It’s been playing on my conscience that I’ve been barely posting at all lately. The one and only reason for my lack of updating is the enormous amount of school work I have on my plate at the moment- I have tons of crap due in the next few weeks. So much that I had to actually write myself what I call the school calendar of death so I’d know exactly what was due on what day. Oh college. I wont miss you in the slightest once I graduate. That’s a promise. ;)

Moon Pie

In the meantime, I’ll leave with with some One Lucky Duck eye candy to drool over for a while. I’m hopeful that the drooling will keep you occupied until my next post. Thanks for understanding, guys.. this semester has truly been a whirlwind, and I’m lucky that I can even spare some time to eat and photograph. I’d love to be updating on a more consistent basis, and am looking forward to doing so once this evil semester is out of the way. I have tons of recipes up my sleeve, and I can’t wait to share them all with you in the near future. Until next time!

Chocolate Caramel Apple

Mallomar. Duh.

Tiramisu

With the exorbitant amount of school work that I’ve been forced to prioritize lately, it’s been nearly impossible for me to have a moment to myself where I can actually find the time to blog! Luckily, though, I got the bulk of my work over with so I can now share with you photos from my wonderful birthday dinner this past Wednesday at none other than my absolute favorite restaurant, yes you’ve guess it, Pure Food and Wine.

For starters, once my mom and I arrived to the restaurant and were seated, I was handed a gift bag from Sarma! She went out of her way to think of me, and gave me one of the new, amazingly soft and cozy, One Lucky Duck t-shirts! I felt so loved! Sarma is the absolute sweetest person, and her unnecessary, but much appreciated gesture really made my night even more special that it already was.

Speaking of special, our meals were nothing short! I started off with the Butter Lettuce Caesar Salad served with a lemon caesar dressing, sliced avocado, pignoli parmesan, and a chocolate balsamic reduction. Needless to say, it was absolute perfection! I especially love the creative use of the chocolate drizzle which sets this salad apart, and gives it a rich and decadent feel.

My mom went with the special Fig and Walnut Tart served with ‘caramelized’ leeks and fennel, fresh fig, and dollops of a sweet beet cream. Of course, I had to take a bite; believe me when I say it was every bit as divine as it sounds. The combination of sweet and savory flavors made for such a unique, yet cohesive dish. Delicious!

We were also served a complementary order of the new Hazelnut Crostini served with a dollop of cashew cheese, and drizzled with a local apple cider reduction. Seriously, they tasted like little bites of heaven. The crostini was packed with flavor, and it’s sweet components made for an effortless pairing for the savory cashew cheese.

Onto the main course! I went with a tried-and-true favorite of mine, the Saffron Pickled Golden Beet Ravioli filled with a currant and shallot cashew cheese, and served on a bed of harissa spiced heirloom tomato ragout and garnished with marinated fresh market greens. In short, if I could eat one dish for the rest of my life, it would most definitely be this! Everything about the dish is absolute perfection; all of the different flavors come together seamlessly, and leave the palate craving more and more! I absolutely love how the hot and spicy harissa ragout pairs with the sweet flavors of the cheese filling, and the beet ‘wrapper’ itself.

My mom chose Pure’s signature dish, the Zucchini and Heirloom Tomato Lasagna, served with layers of sundried-tomato sauce, basil-pistachio pesto, and pignoli ricotta. I don’t think it’s humanely possible to not love this dish- it’s insanely delicious and rich, and yet it doesn’t leave you with that heavy feeling that typical cooked lasagna would. I’d recommend this dish to anyone new to raw food- it’s sure to make a convert out of even the most picky of eaters!

Onto my favorite part of the night- DESSERT! You all know that no matter how full I may or may not feel, dessert is something I could never turn down. With that being said, my mom and I decided to celebrate to the fullest extent, and ordered three desserts to share.

We started with the Chocolate Passion Fruit Tart, which consists of a passion fruit curd with fresh raspberries, framboise pearls, vanilla cream and chocolate cacao ice cream. I’ve had this dessert plenty of times in the past, and it was an instant favorite of mine from the moment I had my first bite. The bold flavor of the passion fruit is surprisingly the perfect complement to the chocolate, and doesn’t overpower it in the slightest. I absolutely love it!

Next on the list was the new Roasted Plums and Pistachio Cake served in a sweet red wine sauce with cinnamon cream, plum sorbet, and ginger-cinnamon cookies. I couldn’t believe how incredible this dessert was; I think it was my favorite of the night! The best part of it was that the pistachio cake was nice and warm, which made it all the more amazing. Once again, the flavors in this dessert were ones that I never would have imagined to commingle with such an effortless union. The warming flavors of the ginger and cinnamon were lovely complements to the gently heated pistachio cake. I can’t rave enough about it! Stop me before I don’t shut up!

Lastly, we ordered the infamous Mint Sundae which is packed with chocolate, fresh mint, and mint chip ice cream, with mint chocolate cookies and vanilla cream. One thing you should know about me is that I’m mint-phobic; yes, I absolutely DESPISE mint with a passion. So much so that one measly taste of it will make me cringe. My close friend Liz (aka VeggieGirl) has been hounding me for forever, trying to convince me that the sundae tasted like “a chocolate sundae with a hint of mint.” I took her word for it, and dug in. The verdict? One bite, and my mouth was tainted with an explosion of mintiness. I let my mom polish the rest of it off by herself, and she was crazy in love with it. It’s not that I didn’t like the dessert- it’s just that I have an intolerance to anything with mint in it! But so many people are huge fans of the Mint Sundae, so please don’t let me and my mint bias persuade you from trying it. If you don’t mind mint, or like mint for that matter, this dessert is definitely for you!

As you can probably tell, we both had a fantastic time, and I couldn’t have had a better meal! Well, maybe I could have- after we finished our dinner, I headed around the corner to One Lucky Duck, and brought home a mallomar and a gingersnap and lemon sandwich cookie for the road. Believe me, they didn’t last very long!

Alright guys, I’m off to do some last-minute studying- story of my life, lately! I’m in need of a well-deserved break. Or at least another mallomar. ;)

Have a great week!

Hey guys! I’m going to take a break from my insanely busy school schedule to give you a recap of the beginning of my week. A couple of weeks back, the beautiful Erin had contacted me to say that she was going to be visiting NY. To say that I was excited would be an understatement; we’ve been trying to meet up for over a year now, and I was beyond thrilled that we’d finally get the opportunity to! This past Monday and Wednesday, I was graced with her presence at what I now refer to as my second home- One Lucky Duck!

On Monday, I arrived at the restaurant a bit early to ensure that I wouldn’t hit much traffic on the way. I was craving a smoothie, and decided to go with the Nicks #7 Shake which is a yummy combination of fresh strawberries, cashew milk, fresh coconut, and cacao nibs. As expected, it was perfection. Sweet, refreshing, and decadent all in one. It reminded me somewhat of a chocolate covered strawberry in drink form!

While waiting for Erin’s arrival, I could feel my hunger slowly creeping up on me. Nothing cures a growling stomach quite like Blonde Macaroons do! I snagged a bag, and mindlessly popped about five in my mouth. They worked like a charm! Not to mention how incredible they taste; they literally melt in your mouth. Do yourself a favor, and order a bag. Like, now.

Soon after, Erin finally showed up at which point we engaged in a long embrace. It’s about time we met! We both sat down and immediately ordered our food, hungry girls that we are.

I chose a standby of mine, the Falafel and Tabbouleh which is served drizzled generously with a lemon tahini sauce and a red pepper hot sauce on romaine hearts. As usual, it was superb. The falafel itself is nice and hearty, and has such a genuine Middle Eastern flavor that pairs perfectly with the light and refreshing tabbouleh. Needless to say, the sauces provide an extra ‘layer’ of flavor that make the dish stand out.

In order to make sure she had enough room for dessert, Erin ordered the classic Sushi Rolls which contain marinated shiitake, asparagus, red bell pepper, avocado, scallion, and pignoli/jicama rice all wrapped in sheets of nori with a nama shoyu dipping sauce, pickled ginger, and wasabi. Based on her initial reaction, I can say, with confidence, that it was love at first bite!

Okay, confession time- we went WILD when it came to dessert! And when I say wild, I mean it in the best way possible, obviously! We started off with two of these-

Almond Butter Sandwich Cookies

And then split one of these-

The Infamous Mallomar

And then split a pint of this-

Raw “Oh-reo” Ice Cream

Dessert coma much? Yeah, we’re beasts. Needless to say, everything was beyond incredible. Erin was blown away by all of this deliciousness. So much so that she couldn’t help but get one of these for the road-

“Oh-reo” Sandwich Cookie

Not only did we both share a wonderful meal, but we had such a great time chatting about everything ranging from shopping to gossip girl. Not such a huge range there, actually. Typical.

We had such a wonderful time that we both knew we had to do it once more before she (sadly) headed back to Florida on Wednesday afternoon. We decided to meet bright and early that morning for some last minute bonding. Before Erin made her way to the restaurant, I ordered a mini breakfast of sorts, starting with my absolute favorite shake from One Lucky Duck, the Spanking. Not only do I love it for it’s cheeky name, but it literally tastes like blueberry pie filling. Seriously. The Spanking is a glorious blend of fresh coconut, blueberry, banana, cashew milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. Hello amazing.

To complete this breakfast, I ordered a Fig Bar. I want to make it clear that a) I’m a freak, and am NOT on the fresh fig bandwagon like the majority of others, and b) I’ve never been a fig newton fan. With that being said, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this fig bar! It just goes to show that 1LD can pretty much make me fall in love with anything, even things that I’m not generally fond of. I’m a believer!

Once Erin arrived, we quickly scanned the menu, and ordered our meals.

Erin started with the Bunny Brew, an absolutely delicious juice consisting of simply carrot, apple, and ginger. Erin was kind enough to let me have a sip, and I was in love; it was extremely light and refreshing, and had the perfect balance of sweet and spice.

For her meal, Erin went with the classic Caesar Salad served with hearts of romaine, nori, pignoli parmesan, lemon, and a luscious caesar dressing. I fully endorsed this choice, being that the Caesar is one of my all-time favorites! She seemed more than happy with her dish.

After much debate, I finally decided on the Taco Salad, which is a huge bed of romaine topped with a spicy taco crumble, pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, and cilantro-lime dressing. I also requested the addition of their Cheesy Quackers being that they were out of tortilla chips. This was exactly what I was craving; it was absolutely divine! I’ve been on a major taco salad kick lately- it’s slowly but surely becoming a favorite of mine!

For dessert, we were lucky enough to be joined by the beautiful Caroline! I was so glad to see her being that the only time we generally run into each other is when she’s behind the counter! The three of us sat and talked for a quite a bit while Erin and I noshed on these two chocolatey confections-

Erin chose the Moon Pie, a creamy “marshmallow” filling stuffed between two layers of nut brownie, all covered in chocolate ganache…

…While I went with the classic Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart topped with a huge dollop of vanilla “cream.” Totally amazing. Obviously.

It was extremely sad having to say goodbye to Erin, but luckily she’ll be back in December! I’m already counting the days. Here’s a picture of the three of us, courtesy of Caroline’s camera.

I hope you all enjoyed reading about Erin and I’s escapades! I’ve got a lot of school work and studying to do, and I’m hoping to get a majority of it finished before Wednesday, which is my birthday!! I bet you all know where I’ll be celebrating (cough! Pure Food and Wine!)

Have a great weekend!

Lately, things have been beyond hectic for me: I’ve been loaded with a copious amount of tests, projects, and papers for school, thus giving me barely any time for myself. My stress levels have been steadily on the rise, and therefore, I figured I needed to take a step back and just do something for me. My idea of “me” time? Breaking into my copy of Raw Food, Real World and taking a stab at recreating Pure Food and Wine’s most popular dish, the Zucchini and Heirloom Tomato Lasagna, of course! Although the recipe may have seemed a bit intimidating and time consuming, I knew I’d feel so accomplished once it was complete. After plenty of time spent chopping, slicing, blending, and layering, my final product ended up looking like this:

I was so proud!! The layering process wasn’t nearly as difficult as I expected it to be, and it came out looking quite pretty if I do say so myself! Of course, the best part was how freakin’ fabulous it tasted. It was almost as delicious as Pure’s version. Almost. ;) I made enough sauce for two lasagnas, so I made a friend, who is extremely picky and unadventurous about food, try it. I admit that he was hesitant to taste it at first, but once he took his first bite, he was sold! He still doesn’t understand the whole “raw food thing,” as he likes to put it, but went on to say that if raw food can taste that good, he’s willing to step out of his comfort zone every now and then! I think I’ve got another raw convert under my belt. Mission accomplished!

Oh, and if you’d like to give the recipe a try yourself, you can find it here!

As I mentioned before, I’ve been extremely busy lately, but I will try to post more consistently. I have a lot to share with you guys! More meals from One Lucky Duck, amazing dinners at Pure Food and Wine, and most importantly, I spent some quality time with my girl, Erin, who was in NY for a few days, and the lovely Caroline! In short, we had a ball. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Well, until next time!!

I’m on my way out, but I figured I would show you some of my favorite One Lucky Duck meals I’ve been noshing on lately. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Enjoy!! I’ve been extremely busy with school and what not, but I promise I’ll be back shortly with some recipes of my own!

Blue Sunset Shake
pineapple, mango, banana, blueberries, fresh coconut, vanilla

Strawberry Blonde Shake
strawberries, pineapple, banana, cashew milk, virgin coconut oil, vanilla

These two shakes that I tried were absolutely sensational; they were thick, creamy, and downright delicious. They make for a perfect, energizing breakfast, or even a great mid-day pick-me-up. If a smoothie can be described as “gourmet,” these most certainly would qualify for the title! I’m looking forward to trying others in the near future!

Spicy Thai Lettuce Wraps
mango, pea shoots, carrot, cabbage, cashews, tamarind sauce

These wraps never get old! The rich, savory almond butter tossed cabbage filling compliments the sweet tamarind sauce perfectly. I’m forever a fan!

Falafel and Tabbouleh
romaine hearts, lemon tahini sauce, red pepper hot sauce

Falafel Salad
romaine hearts tossed in tahini sauce, topped with tabbouleh, falafel, and red pepper hot sauce

This dish is one that I always find myself craving- the falafel is moist, and brimming with authentic Mediterranean spice, while the tabbouleh and tahini sauce add body and bold flavor to the dish. When topped off with red pepper hot sauce and fresh parsley, this salad is brought to life!

Zucchini and Heirloom Tomato Lasagna
sundried tomato sauce, pistachio basil pesto, pignoli ricotta

This is the quintessential, signature 1LD/Pure Food and Wine dish- the three unique sauces unite with the sturdy zucchini slices, and sweet heirloom tomato to create a magnificent spin on an old classic. This lasagna is rich and hearty, but does not leave you feeling heavy afterward- an unfortunate side effect that traditional lasagna often carries. It is a must-have for those who are new to raw cuisine, or just want to eat some fabulous tasting food!

Tortilla Wraps
spicy sundried tomato spread, corn-cilantro guacamole, tomato-lime salsa, cashew sour cream

The tortilla wraps are another one of my favorite 1LD offerings. Being the lover of guacamole that I am, these tortilla wraps are plentiful in the guac department, and, in my opinion, are the epitome of simple, delicious Mexican style cuisine.

Chips and Guacamole
corn-cilantro guacamole, and chili-lime tortilla chips

You can’t get much better than a pile of chips, and a bowl of guacamole! This plate, however, is a bit more special than your run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant variety. The chili lime corn chips are extremely flavorful, and packed with spices galore. What I love about them is their paper thin texture, making them a lot lighter than your typical heavy, grease laden tortilla chip. The guacamole is possibly the best I’ve had: perfectly fresh (a crucial guacamole necessity!), and adorned with sweet corn kernels for a special touch.

Nori “Tuna” Salad
tomato, avocado, butter lettuce, parsley salad, and caper berries

If I’m correctly informed, this “tuna” salad is made using almonds, spices, and vegetables. Incredible!

Sea Vegetable Salad
wakame, arame, carrots, beet, sesame-scallion dressing

This nutritional powerhouse of a salad is one that I order very often. I especially love it with a big side of avocado!

Caesar Salad
hearts of romaine, nori, pignoli parmesan, creamy caesar dressing

This is probably my absolute favorite salad at 1LD. The parmesan, caesar dressing, and nori come together to form, what I consider, a culinary masterpiece! I don’t think it’s possible for me to ever tire of this gem of a salad.

“S&M” Salad
mixed greens, avocado, hemp seeds, dulse, rosemary quackers, argon-lemon dressing

Yet another 1LD classic, the “s&m” salad is one that I always turn to when I’m having trouble choosing what I want! You simply can’t go wrong with this one.

Taco Salad
romaine, spicy taco crumble, pico de gallo, guacamole, cashew sour cream, cilantro-lime dressing

The taco salad is yet another flawless take on traditional Mexican cuisine. I often order a plate of the chili-lime tortilla chips to crumble on top for an extra special treat!

Refreshing Greens Salad
mixed greens, cilantro, parsley, basil, cucumber, avocado, argon-lemon dressing

As the title suggests, this salad is one of the most refreshing, light choices 1LD has to offer. Perfect for those (rare) occasions when my appetite is not as uncontrollable and monstrous as usual!

Mediterranean Salad
arugula, kale, heirloom tomatoes, pignoli parmesan, balsamic vinaigrette

The new Mediterranean Salad is yet another one of my favorites! It originally comes served with kalamata olives, but I’m not a fan so I request to leave them out. I’m absolutely in love with the arugula and kale base, and the sweet tomatoes and savory parmesan are the perfect complement to the mild, yet delicious balsamic dressing.

Almond Butter Cookie
Like the classic “oh-reo,” but even better! As I’ve said in the past, it tastes like a combination of an ice cream sandwich and a cookie- the best of both worlds!

Chocolate Caramel Bar
If you’re a Twix fan, you can’t pass this treat up! A graham cookie topped with pecan “caramel” and dark chocolate- what’s not to love?

The Classic Mallomar!
A pecan and walnut based cookie drowned in dark chocolate, and topped with the richest vanilla cream to exist. It deserves every ounce of “buzz” that it receives!

Chocolate Covered Honey Bunches
1LD’s classic honey bunches granola bar enrobed in rich, dark chocolate ganache. Health and decadence wrapped in a perfect, little package!

Fruit Parfait
Bananas, baby blueberries, almond crumble, and vanilla cream- the perfect breakfast, or light dessert!

Chocolate Pudding
I requested a dollop of vanilla cream on top. Perfection on top of perfection!

Linzer Tart
Even better than the original!

Moon Pie
Outrageously delicious layers of nut brownie, “marshmallow” cream, and chocolate ganache. This is what heaven tastes like, folks.

Coconut Lime and Chocolate Banana Tarts
Possibly my two favorite 1LD dessert offerings! Both of these treats are distinctly different from one another in both taste and texture. The former is a rich, silky smooth coconut cream infused with lime zest, while the latter consists of a chocolate crust layered with caramelized bananas, oozing chocolate sauce, and banana “frosting.” Irresistible!

Dark Chocolate Ganache Tart
This is certainly not for the faint of heart: this chocolaty confection is as rich as they come! The dollop of vanilla cream puts it over the top.

Sachertorte
Chocolate in it’s densest, richest form- this treat is pure chocolate heaven!

Tiramisu
This raw version of tiramisu puts it’s traditional counterpart to shame- it’s sweet, incredibly creamy, and packed with flavor. Even my mom, who is not a fan of typical tiramisu, appreciates and loves 1LD’s version! A must-try!

Almond Buttercup Ice Cream
Need I say more? Simply the richest, most luscious and creamy ice cream I’ve ever tasted, dairy ones included. A pint of perfection.

Chocolate Ice Cream
A classic taken to a whole new level- this chocolate ice cream has the intense, deep chocolate flavor that all chocolate ice creams should have, but often lack.

I hope you enjoyed this pictorial journey of all of my fabulous One Lucky Duck lunches. I’m short on time, like I mentioned before, because I’m working on an essay for school. As soon as things ease up for me, I’ll be back with some homemade meals and recipes, along with product reviews, and more wonderful Pure Food and Wine dinners. Adios for now!

After having such a fun time, and an unforgettable meal at Pure Food and Wine with Nicole this past Wednesday, both of us figured that we might as well go back for a second round on Thursday night before she sadly headed back to Connecticut. But instead of just going for dinner, we decided to have a double-doss of Pure goodness and, headed to One Lucky Duck for lunch!

I ordered a favorite of mine, the Sushi Rolls, which are a simple, yet delicious combination of marinated shiitake, avocado, asparagus, red bell pepper, and scallion surrounded by pignoli and jicama rice and nori with a side of nama shoyu for dipping. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed every single bite!

Nicole decided on a 1LD classic, the “S&M” salad which is a glorious mixture of mixed greens tossed with an argon lemon dressing, topped with avocado, hemp seeds, dulse, and their famous rosemary quackers. I’ve had this salad numerous times, and it will always remain a favorite of mine. So much so that I often recreate it at home! I’ll admit, however, that it never tastes quite as good as it does from the restaurant.

Both of us stuck to somewhat lighter options for lunch so we’d have plenty of room for something we both had our heart set on- splitting a pint of Raw “Oh-reo” Ice Cream! If I’m correctly informed, the main base of 1LD’s ice creams are a mixture of cashews and young coconut meat! You’d never believe how rich, decadent, and creamy this stuff is. Not only was the consistency smooth as silk, but the flavor was simply beyond belief.

Being the rebels that we are, we paired our ice cream with none other than an Oh-reo cookie! This dessert was so heavenly that I felt I was unworthy.

I also managed to leave the restaurant with an Almond Delight which consists of an almond and coconut filling that is smothered in rich dark chocolate. Akin to the infamous ‘Almond Joy’ of my childhood, this tiny treat was not only nostalgic, but absolutely scrumptious tasting. I wish it was bigger, though!

Needless to say, we both left the city with bellies full of raw ice cream, and made our way to Long Island to search for a bookstore that had a particular vegan cookbook that Nicole was looking for. We ended up traveling to two different locations that happened to be worlds apart from each other. After practically 1/2 a tank of gas and one purchased vegan cookbook later, we went back to my house and engaged in typical Erica/Nicole debauchery: which in our world, ahem, means uploading pictures to flickr. I know, I know- we’re such troublemakers.

By the time we got all of that done, it was already time to head back into the city for our “last supper” together until Nicole was Connecticut bound. Of course, Pure Food and Wine was, once again, our restaurant of choice.

For my appetizer, I chose the Butter Lettuce Caesar Salad which is comprised of a lemon caesar dressing, avocado, pignoli parmesan, and a chocolate balsamic reduction. The caesar salad is one of my favorite offerings at One Lucky Duck, and I crave it on a consistent basis- luckily, Pure Food and Wine’s version was just as amazing, if not better! What made it especially unique was the chocolate sauce; it surprisingly complemented the salad so well, and gave it a rich and decadent feel. Amazing!

Nicole began her meal with the first course special of the night which was a Zucchini Fettuccine smothered in basil crema and red pepper bruschetta served with spicy pumpkin seeds, basil sprouts, and styrian pumpkin seed oil. I took a taste of it, and was absolutely in love with the basil cream sauce. The dish was outstanding, and I would definitely order it myself in the future!

We were also served a Margherita Pizzette, on the house! This mouth watering combination of cashew cheese sauce, sweet heirloom cherry tomatoes, and shredded aged cashew cheese atop an almond and rosemary crust was simply magical. This ’sample’ made me even more excited for my entree!

As you can probably infer, for my main course I had my heart set on the Trio of Pizzettes- a spinach pesto with arugula, a pizza margherita with heirloom cherry tomatoes and aged shredded cashew cheese, and a crimini and kalamata with summer truffle, all on an almond and rosemary crust. This dish was nothing short of sensational- each pizzette had it’s own delicious and distinct flavor, and had such an authentic, Italian feel to it. This may have been my favorite meal I’ve had at Pure thus far! I would order it again in a heartbeat.

After much debate, Nicole decided on the Sweet Corn and Pumpkin Seed Enchiladas which are served with a salsa verde sauce, sliced avocado, and a carrot slaw. Nicole thought the dish was very good, but it wasn’t her favorite. I, however, ended up eating her leftovers, and I loved it! I guess everyone has different tastes!

Alongside our entrees, the generous Pure staff also presented us with a complimentary Tortilla Wrap! This is yet another one of my favorite dishes at One Lucky Duck- the wrap is stuffed with a spicy sundried tomato spread, fresh cilantro corn guacamole, and tomato-lime salsa with a side of cashew sour cream. Being that I have this dish quite often, I let Nicole experience it’s greatness. She loved it, and consumed the entire thing in about 10 seconds flat!

Nicole decided to skip dessert at Pure, but as you know, skipping dessert is never an option for me! I opted for the incredible Strawberry Shortcake Napoleon which is described on the menu as orange blossom honey soaked strawberries layered between vanilla crème and orange almond cookies with strawberry sherbet. This seriously hit the spot; I’m in love with Pure’s Strawberry Shortcake, and it will be a sad day when it is removed from the menu to make room for the new fall additions. Absolutely heavenly.

Alright guys, that’s all I’ve got for now- I’m actually fighting some sort of virus at the moment, and I’m pretty worn out. I’ll be back soon, though, with even more lunches and treats from One Lucky Duck, some product reviews, a bunch of homemade recipes, and the list goes on.

Enjoy your week!

If you used to read my former blog, sweeteats, you’d then be well acquainted with Nicole and I’s ongoing NYC foodie adventures! When Nicole was living in New York City earlier this year, we used to literally see each other every day, and spend an endless amount of time sharing meals, stories, and most importantly, laughs, together. It was incredibly difficult for me to imagine life without her when she moved back to Connecticut, but I knew that measly state borders wouldn’t serve as a road block to our friendship. You can imagine how truly thrilled I was when I received a message from her saying that she was coming into the city to visit! I was determined to make her two days in New York as fun and memorable as possible. With that in mind, there’s no other restaurant I would have suggested dining at other than Pure Food and Wine. My best friend deserves the greatest quality of food!

On our first night at Pure, we arrived at 5:30, and were seated in the ever-alluring garden. Considering that Nicole’s stay in the city was (sadly) a short one, we decided to “go all out,” and order to our heart’s content. With that said, there was no other menu choice that would’ve satisfied our hungry palates more than the Five Course Tasting Menu! There couldn’t have been a better way for us to celebrate our reuniting other than through food!

For starters, we were both presented with the Amuse Bouche which was a Cashew Cheese Stuffed Cucumber Round decorated with rosy red heirloom cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs. This simple, elegantly presented beginner, although small in size, was packed with flavor. The “cheese” was creamy and rich, and it contrasted with the refreshing cucumber and delicate, sweet tomatoes perfectly. We were highly impressed!

Once our first course arrived, we had built up quite the appetite, and were more than ready to dig in! First up was the Green Papaya Salad with Lime Sesame Dressing, served with heirloom cherry tomatoes, haricot verts, and crunchy cashews. Both Nicole and I were absolutely blown away by this dish; it was incredibly flavorful, and the sesame dressing was just divine. I loved the added crunch in the dish provided by the cashews which added another layer of texture to the plate. I’m looking forward to ordering this dish in it’s full size in the near future! Simply perfection.

We were also served the Wild Arugula Salad which featured a sherry shallot vinaigrette, candied hazelnuts, lavender balsamic huckleberries, and aged cashew cheese. I was thoroughly impressed with this dish, as well! I really appreciated the bold flavor of the vinaigrette which contrasted with the sweet huckleberries, tangy “cheese,” and crunchy hazelnuts, all coming together to excite the taste buds like no other. This salad was a palate pleaser, for sure!

The last dish of our first course was the King Oyster Mushroom Scallops, served with hijiki seaweed caviar, chive creme fraiche, wilted arugula with black garlic, all swimming in a tomato broth. We both could not believe how freakishly authentic this scallop was to the actual thing! In both flavor, texture, and consistency, this version was basically an exact replica. I was so impressed while eating it, imagining just how much craftsmanship was put into creating this spectacular dish. Once again, I was floored!

With an extremely successful first course packed into our bellies, we were left waiting, with baited breath, to see what our next course would bring! Shortly after, we were served a White Gazpacho Soup that featured celery and green grapes. After my first sip, I couldn’t believe what I was tasting. This was the most incredible soup I’ve ever had! The flavor was light, yet rich at the same time, and had a smooth, velvety consistency that paired perfectly with the refreshing, crisp crunch of the green grapes. My only gripe was that I wanted more of it! It was too good for words.

Onto our third course, we were presented with a familiar favorite, the Falafel and Tabbouleh, which was served on a crisp romaine heart, and caressed with a lemon tahini sauce, and a red pepper hot sauce. This dish is one that I order at One Lucky Duck, the takeaway location, quite often- the falafel is full-bodied and packed with authentic flavor, and the tabbouleh is light and refreshing. Quite frankly, I didn’t want this dish to end!

Alongside the falafel, we were served one of the new Sweet Asian Slaw and Crunchy Avocado Handrolls which boasted a cashew and black sesame coated avocado alongside a wasabi aioli. Needless to say, it was absolutely delicious! The creaminess of the avocado lent itself perfectly to the crunch from the seeded exterior, and the sweet slaw and fishy nori flavors brought the entire dish together. When dipped into the spicy aioli, this dishes’ complexity of collaborating flavors make for an extremely exciting eating experience!

Believe it or not, after consuming all of this food, both of us were more than ready for the main courses! It all began with another new menu item, the Margherita Pizzette- an almond and rosemary crust is layered with a generous portion of creamy cashew cheese spread, sweet heirloom cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, and shredded aged cashew cheese. This was, quite possibly, one of my favorite things we tried that night! The crust was irresistible, the cheese spread was out of this world, and the sweet tomatoes and pungent cashew “cheese” brought the entire thing alive.

Another main course we were presented with was the Thai Coconut Noodles with mung bean sprouts and heirloom carrots served in a galangal red coconut curry sauce, and topped with saffron oil and thai basil. This was yet another winner! The coconut noodles were so unique, and paired wonderfully with the coconut curry sauce.

Last, but certainly not least, we were given a full order of the seasonal Squash Blossoms, on the house! The blossoms were stuffed with spring onion and herb cheese, and served alongside an heirloom tomato slice which is adorned with fennel and capers, and delicate sliced strawberries in an aged balsamic. I still can’t get over how truly incredible this dish was; the cheese was unsurpassable in both flavor and consistency, and it made for a perfect pairing with the fennel and caper salad, and sugary sweet heirloom. The strawberries were also a beautiful touch! It’s so unfortunate that this marvelous dish must go away as summer passes.

Possibly the most exciting part of the night, for both of us, was the arrival of the desserts! As you all know, the desserts at Pure are not only absolutely sensational tasting, but they’re full of wholesome, unprocessed, and unrefined ingredients making them a suitable, sweet ending to an already fantastic meal.

Pictured first is the Chocolate Passion Fruit Tart which featured a passion fruit curd with fresh raspberries, framboise pearls, vanilla cream and chocolate cacao ice cream. I admit that I was skeptical before my first bite, wondering if I’d be a fan of the passion fruit, which can be a very strong and overpowering flavor. The verdict? This tart was absolute perfection! Surprisingly, the chocolate and the passion fruit flavors melded together flawlessly, and made for an extremely special treat! The little framboise pearls were a unique touch, and added such a great, interesting texture to it. And I simply can’t forget to mention the chocolate ice cream; it was the creamiest, richest variation I’ve ever tasted! Sadly, my picture doesn’t do this dessert justice; the lighting was awful by the time dessert arrived! Trust me, though, it was fabulous.

Next up was the Strawberry Shortcake Napoleon which is described as orange blossom honey soaked strawberries layered between vanilla creme and orange almond cookies with strawberry sherbet and a fresh strawberry sauce. Being that I’m not typically a fan of fruity desserts, I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of this one. Turns out, I had nothing to be hesitant about- this strawberry shortcake was beyond outstanding! The cake itself was extremely luscious and creamy; each and every bite was that of sheer heaven!

Thanks to Sarma and the wonderful Pure staff, Nicole and I were presented with a “bonus” dessert- the Tiramisu! I’ve had the pleasure of consuming this exquisite treat at One Lucky Duck plenty of times, and it has yet to fail me. I don’t know how they do it!

I know I must sound like a broken record, but once again I want thank Sarma and the rest of the Pure team, from the bottom of my heart, for treating us to such an outstanding and memorable dinner. It’s safe to say that both Nicole and I left with very happy tummies!

Stay tuned for Parts Two and Three for Nicole and I’s second visit to Pure, a lot of One Lucky Duck meals, and some very exciting news!

As you all know by now, I’m a hardcore devotee to One Lucky Duck and their top quality food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. After reading my first post that I dedicated to said establishment, Sarma, the owner, lovingly contacted and invited me and a guest to attend Pure Food & Wine for dinner on Sunday night. I was blown away by Sarma’s generosity, and happily accepted the invitation! It had been quite a while since I paid the restaurant a visit, so I was extremely thrilled to be going!

My guest (who was my wonderful mom) and I arrived at the restaurant promptly at 5:30 Sunday night, and were greeted by the friendly hostess with a big, warm smile. Upon walking in, we were taken to our table, which, luckily, was outside in the garden! The last time I visited Pure, the garden was unfortunately all occupied, so I felt truly privileged to experience dining outside this time around. Once we were seated, both my mom and I couldn’t help but look at our surroundings in complete awe; the ambiance and decor is simply breathtaking, almost celestial! The area itself is spacious, inviting, and ever so classy. Quite frankly, I’ve never been to a restaurant that is nearly as beautiful as Pure Food & Wine is. After catching our breath, my mom and I began to scan the menu in attempt to pick the dishes that caught our attention most. This was an incredibly difficult task considering every single menu offering sounded simply delectable. I would’ve ordered one of everything, if possible! After giving it much thought, however, we finally came to our decisions. Shortly after, our incredibly attentive waiter came to our table to take our orders. Let the fun begin!

For my first course, I chose the popular Plate of Assorted Tree Nut Cheeses and Rosemary Crisps which was served with wild huckleberry and local wildflower honey compote, and side of mache. I was simply blown away by this plate; the cheeses were so incredibly tangy, flavorful, and authentic, and they each paired perfectly with the savory cracker and sweet huckleberry topping. What a wonderful way to start off the night!

As for my mom’s appetizer, she went with the Local Heirloom Tomato and Baby Eggplant Caponata which was served with wild Sylvetta arugula, and shredded aged cashew cheese. I couldn’t help but steal plenty of bites, and was completely floored by it; the flavors of the dish were bold and full-bodied, and each ingredient lent itself, seamlessly, to the overall eating experience. Between the salty tang of the olives, crunchy bite of the pine nuts, rich texture of the sauce, and ‘buttery’ tenderness of the vegetables, this dish was a force to be reckoned with. Both of our appetizers were simply exquisite, and left us anxiously awaiting the arrival of our entrees!

To tide us over before our main courses were served, we were presented with this beautiful plate consisting of two Cashew Cheese Stuffed Mini Tarts, compliments of the chef! My mom and I were so appreciative of this gesture! Although miniature, they made up for their diminutive size in the flavor department! The tart shell was nutty and delicious, and the cashew cheese filling was extremely rich and creamy. A little bite of heaven, for sure!

Soon after we happily gobbled up our tarts, our entrees arrived! My mom chose the ever-popular White Corn Tamales which were stuffed with a cashew cheese and marinated mushroom filling, and served with salsa verde, creamy avocado, raw cacao mole, and cashew sour cream. After her first bite, she was completely sold! According to my mom, every morsel that entered her mouth was that of pure bliss. She described eating this meal as “the ultimate taste sensation,” and felt as though she was on cloud nine. Of course, I had to snag a few bites to see if her description was accurate; not to my surprise, she was spot on! The collaboration of flavors worked together in perfect harmony, and left me speechless! This dish was, most definitely, a winner!

As for my main course, I went with the Saffron Pickled Golden Beet Ravioli with Currants and Shallot Cheese which was served atop a harissa spiced heirloom tomato ragout, and garnished with marinated market greens. All in all, I was utterly amazed with my dish! The ravioli far exceeded my high expectations; the flavor of the cheese was rich and tangy, almost akin to that of creamy goat cheese, and the sweet, delicate crunch of the beet made for a perfect contrast in both texture and flavor. The wilted greens were simply divine, and the tomato ragout took my breath away; it was boldly spiced without being overpowering, and really brought the whole dish alive. This raw version of ravioli was far superior to it’s cooked counterpart, in my eyes!

Needless to say, no meal is complete, in my mind, without a sweet ending! Believe it or not, even after consuming our meals in their entirety, we still managed to save room for dessert.

Starting with my mom’s choice, she ordered the Trio of Chocolate Coated Indian Spiced Ice Cream Treats- a chocolate-cardamom coconut ice cream cone, a pistachio gelato ice cream sandwich, and a chai tea creamsicle. I had a big bite of each, and was simply amazed by every single one!

My “trio” of bites began with the Chocolate-Cardamom-Coconut Ice Cream Cone which was reminiscent of the infamous Nestle Drumstick, only better! The cone was rich, and bursting with hints of all three flavors, none of which dominated over the other; they collaborated with one another flawlessly!

Next, I sunk my teeth into the decadent Chai Tea Creamsicle which featured a luscious chai-vanilla ice cream enrobed in a rich dark chocolate ganache. Simply put, it was like biting into pure chocolate euphoria!

The last of the trio was the Pistachio Gelato Ice Cream Sandwich which consisted of a pistachio gelato surrounded by two chocolate cookies enveloped in luxurious dark chocolate, all garnished with pistachio pieces. It was just as incredible as it both looks and sounds. This chocolate lover was beyond satisfied!

But no, that’s not all! As for my dessert of choice, I went with the new addition to the Pure menu, the Chocolate Pecan Banana Bread which was served with caramelized bananas, candied ginger cream, caramel ice cream, and chocolate sauce, all garnish with pecans. In all honesty, this was probably the greatest dessert I’ve ever consumed. The banana bread was moist, flavorful, and packed with crunchy pecan pieces and a delicate chocolate flavor that enhanced the bread without overwhelming it. The caramelized banana slices were like little pillows of heaven, especially when drowned in the luscious caramel sauce. And let’s not forget the caramel ice cream which was simply to die for. I couldn’t have ended this impeccable meal with anything better!

As incredible as the food was, the highlight of my night was getting to meet with the friendly and beautiful Sarma! Not only was she generous enough to have invited us in for a free meal, but she even presented me with a personally signed copy of her new book, Living Raw Food (which I strongly suggest you all buy; it’s my absolute favorite raw cookbook)! Sarma has been such an inspiration to me, and it was truly wonderful to be in her presence, and to chat with her. I’m so grateful for everything that Sarma and the rest of the Pure staff did for us; they bent over backwards to make us happy, and treated us like queens! The experience was absolutely perfect, from beginning to end, and I am already looking forward to my next visit (which will be very soon)!

And as if I haven’t shown my love for Pure Food & Wine and One Lucky Duck enough, I have a whole other round of lunches from One Lucky Duck that I’d like to share with you in my upcoming post. Shortly, I’ll also be devoting a post to my passion for juicing, as well. See you all soon!

Hi all!

Well, it’s been an extremely hectic week for me- I’ve been consumed with plenty of school work, and therefore I’m beyond thrilled that the weekend is finally here. Quite frankly I’m exhausted at the moment, so I’m going to keep this post heavy on the pictures and light on the text. Hope you understand!

During the summer, I spent a copious amount of my time experimenting and testing various raw recipes from several different sources. Although I did have some recipe failures along the way, I managed to create some fabulous dishes that are definitely worthy of sharing, if I say so myself! Here are some of the “highlights” that will always remind me of the beauty of summer.

Let’s start with one of my absolute favorite recipes- the boldly colored Mexican Squash Rice Salad! The basic recipe comes from Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen, and I jazzed it up by adding a few additional ingredients to boost the flavor. Preparation wise, the recipe couldn’t have been any easier- simply pulse cubes of raw squash (I used acorn) in a food processor, toss it in a bowl, and add the remaining ingredients! Easy, huh? I decided to put my completed rice salad over a bed of crisp romaine, and topped the dish off with sliced avocado and a homemade avocado-cumin dressing. You can never have too much avocado, I say! Bottom line? This recipe is simply sensational! In fact, it stood out in my mind so much that I made it twice in the same week!

Being that I’m all about making no-fuss, stress-free recipes, it’s obvious that raw soups are a staple of mine. Not only are they incredibly easy to throw together at the last minute, but they are extremely nourishing and absolutely delicious tasting. I’ve literally made dozens of raw soups over the past few months, but these particular ones just happened to stand out.

Pictured above is Gena’s recipe for Perfect Gazpacho! Perfect, indeed! With a rich and creamy texture, and a perfect balance between sweet and savory, this soup, most definitely, does not disappoint. As you can see, I decided to top my soup with some raw corn and grape tomatoes for added texture. I love the sweet, refreshing, and crisp bite that the corn lends to raw soups!

Another soup recipe that made it’s mark is the simplistic Cucumber Mint Gazpacho straight out of the beautiful Sarma Melngailis’ new book, Living Raw Food. This soup recipe is the epitome of summer, in my eyes- it is so incredibly light and refreshing, and has both sweet and citrusy undertones that literally make your taste-buds sing. A definite crowd pleaser if you ask me!

The last soup I’d like to share is one that I actually created myself. How I came up with the recipe? To be honest, it was a total fluke! I originally had planned on making some sort of avocado bisque when I realized that I was, rather tragically, all out of avocados. Instead, I improvised and utilized what I had in my fridge, and formulated this Carrot Ginger Soup! Here’s the recipe-

Raw Carrot Ginger Soup
Serves 1

1 1/2 cups sweet cherry tomatoes
1 1/2 cups carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 big clove garlic
1″ knob ginger, peeled (use more or less to taste)
1 tsp nama shoyu
2 tbsp macadamia oil (or olive oil/flax oil)
S+P

Toss all ingredients, except the oil, into a vitamix or other high speed blender. Add 1/4 cup pure water if the mixture is having difficulty blending. Once the soup is smooth and creamy, slowly drizzle the oil into the blender, preferably while on a very low speed. Blend until fully incorporated, serve, and enjoy! Top with your favorite veggies/fresh herbs of choice.

Another summertime favorite of mine is none other than Guacamole! Simply put, there’s nothing quite like homemade guacamole; the store-bought stuff doesn’t even compare. Now, I’m well aware that the art of guacamole making is dependent on personal preference; some like a very simple guacamole without a lot of added ingredients while others, like me, enjoy tossing everything but the kitchen sink into it! Here’s the basic framework for my favorite version of Guacamole. Adjust amounts to taste, of course!

Busy Guacamole
Serves 1

1 large avocado
juice of 1/2 lime
dash cumin
pinch cayenne
large handful cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
small handful sweet onion, diced small
handful sweet cherry tomatoes, quartered

Place all ingredients in a bowl, mix, mash, and serve!

For me, Massaged Kale Salads have become an everyday necessity in my diet. Not only are they packed with nutrients, but they are totally customizable in that you can create an array of different variations, and most importantly, they are absolutely scrumptious. Shown here is my favorite way to prepare my kale salads- adorned with sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy chunks of avocado, carrot, and yellow bell pepper, and served alongside a heaping plateful of creamy steamed kabocha squash. Before adding the veggies of choice, I marinated and massage the kale with sea salt, fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice, and macadamia oil. It’s simply irresistible!

Another lunchtime favorite of mine are Nori Rolls! I adore them not only because they are satisfying and delicious, but because they are easy to prepare as long as you do some planning ahead. I always make sure to prep in advance and make my pate of choice the night before so when I need it, it’ll be waiting for me. Pictured here is one of my all-time favorites, Gena’s Sunflower Seed and Carrot Pate! I add/exchange a few ingredients in my version such as the addition of celery and dulse flakes to make for a “tuna-like” flavor, and swap out the dill for some parsley. This pate is also delicious used as a spread for raw veggies and raw crackers; I can’t get enough of it! This particular occasion, I used some leftover Sweet Basil Dressing as my dipping sauce, and boy was it fantastic!

Moving on to the “main courses,” it wouldn’t be possible to speak of raw cuisine without mentioning zucchini pasta! I absolutely love the versatility involved when creating raw pasta dishes- they can basically be turned into anything you want them to be! Tossed with any sauce or dressing you have on hand, they will make for a quick, yet satisfying meal in an instant. One knock-out variation that I recall is my Raw “Peanut” Noodles. Once again, I turned to my friend Gena for the recipe knowing that I wouldn’t be disappointed. Indeed, it was one of the best dishes I’ve made. I basically followed her recipe to the tee, except that I subbed the oil in the sauce with raw almond butter. It was glorious. Enough said.

Being that I’ve always been a huge fan of pesto, this Zucchini Pasta with Hempseed Basil Pesto was a true winner in my eyes! I’m not sure where I found the recipe, unfortunately, but I’ll be on the lookout- it was one of the best pesto sauces I’ve made, to date. Rich, hearty, and satisfying, indeed!

Onto dessert! I’ll never forget how accomplished I felt after slicing into my first homemade raw cheesecake! This Tropical Cheesecake is simply too good for words; the crust is a delightful combination of almonds, shredded coconut, coconut butter, cinnamon, and raw agave, almost akin to a macaroon! The cheesecake layer is comprised of cashews, lemon juice, coconut oil, agave, maple syrup, and vanilla which make for an extremely decadent and rich filling. The topping is what makes this cheesecake stand out from the rest- a mixture of fresh mango, pineapple, coconut butter, agave, and vanilla come together to create pure magic. One bite of this cheesecake, and you’ll feel like you’ve just been teleported to the Caribbean! It is absolutely divine.

When I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, yet I still want to satisfy my ravenous sweet tooth, I turn to my trusty food processor to do all of the work for me. With a few simple ingredients and some vigorous pulsing action, raw truffles, brownies, and donut holes are literally right at my fingertips!

The first creation I’d like to share is my improvised Raw Brownie Truffles! All I did was toss walnuts, pitted medjool dates, and raw cacao powder into my food processor, and let it do all the work! I rolled the finished products in shredded coconut, and wallah! A beautiful, raw treat in seconds! They are rich, chocolatey, and utterly delicious; I hope you try them out for yourself!

The second recipe is my all-time favorite- Sticky Sweet Coconut Date Truffles! Being that the procedure for making them is so easy, I’m constantly cranking them out by the dozen! Here is the incredibly simplistic recipe!

Raw Coconut Date Truffles
Yields approx. 8

1 cup raw pecans
3/4 cup (3.5 oz) sticky raisins (soak them to soften, if necessary)
1/2 cup (3 oz) soft medjool dates, pitted
4 T (1 oz) raw shredded coconut
1/4 – 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Toss all ingredients into your food processor, and pulse until everything is incorporated. If you like little chunks left, make sure not to over-process. Roll into balls, place on a baking sheet, and stick in the freezer. Enjoy!

Last, but certainly not least, are Ani Phyo’s recipe for Raw Donut Holes. These babies are simply addicting; the ingenious combination of dried pineapple, almonds, coconut, dates, and vanilla come together to form pure bliss.

Of course you didn’t think I would go without mentioning Gena’s life-changing recipe for Banana Soft Serve, did you? This recipe has easily become my go-to dessert. Never would I have imagined that frozen bananas could yield such a creamy, decadent tasting treat! I’ve made it all different sorts of ways over the months; with raw cacao powder and chocolate sauce, with a couple of dates and shredded coconut, and with a scoop of raw almond butter mixed in- the possibilities are endless! My favorite version, however, is the most simplistic of them all- with cinnamon and vanilla! Seriously, I just can’t get enough of this stuff. Bananas certainly don’t last long in my household!

Wow, that was a lot longer than I expected it to be! Well, I hope that you all enjoyed seeing some of my favorite raw summer recipes, and I urge you to give them a try! I’ll be back shortly with yet another post featuring more of the wonderful eats I’ve had at One Lucky Duck, and Pure Food & Wine. Ciao!

Simply put, there’s never a dull moment in New York. Although the stigma of big crowds, rude patrons, and high prices may shy some away, Manhattan certainly has plenty of charming, redeeming qualities; an endless amount of shops, beautiful apartments, and best of all, an ever-expanding number of raw restaurants to dine at! I consider myself one lucky girl! Naturally, Pure Food and Wine and their takeaway restaurant, One Lucky Duck, are my raw eateries of choice; not only have I never encountered a disappointing meal at either location, but both places possess a warm and cozy atmosphere that just feels like home. From a nutritional standpoint, both establishments firmly believe in serving the highest quality organic, raw, and vegan cuisine, and take pride in their artfully presented dishes and desserts. Here are some of the wonderful eats that I’ve been privileged to have tried!

Starting with the beverages, I’ve tried both the thai green and the hot pink juice. The former is a spicy, yet sweet combination of mixed greens, cilantro, lime, and pineapple, and the latter is a gorgeous, vivid pink concoction of beet, pear, pineapple, and ginger. The ratio of greens/vegetables and fruits were perfectly distributed in both, making for two of the greatest fresh juices I’ve ever had. I must admit that even my most favorite homemade concoctions don’t quite match up to these. They are fantastic and worth every penny!

Making our way to the main dishes, I’ve had the honor of trying almost all of One Lucky Duck’s menu offerings.

Starting with one of my favorites, the Caesar Salad is a glorious mixture of romaine hearts, nori, pignoli parmesan, lemon, and a dreamy caesar dressing. As simple as this may sound, the flavors are anything but! The caesar dressing is rich, creamy, and tasty enough to down by the spoonful- I highly doubt that its dairy-laden counterpart can even come close to this version. The pignoli parmesan has both the taste and texture of the real thing- I could hardly believe it! The shards are scattered, in abundance, on the salad and added fabulous flavor to the dish. The nori gave it a reminiscent fishy quality that really brought the salad to life. Bottom line? This salad is nothing short of exquisite, and I’d order it again in a heartbeat!

Next, the Sushi Rolls, although a more unassuming selection, did not fail my taste buds in the slightest! Marinated shiitake, asparagus, red bell pepper, and scallion surrounded by nori, and pignoli and jicama rice alongside a simple nama shoyu dipping sauce impressed me more than I could’ve imagined. My only gripe was that I wanted another order of them as soon as I finished!

Another One Lucky Duck favorite of mine are the classic Spicy Thai Lettuce Wraps. Raw collards are marinated and then stuffed with a savoy cabbage-almond butter slaw along with mango, pea shoots, fresh cilantro, chopped cashews, and carrot. It is served with an unbelievable tamarind dip that is reminiscent of a pad thai sauce, only thicker and better! A must-try, for sure.

I’ve always enjoyed a good platter of Falafel and Tabbouleh, but never appreciated all of the oil that so typically accompanied the pairing. One Lucky Duck to the rescue! Their raw version of this middle eastern favorite has all of the wonderful qualities of the standard recipe, minus the unnecessary grease. The falafel itself is a flawless union of almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and traditional spices that are rolled into balls and dehydrated. It it served atop a bed of delicious raw tabbouleh that’s main base is cauliflower, tossed with various veggies, fresh herbs, and spices that lay on crisp romaine hearts. The dish is generously drizzled with a lemon tahini sauce and a red pepper hot sauce that tie the meal together seamlessly. Pure perfection!

I’m also a huge fan of the Build Your Own Salad option on the menu when I’m in the mood for something a bit lighter. With a huge offering of various organic toppings and dressings to choose from, salad possibilities are endless! Yesterday, I created a salad for myself that was definitely a keeper- mixed greens adorned with beet, kale, avocado, tomato, dulse and a side of the sweet miso dressing. The flavors meshed perfectly with each other and made for one satisfying meal! I was floored by the miso dressing- spoon-worthy, for sure! I’m looking forward to building many more salads in the future.

It’s simply a crime to dine at either location without having dessert. Each and every decadent confection that they serve couldn’t even disappoint the toughest of critics. I’ve indulged in many of their scrumptious treats lately, and have enjoyed and savored every bite!

Starting with the wondrous mallomar, quite perhaps the most amazing treat to come in contact with my lips- it’s hard to believe that this crunchy cookie comprised of simply pecans and walnuts, drowned in raw chocolate, and topped with vanilla cream is raw! Whenever I have lunch here with friends, I always recommend the mallomar. It’s impossible to be disappointed by it!

Now I’d like to share with you another favorite of mine- the moon pie! Being that it’s slightly larger than the other desserts, this one naturally has one up by virtue of the fact that it lasts longer! Two layers of rich chocolate nut brownie surround a pillow of vanilla “marshmallow” cream which is all encased in a dark chocolate ganache. What’s not to love?

That same day, I also tried the almond butter, which is a small sandwich cookie that is reminiscent of the infamous nutter butter of my childhood! This cookie is the almond butter lover’s dream- it almost tasted like combination of a mini ice cream sandwich and a cookie! No objections here!

Next up is the dreamy chocolate caramel bar which took me right back to my twix lovin’ days! This bar is comprised of three layers of pure bliss- a graham cookie on the bottom, a caramel filling in the center, and a creamy chocolate topping all drowned in raw chocolate ganache.

The other day when I went to the restaurant with a close friend who embraces her sweet tooth, much like I do, it was no surprise that we ordered two desserts to share. We chose the coconut lime tart and banana chocolate tart, both of which are mind blowing. The filling of the coconut tart is extremely smooth and creamy, and both the coconut and lime flavors were bold, yet neither overpowered the other. The banana chocolate tart is equally delicious; it features a chocolate brownie-like crust topped with a pecan and walnut filling, oozing chocolate ganache, and a banana cream topping. Flawless!

Being that I have a weakness for both granola and chocolate, I knew that I couldn’t go wrong with the chocolate covered honey bunches bar! One Lucky Duck’s honey bunches “grawnola” bars that are chock full of almonds, sprouted buckwheat and oat groats, and tart wild blueberries are caressed with the tender touch of rich chocolate ganache. These treats are both decadent and healthy!

Last but not least, this tiny treat may have been small in size, but it was huge on flavor! The almond delight square is practically an exact replica of the almond joy- an almond and coconut filling enveloped in ganache. Sadly it was gone in a few bites, but it still left a big impression on this coconut lover!

After purchasing and proceeding to consume practically the entire bag of One Lucky Duck’s chocolate macaroons last weekend, I knew that I needed to get a hold of the blonde versions of these addictive little treasures. I snagged a bag yesterday morning, and, once again, was totally blown away. The blonde macaroons lived up to, and exceeded, my high expectations! They have a slightly drier, more dense and crumbly consistency than the chocolate variety– both are absolutely fantastic in every way.

I also purchased the famous rosemary quackers that are featured in the ever-so-popular s&m salad that is served at the takeaway spot. Simply said, these are the greatest raw crackers I’ve tasted. They are bold in flavor, perfectly crunchy, and would make a great addition to any salad or platter. I’m looking forward to trying their cheesy quackers as well!

I hope you all enjoyed taking a look into the One Lucky Duck kitchen! I’ll be back soon with my next post which will feature easy raw recipes to throw together when you’re pressed for time!

Enjoy the rest of your labor day weekend!