Sunday, April 3, 2011

Plum Awesome: Clean Food in the Bay Area

Most of you know I'm in the midst of a cleanse with an online, webinar group. I believe we must change radically how we eat, and to dump the toxins that slow our metabolism, harm our bodies and hurt the planet. I'm always interested in where to dine that supports these tenets.


Who new that a swanky new restaurant recently opened near my integrative medicine office over at 22nd and Broadway in Oakland? Plum, it is. Opened last September by Daniel Patterson of the Coi fame.

Plum is vegan- and gluten-free-friendly. I love that in a restaurant. Menu sings with interesting vegetables in season. Bring it.


We arrived ravenous, my husband, a friend and I. Service was very attentive but painfully slow. A 3-hour dinner? Luxurious but put me past my bedtime.

While cleansing, I don't drink alcohol. I often get a bit sad while dining out at places with exquisite wine lists. But I was in for a super great treat at Plum: they feature hydrosols in eclectic flavors. Their hydrosol is sparkling water with a homeopathic drop of vegetable oil. I got the ginger hydrosol. Made me happy all night to sip it, and I did not miss the wine.


Not surprisingly, Plum features organic, fresh, local. Killer combinations. Here's their mushroom dashi with yuba and tofu.



I ate the broccoli, squid and a salad. Here's the farm egg with farro, brussel sprouts and herbs, David's main course.


We also had grilled broccoli and crazy fresh salad (even had a cute worm in it!). Portions were tiny. Our friend remarked after eating, "Where are we going for dinner? Razan's?"

Here's an older menu for you to look over. My shots of the menu last night didn't turn out.

 
Sometimes small portions are a good idea. I love to leave a restaurant feeling comfortably sated, 75% full. You? Are there other Bay Area restaurants that you love while staying off gluten, sugar, dairy, caffeine and alcohol?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I just was trained in META-Medicine with its cutting-edge integrative medicine and diagnostics and therapy techniques and was just blown away by its accuracy in finding the emotional and mental triggers of health issues from high blood pressure, back pain, eczema, cancer, diabetes, etc. www.metamedicine.info

Stacy said...

The folks at Pizzaiola were very willing to create something amazing and delicious that fit within the confines of my cleanse.

www.pizzaiolooakland.com

And while I haven't put them to the test yet I would expect the same from the good people at Gather.

www.gatherrestaurant.com

Anonymous said...

Plum is also the brainchild of Chef Lauren Kiino - the are both equal owners. She is currently running the other joint venture they own il Cane Rosso - you should check it out.

Anonymous said...

Plum is actually also owned by Lauren Kiino - she is currently the Chef at the other joint venture they both own, il Cane Rosso.

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I'm an organic gynecologist, yoga teacher + writer. I earn a living partnering with women to get them vital and self-realized again. We're born that way, but often fall off the path. Let's take your lousy mood and fatigue, and transform it into something sacred and useful.