. I bought a whole 16 oz. jar of the dressing but it was gone by the time I sprouted my own wild rice!