Raj's Rasoi Vegan Wednesday Brunches: St. Louis Vegan Eats. Bollywood & Curry.

Raj's Rasoi:  Vegetarian all the time & Vegan Brunch Wednesdays!

Raj's Rasoi, 2286 McKelvey Road.

Maryland Heights, MO.

314.576.6666

Raj's Rasoi Website

So the St. Louis Vegan Scene isn't on par with New York, but neither are our taxes.  We can buy homes & find parking spots.  I have to point out the benefits of Midwest living because it's hard to forget what those are after you have eaten at the New York Dosa Cart or Babycakes.  But Raj's Rasoi Rocks.  It is a little bit of trek for those who are city dwellers and won't venture past the 170 border.  However, you will be greatly rewarded if you do!!  Raj's is Vegetarian all the time and has lots of vegan options on their menu.   In addition, Wednesdays have a Vegan Brunch, which when we went put us out something like six bucks. Six Bucks?  Yeah, so before you think it's a long drive, if you have a hybrid it truly might be economically worth the trip!!

Chana Masala, Okra Masal, Dal, Aloo Gobi, Saag.

Raj's Rasoi.  Vegan Wednesday Buffet.

The place is slightly off the beaten path, so make sure you get the address & mapquest it first.  It is tucked away in a StripMall, and I don't mean naked lady mall, I mean the main architectural basis of the midwest mall.  Raj's boasts a huge selection of food.  So happy that Okra Masala was on the menu that day!  They also have movies certain nights, think Bollywood & Curry.  It doesn't get better.  Raj is a super sweet host who is ridiculously humble.  

Okra Masala.

Aloo Gobi.

Chaat & Chutney.

Pappadum.  "Lentil Wafers"

Vegan Pakora.

Buffet.

Okra Masala, Saag, Dal.

Gotta love this!

Vegan Jalebi

Vegan Ladoo 

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"What Would Jesus Eat" Christian Vegetarian Reading Material!
Veg Starter Kits.

The place boasts some reading material that is pro-vegetarian and flyers for upcoming events such as Kirtans.  They also had some of Deepak Chopra's animated books of Shiva & a beautifully illustrated version of the Ramayana.  Homemade, handwritten signs denote each dish, which is slightly adorable.  And you can tell it changes daily.  It's like Raj just made all the food & then labelled it himself!  I ate way too much and so did my hubby, but that hasn't stopped him from wanting to go back!  

Raj's Rasoi, 2286 McKelvey Road.

Maryland Heights, MO.

314.576.6666

Raj's Rasoi Website

Have any readers eaten at Raj's??  What did you think?  What are your favorite dishes?  What are your favorite vegan friendly restaurants in your town?  Does it matter to you whether the atmosphere/vibe is specifically "Indian" or is it just about the food?

We have eaten at Indian places in a lot of cities, but I can't think of any that just make me think, "Oh, that's the best place".  We really liked Madras Cafe in New York, which had Vegan Dosas, but they moved!  Oh, "NY Dosas" rocks, a Food Cart with Vegan Dosas!!.  Will be blogging about that soon too!

Okra Masala.

Fennel.





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Vegan Sunday Brunches: Black Bear Bakery. This Sunday goes to Gateway Pet Guardians!

(Click on Right to see HD/Viewing Options)

I will post more about Black Bear Vegan Brunches (their Saturday Brunches are veggie with vegan options) along with some of the music they have there in the future, but wanted to put this out before Sunday when 25% of their proceeds will go to Gateway Pet Guardians.  Their Brunch runs from 10-2 p.m.  And it's home-cooked food that anyone would enjoy!  Other Vegan Sundays they have had goodies like Waffles, Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Pie, Yogurt, Fresh Fruit, Baked Greens, Freshly picked Salad, Blueberry Muffins, Stuffing, French Toast, Sweet Potato Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, Granola, Home Fries, Sweet Potatoes, Sticky Buns, Fruit Cobblers, Red Beans & Rice & More!!  And a totally sweet vibe, usually including homegrown music too.  See my "Little Vegan Anarchist Easter" to see a clip of the "Devil's Dream" Duo.  Brunch is 10 bucks.  Unlimited Coffee 1.50 more.  So total package 11.50 & you fed your belly & your soul.  You just can't go wrong.

Vegan Brunch Sundays!
Black Bear Bakery
2639 Cherokee Street
St. Louis, MO.
63118
314-771-2236

This video is of a recent Puppy Rescue Mission.  Pj is on her belly doing her thing.  Gettin' down & dirty in East St. Louis,  in the name of dogs.  GPG was able to rescue Jois a week prior, but 2 siblings remained at large.  This was their special day.  If you go to Black Bear this Sunday, this is the group that will be benefiting.  Oh, and don't forget your animal lovin' body.  Because it will be thanking you too.  Along with the birds, the bees, the pigs, the cows, the chickens, the deer, and just about every other living creature on earth. 

And some more Tee Shirt Picks!  Kale & Bikes.  2 things we love!

Black Bear has a lot of both!!

Herbivore's HEMP & ORGANIC COTTON "Ride Bikes, Grow Food" shirt.
Very appropriate for Black Bear.  As their peeps seem to be very fond of both!
Both Women's Fit & Men's (Unisex) styles available.
30 bucks (yeah, they aren't 10 but these folks probably take care that they aren't made in a sweatshop :)

Eat Like You Give a Damn Shirt. Herbivore.

Only Kale can Save us Now Shirt. BAMBOO!  
In Men's & Women's Sizes (Herbivore)
Image & Credit Herbivore.

Pura Vegan. Raw, Vegan. Cosmic Foods Soon Hit Debaliviere Neighborhood.

Click to 720p for HD.
 To see hours and opening date go to the Pura Vegan Website

Raw Vegan Fruit Cobbler
Pura Vegan to debut April 2011
307 Belt, Saint Louis, MO. 

"Sun Pasta" Zucchini Pasta with SunDried Tomato Marinara.

Gluten Free Goodness.

Supergreens Elixir.
Dandelion, Kale, Spinach, Chard, Banana.

6 Layer Raw Vegan Burger.
Pura Vegan

6 Layer Raw Vegan Burger.
Walnuts, Veggies, Herbs.

Raw Vegan Fruit Cobbler.

Raw Vegan Fruit Cobbler
Pura Vegan
307 Belt, Saint Louis, MO.

     I have been totally blessed to have had some of the best vegan eats in the last month, and among them was Pura Vegan's Lucisous Live Food.  Although I will eat any vegan food that is healthy and gluten-free, I prefer uncooked, raw foods.  And I got some of the best raw food I have yet tried, at a sneak peek gathering at Pura Vegan, located at 307 Belt in the Debaliviere neighborhood of St.  Louis.  The Vegan & Veggie Support Group (founded by "No-Diet" Natalie, an up and coming veggie nutritional goddess) organized a gathering at Pura Vegan this March, and I was lucky enough to be one of the first 30 to RSVP, as the spots filled up quickly!  Pura Vegan is in a hip neighborhood close to the Loop, The Central West End, and just steps away from Forest Park.  Think Running groups in the morning, and post run "Magic Mushroom Coffee" and Green Elixirs!  This place is great!!  The owners, A.J. & Leah,  aren't the breatharian, zero fat zealous raw foodists types.  They are a hip young couple living in the real world.  While Pura Vegan is serious about it's healthy eats, they aren't "stuffy",  pretentious, over over-priced like a lot of raw food joints.  There isn't that uber anorexic, supplement promoting, exclusivity vibe here.  Just great eats, healthy raw sweet treats, and fun owners who "take themselves lightly".  Making raw food fun! They also offer all sorts of vegan & raw food preparation classes, for those of you who would like to be a raw food flirt at home!  (**See also more of PuraVegan now that it's opened!)

Pura Vegan Counter.

A.J.'s Special Cosmic Coffee Blend.
Magic!

  While you can get greens & sprouts, this place is offering much more! Dehydrated Crackers concocted from goodies like Flax, Seeds, and Nuts, Nut Cheezes, Elixirs packing in pounds of nutrition in one glass, and Cosmic Desserts that have "Cashew" cremes (AMAZING!!), cacao, and Cheezecakes.  You will walk out of this place both full and nourished and you won't have that guilt an hour later, "Why did I eat so much food?  Ick, I shouldn't have eaten SO much of that greasy, floury food!".  Nope, you will be planning your next visit to Pura Vegan because you are blissed out on Raw Cacao Balls!  The Veggie group was great......comprised of Vegans, Veggie Flirts, Runners, Rawbies, and friends of all of the above.  Some of my favorite conversation excerpts included "clogged chakras" and "but wouldn't everyone want to be a primary?".  Super fun peeps.

Pura Vegan. 

 I don't know whether it was the Contact High from being around so many other high raw peeps, the Cosmic Coffee Blend that owner A.J. created, or the "Power of the Prana", but it was impossible not to soak up the energy of all the life energy permeating the cafe that afternoon.  Pura Vegan will hopefully make their debut in about a month so maybe the end of April.  They are ready to go, but just waiting for "red tape" stuff from the city to give the "Green Light" to start sharing their "Life Food" with the world.  You must make a trip!  (Read PuraVegan Opens with their menu & some more pictures from their opening)