Sunday 13 February 2011

An Organic-Vegetarian Restaurant: 118 degrees, Costa Mesa, So. California

Going out to eat to celebrate Valentine's Day or any other occasion? Show your love in a venue that will make you all feel well nourished. A good option is to go to a raw-food restaurant. 


I found an organic, vegetarian restaurant where all the menu items are prepared by hand, daily on the premise, using local, organic produce wherever possible. The cuisine is raw food - entirely plant-based, made from fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains, all prepared at 118 ° or lower, to preserve the valuable nutrients. The preparations are dairy free, soy free, and wheat free.  "118 ° is the commonly accepted temperature at which the natural enzyme value and nutritional contents of raw plant foods begin to break down and become useless for the body. One benefit of eating raw food is the energy derived from the enzymes and phytonutrients available in foods that are still living!"


118 degrees raw-food cuisine is the brain-child of chef-owner Jenny Ross.
It is located at The Camp on 2981 Bristol,  Suite B, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.  


Among the selections we ordered from the lunch menu are... 
 The Taste of Italy Sampler, comprised of - 
Pesto Stuffed Mushrooms 
Cremini Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach Pistachio Pesto
Living Lasagna
Layers of Zucchini and Yellow Squash, Tomato, Creamy Macadamia Ricotta and Sweet Basil Marinara. Topped with Basil Cheese
Caesar Salad  
Mixed Baby Greens, Avocado, Capers and Caesar Dressing. Topped with Basil Cheese.
This was a winner! It was a complete meal. It was very rich in flavor and very filling.

* Note:  All the cheeses are made by blending fresh herbs with sprouted nuts and seeds.

New Age Quesadilla 
Flax Tortilla filled with Smokey, Spicy Chipotle Cheese, Sweet Corn, Wilted Spinach and Mushrooms. Topped with Sweet cheese and Cilantro Corn Relish with Verde Salsa.
Quesadilla never tasted as delicious as this one!
 Surfer Sandwich 
Smashed Avocado Kale, and Marinated Mixed Vegetables served on Sprouted House Bread with Sweet Cheese.
That's not bread but it sure is a very healthy, tasty substitute!


The dessert menu changes everyday, depending on the availability of certain ingredients.
 Macadamia/Coconut Macaroons (sweetened with Agave), with a Strawberry Coulis
I loved everything about this!
Chocolate Truffle
This is quite a treat for chocolate lovers!

The restaurant is set up with 14 tables for two plus the bar sitting, to serve about 36 people, at any given time.


Other things to know about this place: During happy hour, there is a prefix three-course menu for $15.00; they provide catering service for ten people or more; one can also sign up for a 7-day detox -menu program which includes 7 breakfast items, 7 lunch items, 7 dinner items, and 7 desserts all for $210.00.


For more information, be sure to click on the hyperlink. You can browse and see their other menu selections and carefully read the ingredients. From there, your creative minds can take off and inspire you to create your own raw-food meals at home.

If you plan to dine at this place, either go early or make a reservation as the place fills up very fast. This was my second visit to this place. I look forward to going back for more of their healthy and delicious meals.  

2 comments:

  1. Your photos are beautiful! The rich color expresses the rich flavor of their dishes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. They have mastered the art of making raw-food take the place of the usual foods we are used to eating, by mimicking the taste and textures with purely vegetarian ingredients.

    ReplyDelete

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