Love is Served: Inspired Plant-Based Recipes from Southern California Hardcover – Illustrated, April 7, 2020

I’m a big fan of the Cafe Gratitude restaurants so when this cookbook came out I was very interested in it. But the ebook (I have a strong preference for digital cookbooks) was priced at $18.99 and the preview did not include the table of contents — probably an oversight but it made it hard to push the purchase button because I wasn’t sure how many of my favorite menu items would be included.Well, last night I finally broke down and bought it. And even at $18.99 for the ebook, I’m not sorry! Love is Served has many of my favorite menu items from the restaurants. Here is the Table of Contents, with a few of my comments in parentheses. I typed this by hand, so there may be a mistake here and there. I left out the cheesy affirmation names (“I am Magical” etc), both to save time and because they annoy me.The Cafe Gratitude PantryCompassionate Blend (a paste made sun-dried tomatoes, capers, coconut oil, maple syrup and smoked salt).Gomasio (theirs is made with pepitas)Chickpea EggTempeh ChorizoAlmond Milk and Almond PulpCoconut Milk (their special blend)Coconut YogurtGluten-Free All Purpose Bakery Flour BlendDate PasteBreakfast and BakeryCast Iron Chickpea Dish with Toasted Almond Romesco and Cashew RicottaChilaquiles with Black Mole Abuelita and Tempeh ChorizoBreakfast Burrito with Chickpea Scramble, Black Beans, Roasted Potatoes and Mole ColoraditoBarbecue Tempeh Scramble with Seasonal Vegetables, Shiitake Mushrooms, Spinach, and AvocadoChicken-Fried Oyster Mushrooms and Gluten-Free Oat Waffles with Sweet Cashew ButterGratitude Spinach and Asparagus Benedict with Chickpea Egg, Tempeh Bacon, and Macadamia-Cashew HollandaiseSourdough French Toast with Cashew Creme Fraiche, Mixed Berries and Strawberry-Raspberry ReductionBaked Gluten-Free DonutsGluten-Free Buckwheat-Flax Pancakes with Seasonal Fruit and Sweet Cashew ButterTurmeric-Chia Overnight OatsRaw Apple-Pecan Porridge with Coconut Milk and StrawberriesGluten-Free Cinnamon RollsGluten-Free MuffinsAppetizers and SnacksWarm Artichoke and Spinach DipRosemary, Butternut Squash and RadicchioBroccolini with Macadamia CheddarItalian Antipasto Plate with Macadamia Cheddar, Bistro Pickled Carrots, Eggplant Caponata, Oven-Roasted Yellow Peppers and Olives, and Fennel Salad with Gemolata and Smoked SaltSautéed Broccolini with Tempeh Bacon and Avocado CreamYoung Coconut Ceivche with Coconut Bacon and Nacho ChipsBeer-Battered Young Coconut Calamari with Spicy Cocktail SauceRoastedRoasted Maple-Miso Brussel SproutsCashew Mozzarella and Heirloom Cherry Tomato Skewers with Blackened Tempeh MeatballsFlash-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower with Cashew Nacho CheeseCaramelized Red Onion, Roasted Butternut Squash, and Grilled Trevisio Radicchio BruschettaSoups and Salads(Soups:)Heirloom Cherry Tomato and Strawberry with Cashew Creme FraicheCoconut CurryHoneydew Melon and Cucumber Gazpacho with Spicy PepitasSzechuan CarrotCurried Red LentilWhite Bean and Lacinto KaleChipotle Butternut SquashMushroom Pozole Verde(Salads:)Mexican Chopped SaladAsian Kale and Seaweed SaladKale Caesar Salad with Wakame and Brazil Nut ParmesanShaved Kale, Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad with Fig Balsamic DressingGrilled Peach and Asparagus Salad with Spicy Pepitas, Cashew Mozzarella, and Goji Chipotle DressingWarm Brussels Sprouts with Capers, Coconut Bacon, and Hempseed DressingAvocado, Green Beans, and Basil Hempseed PestoRadicchio, Roasted Butternut Squash, and Sun-dried Tomato PestoSandwiches and WrapsBaked Eggplant Parmesan SandwichTempeh Caesar WrapBLT SandwichGratitude “Double Double” BurgerSF Mission BurritoMexican TortaPulled Mushroom SandwichRoasted Cherry Tomato, Shiitake Mushroom and Cashew Mozzarella TartineBowlsMacrobiotic Bowl (Too long of an ingredient list to explain, but it sounds good)Indian Curry Bowl (Hard to explain too, but I’ve had it and it’s delicious)Community Bowl (Very basic: Grain of your choice, chopped kale, Mexican black beans, and Garlic-Tahini dressing)Gratitude Bibimbap BowlEntreesBasil Hempseed Pesto and Ricotta Kelp NoodlesPad Thai Kelp NoodlesMole Abuelita EnchiladasBaked Garnet Yam and Cauliflower Samosa Chaat with Chana Masala, Mint-Coconut Chutney, and Spicy Tomato JamMeatballs in Marinara with Arugula and Cashew Creme FraicheMexican-Style Raw Lasagna with Sweet Corn, Raw Cacao Mole, and Pumpkin Seed PestoAncient Grain Pizza DoughMarinara SauceHawaiian PizzaBraised Mushroom PizzaBraised Asparagus PizzaMargherita PizzaGratitude Blue-Plate Special with Lentil-Garnet Yam Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes and Shiitake Gravy, Slaw and Pickled BeetsMediterranean Plate with Falafel, Eggplant Salad and Hempseed TabboulehFrench-Style Grilled Polenta with Mushroom RagoutSouthern Sampler with Louisiana Red Beans and Rice, Blackened Tempeh, Cheddar-Jalapeño Biscuits, and Cajun CollardsPasta with Smoky Tempeh Bolognese and Brazil-Nut ParmesanEggplant Caponata PastaDessertsGluten-Free Lemon-Blueberry Coffee CakeBlack Lava CakeGluten-Free Peach and Berry CobblerCrispy Quinoa BarStrawberry Shortcake in a JarPersimmon PuddingBittersweet Chocolate NuggetsChocolate Chip Walnut CookiesSpiced Shortbread CookiesThe Gratitude ClassicsKey Lime Pie (made with avocado)TiramisuChocolate-Cherry Black Forest CakeChocolate Coconut Cream PieDressings, Sauces, and DipsCashews Caesar DressingGoji Chipotle DressingGarlic Tahini DressingAlmond Thai DressingFig Balsamic DressingCreamy Hempseed Ranch DressingBlack Mole AbuelitaMole ColoraditoRaw Cacao MoleGuacamoleAdobo de MixioteToasted Almond RomescoGremolataToasted Tomatillo SauceAdobo Buffalo SauceSalsa VerdeRaw Zucchini Cilantro HummusSesame Wasabi SauceCilantro-Pumpkin Seed PestoBasil-Hempseed PestoSun-Dried Tomato PestoSpicy Tomato JamMint-Coconut ChutneySpicy Cocktail Sauce / Chipotle KetchupBarbecue SauceCheeses and Pickled ThingsCashew Crema / RicottaCashew MozzarellaCashew Nacho CheeseCashew Creme FraicheMacadamia CheddarBrazil Nut ParmesanEscabechePurple Cabbage KimchiPickled BeetsBistro Pickled CarrotsThis cookbook is really comprehensive. I can only think of a few items from the restaurants that I want but aren’t here: the new ketogenic bowl, the new mocha cheesecake, the nachos, and the Brazil nut ganache truffles they used to have.The nachos can be easily assembled from the sauce and dip recipes. I also prefer the cilantro pesto on the raw lasagna instead of the raw-cacao mole, so I’m glad they included the cilantro pesto recipe here.

I’m a fan of Cafe Gratitude’s healthy and delicious food so I love having the recipes for some of my favorite meals from there! Beautifully printed with nice photos too.

I love Cafe Gratitude! I was sad to see that recipes like smoothies and juices were not included in this book and I was surprised how much soy is required to make meals (very bad for inflammation). This book is a chef-book because you need a heap of expensive ingredients (so its definitely not low-income friendly unless you're an incredible bargain shopper) and a desire to have high skill in the kitchen. I agree with other reviewers that it would have been incredibly helpful to have substitutions for ingredients and recipes, making one recipe from scratch needs to be well-thought out and planned because you will need to (for example) make three different sauces from scratch while also cooking two other things in one meal recipe. Definitely not for the quick meal prepper unless you spend a day prepping all the sauces, which unfortunately for some sauces the book says last only two days in the fridge, this can be great nightmare fuel for the person who is worried about wasting the 20$ container of macadamia nut cheese they just mashed into sauce! This book is fabulous but it is definitely a book for the ASPIRING HOME CHEF.Last note: I think they should have spent more time writing about the seasonal nature of food. If you eat seasonally, not all the recipes can be used unless you substitute. Which again, a list of substitutions would have been dope.I would recommend picking 3 recipes to incorporate into your weekly meals and see how that feels. I bought this booking thinking I would be eating cafe Gratitude 24/7 haha!

I love Cafe Gratitude and was excited to try out their recipes at home. Health is a passion of mine, and I want my family to eat fresh, healthy food everyday so I cook three meals almost daily. These recipes are very long and complicated, so much so that I have tried two of the recipes and modified them a great deal. I have had Divya Alter's cookbook, "What to eat for how you feel," for the same amount of time and made at least half of the recipes in her book which all turned out much better than the ones from Cafe Gratitude. However, I got both cookbooks for inspiration and it has served as thus. I do plan to try more recipes in the book as well, likely also with many modifications to simplify my home cooking process. The breakfast quiche turned out well and the back bean burgers were alright but not as good as the restaurant ones.. in fact, I think they make them slightly differently in the restaurant; so, next time I will need to try something slightly differently from what the recipe says. I recommend you buy Divya's cookbook instead if you want healthy, delicious vegan recipes.

This is an impressive cookbook. It’s 300+ pages, full of gorgeous photography. The recipes can seem intimidating (long, complex), but doable if you’re patient. It seems like one of those cookbooks that teaches you how to cook instead of just telling you what to do. If you’re somewhat experienced in the kitchen, you could simplify the recipes easily. I made the mole enchiladas and it turned out really well, though making all the sub-recipes from scratch (mole sauce, escabeche) was time consuming but rewarding. I made the quiche (with shortcuts) and it turned out well. Portions were generous, great for leftover meals. There are a few shorter simpler recipes too. Restaurant cookbooks have a reputation for being overly complicated with results that don’t turn out well for the home cook, but this is not the case. I’ve never even been to the restaurant. Though I thought I would be annoyed by the affirmation titles for each dish, it doesn’t feel contrived in the context of the book. This book truly reads and feels like a labor of love. This would be a great gift book for someone who loves cooking.

I would give 5 stars for how the book is presented! I would give 5 stars for the indications clarity. However, making those recipe will be expansive since it requires a lot of ingredient and a lot of cashew (which in Canada are very expansive).Also, some of the recipe are quite easy to make, even though they require specific ingredients. However, I would say as a student, it is time consuming trying to make those recipe. I would qualify this cook-book as an culinary Art project (de l'art culinaire). Once in a while I can invest to make some of the recipe, but it is not an everyday cook-book (livre de recettes de tous les jours).If you are looking for culinary recipes and high quality meal + time to invest in, i would suggest this book for sure. But if you are a busy person, on a budget, living in the North (that requires importing some of the ingredients), than it is not for you. The book is gorgeous, well presented and the mixes of the texture and taste are impressive.

Tolle und ausgefallene vegane Rezepte. Ich war selbst in dem Café Gratitude in LA und fand es toll ein dortiges frühstück direkt Zuhause nachzukochen.

This cook book is great for alternative to dairy and great ideas to incorporate whole food into your diet.