Living raw bliss at Organic Lives

I’ve wanted to visit Organic Lives for a long time and especially since food blogger Mijune Pak highly recommended their Coconut Cream Pie… after all, Organic Lives is said to be the city’s best raw vegan restaurant, and desserts recommended by non-vegans are all good in my book.

The main location is at Quebec Street and 2nd Avenue, but I planned out my Chinese New Year to eat with company downtown, so ventured to the brand-spanking new location at the Chopra Yoga Centre on Granville of Hastings.

At the downtown location, it’s more of a take and go. There are seats, but no tables, so unless you’re having a quick bite, it’s probably best to take your meal with you. I ordered the Pecan Sushi, Pad Thai, and Ridiculous dessert to share with my sister. The menu is definitely more limited than the main location’s, but some of the selections are the same. The counterperson was still getting used to the computer payment system and the order took about 10 minutes to make, but good god, was it worth the wait! I wasn’t even going to take photos, but I had to show you how beautiful this stuff looks, even in to-go boxes. Great photos is one reason why people should convert to vegetarianism!

Pecan Sushi: Pecans, alfalfa, cucumber, carrots, mango, tomato, seaweed, wasabi 

There was also a side sauce with the sushi whose flavours I can’t identify, but it was more on the sweet side. The sushi didn’t taste like your average Japanese sushi, as there was no rice. This baby is all good stuff and I was even ok with the dash of wasabi, which I normally don’t like. The mango was also a nice punch of sweetness.

Pad Thai: Noodles, peanut sauce, spinach, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, parsley, red chili sauce, nuts

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Chocolate just gets better: CocoaNymph in Kits

You’ve likely already heard about CocoaNymph chocolates & confections. If you’re a chocolate lover, then you won’t believe that the first time I visited CocoaNymph, I bought my aunt a box of chocolates and walked out without spending a penny on myself. The smell was overwhelming, but I didn’t give in. Yes, I do have some Jedi willpower going on.

Since then I’ve bought CocoaNymph’s chocolates at several events like Make It! Vancouver. But the Hot Chocolate Festival was a great excuse to visit and try something new – like their Dark Drinking Chocolate with Black Sesame, and a wafer of sesame bianco chocolate bark. Yes, my friends. Yes.

The coolest mug I’ve ever held hot chocolate in.

At about $4.50, you just can’t get a better snack. Did you know sesame is healthy for you? And so is dark chocolate! Put it in drinking form, and you have yourself pure heaven. The person who was supposed to accompany me at CocoaNymph ended up not coming, so I was able to enjoy this baby all on my own, while listening to some of CocoaNymph’s ambiant tunes. This was a Friday – I highly recommend ending your days this way. Plus, Chocolatier Rachel Sawatsky‘s shop is super cool and casual. She also holds Chocolate Lover’s Workshops – why I haven’t already done one is beyond me.

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MuLondon Organic Foaming Face Wash

As previously mentioned, I learned about MuLondon through a fellow blogger & tweeter, Jenny Wong. I had finished my Consonant Body Organic Foaming Face Wash and since MuLondon had a very similar product with even more quantity and cheaper ($28 CDN including shipping), I decided to try her out.

MuLondon Organic Fragrance-Free Foaming Face Wash – $12 pounds / $28 CDN incl. shipping

Just like Consonant, one pump of this product provides more than enough lather and coverage. My skin feels clean and a bit on the dry side, but it is Winter after all. After toning and moisturizing, it feels more normal. It isn’t completely fragrant free – there is a slight smell, but most definitely not of chemicals. The ingredients are clearly labelled on the front – and even translated – and no signs of toxins are to be found. Also, I’m noticing that in the afternoon – during the times I’m usually oilier in the T-zone – I’m not so much anymore. So that’s a great sign that this is a really balanced cleanser that isn’t too harsh and drying. And it feels clean! Exactly what I look for in a good cleanser.

The packaging was a little extreme, as the cleanser itself was bubble wrapped and then packaged with about six sheets of tissue paper. But I guess you have to protect this stuff during shipping. It also came with a brochure on their popular moisturizers, and a note about the skincare line signed by Boris himself, the MuLondon founder and “head cream-whipper”.

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