Casa De Luz is Austin’s only all-organic dining and community center, and quite frankly eating there or visiting for a class always makes me happy inside. If I could manage to eat at Casa De Luz every day, I would. As you enter, peaceful gardens welcome you. The dining hall is lined with community-style tables that encourage people to meet over food that tastes better because of the obvious love used in preparation. After paying a set fee, self-service is available for soup and salad. Beverage is included in the price and options are filtered water, hibiscus mint tea, and kubicha hot tea. Dessert is available at an additional cost. The main entree includes the following:
- Vegetable
- Dark Leafy Greens with a delicious whole-food sauce (No Oils)
- Whole Grain like Organic Brown Rice, Millet or Quinoa, occasionally topped with Sea Vegetables, seeds or nuts
- Pre-soaked Beans
- Fermented Vegetables like Kim Chi, Sauerkraut, etc.
Children are welcome to use the playground, part of the adjacent Parkside School, after 5:30 pm and all-weekend long.
Casa De Luz Daily Menu
Creamy Cauliflower and Carrot Soup
Mixed Greens with Sunflower, Sesame, and Hemp Seed Casa Dressing
Black Beans with Sun Cheese -- Medium and Short Brown Rice -- Tacos with Mixed Vegetables, Mushrooms, Pepitas, Parsley, and Cilantro Sauce -- Blanched Collard Greens and Kale -- Fresh Lemon Pickled Beets
1701 Toomey Road Austin, TX 78704
MONDAY – SUNDAY 7:00AM-8:30PM
512 476-2535
The Steeping Room located at The Domain offers a fresh, healthy, seasonal menu filled with natural foods including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options inspired by the teas that are served. I recently did a 10 day cleanse, requiring that I stick to a mostly plant-based diet, and since I work in North Austin this was an obvious choice. It’s a great, fun spot to meet up with girlfriends or to take out of town guests when you need a break from shopping.
Beautiful Coconut Tea
Coconut Tomato Soup
Vegan BAT sandwich with tempeh bacon, arugula, tomato, and basil veganaise with a side of cashew Caesar salad. Hibiscus Breeze tea to drink.
11410 Century Oaks Terrace Suite 112 Austin TX 78758
MONDAY – THURSDAY 8:00AM-9:00PM | FRIDAY – SATURDAY 8:00AM-10:00PM | SUNDAY: 10:00AM – 7:00PM |
512 977-8337
Sarah’s Mediterranean Grill & Market is located in an unassuming strip mall off Burnet Rd. The food is served on plastic ware, but doesn’t compromise the flavor offered by the fresh, home-style falafel, hummus, shawarma, kebabs, pita wraps, and salads. A great value, excellent quality, and a good spot for families. One of these days I’d like to take advantage of their great grocery selection to prepare a homemade meal.
The vegetarian plate: falafel, hummus, tabouli, house salad, and pita bread. Lentil soup on the side.
Market items according to the website include breads, olives, olive oils, cookies, candy, rice, canned meats, fresh halal meat, frozen meat, coffee, different beans, hookahs, hookah accessories, hookah tobacco, prayer rugs, soap, spices, tahini sauce, yogurt products, and dates.
Sarah’s Mediterranean Grill & Market
Location: Allandale, Rosedale
522 Burnet Rd. Suite 500 Austin TX, 78756
MONDAY – SATURDAY 10:00AM-9:00PM | SUNDAY: CLOSED |
512 419 – 7605
Raw food that doesn’t taste like cardboard? Yes please! Beets Café is the brainchild of Sylvia Heisey who is passionate about healthful living and sharing it with the world via her upscale raw food creations. I recently went on a Saturday night and the downtown venue was popping with couples, groups, and even another solo diner like myself. You will be just as impressed with the combinations, textures, and taste as you are with the beautiful presentation sitting before you when your plate arrives. Grab a date or a friend and venture out for a new experience. I’ve heard over and over again that what people like about this place is that you always leave satisfied, but never feeling too full, even after indulging in some incredible dessert!
Raw Ruben Sandwich: Sunflower flatbread layered with 1000 island dressing, kraut, marinated portabella mushrooms, caramelized onions, aand Swiss cashew cheeze. (served with beets salad and veggie chips)
Coconut water
Taco Plate: Three crispy corn taco shells filled with a veggie ground meat, topped with shredded lettuce, salsa and drizzled with cashew nacho cheeze (served with with “sunflower beanz” and a choice of side salad)
Location: Downtown
1604 W 5th St Austin, TX 78703
MONDAY – THURSDAY: 9AM TO 9PM | FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 10AM TO 10PM |
512 477-BEET (2338)
Like most fellow vegetarian and vegan eaters, I too am always on the hunt for new wonderful tasting substitute meat and protein products, and I sure did find one in my discovery of Field Roast Grain Meat Co. products. Not long after I stumbled upon the product online, I put in a call to Whole Foods to see if they had the product available. A gentleman from the meat department took the call and explained,
“Oh yeah, we carry that product ma’am, and coming from a serious meat eater, I can vouch for the quality in texture and taste.“
Unlike the majority of other vegan/vegetarian products containing mostly soy, the main ingredients are vegetables.
Orecchiette Pasta with Rosemary & Vegetarian Sausage Recipe
Ingredients:
Package of Orecchiette Pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
Either onion or garlic or shallots, and amount to preference (thinly chopped)
2 or 3 links of ‘Smoke Apple Sage’ flavored vegetarian sausage
3 sprigs of rosemary (chopped)
about 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan
Instructions:
Cook orecchiette pasta per package, rinse and set aside
Chop onion or other and add to olive oil in heated pan, let brown slightly
Add sliced vegetarian sausage to warm
Add chopped rosemary
Top with shredded Parmesan
Salt to taste
*Product approximately $5 USD per 4 pack.
*Serves 4
*Try truffle oil drizzled on top or adding sauteed mushrooms