Culver City is rapidly becoming a day-to-evening destination for foodies looking to partake in the neighborhood vibe while enjoying a variety of healthy farm-to-table options. Café Vida is the newest spot on Restaurant Row that is also a destination for fresh juices and smoothies. Built from the ground up and designed with a spacious feel and a rustic-meets-SoCal-meets-Latin by Phillip Spencer, the indoor-outdoor space has an organic ambiance that mirrors the food.
Offering all-day dining, Chef Francisco Cornejo and Luis Castaneda have created a seasonal menu with a number of organic, vegan, and low-fat options. The light, flavorful dishes with a Latin flair are filled with fresh and spicy surprises such as smoky chipotle or delicate mint leaves. Superfoods make appearances in dishes such as the breakfast oatmeal with chia seeds, or the gluten-free pancakes with flax and chia with organic maple syrups. The homemade lemonades are made with agave nectar.
The juice and smoothie menu includes both functional and delicious items with a variety of ingredients. The Immunity Shot and Immunity Cocktail provide a midday power boost. The Alkalizer isn’t just kale, it is double kale with green apple, ginger, and lime. The Perfect Date is a sweet and nurturing treat filled with hemp seeds that is a potent power breakfast.
Whether lingering for a meal, or stopping by for some liquid refreshment, Café Vida offers both freshness in menu items and locale.
Café Vida, 9755 Culver Blvd., Culver City
210-287-0140
cafevida.net
Felicia Tomasko has spent more of her life practicing Yoga and Ayurveda than not. She first became introduced to the teachings through the writings of the Transcendentalists, through meditation, and using asana to cross-train for her practice of cross-country running. Between beginning her commitment to Yoga and Ayurveda and today, she earned degrees in environmental biology and anthropology and nursing, and certifications in the practice and teaching of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda while working in fields including cognitive neuroscience and plant biochemistry. Her commitment to writing is at least as long as her commitment to yoga. Working on everything related to the written word from newspapers to magazines to websites to books, Felicia has been writing and editing professionally since college. In order to feel like a teenager again, Felicia has pulled out her running shoes for regular interval sessions throughout Southern California. Since the very first issue of LA YOGA, Felicia has been part of the team and the growth and development of the Bliss Network.