Meatless Monday: Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe

Believe it or not, I don't only eat cheeseburgers and fries. I always try my best to get 5 veggies and/or fruits a day, I watch the carbs and take my vitamins. I can appreciate a good veggie burger. #GOF blogger Tiffany mentioned the In-N-Out Grilled Cheese Animal Style Veggie Burger, which I've had and that's very yummy. It's easy to forget it's vegetarian, which is the number 1 must for a vegetarian burger. 

If I get lazy and don't feel like cooking, I always try to eat at Chaco Cayon Organic Cafe in West Seattle. Chaco Canyon is all vegan, so I don't feel guilty afterwards (there are also plenty of gluten-free options). It's on the pricy side, but the sides that come with enormous entrees often leave you with leftovers. 90% of the ingredients are certified organic, with monthly seasonal menu. They also have fresh juices, smoothies and housemade Kombucha. 

Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe 
3770 SW Alaska St
(between S 37th Ave & S 38th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98126
http://www.chacocanyoncafe.com 

This is their Lentil Burger, which is often hailed as one of "Seattle's Best". The Thousand Island is made with Veganaise and the burger patty is made primarily lentils. Unlike the store bought veggie pattys, the lentil patty doesn't not attempt to taste like red meat, which I appreciate because that would be a waste of time. It's topped with pickled onions, fresh cucumbers and bean sprouts, the only bummer are the pickles. Instead of dill, they use the sweeter Bread and Butter pickles. Not usually my thing, but I can let it slide. Although it's healthy, it will leave you feeling stuffed. 

The entrees can come a la carte for $3 less. However, I always want a side dish, so I chose the Braising Greens Salad. It's packed with carrots, kale, gold beets and cashews in a tart dressing. I couldn't even eat half of it, since it's such a large portion. There were plenty of leftovers for the next day, so it's worth the price.

The items I talk about below are from their January 2013 menu, so if you're reading this late, it may not be there. Sorry!

This is their Breakfast Burrito. The house-made, gluten-free buckwheat tortilla is stuffed with a curry tofu scramble with black and rice, cashew cheese. The burrito is also covered in a spicy tomato sauce. I've had a terrible sinus infection the past week and this cleared me up quick. I'm very surprised by the cashew cheese, I wouldn't have realized it was non-dairy if you hadn't told me. It also comes with an option of sides so I chose to brave the chia seed pudding (never had chia seeds before).

Chia seeds are high in fiber and omega-3's, they're becoming the new "It" health food item. The pudding combined with the bananas, shaved coconut and coconut milk was... interesting  They remind me of a mucus covered flax seed. It's a strange texture, I'm not going to lie. After consuming the banana and coconut bit you're kind of just left with a bowl of slimy seeds. 

Okay. So I should've stuck with fresh fruit as my side dish. I still love this place and will miss it dearly when I'm in SoCal.