The Raw Deal

I'm not gonna lie, but the first time I heard about SunPower Natural Cafe I completely wrote it off. I'm all for eating healthy, but the raw/vegan combo of this joint made me a little nervous.
But as your unofficial Valley Girl Representative, I decided I needed to check it out. (Plus, it's the new year and lord knows my badunkadunk could use a kale salad.)

I swear on the EIGHT ONE EIGHT this place is amazing!!! Truly! I stand corrected Raw/Vegan-ites: your food is fab.

My meal started out with the Sweet Kale Shake (before you gag, keep reading!) This yummy treat is packed full of vitamins and minerals (Beta Carotene, Vitamin K, Vitamin C & Calcium) and tastes like a vanilla milkshake with almost no trace of kale. For lunch I split the Kale Colossus Salad (Sunflower "sausage," marinated mushrooms, red peppers and onions, nacho "cheese," cashew cheese, sliced bananas and cranberries) and the Italian Sandwich (Sunpower "sausage" sundried marinara, cashew cheese & veggies served on a fluffy wheat bun) and it was BEYOND delicious. My fellow 818 girlfriend and I were blown away by how un- veganish it all was.

Sunpower's mission is that they "don't fry it, kill it or overcook it. All dishes are dairy-free and most are gluten free and low glycemic." They also make all of their own dressings, sauces, pizza crusts and burgers from scratch with fresh, organic ingredients that are not only taste amazing, but are nutrient dense and good for you!

When your body is craving something healthy- get your booty to Sunpower Natural Cafe. If I'm wrong, there is an In & Out across the street;)

SunPower Natural Organic Cafe
3711 Cahuenga Blvd
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 308-7420
sunpowernatural.com

Too Drool For School

Two years ago, I confessed to my husband A.K.A "Valley Guy" (let's never tell him I call him that -mmmkay?) that I had never tried Indian food. He couldn't believe this news and within minutes I was devouring an assortment of curry delights.
I LOVED it.
The flavors, the spices, the butter! I have always felt super guilty about indulging in Indian cuisine- it can't possibly taste that delicious and be good for me, right?
That was until I discovered the healthiest most amazing Indian spot- right here in the old 818!

Family owned and operated, Gangadin has been serving up mouthwatering food since 1984.
Every dish is cooked from scratch with no MSG, butter, sugar, preservatives or animal fat added. All of their sauces (green mint chutney, tamarind sauce and mango chutney) are fresh and flavorful and available for purchase every Sunday at the Studio City farmers market.
Gangadin imports Basmati rice, Basmati Brown Rice, gram flour, organic wheat flour and spices directly from India. Their samosas are handmade and I literally have no words for the warm garlic naan.

Vegans flock to this place (one hipster we spoke with comes all the way from Silverlake to get his tofu curry on) as Gangadin truly cares about your weird eating habits and does whatever they can to accommodate you.

Delivery is hassle free and speedy and they even have an iPhone app so u can order Tikka Masala on the fly.

Gangadin
12067 Ventura Place
Studio City, CA 91604
818-509-0722
gangadin.biz