restaurant review: candle cafe west.

Happy Tuesday! I am a little bit backed up on posts, so my apologies for telling you now about yesterday's awesome vegan food....but.... AWESOME it was. One of my amazing former clients took me to lunch, and asked that I pick a place in the Upper West Side. I did some light Googling, and made an informed decision to check out the Candle Cafe West. They have a location on the Upper East Side as well. The staff were incredibly polite and friendly, and the service was excellent overall. But, let's dive into the food. I had the quesadilla, made with a corn tortilla and filled with grilled vegetables, a bean purée, tapioca cheese, and topped with guacamole, tomato salsa, & sour cream. Delicious! I can't stress enough how impressed I am when I can eat something comparable to the taste of dairy, but not have to harm anyone or deal with the aftermath that ensues in my body. My friend had the risotto, made with sautéed wild mushrooms & spring vegetables, cashew cream sauce, and fried leeks. You all know how I feel about leeks, so I will definitely order this next time. The little sample he gave me was so creamy and delectable (and it's rice, which fits in with my carbivore habits). The mushrooms were very meaty. Overall, an A+++....but of course, I didn't stop there. I then ordered the chocolate velvet cake, which came with a scoop of coconut-chocolate chip ice cream (see photo). I enjoyed the cake and ice cream combination, but I wasn't expecting to get such a cinnamon-y taste from the cake. I am very particular about my chocolate, and generally, I only like certain flavors paired with it. Cinnamon is definitely not one of them, so while I ate the entire thing in roughly 4 minutes, I will opt for the carrot cake next time. One thing I will say about eating vegan: even with having an appetizer and dessert, I always feel light afterwards. Yes, I was somewhat full for a few minutes following this meeting and definitely satisfied, but overall, I never feel heavy or weighed down by what I've consumed. It's a pleasure to be able to eat for nutrition, eat for peace and eat for fun all at once. Bottom line: there WILL be a next time, and I definitely would recommend that you try this spot with any of your non-vegan friends. WORTH IT!

Peace, Kings & Queens

xoxo

Shanelle Julia Rosita Campbell