Native Foods Cafe, a vegan restaurant serving up large portions of flavorful dishes made with organic ingredients, celebrated its arrival to the neighborhood with a VIP pre-opening event Friday afternoon.
In about three rotating shifts, Native Foods offered a complimentary lunch to a number of special guests from around the area. I, along with Wednesday Journal cartoonist and Sales Representative Marc Stopeck and Communications and Marketing Project Manager Alicia Plomin (who you may remember as bacon woman extraordinaire), sat down for a meal at the new River Forest eatery.
Guests had the entire menu at their disposal to decide on appetizers, entrees, sides, drinks and desserts. Beer and wine were also available at a $2 charge each with 100 percent of the proceeds going to five local charities.
I chose the colorful Ensalada Azteca rich with jicama and quinoa and the Cubano Black Bean soup. Alicia tried the Rockin’ Moroccan, also filled with quinoa and other veggies, and chose a kale side salad. Marc had the Baja Blackened Tacos with slaw on the side. We shared sweet potato fries with what we guessed was a cumin seasoning on top, chicken wings (which were, of course, chicken-less) and Butternut Polenta Bites.
Given how tasty the food was, we didn’t shamefully devour every last morsel set before us. We graciously left with to-go boxes, full stomachs and our dignity intact.
Native Foods Cafe, 7343 Lake St., is officially open to the public Nov. 18. Veg heads and meat-lovers alike, prepare yourself for a feast.
