Have you noticed this has been a rough year for sickness? It seems like everyone I know is just getting sick or just getting over being sick.
I’m finally getting over being sick myself. Finally feeling human for the first time in awhile, I decide to treat myself to a visit to the Ringing Cedar Tea Tavern in Lake Stevens. I was craving something tasty yet wholesome, and that’s what I found.
Ringing Cedar is a vegan cafe that focuses on healthy, organic and vegan ingredients.
Because I was feeling brave, I brought my 4-year-old with me. Together we checked out the menu and ordered a late lunch/early dinner.
She’d been asking for a chocolate shake for a long time, so she decided to order the golden chocolate shake ($8.50 for 16 ounces). I didn’t tell her about the ingredients, which include raw cacoa, coconut meat, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, dates, maca and black figs. I loved this. It was like a meal in a glass. Hazel tried several spoonfuls and declared it “good,” but didn’t dive in with much enthusiasm.
I ordered the hot chocolate ($4.25 for 12 ounces), which according to the menu, is good for the immune system. It’s made with raw cacoa, mixed with herbal extracts. It tasted simply like high-end hot chocolate. It was rich but not overpowering, with just the right amount of sweetness. Hazel was extremely fond of the hot chocolate. She soon negotiated a trade for her shake.
For our meal, I ordered The Bowl ($9.50), which includes quinoa, beans, pea sprouts, gingered carrots, avocado and seaweed strips, all topped with a tahini sauce. This was the highlight of the meal. It was tasty and satisfying. I’m a huge fan of quinoa, and this included a generous portion. I was surprised how well it went with the beans, which were savory and delicious.
Hazel shared them with me, but refused everything else on the plate. The tahini dressing was my favorite. It had a strong but not overpowering flavor that went well with the ingredients.
The only downsides to this plate were the seaweed and, strangely, a couple of croutons on the side. I usually like seaweed, but it’s flavor didn’t seem to fit. I mostly ate around the strips of seaweed. The croutons were a strange addition that didn’t add anything to the plate except for random decoration.
The serving was generous enough that I was able to save some for lunch the next day. It made a good leftover.
To finish off the meal, I asked for a dessert menu. They had a vegan cheesecake with a peanut crust and chocolate. I couldn’t resist it. Hazel and I shared it, and it was delicious. I don’t know what they did to that peanut crust, but it was magic. Even Hazel enjoyed it, and she usually won’t touch a peanut in any form. It didn’t taste like classic cheesecake, but it was delightful. The chocolate was rich and went well with the peanut crust.
The Tea Tavern is a cozy little spot. They have just a couple of tables and two couches. It’s a place you feel comfortable lingering. The staff was friendly, and not at all disturbed by my somewhat-wiggly child. They chatted with her and listened to her chatter back.
The Tea Tavern is certainly not for everyone. It’s high on what my husband would call the “hippie scale.” But it’s certainly worth a visit, especially if you’re feeling the need for a little wellness. And who isn’t, right now?
The Ringing Cedar Tea Tavern
1805 Main Street, Lake Stevens; 425-374-3877; www.facebook.com/
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Alcohol: None
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