Life Alive
http://www.lifealive.com/
765 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA 02139

What I ate:
The Adventurer – filling bowl
Vibrance Alive Smoothie

My brand new husband and I had just returned from our two week honeymoon to Costa Rica. After a few weeks indulging in champagne toasts, wedding cake, and dining out for every meal, we were craving some whole grains and dark leafy greens. However, we hadn’t gone grocery shopping in weeks so we decided to extend our honeymoon one more night and dine out in Cambridge. I knew I wanted a nutritious meal, and not one that was drowning in butter and salt. Fortunately, I had flagged Life Alive as a place I wanted to try for months, and I knew it was time to make a visit!

We were expecting a sit-down service restaurant but were surprised to find it’s more like a café, where you order at the counter and then will have your meal brought to you. The casual, welcoming atmosphere was cozy and enjoyable. There is a large menu on the wall with warm meals, salads, wraps, smoothies, beverages, and sides.

My eyes were immediately drawn to one of the warm meals called The Adventurer, since it contained some of my all time favorite foods: beets, kale, quinoa, tofu, and almonds. I love all of these ingredients individually – and they tasted even better combined in a bowl brimming with flavor and the nutrients I needed to wean me off of my “honeymoon diet.” The bowl contained Tamari roasted almonds, smoked tofu, melted cheddar cheese (which I swapped out for a non-dairy Daiya cheese alternative), broccoli crowns, chopped beets, dark greens over short grain brown rice and nutty quinoa. I think there also may have been a hint of a ginger soy sauce to tie the whole plate together. It was crunchy, nutty, savory, smokey, and all around delicious. I practically licked my plate clean! My husband got The Fool which was loaded with some of his favorite ingredients, including meaty mushrooms and thick, satisfying Udon noodles. Both were amazing! We shared a Vibrance Alive Smoothie, which had ginger, lemon, strawberries, dates, a banana and maple syrup in it. We asked for them to tone down the ginger so it wouldn’t overpower the smoothie. It was more tart and gingery than I expected, but still refreshing and flavorful.

If this restaurant were right in my neighborhood, I could imagine stopping there weekly to fill up on our favorites, but fortunately it’s just across the river and we’ll be back soon.