After celebrating my birthday dinner with my friends at Candle Cafe West, I realized candle cafe has been part of my life for a very long time. Over the years I have gotten to know Joy, Bart, and Jorge, the owners of Candle.
Jorge, Me, Joy, at a food demo!
We’d have lunches together, Jorge would show me around the kitchen, Bart and Joy would tell me stories about how Candle started. They truly took me in as part of their family! I have never met people so kind hearted, and truly passionate about what they do. Everything is always organic, and they get their produce from the local famers market! So its safe to say whenever I go to Candle I feel right at home! As our relationship grew Joy started calling me about different job opportunities! I would do demos with them and cooking classes, being Jorge’s right hand man! I represented candle at The Seed Event,
The Seed (don’t you love our shirts???)
I even went to Dr.Oz’s Health Corps Gala representing Candle!
With Daphne Oz at Dr.Oz Health Corp!
Next thing I knew, Joy and Bart were discussing a new cook book to be released this fall, I was asked to test some recipes and come up with a few! Look out this fall, you may find a recipe of mine in there 😉
Ohhh and here are some of the dishes we ordered at Candle Cafe West! Yes we pretty much ordered everything!
Grilled Artichokes
Sautéed shallots, green peas, corn, hearts of palm, zucchini, and Kalamata olives in a roasted garlic tomato sauce, topped with basil coulis.
SEITAN CHIMICHURRI
Citrus herb marinated seitan skewers, jalapeño aioli
This is my entree! The market plate, my go to every time. Steamed greens, steamed daily veggies, sauteed wild mushrooms, black beans. Tehini dressing (not shown)
ARTICHOKE-ASPARAGUS SALAD
Baby arugula, fennel, grape tomatoes, pine nuts, tarragon-lemon dressing add on Chili Tempeh
GRILLED KALE SALAD
String beans, beluga lentils, red onion, turnips, avocado, sunflower seeds, spelt berries, chive vinaigrette Add on Chili Tempeh
LIVE ZUCCHINI PASTA
Wild mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, peas, basil-tomato sauce, cashew cheese
CHIMICHURRI PORTOBELLO STEAK
Grilled red onion, sautéed greens, potato pancake, chimichurri sauce
MOREL CRUSTED TOFU
Sautéed spring vegetables, truffled cauliflower purée
So anyways I find a lot of the time people find it hard to eat out and still eat healthy so I thought id give you some tips to eating out
1. If it says crispy, or crunchy, its most likely fried
2. Ask for dressing on the side, that way you can control how much dressing your putting, most likely when you order a salad out they are over dressing it.
3. Steamed not Sautéed- theres no problem with sautéing some vegetables at home, but when you are eating out they want the food to taste good AKA they are using lots of oil.
4. Ask for salad dressings and condiments, so yeah steamed may sound boring but if you dress up your plate with some fun dressings it totally turns the dish around.
5. Ask whats in it! don’t be afraid to ask whats in everything, you are being mindful of what your eating and want to enjoy your experience, you’d be surprised how many dressings and marinades have added sugars in them.
6. If theres bread on the table with a dip to start, like guacamole or hummus with chips, ask your server for fresh vegetables its an easy swap, and I found most restaurants are accommodating.
7. If everyone is ordering dessert and you are craving something sweet to end your meal, I love fresh fruit and tea, practically anywhere you go you can find those two options.
8. If you are embarrassed or don’t feel comfortable making all these request, go up to your server privately and ask them whatever questions you may have about whats in something etc.
9. Never show up starving, if you are way too hungry before you show up to a restaurant you will most likely over order, if this does happen no need to finish it all, take some to go!
Looks fabulous Lottie!! Need to try this one out too.
Love all the tips!!! One thing I have done that helps me, is to bring my own Tupperware for leftovers. This way you don’t waste more paper or plastic, plus since most places serve huge portions you can set half aside right away. I tend to pick at my food at the end of my meal while waiting for a box to come. This method has helped me get the food out of my face when I feel full, then I have leftovers for lunch the next day. YAY!
This is awesome!!!