The Wake

Ecopolitan, a completely organic, vegan and raw restaurant, boasts that a raw vegan diet will give people fewer colds and allergies, more energy, slimmer bodies, sharper minds, clearer skin, and will decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, gallstones, infections and premature death.

Which is weird, because most people equate raw with wretchedness. Ecopolitan is trying to change this.

Their entire menu is 100% raw and vegan. They don’t use animal products of any kind. And no cooking, period. Their produce is washed with purified water. All cleaning, laundry and dishwashing is done with non-toxic, earth-friendly materials. The building is caulked, glued, sealed and painted using non-toxic products, which they offer at discount prices, along with other natural, ecological, non-toxic home and body goods.

Man, is that a mouthful. These guys are not joking around. Even the air is purified for the healthiest internal environment. Ecopolitan supports sustainable living by composting 100% of their organic waste, and use only biodegradable, recyclable items. They also offer a juice bar, oxygen bar, and infrared thermal sauna.

The Ecopolitan is a transformed apartment complex. Coral non-toxic painted walls and twine envelop wood pillars create an earthy ambiance. The room is lit by hanging metal candles and a tiny candle on each table partnered with a mini pumpkin. There are the usual wood tables, some with organic hemp table cloths, as well as glass tables that sit atop giant cobalt blue pots. Indian folk music whispers in the background.

All right. Enough about the setting and Ecopolitan’s eco-friendly practices. What about the food? How can anyone enjoy variety in their diet if all they eat is raw, vegan food? Talk about limiting your options.

Surprisingly, Ecopolitan actually has a very extensive menu (for only serving raw, uncooked food), from raw flaxseed-apple pancakes for breakfast to appetizers with pates and hummus, to “living pizzas” with dehydrated sprouted buckwheat and herb crusts. If that’s not enough, try entrees like strawberry marinara, green burritos, and raw lasagna.

The drinks are just as unique – juices are all freshly squeezed, smoothies come in many options or can be customized; and there are exotic drinks such as wheat grass shots or young coconut shakes, as well as herbal teas, the only warm item on the menu. And, don’t despair, they have dessert as well—uncookies, made of dehydrated fruits, nuts and spices, daily pies, and a berry parfait.

I ordered the macadamia alfredo entrée, $13.95, which was delicious and dairy-free. Ribbons of zucchini were piled high; marinated mushrooms and red peppers sat on dressed greens topped with fresh herbs, pine nuts, and a macadamia-cashew sauce. The meal was fresh and rich. My companion ordered the hummus platter entrée, $9.50, which consisted of sprouted garbanzo hummus, tomato, cucumber, dates, sprouts, and olives, on dressed greens with flax crackers. The hummus was scrumptious; it had a lemon flavor and a unique texture from the sprouted garbanzo beans. The olives had pits, which proved to be a problem for my companion when he thought a stray pit was some other uncommon food and bit hard into it.

The two of us also shared a large ginger lemonade, which, for $5.25, consisted of fresh squeezed apple, lemon, lime and ginger. This was like no other juice we had had. It was a delightful balance of sweet and tart, very refreshing.

Our service was excellent, the food came quickly, and our water glasses were never empty. I would recommend Ecopolitan even to you meat and potato lovers out there.

If you are interested in becoming a raw vegan or just curious about how they do it, stop by on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 for an informational meeting or go to their website: www.ecopolitan.com. Ecopolitan: even city-dwellers like our Twin Cities selves can preserve Earth’s resources and ecology.

Ecopolitan
2409 Lyndale Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN
612-87-GREEN
Open 7 days a week
9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri and Sat till 11 p.m.