Love is Served, a cookbook by L.A. based Café Gratitude, couldn’t have come at a better time. Well, I know that it’s not the best time for us right now. We are staying home, going mad with boredom perhaps, doing our best to stay busy, and perhaps some of us are also looking for ways to supplement our income online.
Sometimes, though, propitious things happen at terrible times and turn out to be accidentally perfect timing, regardless of the circumstances. This cookbook will help so many of you who are staying home. It will help you keep busy, have fun in the kitchen, and at the same time create delicious meals that are good for your health and well-being.
Learning Something New?
Now is the time to get creative in the kitchen. Yeah right, some of you may think, not everyone is good at cooking. That’s where cookbooks come on. You may discover some hidden talents, you never know. I always think that you can be good at something if you’re genuinely interested in the subject.
For example, last year I started taking courses in affiliate marketing, not sure if I could do it, but I went for it anyway, learning about SEO, driving traffic, website building … That was definitely very different from my usual topics of interest, such as books, food, nature, animals, and writing fiction.
One advantage, however, was that I was extremely interested in learning it all, and so I did. That’s all it took, my desire to study affiliate marketing. This applies to anything else too, whether you want to learn another language, take a new course, or start cooking plant-based food. Can or cannot are not the decisive factors, but want (or want not).
If you have a desire to learn, then you will learn, it’s as simple as that. That’s what I always tell my students when they ask me what they should do to learn. I always give them the same answer: All you need is to be genuinely interested.
OK, now we have strayed from this cookbook, but not that much. Get that curiosity fired up, add some passion to it, and you’ll be a star in the kitchen. Now that your family is stuck at home with you, you got your guinea pigs all lined up to make them try your culinary creations. And they can’t run anywhere. 😉
Love is Served – New Plant-Based Cookbook
Café Gratitude is a Southern Californian plant-based restaurant chain, and today, L.A.’s Café Gratitude is releasing their new plant-based cookbook. Yes, 7 April 2020, today! Make sure to get your hands on this book now, because there are always special deals on release dates.
This book is aptly called Love is Served. I think that this is a beautiful name, because vegan food is prepared with love and it is free of suffering. It fills your body with energy, and it boosts your immune system. On top of that, this food is guilt-free 🙂 Love is Served sounds perfect to me.
it strikes me that this is the second time I have reviewed a vegan cookbook that has the word love in its title. So, yes, there’s something to it 🙂 . Remember my review on Maria Amore’s book, Cooking with Amore.
What’s in This Cookbook Then?
Love is Served is divided into nine categories:
- Breakfast and bakery
- Appetizers and snacks
- Soups and salads
- Sandwiches and wraps
- Bowls
- Entrees
- Desserts
- Dressings, sauces, and dips
- Cheeses and pickled things
The author of this cookbook is the restaurant’s executive chef Seizan Dreux Ellis, and she has included the restaurant’s favorite meals, such as the “I Am Magical” burger, “I Am Hospitable” Chicken and Waffles, ” I Am Humble” Indian curry bowl, and desserts.
“I Am Awakening” raw key lime pie, “I Am Divine” strawberry shortcake, and “I Am Passionate” black lava cake also sound delightful.
The names for these dishes are all affirmations of one’s self, “I Am Fearless”, “I Am Open-Hearted”, being one with the restaurant’s core belief that food is not only about appetite, but also about spirit.
The food is organic, healthy, free of animal products, and free of processed soy. This cafe has grown a lot over the years and expanded into several branches. Stars like Giselle Bundchen, Jaden Smith, Woody Harrelson, and others are rumored to be frequent customers.
Let’s Look at the Reviews
These are some Amazon reviews.
“Cafe Gratitude has been a leader and innovator in growing the plant based movement. Whether you’re a chef or new to the kitchen, this book will have you successfully enjoying delicious, wholesome, plant-rich meals.” –John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods
“Out of all of the food and restaurants I’ve experienced around the world, Cafe Gratitude is still one of my absolute favorites.” –Woody Harrelson
“Cafe Gratitude is a restaurant of the future. Plants have never tasted so good with their focus on clean, healthy ingredients and delicious flavors. As we heal our bodies, we heal our relationship to Mother Earth.” –Giselle Bundchen
“Cafe Gratitude is hands down my favorite restaurant. This cookbook brings their delicious food home to you” –Jaden Smith
Love is Served is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major book retailers.
Thank you for your post! The title of the Cookbook is definitely appealing “Love is Served”. I am a big foodie and Food itself and the cooking of food is an expression of love in my opinion. I would love to get this book and try out some of the recipes especially the Dressings/Sauces/Dips. I have so many recipes in my repertoire in other areas apart from this area of sauces etc. and I would really need to be more creative and innovative in that area. Hopefully this book can teach me a thing or too.
Hi there!
Now that you mention it, I could also use some recipes to make sauces. Maybe I should get this book too 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
My wife and I have been trying to find ways to eat healthier (particularly vegan) and haven’t found a cookbook that actually stands out until visiting your site! I love “Love is Served” as a name for a cookbook, and the black lava cake/strawberry shortcake sound delicious. I didn’t realize how many great options there are in terms of vegan food. With all of us having to stay at home and self-isolate, this is a great cookbook for my wife and I to try new dishes – especially form a cookbook made by Cafe Gratitude! Thank you for the post, I am purchasing now!!
Side question: My daughter has a peanut allergy (not tree nuts) – is it hard to make vegan options with this allergy? I see the book has some awesome options, but in terms of long term what do you recommend?
Hi Craven!
That’s great! This is a good book to start with, and now indeed you have so much time. I find that I get to do so many things I never used to have time for.
Regarding your daughter’s peanut allergy, you can replace peanuts in recipes with sunflower seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds. Beans are also a good replacement. Pretzels too, but I haven’t tried that last one in a recipe yet 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
Well! I have never been a good cook right from time but the good thing is I like cooking and often time, I always watch it when my wife us doing the cooking. However, being finally presented with the best opportunity to learn the art of cooking here is massive and I’m delighted you have shared this here. Thank you so much for sharing. This love is served cookbook would definitely be a must buy for me.
Hi Angela!
Wonderful! I’m glad you like it. Let me know how the cooking goes. Now is the time to experiment in the kitchen 🙂
Hi Christine! Great article about new vegan cook book. I myself am not a vegan but some of the food looks great in the pictures. I was impressed how you are able to communicate with your audience. I sure can tell you are a teacher. You are careful not to wounder off topic too long but make sure you are getting your point across, such as the fact that we are all stuck home with our families and that we can take any bad situation and find a way to get some positive results out if it. Very animated when writing too Christine, I enjoyed that! Great article! Stay safe and god bless!
Hi Paul!
I’m happy you enjoyed my article 🙂 Yes, I’m a teacher, I guess it shows sometimes 😉
You too, stay safe!
Hello there, Since they announced on Instagram about this book I have been following them up..the truth is whether you’re vegan or not, this meatless, dairy-free restaurant has fresh, light options for everyone that make you feel good. The restaurant’s approach is that what we eat should nourish our bodies and make us healthier. With them releasing this new book I wouldn’t need to go the restaurant i would just make them from home…thanks for sharing.
Hi David!
Exactly, now the restaurant’s food is brought home to you 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
Any time is a great time for the release of another cook book, even if it is vegan… But seriously no I am not a vegan, but increasingly I have many friends who are and when I entertain ( I am the chef in the family) I find it challenging to accomodate them as I have no frame of reference to start from. This book will be an excellent addition to my library and solve a problem that it had not occurred to me to address in this way until I read your post this morning.
Thanks so much
Hamish
Hi Hamish!
This book will certainly help you when you have to entertain friends and family again and you have vegan guests among them. It has many wonderful recipes 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
Christine,
This is awesome! Thank you so much for your post on the book, Love is Served. I can ‘t wait to get this book. You made it so easy to just go to Amazon and get it. I have been trying really hard to eat Vegan and it’s tough. I know that this book will help me out a lot. Just like your website does.
Thank you.
Hi Russ!
You’ll like this book. It has amazing recipes. I’m glad you find my website helpful. Thank you! 🙂
Hi! I have always liked cooking since I was a boy. I remember being by my dad’s side as a helper in the kitchen. I have very tender memories there. Once my mom discovered I liked cooking she also begun to call me into the kitchen.
I’m always on watch out mode concerning these deals. I’ll check out special deals for release date of Love is served. Thanks for pointing this out!
Hi Paolo!
As a child, I was also my father’s assistant when he was cooking. I often ended up doing all the dishes, but I still learned a lot from him 🙂
It’s nice to have those memories.
Thank you for commenting 🙂
Thank you I finally got what I am looking for but Peruvian recipes that you can make with ingredients that are readily available in grocery stores. If you’re a spice wimp like me, you’ll be pleased to hear that these recipes aren’t spicy and it a nice book and I will get it if I were you.
Trust me!!!!
Hi, what cookbook are you referring to? I’m a little confused. Cafe Gratitude is not a Peruvian restaurant …
Right from the onset, I have not been a very good cook but I like eating a lot but I didn’t know that there was anything like a cookbook. Now that the world is on a lockdown and I’m home, I’m trying to make sure that I learn all there is to learn about cooking. Maybe I also have a hidden talent in that aspect. It’ll be very good to give t a shot.
Hi Riley!
Now we have time to learn new things and also to give cooking a try. 🙂
Thanks for visiting!
Hi Christine,
I love this vegan book, and it expresses lots of LOVE too. I am not always cooking for myself because I used to buy food from restaurants or Ubereats, but it’s inevitable to learn some cooking under the lockdown situation. I am getting there, and this book comes at the right time.
I also find the names of each cuisine sound pleasing, and it enhances more fun to cook with this vegan book. I overthink most of the time, so the fun name might let go of my anxiety about cooking. Haha 🙂
Anyway, thanks for sharing this useful and lots of LOVE vegan cookbook, and I will try to check it on Amazon.
Cheers,
Matt
Hi Matt!
May the names of the meals inspire creativity in your kitchen 😉
This cookbook will be a great guide when you start cooking 🙂
Thank you for commenting!
Hi Christine,
I have been working in Hospitality, and mostly Food and Beverage for 20 years, and I have seen first hand the vegan wave going from the very shy starts to an exponential growth. Nowadays speaking vegan is something that is in the common speech, but yet still we need more information. This book recommendation in my opinion provides more of that need to everybody, and indeed the title sounds very much as the love to healthy food served to the audience. Sounds like “music” to me. Thank you for the recommendation!
Hi Pablo!
Yes, the vegan movement has definitely grown a lot. This cookbook is great in that it provides information and also excellent and delicious recipes. The title is indeed fitting. Food is love, you can only add love when you’re cooking food, right? It’s one of those cookbooks that are simply a must have 😉
Thanks for your comment!
Geez! I almost fell off my chair, I thought this cookbook is also one of your books (laughing). I recently read your post about your latest book – Thorn Heart, and when I saw another post, I thought it’s your own too! What I’m trying to say I’m totally sold! I will definitely be looking for more of your works. I’m very closed to become a fan.
Apropos this latest Vegan Cookbook from Cafe Gratitude, I’m a vegetarian so I can definitely get a lot of inspirations in it. This is going to be very helpful for more healthy food and lifestyle. I’m already hooked with the book title “Love is Served”.
Hi Che!
Lol, no, Love is Served is not my book, now you made me laugh. It’s a great compliment, though. I wish to write a cookbook one day, I hope that soon I will be up for it 🙂
Thank you for looking at my other writing work. That is wonderful!
This cookbook is definitely a great addition to the kitchen, and I also love the title “Love is Served” Food always comes out the best when it is cooked with love, isn’t it?
Thank you for visiting my page! 🙂 Have a great day!
Thank you for sharing this book! I am not vegan, but there is something about vegan food that just appeals to me once and a while. Vegans are very strict with what they can and cannot eat so their recipes always have so much thought and effort put into them.
The title of the book itself, too, is very appropriate during a pandemic but it spreads love and positivity in the face of panic and chaos. Thank you for sharing, Great work!
Hi Joe!
I also find the title appealing, and you’re right, it does spread love and positivity during these times.
Thank you for your comment!
Hi,
This was a really interesting article and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.
The cookbook sounds awesome and something I’d be likely to purchase. I love the names of the recipes.
I’m a fan of Woody Harrelson so it was interesting to her his review about the cafe.
I am based in the UK so will the book be available here?
My sister is gluten intolerant and I wonder if these recipes would be suitable for her?
It’s sometimes hard to find food that is both vegan and gluten free.
I am currently learning about affiliate marketing myself so I liked hearing your experience of it.
Best wishes,
Cameron
Hi Cameron,
This book ships from Amazon and you can also order it there and have it sent to the UK. There are some gluten free recipes available, but I think that not all are gluten free.
For your sister, I would recommend this cookbook here, Easy Whole Vegan, it is vegan and completely gluten free. I hope that helps too 🙂
What would you like to know about affiliate marketing?
Best regards!
Thank you so much for sharing this great review! I’m in love with the title, and I definitely believe there is a spiritual connection with food and it should always be prepared with love. I think it’s a great time to experiment with some new food choices and it’s great even if you just introduce vegan meals little by little, until guess what? You’re vegan. Just kidding, but, I do believe making small healthy choices, motivates you to make more healthy choices. Definitely a cookbook I’d like to have.
Hi there,
I agree, there is a spiritual connection with food, and love is the key to making delicious meals. And right now is indeed a great time to experiment with new recipes. With so much time on our hands, right? 😉
Thank you for commenting!
Cafe Gratitude is a small chain of restaurants serving organic, plant-based food. In addition to vegan food, honey is served with some options.Cafe Gratitude, for those of you in the dark here, is an all-vegan, super delicious, offers-everything restaurant with a number of locations here in LA – our closest locations to USC are those in the Arts District and Larchmont, but we can’t forget to mention the super-hip and gorgeous Venice Beach location, too.But is care Gratitude shutting down? i really dont seem to understand whats going on.
What don’t you understand?
What a catchy title! “love is served”
I am into cooking and enjoy looking at different recipe ideas and tips and enhance my cooking skills. Seems like this book is added on to my book shelf.
Thank you for the recommendation.
Best wishes
I love the title, very catchy indeed 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
I have read your 2 reviews on these 2 books, Cooking with Amore and Love is Served. I can relate to this: a lot of love goes into preparing vegan food. And it’s that emotional part of ´preparing it and also for those that are eating it, that take this diet experience to a complete new level. I love to cook and both my wife and I are enjoying finding new vegan recipes weekly.
Hi Abel,
True, a lot of love goes into cooking, it is the “special ingredient” that makes it so much better 😉
Hey; Love is served! The title of this book seems to hold some hidden secrets that will arose curiosity in many of its readers
Because I don’t get a copy of the book as yet I am not sure how it would impact me. I want to look at the book, I like the shortcakes mentioned and wished I have the recipe handy. I am an advocate to Plant-based foods.
DorcasW
Hi Dorcas!
I love the title! Love is such an important part of cooking 🙂 The recipes in this book are mouthwatering good. 🙂