Going Raw

It doesn’t hurt to be vegan for a day. Last year I gave up meat and dairy for lent. This made it pretty difficult to find places to dine with my friends. So I gathered a group of brave souls, some vegetarians and I went to Present Moment Cafe for the first time. Honestly I had no idea what to expect. I thought maybe the place would be full of peace children gnawing on carrot sticks, but what I found was a whole new side of cuisine.

At first I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to order my staple diet coke with my meal. But I think the cucumber water definitely complimented my meal more than my chemically enhanced beverages ever could. The atmosphere was dim and surprisingly modern. I expected earth tones and images of nature to fill the dining are but instead the dining room was quite modern and eclectic. The walls and furniture were brightly painted, there was a table with a bright turquoise sofa, and blue swivel bar stools stood around the juice counter. More than anything the décor reminded me of a hip coffee shop I used to frequent when visiting my brother in Boone, NC.

I was nervous about ordering. While I had been cooking vegan meals for myself for nearly a month I tended to rely on pastas and vegetables. I had never attempted to eat raw, gluten free, vegan before.  We started with the cashew hummus with still amazes me to this day. I never imagined nuts could be so rich and creamy.

For my entrée I ordered the nut loaf simply because I was curious about the vegan mock Alfredo pasta that came with it. Again I was amazed by the power of nuts and the similarity of almond and cashew based “cheese” to the real thing. While I initially thought the portions were small, I could not finish my meal. The richness and the amount of protein in my dish was more satisfying to my hunger than a steak would have been and more importantly it left my body feeling refreshed.

Very rarely do I leave a restaurant without over eating. Call me a glutton if you must, but I like to get the most out of my time there. At Present Moment Café I was able to fill my stomach and leave actually feeling healthier than when I walked in. Instead of the “please roll me to the car” feeling I usually receive, I honestly felt energized and happy that I actually did something good for my body.

I have racked my mind trying to figure out how they do it. But I decided to instead not question the magic and accept Present Moment Café as an awesome experience. While the Nut Loaf doesn’t actually taste like meat, it is delicious and every dish on the menu is so fresh you would think it was still alive (mainly because their ingredients are fresh and most probably were alive moments before they were on your plate).

I cannot wait to go back to this restaurant. I feel that it may just be the refresher I need to make it through exam week. Present Moment Café is currently rated #5 in St. Augustine on Trip Advisor. If you aren’t ready to have a full vegan meal you can always stop by for juice and a muffin to break the ice.

Present Moment is located at 224 W King St, Saint Augustine, FL 32084-4144

They are open Monday- Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Closed Sunday