Crispy Vegetable Rolls - $13

So my vegan girlfriend wanted to get some raw organic vegan food…oh brother.

What are Raw Organics?

Raw organics are foods that are free of animal by product and processed/refined sugars.  These foods are heated below 118 degrees (hence the name of Cafe 118), presumably in order to preserve as much of the food’s natural vitamins, enzymes, nutrients and fiber as possible.   By definition, they’re dairy-free…we’re talking freshly prepared, organically grown fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Lasagna - $18

We visited Cafe 118 in Winter Park which serves only raw organics.   As it was our first visit, our server, Danielle, was super helpful in explaining the menu.   While not inexpensive, it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time.

We started with some $8 dairy free “milk” shakes, made with almond milk.  Mine was called “Sundae Drive”, which is basically a chocolate banana sundae in a shake with some hemp protein added.   She had the Divine Cherry, made with cherries, cacao and banana.

Beet Ravioli

Next came the Crispy Vegetable Rolls  ($13).   Carrot, Cabbage in almond dressing with a sweet & sour dipping sauce.  They were delicious and the sauce is fantastic.

For a main entree, I had the Lasagna ($18), which really was quite like real lasagna…minus the noodles.   Sun dried tomatoes, herb pesto with a macadamia ricotta.   She had the Beet Ravioli ($14) made with the macadamia ricotta, arugula and a pear wine sauce.

Smores $8 and Chocolate Hazelnut Tart $8

It’s hard to believe you can feel full from this stuff…but trust me…it’s quite filling.  Especially when you add the delicious dessert.  Danielle was pushing the dairy-free ice cream, but we ordered the Smores (amazing!) and the Chocolate Hazelnut Tart (so rich!).

Cafe 188 is located at 153 East Morse Blvd, Winter Park Florida (1 block off Park Avenue).

You can check out their website here:  www.cafe118.com

I’ll be back for some ice cream next time. 

I ate dinner at a local Orlando restaurant called “The Loving Hut”.   It’s a vegan restaurant.   This is what happens when you date a vegan:  suddenly you find yourself dining at places called “The Loving Hut”.  My buddy called me while I was there, and after I told him the name of of the joint, he exclaimed, “Oh, are you hugging yet?  Should I let you go?”

But I digress, because the name of the place is not even the beginning of this story.  The place is empty, save for a 20′s-something hipster with a laptop in the corner.  The decor looks like any EXTREMELY BRIGHT asian-ish?…Pizza Hut??

I actually haven’t been inside a Pizza Hut lately, so I’m not sure what they look like…but this place certainly looks like it belongs near a food court.    Maybe it’s the white chairs…or the big flat-screen televisions…

I notice that the flat screens are all Broadcasting the same thing: Supreme Master TV.

Supreme Master Ching Hai International is the corporate entity behind Guanyin Famen/Quan Yin. It is affiliated with World Peace Media, Oceans of Love Entertainment, Supreme Master Television, and several cable television series…all groups and businesses established by Ching Hai.

She also owns the Loving Hut.

I am now her servant.

Peace.   Love.   Be Vegan.

Don’t be afraid.  Just buy her food (which was pretty tasty, I might add)

Ladies and gentlemen, this clip from Fox’s “The Family Guy” is  the most offensive thing ever seen on TV, if complaints to the FCC were an accurate measure of offensiveness.

As of February, 2010, this 40 second clip has generated a whopping 188,000 complaints to the FCC.

Last week I was talking to a vegan friend about milk.  She pointed out that we’re the only animal that drinks the milk of another animal.  I guess I’d never thought of it that way…and for a moment I was a bit grossed out by the idea of pouring bovine secretions over my cornflakes.

Hypocrisy: it’s what’s for breakfast….enjoy:

YouTube – Family Guy – Milky Surprise.