tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post5699894361245489300..comments2024-03-04T01:38:00.285-05:00Comments on The Sunny Raw Kitchen: Raw Restaurant Review: ChocolaTree in SedonaMarie Madeleine Carmellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03963055581416339860noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-60956645065011103462011-02-24T16:06:20.136-05:002011-02-24T16:06:20.136-05:00We were in Sedona in April 2010 and had a delightf...We were in Sedona in April 2010 and had a delightful experience. We sat outside and soaked up the Sedona sun with our cat and dog. We even kept a dog for another customer while they shopped inside. The staff were warm and friendly, the food was wonderful, and of course the surrounding scenery was gorgeous! <br /><br />I am a southerner by birth and love spicy foods, not so much the drabness of most northern or midwestern foods even after being raw for most of three years. So maybe staff changes, personal spiritual place or differences in taste preferences account for the differing experiences.<br /><br />The person with the middle eastern restaurant experience and I agree on hummus sprinkled with olive oil for authentic taste. Not much more simple and pure than the process used in Spain or Italy to make olive oil. It is a very good fat (most of Americans are fat-fearing because of the effects on the body from a SAD diet including processed foods and meats). Coconuts are also a fine example of a very good fat that your body actually uses well instead of storing it poorly. <br /><br />We now live in Northeastern Montana (to find work) where it is almost impossible to find anything without meat that isn't deep fried, much less raw vegan, iceberg lettuce and carrots if you are lucky. So I have now begun "cheffing" for all our meals as we never eat out anymore. There may be some raw vegan choices in a few other places in this country, but not within 600 miles of here.<br /><br />That's why I really appreciate you and others like you that share their talents online (and ingredient sources) with the rest of us eating raw. I have tried some of your recipes with success (with a little preferential taste "tweaking"). I also enjoy your posts along your journeys. Thanks for all you do. <br /><br />Peace, Love and Light<br /><br />P.S. We just made a journey to CA, OR and WA last month as well as other journeys and we can recommend: <br /><br />1-Trattoria (vegan-best in-house kombucha) and Yoga Pearl in Portland, OR (although MANY choices in Portland)<br /><br />2-105 degrees in Oklahoma City, OK<br /><br />3-Pure Food and Wine in NYC<br /><br />4-Grassroot in Tampa, FL (when they are open)<br /><br />5-The Present Moment Cafe in St. Augustine, FL<br /><br />Many mexican restaurants will accomodate raw foodists with guacamole, salsa, greens,etc.<br /><br />Pricey generally comes with the territory of fine raw cuisine...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11321723164374415405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-64104484639567941602011-02-20T07:31:17.988-05:002011-02-20T07:31:17.988-05:00I'm suprised to be honest. Being in England so...I'm suprised to be honest. Being in England some of my raw snacks travel and I have some cheesy bites which Im sure are from Chocolatree and they are addictivly amazing. <br /><br />I best not go..you know what they say never meet your heros :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-53186130688357629282011-02-19T14:45:11.318-05:002011-02-19T14:45:11.318-05:00Carmella, I read your blog often. I enjoyed your r...Carmella, I read your blog often. I enjoyed your review, even if it was on the negative side. I would love to have a raw food restaurant near here! You all are lucky. Although, maybe it's a good thing that I can't spend the extra money!lol<br />CrystalCrystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07289028170151184501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-64012429161895056512011-02-19T01:08:30.770-05:002011-02-19T01:08:30.770-05:00I have to say that rancid nuts/oils would have ear...I have to say that rancid nuts/oils would have earned them a chat with the kitchen manager on duty. I would have also asked why I didn't get mixed greens as advertised.<br /><br />Coming from a middle eastern family, I would have been personally disappointed if the hummus and falafel did not come with a generous amount of olive oil.<br /><br /><br />I also find it funny you didn't want so much olive oil (which is a much used ingredient in raw cuisine and your server is correct - the way hummus is traditionally served) in one dish, but more coffee (which most raw foodists eschew) in another.<br /><br />Having been the only veg in my family for over 20 years and my family having been in the restaurant business (yep - middle eastern food!), I always talk to restaurant staff to find out about the food before I order. And if something is off, I mention it right away to give the staff a chance to remedy it. <br /><br />I also give places 3 chances before I decide if they are worth going back to... you never know when a place is having "one of those days"<br /><br />I hope you have a better experience if you ever decide to go back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-17732473471352109692011-02-14T21:19:13.024-05:002011-02-14T21:19:13.024-05:00I ate at Chocolatree last April. I had the same fa...I ate at Chocolatree last April. I had the same falafel plate but without all the oil. Yes, uneven to say the least. <br /><br />I'm headed back to Sedona, via Phoenix, in May. I'll check out the two restaurants mentioned.<br /><br />Thanks for your great website. I just found it recently and have enjoyed it immensely. BTW - Just got your latest cookbook in the mail. Fantastic!Windyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15709112028523862826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-9347366321967286882011-02-14T00:03:37.881-05:002011-02-14T00:03:37.881-05:00Wow, Carmella, your experience sounds just like th...Wow, Carmella, your experience sounds just like the one I had! And jill, the comment that my wife had was that the food we ordered was way too salty! And their little chocolates for $3! I nibbled on it in order to get three $1 bites. I believe anyone can make better raw chocolates by following the recipe you have on your site!<br />I have to admit that the crystal room was pretty cool. But, I don’t think I’ll be visiting there again. I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one that had YOUR experience!<br />DaveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-24497061073042607932011-02-14T00:00:31.961-05:002011-02-14T00:00:31.961-05:00How disappointing!
I have tried the LOVE cups and...How disappointing!<br /><br />I have tried the LOVE cups and didn't care for them either.bitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07897733975604744859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-18571314013625808632011-02-13T21:56:52.987-05:002011-02-13T21:56:52.987-05:00Sorry about your bad experience, but thanks for th...Sorry about your bad experience, but thanks for the heads up. My husband and I are headed to Sedona in April so you save us some money on a subpar meal. I'll check out the other restaurant you mentioned.<br /><br />Any other suggestions for vegan places from Phoenix, Sedona to the Grand Canyon?Carolyn @ Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.http://eatlivebewell.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-91043267818507583612011-02-13T19:29:13.282-05:002011-02-13T19:29:13.282-05:00Thank you, Carmella, for your honest appraisal. I...Thank you, Carmella, for your honest appraisal. I don't think you were in the least bitchy. You weren't hurling insults willy-nilly, you just called it like you saw (and tasted it) and you did make an effort to point out some positives as well. Rancid nuts and oils are really inexcusable. I'm not anywhere near a chef, but I know how to care for those items properly, so certainly they should too. Overpowering herbs and spices can definitely ruin a dish. The first time I experienced this was years ago when a roommate sauteed some beautiful fresh squash, seasoning it with so much rosemary that that is all I could taste. Mishaps happen in the kitchen, but again, should not happen routinely in a professional kitchen. It almost makes me wonder if the "chefs" are actually SAD eaters (or recently SAD) who haven't yet adjusted their taste buds to appreciate the subtle and bright flavors of fresh fruits and veggies. Also, when a customer makes a suggestions (even if it were totally off or out of left field, which it wasn't) the only appropriate response from a "server" would be to apologize that you didn't care for the dish, and offer to pass on your suggestion to the kitchen. You have definitely done a service to anyone who might be visiting the area. Money is tight for most everyone these days. For people like me, who virtually never go "out" to eat, it can really be crushing if you spend all that money for poor food and service. It's really a shame, too, given that there are so few raw restaurants in most of the country, to think that someone who might be excited to try raw cuisine could potentially go to a place like that and be totally turned off and wary to try again. Thanks again, Carmella.Mindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343929955274816296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-82919588332741504662011-02-13T16:49:58.233-05:002011-02-13T16:49:58.233-05:00I didn't know about it, thanks!
btw, if you a...I didn't know about it, thanks!<br /><br />btw, if you are heading toward Phoenix, there's a lovely little teahouse/raw/vegan spot called Chakra 4, great ambiance & medicinal herbs<br />http://www.chakra4herbs.com<br /><br />another btw, your blog is my #1 source of great recipes and inspiration, whenever anyone asks about raw info, I send them to you :) Thanks for offering so much great information!Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12111484807082795563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-80807221790041093512011-02-13T16:08:26.550-05:002011-02-13T16:08:26.550-05:00Sorry to hear you've also had a bad experience...Sorry to hear you've also had a bad experience eating there. To me your vignette borders on the unethical. ;-(<br /><br />And yep, they still have the crystal room.<br /><br />Did you know that a raw resto just opened in Cave Creek? Check it out:<br /><br />http://www.vegguide.org/entry/12396<br /><br />We're going to eat there next week and I'll be posting my review later.Marie Madeleine Carmellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03963055581416339860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173124950637983780.post-86701789913465335682011-02-13T15:52:55.037-05:002011-02-13T15:52:55.037-05:00aww, I'm sorry you had such a bad time with th...aww, I'm sorry you had such a bad time with the food, I've eaten there several times and it's been uneven to say the least. I once ordered the Guacamole plate and when it arrived, the waitress said today's was "a little salty". I figured it must be ok since she let me buy it & brought it to my table, but it was unbearable! I could only manage the tiniest amount on the tip of a cracker. It's so hard to find anything remotely vegan/raw here in AZ :(<br /><br />I always enjoy the big room of crystals though, do they still have it?Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12111484807082795563noreply@blogger.com