Café Gratitude

Have you seen that meme that goes a little something like this:

"*eats a salad one time* I am honestly the most pure being on this earth. I can feel the toxins escaping my body right in this moment. health is a lifestyle."

Or better yet, all the vegan jokes going around social media for the past... idk, decade?

I like this one:

*someone starts having a heart attack*

person: is anyone here a doctor?

vegan: I'm a vegan.

Whhyyyyyyyyy? 

I know why. 

Because you go to a place like Café Gratitude,

eat the most amazing vegan dishes,

and feel pure af. 

I'm a carnivore, by the way. 

Did I mention that?

So when I got invited to a media dinner at the newly opened Café Gratitude,

I was like... wait.. so no meat? 

Okay. But what if I don't like it? 

Well. I went. I tasted. And I LOVED it. 

The charismatic head chef Dreux Ellis brought out dish after dish of raw, delicious goodness. 

I am abundant.

I am flourishing. 

I am transformed!

All dishes are always plant-based and 100% organic. 

I'm talking even the spices.

It's pretty incredible, and, no pun intended,

it's truly food for thought. 

I am celebrating - two collard spring rolls, daikon and wakame filling, carrots, sunflower sprouts, avocado, Japanese pickled vegetables, wasabi and thai almond dipping sauces

I am abundant - sicilian antipasto plate, cultured cashew academia cheese with saffron, preserved lemon and sundries tomato, eggplant caponata, bistro pickled vegetables with germinate, fennel salad with green olives, toasted almonds and smoked salt, toasted gluten-free sourdough baguette & gluten-free crackers. Wowza!

I am flourishing - braised asparagus arancine, arborio rice, braised asparagus, cashew mozzarella, gremolata, basil hempseed pesto oil, arugula.

I am dynamic - yam cauliflower chaat, two whole wheat samosas, roasted garnet yam and cauliflower filling, kale, chana masala, tomato, housemate beagle gram masala, coconut mint chutney, spicy tomato jam

Owner Ryland Engelhart sharing with us the story behind the restaurant. So inspiring!
Really makes you think... is the glass half empty or half full?

I am bountiful - quinoa pasta, braised cherry tomatoes, roasted marinated eggplant, green olives, capers, raisins, brazil nut parmesan, wild arugula, fresh basil. This was AMAZING!

BEST LEMONADE I'VE EVER TRIED: elevated - rose water lemonade

I am warm-hearted - grilled polenta, braised summer squash, sautéed kale, roasted tomatillo sauce, salsa verde, cashed queso fresco, spicy pipits, chopped scallions, cilantro

Dreux Ellis presenting us with more delicious goodness! I swear, by the time this course came around, I could barely breathe, but it was sooo good!

And dessert! Explain how they made raw food taste like key lime pie? Avocados?
Mind. Blown. 

Café Gratitude

1980 Kettner Blvd. 

Little Italy, CA 92101