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

I enjoyed this entree even more than the sushi – I LOVE pad thai and haven’t had a good one that uses peanut sauce. There was a good helping of cilantro in it and I can almost say I hate cilantro… but again, I didn’t mind it. The combination of peanut, of kick with the red chili sauce offered on the side, with the goodness of the veggies… you just can’t get better raw vegan than this, I’m telling you. The amazing thing about the meal is that it was served COLD as well. I can picture myself eating this hot, but what’s the need to waste all that electricity?

Ridiculous Dessert

Though not the best piece of chocolate cake I’ve ever had, this was certainly a ridiculous helping of chocolate. Boy, did I spoil myself at lunchtime! That with a coconut flake crust was almost not worth sharing with my sister. But then that wouldn’t have given me good luck on Chinese New Year.

I’m really looking forward to visiting the bigger Organic Lives location and trying out that Coconut Cream Pie called The OMG. I should really have a second career as a vegan dessert judge.

Bonus: They use biodegradable to-go containers!

The great thing about Organic Lives is that they really aim to educate the public how eating raw food can also be good for you and the earth… what a smart business idea to team up with Chopra Yoga, whose customers care about their health. But even if you still don’t care about this aspect, you can eat at either location and still have your cake too.

1829 Quebec Street & 2nd Avenue
Vancouver BC V5T 1B1
778-588-7777
Hours: 9am-9pm daily

451 Granville St. & Hastings
Vancouver BC V6B 1N9
Hours: Weekdays 11am-7pm, Weekends 9:30am-5:30pm

info@organiclives.org
organiclives.org
Facebook.com/OrganicLives.org
Twitter @OrganicLives