Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Vital Ital Calabash

One of the best things about food, in my opinion, is its ability to transport you to another time or place. For example, it was cold and overcast in the Bay Area on Sunday, but a simple trip to Vital Ital Calabash in Berkeley made it seem sunny and tropical... while I was eating, anyway.

For those of you not familiar with Ital Cuisine, it's Rastafarian vegan food. 'Ital' itself translates to 'pure' and this means unprocessed food from the earth. It also means the use of some damn good Jamaican spices and sauces resulting in flavors beyond compare, at least at Vital Ital. For my lunch, I had their 'Osho's Bliss' sandwich, which is a tofu patty with an incredibly flavorful sauce on a toasted bun with tomato, lettuce, and sprouts. Honestly, I don't have the words. It was so yummy - bright and fresh, with just the right amount of 'kick.' To compliment the heat in the sandwich, I also ordered some fantastic fried plantains with a sweet and savory sauce. These were so rich and delicious I could barely stand it:













Those of you who know me know how much I loathe trips over the bridge, but it is worth it to have these flavors. Plus, it's right across the street from the Ashby BART station, so there's not even any need to drive. Get thee to Vital Ital now. It's sure to brighten up any day.

7 comments:

Tracy said...

And to think, I missed it all for a PB&J at the Bay Area Discovery Museum!

Sky said...

Proof that kids will ruin your life, Tracy! :)

philip gelb said...

i am a big fan of this place! The chef/owner seems like a great guy

Sky said...

Didn't meet the chef/owner. In fact, the day we were there the whole place seemed to be run by teenagers. But they were nice enough, in that awkward teenager way. :)

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

I have been meaning to go there forever, sounds like I really should!

Anonymous said...

I just started reading your blog and I'm so happy I did! I'm a recent vegetarian.. trying to transition to becoming a vegan, but finding it difficult. your blog and those like it, have really helped me see that I can do it and can make better choices for myself and others.

thank you,
burnko

Sky said...

Glad you're enjoying the blog, "lifeonmyside." Maybe I'll run into you at one of SF's great vegan eateries! If you have any questions about veganism, feel free to post 'em. Wishing you all the best!