Hello and happy Wednesday!
As mentioned, I traveled to Pasadena yesterday for my LASIK consultation later this morning. Alan and I had miscellaneous appointments yesterday, too, but we managed to also get some fun and good eats in.
For lunch, we went to the new location of Real Food Daily (RFD), a Los Angeles vegan eatery that is out of this world fantastic. In fact, this may just be my new favorite vegan restaurant if you can believe that. Coming in as a close second and third would probably be Blossoming Lotus in Portland, OR, and Shine Cafe in Morro Bay, CA. Oh my, and I have to squeeze Veggie Grill in there, too!
This location of RFD has only been open three months and the space has been completely refurbished from its former life as a burger joint (a true evolution, wouldn’t you say?).
Here are some shots of the site:
You better believe I honed in on the dessert case:
These looked particularly appealing:
Get it? Faux-less cupcake, like a vegan Hostess cupcake?
This one called my name, although I wasn’t sure at that point if I was going to have dessert:
Alan and I met some friends for lunch and took a lot of time perusing the extensive menu:
I really wanted a salad:
I eventually decided on the Fergalicious salad special:
It did not disappoint!
Alan had the Hunk of Burning Love:
Even though we were pretty full after eating these dishes, we decided to share a piece of that chocolate cake…we couldn’t resist! Here’s a close-up for your viewing pleasure; no calories for looking. 
It has been a very long time since I have had chocolate, so this was a real treat:
After all of that food, we walked around the city to get some exercise and peruse some stores. I checked out Lush, the awesome vegan soap and cosmetic store:
I found some items that will definitely be going on my birthday wish list this year:
I couldn’t believe I had an appetite for dinner a few hours later, but I did and we ended up at Whole Foods market. Love this place!
I ended up with this box of veggie goodness:
It was a day of vegan adventures and fabulous, if not a bit decadent, vegan food yesterday. I hope you liked the photo tour. I’ll be back here on Friday with some healthy recipes for the next edition of Healthy Vegan Fridays!
Note: this post has been submitted to What I Ate Wednesdays.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow what at awesome restaurant! That cake looks to die for!
Yum, your salad looks delicious! I like the sound of that Yin Yang salad. It is so nice when restaurants have good salad options! It is so rare! I also love Whole Foods! They always have a good amount to choose from and you can get exactly what you want!
Thank, Vicky! I loved seeing the pictures of your re-creation of the butternut squash dish from the Getaway. Nicely done!
I frequent Pasadena pretty often. I need to check out RFD next time I am there. I have never heard of that restaurant. Shine Cafe in Morro Bay also looks like a place I should check out too.
What kind of camera are you using to take such great pictures?
Hi Jonathan! Thanks! You should definitely check out RFD, it was divine. Would you believe I took all the photos yesterday with my older iPhone? When I’m at home, I use a basic SLR Canon. I am really not that skilled with photography, I mainly just try to find good light and make sure things are in focus.
What a delicious day of vegan eats/treats!
Oh I am so jealous Carrie! I used to live in Eagle Rock and work in Pasadena, but of course they never had the RFD there when I was there. But I’ve been to the Santa Monica one many times and love everything they have. If you want more of an indulgent meal I definitely recommend their nachos (“not-chos!”). I’m trying to remember the burger place that was there before but I can’t place it…maybe because I was not one bit interested in it! I also used to love Father Nature, a small mediterranean cafe on DeLacey…they have amazing falafel. Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane…love Old Town Pasadena!!!
Hi Laura! Wow, I didn’t realize you lived in Pasadena. I did, too, I was there from about 1999-2003. That’s where I met my husband and then we moved north after we got married. I’m not familiar with the other restaurant you mentioned. You might know the new location of Real Food Daily better by it’s old location as Baja Fresh on the corner of Lake and Del Mar. Let me know if you’re ever in town and we can meet up!
Oh so it’s on the Lake Ave side of town, gotcha. Thanks!
I lived there from 2004-08 so I guess we didn’t overlap! I am on the other coast now but hope to make it back to visit soon and if so I’ll definitely let you know!!
i think it used to be Bob’s Big Boy before RFD, I live just down the street
Yeah, it was! Awwww, you’re lucky to live in Pasadena, it’s one of my favorite places! I used to live there and that’s where my husband and I met.
We have a Lush here in Kansas at the big mall. I didn’t know they were vegan. I will check it out next time we go there. Bonnie and I went to Lather in Pasadena while we were there and they were pretty cool, too. The hotel I stayed at by the beach also used their products.
That cake looks soooooo good. Do you think they could ship me one for my birthday?? LOL
Hi Robyn, you should definitely check out Lush, they have some great products. Have you seen Dr. Fuhrman’s chocolate cake recipe on his member center? It’s pretty darned tasty and would make a great b-day cake.
Yum, yum & more yum! Beautiful, tasty photos! I hope your appointment went well.
Thanks, Jill!
I adore Lush! If it just wasn’t so expensive,sigh… I could spend all my mone on the soaps they have there,seriously! They all smell so amaaazing…
Also,that chocolate cake looks SO yummy! Although I would probably rather have gone for a huge cookie. I’m a cookie girl,don’t judge me…
Hi Kat! I love all the stuff at Lush, too. I really want the strawberry solid moisturizer, it was even shaped liked a strawberry. Oh yeah, I love me some cookies, too.
Hi Carrie,
what lovely food you had. And that chocolate cake is to die for
On Monday when we have completed the Six-Week-Plan of Dr. Fuhrman, I’m going to makes his Bean Brownie to celebrate!!
I have used contact lenses for more than 30 years … but I still can’t imagine somebody touch my eyes!! But I hope your appointment went well?
Yay, congrats Oly!!!! I would love to hear more about the changes that have occurred for you and your husband over the 6-week period. Do you think you will continue to eat this way?
Thanks, Carrie! I’ll wait tell next week to answer your questions!
Have a nice weekend! Ours just started!
I just tried that place and it was really good! I love living in Cali. I am mid LA so I can get to Pasadena, West LA, NoHo and everywhere pretty quick. I am so glad you enjoyed yourself. I really enjoy reading your blog. I’ve turn a few friends on to your site and I have started a little facebook support group for my friends. I just finished the six weeks strict challenge. I feel good! Blessings, keep up the great work.
Thanks for the comment, Laura! That’s fantastic that you did the 6-week challenge!!! By the way, I love living in CA, too.
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