{invite} Bianca: So a month back I took part in a crazy little thing called Meat Free Week, the basic gist? I couldn’t consume anything that had a face. Raising a bit over $800 for Bowel Cancer Australia, it was a worthwhile cause. But one that nearly brought on the tears. Animal protein does make up a fair bit of my diet of late so I relished the opportunity to give my body a break.
The universe aligned when we received an invitation to check out one of the latest additions to the recently refurbed Warringah mall, oFarm. A raw, vegan and gluten-free café. Perhaps not my first go to café during my ‘regular eating’ life. But during Meat Free Week, vegan/ vego food, I think it was fate.
oFarm, has another store in Manly which is strictly just groceries, whereas the Warringah mall store has a small café attached. With mother in tow we descended on the Northern Beaches for a bit of vegan food action. Chef Juan took the time to sit and chat with us about the store and the menu.
I was slightly freaked out by the raw food angle but we dove in regardless. Mum cannot go past a good Acai, so her decision was an easy one. The Acai Bowl – w/ choco granola, acai, frozen banana and coconut water $13.99. She considers herself somewhat of a connoisseur after her obsession in Hawaii and her decision to go with the choco granola was a great one! Chocolate anything elevates any dish… that’s just a fact. I don’t really understand the appeal of acai bowls personally, it’s like drinking a soupy beverage with some fruit thrown in but mum and Alex love them and she adored this one.
I was intrigued by the Avo on toast – sprouted bread, baby spinach, avocado, eggplant bacon, tomatoes, sumac, smoked paprika sauce and mixed sprouts $15.90. Being new to the raw/vegan scene this seemed the safest choice. It’s also the only item on the menu that is ‘cooked’. With the sprouted toast having been lightly toasted. I loved the acidic (ness) of the smoked paprika sauce and the eggplant bacon was genius. Not the real thing but a decent substitute.
We then finished with the California Roll – Nori Seaweed filled with spiced cauliflower rice, assorted veg, marinated tomatoes and avocado with a wasabi and spirulina mayo and an oriental dipping sauce $15.90. Sushi is one of my latest obsessions, I can’t get enough. Was I slightly nervous about trying cauliflower rice? Yes. Should I have been? Nein! It was actually really really good. So much so, if I had the time and patience it would be a great every day alternative to rice. The thinly julienned vegetables added some crunch and there was a nice kick from the wasabi. It was fresh, zingy and light. This was my favourite dish out of the three. Such a clever twist.
Instead of coffees we thought we’d give two of the smoothies a whirl. I had the Cashew Chai – w/activated cashews, chai spices, banana, coconut water and vanilla $9.50. I wanted to love this one but I found it a little ott with the chai. There was an immediate hit from the banana with a kick at the end from the chai. Tied together by the creaminess of the cashews. But I struggled to get beyond a third.
Mum went with the Wake up morning – Homemade almond milk, banana, coffee shot and maca powder $8.50. Definitely the winner of the two, with the maca powder giving a nuttiness alongside the coffee.
And lastly, we couldn’t go past trying of their sweeties, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Slice $5.50 was a decadent ending to the meal. There was an immediate hit from the fresh peanut butter and the vanilla layer lightened the slice up so it wasn’t so overbearingly heavy.
Am I a raw vegan and raw food convert? No… but if I was in the area and had a hankering for some great fresh food and let’s face it… Had an acai loving mother in the backseat, I would definitely have OFarm on the hit list when on the Northern Beaches.
Bianca
*For Food’s Sake dined as guests of OFarm. All opinions however are our own and independent.
ahhhh please tell me more about the choc pb slice, it looks amazing!
You did really well with your meat free week. we don’t eat an awful lot of meat but I think I might struggle if I cut it out altogether. Never heard of this place before!