Maybe in L.A : No Prices, No Menu's...What Would You Do? (One World Cafe; S.L.C)

No menu's, No price's, All seasonable organic specials...Are You Going To produce good karma (Pay what your meal was actually worth?) or bad karma(...cheapskate)? If you really can't afford it, they have daily complimentary Brown Rice and Daal so there's no excuse either.

That seems to be the concept at One World Cafe in Salt Lake City, Utah. And since people are still honest to themselves over here, they have actually done pretty good since their birth in 2003.

And the Food? Well, something like what your vegan or vegetarian friend would make if they invited you over. On the day that I happened to be there: this chilled Herbed Apricot Soup, a Vegetable Tilapia Soup, this vegan Spicy Barbecue Pasta Salad, this Raw Broccoli and Coconut Coriander Slaw, Chilled Balsamic Herbed Brown Rice, Vegetables Stir-Fryed with Coconut, Cheddar Mashed New Potatos and 2 types of wraps; vegan Pesto Vegetable and a Mango Tilapia.

And Dessert? A chewy Everything Cookie studded with seeds, nuts, dried fruit, homemade bread pudding and a this moist vegan cake with an Apricot Glaze.

And I ate everything so...

With this new consciousness that people have been realizing lately in L.A... A place like this might actually make it there too.(Hint, Hint)

One World Everybody Eats
41 South 300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Tiarra Cafe...I guess.

I don't know if it was the uber-long anticipation (been wanting to go since they opened up) or me, since...well let's just say I'm going through this excruciatingly cynic point in my life right now. I mean, it was good but...I don't know, I just don't feel that exciting feeling about food as much anymore. Don't get me wrong, food still is the only thing that keeps me going in life but...I don't know.

ANYWAYS, back to the actual food. They offer a more healthier menu than your usual mediocre Mexican and Middle Eastern Food in that part of town with their motto being "eat more healthy and diet less" directly quoted from Fred Eric: the brains behind Tiarra.

Offering traditional lunch-ish fare such as sandwiches, pizza's and basic entrees but wih not-so-traditional constituents . They still have pressed sandwiches and what not but with the addition of their signature "freshwiches" which are basically just souped up vietnamese spring rolls with fillings that can range from seared Ahi Tuna to Grilled Seitan. And their pizza's aren't just pizza's but "Pizzetes" with the usual unique gourmet toppings.

Usually, I would of been smitten for those "freshwiches", especially the one the one with that smoked duck!. But since I'm trying to gain weight, I got a normal carb-ridden, deliciously crispy greased pressed version of it (Media Noche Press'wich in Tiarra terms). The overall sandwich was decent, but I just could'nt taste the smokiness of that rich duck though, which was the actual reason I came here in the first place. Oh well right? At least I still had those strawberries to be dipped in their chocolate fountain that they have in the market section next door? Nope! of course...it was put away just when I finished!

But that's life-as i've been painfully learning.

So I don't know...I'm still going to come back to try out some of their other stuff though.

"They Actually Do That In Real Life?": Elf Cafe

Don't we all wish every restaurant experience could be like the ones in the movie's or T.V? You know...no waiting for any tables, the stereotypical chef personally coming out with the dish offering you his creation as if he made it specially for you, murmuring "bon appétit!" Well maybe not all the time but once in a while would be great right?

Elf Cafe just might be that experience, but modernized and not as cheesy as I just made it sound.

You might miss it if you're walking too fast though, the spot wouldn't be able to host your birthday party since the maximum occupancy is probably 14-16 iffff that much. But they do make some decent eats. The menu is Middle Eastern, strictly vegetarian with only organic, sustainable and locally grown products of course. But the food truly stands out from the rest of the crowd.

An ambrosial Moroccan Tagine served with some of that piquant, pungeant Harissa Paste and thousands of al dente cous-cous granules nearly serenating me with it's aroma and flavor, integrated with summery squashes, eggplants, carrots and some more of those irresistable cinammon dusted almonds that are in every table. I think their 4 varieties Baked tarts are the specialty though, that along with their RAW Middle Eastern Platter. Another adventure for another day as I always say....

I actually feel some hospitality here.

Elf Cafe
2135 Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park, CA
(213) 484 6829
Wednesday-Sunday 6PM-11PM
(just thought you should know)