This week’s noteworthy nosh comes from Dallas. I don’t get
the chance to make it over to The Big D all that often, and I am totally fine
with that. But this meal was definitely worth the trip.
If you find yourself in the University Park area and are an
adventurous soul, you must try Dallas’ only raw vegan eatery. The menu is
extensive, with several juice and smoothie options, but also soups, salads,
sandwiches, wraps, noodle bowls, pizzas, and desserts. The entrée selections
include a raw lasagna, “bliss burger” and even a raw take on spaghetti and
“meatballs.”
A friend and I stopped in recently for a leisurely lunch.
The atmosphere was relaxed and not overly crowded (though parking is interesting),
the waitstaff is friendly and eager to answer questions about the menu, and
Chef Cesar Vallejo was more than happy to talk about customer’s favorite dishes
and how they are made. I am not vegan, so I had plenty of questions.
In addition to trying a fresh juice blend and cup of pineapple
cucumber gazpacho, I tried one of Be Raw’s most popular dishes, the coconut
kale enchiladas. The tortillas are made from coconut, red bell peppers, dates
and agave that are dehydrated into rollable shells. They are stuffed with
marinated kale, and topped with pico, "nacho cheese" and a cashew “sour cream,”
then served with red and green salsas on the side.
I was pleasantly surprised first by the cheesy flavor of the
enchiladas. The shells had a slightly sweet flavor that was unexpected but not
unpleasant. At first, the texture of the shells vaguely reminded of fruit
rollups I ate as a child, but the spicy heat of the dish kept the sweetness
from being at all cloying. Perhaps most impressive was the marinated kale
filling, which was delicate but flavorful, and it didn’t have that
stereotypically unpleasant texture that sometimes makes raw kale difficult to
eat.
Although the difference between traditional enchiladas and
raw enchiladas is vast, I think taken on its own merits, the dish is
successful—offering traditionally Hispanic flavors of chilies and cheese, light
but filling and a uniquely fun variation on the norm.
Be Raw Food and Juice
(berawfoodandjuice.com), 6005
Berkshire Lane in Preston Center, M-Sat 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sun 11:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m.
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