The Cutting Board Bakery & Cafe - Mesa, Arizona - Review

After settling in to our Az lifestyle (which we are loving) we have to limit our eating out, due to so many different vegan places we could easily drain our life savings eating out everyday.  The wife was informed of this place in Mesa that has a full vegan menu with vegetarian options. I like the way that sounds so that is where this week's review comes from:

1. The Cutting Board Bakery & Cafe
2. 2235 S Power Rd #116, Mesa, AZ 85209
3. (480) 654-8081

As you park in the strip plaza lined with other store fronts the entrance is off to the side in a tunnel that offers outdoor seating that has a lot of shade. When you walk in the place it is spotless and has a very modern feel with plenty seating. 

As you order the menu is very well detailed to there is no question of what you are getting, this is one of the better priced menus that I have seen in a vegan eatery. 

click here for a better view of the lunch & dinner menus

With free ice cold water there is really no need for other beverages, but they have plenty of choices of bottled drinks and juices/smoothies to chose from.  

We sat down after ordering at the counter and with in minutes out came our food, which is awesome ( I hate long waits). As I have said before how they plate and present the food shows how much love has gone into the preparation and this place puts a lot of heart into what they are making. We were only a couple of bites in when we swapped plates (we love to share each others food) neither one of us was at all disappointed this place rocks. 

bb burger $11.75

The Black Bean patty tasted so good and fresh it could have been made in my own kitchen.

half sandwich + half salad $ 7.75

 The veggies on Amber's Vedg-head sandwich were super fresh and crisp, and the dressing for her salad was out of this world good, a maple mustard wow I will be making that at home for sure. 

All and all what we have here is a perfect place for a great meal. A great place in a good location with ample parking, super fast and friendly service, with a great atmosphere. We have not yet had their breakfast but the menu looks very good and we will be stopping by one of these mornings. 

You will want to check this place out, I am sure you will agree with Amber and myself this is true vegan paradise.

Aside of Heart - Phoenix, Arizona Review - Great Vegan Food!

After a couple of months of hard work (more like 8 months) we are finally on our way to relocating from Pa to Az. So this is why my blog and everything else has been put on hold to prepare for this move.

But enough about me, here in a very unique neighborhood close to downtown Phoenix Az. there is an awesome 100% vegan place with so much character that is literally over flowing to the outside walls.

Aside of Heart
Address: 901 N 5th St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone:(602) 349-3134

As you walk in the re-purposed old house if you are a lady (or a Scottish man) hold on to your skirt cause of the industrial air conditioner blowing ice cold refreshing air into the seating area at such force that it makes you think your on a mountain top in the middle of the Himalayas.

We decided to sit outside after we ordered and they brought us glasses of water and also a full pitcher. Another worker opened a umbrella to give us some shade. The staff was very friendly and the food came out very fast.

Looking at this sandwich I was doubtful of the jackfruit texture but was very anxious to try the stuff I heard so much about. The cooks here did not disappoint us at all. After a couple of bites I knew I was hooked on my new found obsession, there will be many experiments to be done. As I was going nuts on my samie I couldn't help noticing the the wifey wasn't watching her tacos so she lost one to me,  Ha ha ha ha. 

Carnitas Torta- Seasoned, slow cooked, pulled Jackfruit,  with Chipotle mixed Cabbage Slaw and Pleezsh on MJ Bread. Comes with a side of chips.

Fuerza Locale Tacos- Street size Jackfruit tacos topped with artisan Chipotle Cabbage Slaw and Pleezsh on local soft corn tortillas with a side of beans and rice.

Wow the flavor was perfect the cooks here really know what needs to be done, and the texture of the jackfruit still blows my mind. After the meal I was full, but I wanted to try a smoothie and it was a perfect way to end this meal. The way that the cooks prepare and present the food really truly shows how much time, effort and love that goes into the food here.

I strongly recommend anyone in the Phoenix area to check this place out.

Berry Well Then and Sweet Mud Smoothies

If you are an art lover, the other half of this building is an art studio that has art littered all over the wall by local artist that is for sale. I did not photograph this side out of respect for the artist Now this is place is a true find for an art and food lover.

Raw Fig Newton Bars

 


As we eat more raw I am really loving the the desserts, they rock. Watching many YouTube videos I find that a lot of people are agreeing with me, well they have been doing this longer so I guess I agree with them. 

Jason Wrobel is one of those people no matter what he is making he keeps it entertaining. His show How to live to 100 on the cooking channel is awesome to watch, they need more shows on and about vegan/raw cooking and preparation. That's where I stole this recipe from his YouTube channel. 

Now I did not follow his recipe to the letter because of what I had on hand. 

His recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of hazel nuts I used 1 cup almonds 1/4 cup Brazil nuts 1/4 hazel nuts. I left out the Sun Warrior protein blend only because I forgot it. I only have been using maple syrup as my liquid sweetener in all my cooking/ preparation, he uses a bee free honey. 

The Bar Part 

1 cup almonds

1/4 brazil nut

1/4  hazel nuts

3/4 flax seeds ( ground up in a spice/coffe grinder)

3/4 cup oats

1 tsp vanilla 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

6 tbsp maple syrup

In a food processor place the nuts, ground flax meal, the oats, cinnamon, salt and pulse till the all rough chopped. Pour the vanilla and turn on the processor while it's running add the maple syrup slowly. When it's done it will ball up in you processor. Scoop out onto a piece of parchment paper and set you dirty processor aside you will need it again. 

Smush down the dough mixture till it's kinda flat, place another piece of parchment paper on top and roll out till flat. Then trim the edges to make it square. Cut in half and set aside. 

The Filling 

3 cups dried figs ( stems removed)

1/2 to 3/4 cup water as needed to make a spreadable texture. 

There is always a little stem part make sure you remove it. Now this recipe makes a lot of filling which the extra can be store in the fridge for a couple of weeks. Place the figs in your food processor add the water slowly to get the spreadable texture that you desire.

The Asslembling 

Spread your desired amount of filling on one half the crust, leaving a half inch around the edges. Place the other half on top press down gently. Cut into 2x2 squares, eat and enjoy. 

Have Fun and Enjoy.