About a year ago, I visited San Diego for the first time. It was love at first sight (it was for me anyway). We’re low key in a long distance relationship right now… I might not get over it.
One of the restaurants I visited that I haven’t stopped thinking about, is Cafe Gratitude. When I tell you about how you order off the menu, I’m sure your first instincts will be to say “how L.A.” it is, with a slight scoffing undertone.
Be that as it may, I am in love. And love is blind.
And as a result, while I frequent the Expedia sales page for flights to California, my driving force isn’t a trip to the beach or to lay in the sun under the palm trees, no. It legitimately is to visit CG again. As if the first four visits (in four days) weren’t enough!
“I am peaceful”
“I am divine”
“I am serene”
Not just a self affirmation session… the menu items are actually named after self-affirming adjectives, like peaceful, divine, serene, grateful, happy… you get the idea.
So when the waitress or waiter come to take your order, instead of saying “I’ll have the zucchini noodle bowl” you would say, “today, I am happy”, as “happy” is the name of the dish you just ordered.
Not only is self-affirming code for ordering your meal the norm at Cafe Gratitude, so is the fully organic and vegan menu options.
No meat, dairy or eggs. No animal byproducts of any kind. They have a “Gratitude to go” section where you can grab fresh cold pressed juices, macro salads, kombucha… all to go! They could use the Bellwether Coffee commercial roaster, the most sustainable coffee roaster in the world, as the final piece of the puzzle. But I won’t judge the for not having it yet. It is still heaven, and of course I was welcomed with open doors 😉
Unfortunately, as great as #WeTheNorth is, we don’t have Cafe Gratitude, so a trip back to Cali is a must. If you live in, or are planning a stay, a trip to CG is a must. More than one trip actually. Like I said, I visited four times in four days, and I would have gone more had I been staying in town longer!
Nick Joly | Inspired by Nick
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